Happy Valentine’s (and Galentine’s) day! After a 12-5 start, the season has really turned sour for the Grizzlies. Memphis has fallen to 25th in net rating, and have the 6th worst record in the league. The team recently traded away its franchise icon.

Thank goodness it’s the season of love. Even with the disappointing downturn, there are part of this Grizzlies team capable of bringing fans joy. In the spirit of love and appreciation, let’s hand out some candy hearts with messages to the Grizzlies.

Be Mine

Even with the disappointment and Marc Gasol trade, there is a beacon of hope in the city of Memphis. Jaren Jackson Jr. has looked like a unicorn at times this season. He is third this season in PIPM among rookies. His report card according to our grading system looks pretty good for a teenager.

On the year, Jackson Jr. is posting an eFG% of 54.8% and a true shooting percentage of 59%. Both percentages are solidly above the league average marks of 52.3% and 55.9%, respectively. Jackson Jr. is displaying an ability to be a stretch big as he is hitting 35.5% of his threes this year.

We’re admittedly dealing with small samples here, but Jackson has hit 49 of 138 attempts from long distance this season to achieve that 35.5% mark. What’s interesting is Jackson went just 5/27 to begin his NBA career, good for 18.5%. Since then, he is 44/111, or 39.6%. It’s not unreasonable to suggest it took Jackson a little bit to get used to the NBA line and has since become more comfortable.

Jackson has also flashed driving abilities that could one day make him unstoppable.

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That’s Rudy Gobert, bro.

So if a lumbering big can’t guard him, what about switching a smaller defender onto him?

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Ok, never mind, he will just go straight through your wing defender. Hey, at least he can’t attack in transition from half court like Giannis, right?

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Jaren, be mine. Be mine forever. Please, don’t ever leave me.

I <3 YOU

Marc Gasol may be gone, but Mike Conley remains. Despite his age and injury history, Conley is having an excellent season.

If we filter to find all guards this season that have at least a B in perimeter shooting, off-ball movement, one on one, and playmaking, with a minutes played minimum of 1,000, Conley is joined on the list of those meeting the criteria by Kyrie Irving, De’Aaron Fox, Steph Curry, Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick Rose, D’Angelo Russell, Monte Morris, Chris Paul, Alec Burks, J.J. Redick, and Joe Harris. That’s some decent company.

Conley is 24th in PIPM and 17th in RPM. Among point guards, he is 7th in PIPM and 7th in RPM. He has a turnover rate in the single digits (9.4%) despite having a high usage rate (27%).

The fact he has never made an All-Star team is criminal. If the Grizzlies are going to continue to reshape the roster after this season and trade away Conley, I hope they honor his desire to land in the Eastern conference. 

Don’t worry Mike, I’m wishing you to the East out of love. Here’s a live look at future me when you end up on the Pacers come July.

You Rock

Even with the team struggles, the defense is still holding strong. Memphis sits 6th in defensive rating on the year. This is built large on the back of the 3rd defensive turnover rate in the league. The Grizzlies continue to either snatch the ball away or force errors by their opponents. Grit n’ Grind is diminished, but the hustle that defines the golden age of this franchise as well as this city remains.

Be My Bear

The Grizzlies have the best mascot and in game entertainment in the league.

fan gets elbow-dropped through a table by Super Grizz with Mick Foley standing by pic.twitter.com/iGYv6jnKTA

— Wobvin Knox (@WorldWideWob) February 10, 2019

Change my mind.