The NBA season starts in 52 days, and while the Memphis Grizzlies start exhibition play in 37 days, vs. Quin Snyder’s Hawks, regular season play starts in 53 days, on October 21, against the Utah Jazz, featuring former Blue Devil Kyle Filipowski.
There’s a lot of keen interest in how former Duke star Cameron Boozer will do as his NBA career starts up.
At least one GM, anonymously, thinks he’s headed for a Rookie of the Year campaign, saying this: “Boozer is a winner and he’s won things his entire young life. Memphis isn’t going to have a good year, but he’s going to be the bright spot and he’s going to win the award.”
He’s more knowledgeable than we are, but Boozer could be better than people expect. We’re not saying they’ll necessarily make the playoffs, but Boozer will be a solid scorer, rebounder, and he’s a much better passer than people think.
Almost-Blue Devil Cedric Coward should start at one guard, while former Virginia point guard Ty Jerome will take over for Ja Morant.
He’s nowhere near the talent Morant is, obviously, but he’s going to be much more steady, and the chances of getting suspended for doing something idiotic are trivial. As immensely talented as Morant is, he can be his own worst enemy.
The thing that people don’t fully realize about Boozer is that he’s a superb passer. It won’t surprise us in the least if he leads Memphis in assists, covering that weakness as Edey and newly acquired Isaiah Stewart should cover up his perceived defensive weaknesses in the post.
The biggest thing, as the GM observed, is that Boozer is a winner, and he’s a winner because he has mastered the basics of the game at a very early age, and understands it at a level a lot of players never figure out. Whether it’s this year or one or two down the road, he’s going to help turn that team around.
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