The massive void left by Memphis Grizzlies Jaren Jackson Jr. has left promising opportunities for other rotating big men to impact both sides of the floor. The Grizzlies have won each of their last three contests as they look to build momentum with the postseason draws closer and closer. The Memphis Hustle are currently on a three-game losing skid. Hustle’s big man Armando Bacot has been one of the lone bright spots for the Grizzlies’ G League affiliate. Armando Bacot’s recent scorching stretch may lead to a playoff call-up.
Blistering Stretch May Lead to Call-Up for Hustle’s Armando Bacot
Memphis Hustle’s Tone Setter
Bacot is scoring 16.5 points this season and grabbing 9.5 rebounds a game for the Hustle. The former UNC Tar Heel great is shooting 46.8% from the field and 33.7% from deep on 4.6 3PAs a night. Bacot recently won NBA G League Player of the Week for the week of March 4th. He averaged 25.7 points and 17 boards and the Hustle went 2-1 over three games. Bacot’s rebounding has always been a positive but he is now expanding his overall game.
Bacot’s aggressiveness and fundamental presence in the paint all season have made him a dependable go-to scorer. What has been central to Bacot’s consistent scoring this season, has been his ability to knock down the trey effectively. Markedly, he’s knocked down 63 three-point shots this season. This is a noticeable jump from his five-year college career when Bacot made just five total threes on 25 attempts. Bacot’s expanded prowess on the perimeter has created more dynamic driving lanes, efficacious pick and rolls, and dribble handoffs from their five-out sets. Bacot is also shooting a solid 73.3% from the charity stripe which is an increase from his 68.8 percent shooting in college.
What a Bacot Addition Would Mean For West-Hunting Grizzlies
During last night’s down-to-the-wire 120-118 win vs the Phoenix Suns, the Memphis Grizzlies were without big men Jaren Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama, Zach Edey, and Brandon Clarke. Availability has been a theme for the Grizzlies for most of the first half of the season. Though most of the Grizzlies bigs except Jackson Jr. were held out for minor precautionary reasonings, there’s no telling what shape the roster will be in throughout the final 17 games. With a 41-24 record the Grizzlies are battling for a top-three seed, adding more talent could be a good move.
Concurrently, the Grizzlies are second in the NBA in rebounds per game. They’re also 9th in the NBA in team effective field goal percentage. With already established depth at the forward and center positions, there’s no inevitable clear-cut pathway to Bacot being a call-up before the playoffs. However, Bacot’s scoring versatility and illimitable rebounding ceiling would complement some of the Grizzlies’ regular rotating big men forwards, so it shouldn’t be ruled out of question either.
Bacot’s temperament and maturity would make him a suitable emergency big if, the Grizzlies need to beefen up the position. His impact and high level of play remain imminent regardless of level. Bacot’s elite rebounding and interior play make him a natural fit in the Grizzlies system. The Grizzlies have also been known to find diamonds in the rough and develop talent better than any team in the league. Bacot could be the next player who fits this trend.
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