Memphis Grizzlies: 5 reasons why it isn’t time to panic just yet

Dillon Brooks’ Regression

While only in his third year in the NBA and with this team, Dillon Brooks is already the longest-tenured Grizzly. Last season was largely a lost one due to lengthy injuries; certainly a letdown off of what was a surprisingly impressive rookie season. Expectations weren’t necessarily high for Brooks coming into this year, but the Grizzlies front office assuredly had their hopes that he could grow into the consistent wing scorer the franchise sorely lacked for over a decade.

Through the first months of the season, Brooks delivered, and then some. Look no further than his stat line in January to highlight his potential: 20.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, on 45.5 percent shooting from 3. His ability to stretch the floor from the perimeter, finish at the rim, and create wild fadeaway shots for himself added much-needed spacing for the Grizzlies.

Not only did this open opportunities for Brooks, but it also cleared the lane for Ja Morant and Memphis’ bigs to dominate on their way to LEADING the league in paint points. Insert the regression.

Clearly Brooks’ shooting from January wasn’t sustainable, but his performance post-All-Star break has been horrendous. Shooting just 34.3 percent from the field and 25.4 percent from 3 in February, his presence on the offensive end hasn’t provided any of the benefits seen in the first few months of the season.

If his still short career is any indication, we should expect Dillon Brooks’ level back out, which would be a marketable improvement and a dire necessity for the Grizzlies. Another positive for him is that despite any offensive lulls, his defensive tenacity and effectiveness cannot be questioned.