Tyus Jones has been excellent and severely underrated for the Grizzlies, a team defined by its abundance of riches. Ja Morant soaks up a lot of the spotlight — especially when it comes to the point guard position — but Jones’ high basketball I.Q., mistake-free approach, and sustained 3-point efficiency make him impossible to ignore in this capacity. He’s a starter for some teams.
D’Angelo Russell has gracefully transitioned into a more balanced offensive approach as Anthony Edwards cranks up his star-power wattage. Spending more time off the ball and striking a more balanced pass-to-shot ratio, Russell has seen his efficiency improve. He still oozes talent offensively and he’s being weaponized more effectively than ever before in Minnesota.
We might be approaching the end of Kyle Lowry’s days as everyday starter and borderline All-Star. The Heat have managed to find some measure of stability after starting the season on the sourest of notes, but Lowry — ever-plagued by injuries — can’t seem to locate his standard consistency on offense. The juice and pop has gradually seeped away, leaving him with enough spunk and smarts to get by, but not enough firepower to take over games.