Memphis allowed just 105.9 points per …

Memphis allowed just 105.9 points per 100 with Brooks on the floor and had a plus-11.0 net rating in his minutes; perhaps Jones is benefiting from having played significantly more minutes with the Grizzlies’ best wing defender (532, in which the Grizzlies were plus-8.3 per 100) than Morant did (215, in which the Grizzlies were an even better plus-12.2). And that 21-6 record without Morant? That breaks down to 18-4 when Brooks plays and 3-2 when he doesn’t. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies’ “Core 4” unit of Morant, Bane, Brooks and Jackson played only 125 minutes together this year but smoked opponents by 20.2 points per 100, including a 97.0 defensive rating. In the playoffs, it’s been more of the same, with a plus-9.4 net rating in 109 minutes.