Taylor Jenkins likes what he’s seen from Zach Edey at NBA Summer League | NBA on ESPN

Taylor Jenkins likes what he’s seen from Zach Edey at NBA Summer League | NBA on ESPN

Memphis Grizzlies by two over Philadelphia got a couple of minutes here with the head coach of the Grizzlies Taylor Jenkins great to see you coach thanks for your time understand you’ve enjoyed a little Park City action right yeah great to see you guys as well I mean uh we’ve been coming out here all 5 years that I’ve been with the Grizzlies phenomenal I mean the Jazz are unbelievable hosts uh Salt Lake City unbelievable host but you know skipping up to the mountains for a little bit it’s not not a bad excuse you know coach it’s amazing to see summer league and how this works because a little slow Philly or excuse me for Memphis and Philadelphia hit those early threes what’s happened to this grizzly team of years they’ve caught fire seems like the pace has kind of gone their way yeah I mean it definitely started on the defensive side for us and we started getting a few more stops I loved our full-court pressure some of our guard play just trying to disrupt Philly’s offense you know keeping them off balance I thought that throwing out of zone right now which is kind of complicating some things for us but if we can ignite with our defense you know get that ball moving finding the open man cam Spencer comes in knocks down couple threes Jaylen Wells gets going there um you know a couple minutes ago so encouraging signs you know doesn’t matter if you’re down 13 or 14 no lead is safe luckily their guys been bounded back but the big focus is the defensive side coach you know what else is exciting as a big as a former big in this league I thought at some point you know big wasn’t sexy anymore the league was going another way talk to us about uh Zach Edy and the way he what he does translates from college to today’s yeah yeah I mean so many encouraging signs from you know the game the other night um you know obviously has that tip in you know just the fire that he plays with obviously had an unbelievable collegiate career at Purdue uh we’re going to try to expand his game a little bit more you know I think he can be a threat on the inside on the post as you said bringing that back a little bit but I loved his screen setting he loves to facilitate with dribble hand he is not there and then just figuring out the nuances you know with the speed of play you know defensively he’s going to be in drop coverage we’re going to try stretch him to guard the perimet a little bit more cuz he’s got that competitive fire but goes in has you know four five six blocks alter shots you know can clear out guys and let a teammate get a rebounder he’s going to hold off a guy and go get a rebound so so many of the qualities that we really love in our bigs and I think is going to be a great addition to our group because we can play different styles uh with him on the floor you know big and play with Smalls around him as well but seeing him getting up in the floor you know with altitude in game one I was really encouraged you know coach I really enjoyed the matchup and maybe for Ed it was good to Walker kler right 327 block shots in his first two years with the Jazz but that was a fun match up two bigs in a summer league game by the way and then the way the game turned out overtime overtime I mean this crowd was going crazy I it had a regular season or a playoff feel to it it sure did I mean Walker definitely got the best of Zach a couple possessions early in the game you know going vertical he had one late in the game two you know the coach challenged it and it was a successful challenge but then you know Zach had his moments too of finishing you know against that size The Walker The Walker is a phenomenal young big he’s got a knack for blocking shots and altering shots but Zach kind of figured how going but that’s a great first test you know in the summer league campaign for our guys and as you said the way it finished you know we came up on the short end at the end of the game um obviously Keon had a hell of a game but our guys battle in for the full 40 and then in overtime just those winning plays that you know magnified a great learning opportunity for them uh obviously coach injuries hampered you this last season uh and one John morand obviously he’s a big part of what you do um talk to us about this coming year your expectations maybe what you’re looking for some pieces here that will fit in besides Ed obviously that will fit in to take you to that next level yeah I mean obviously I think it it it’s uh been released out their J it’s go time uh so very encouraged you know medically cleared you know full go you know crossed all the hurdles he’s been phenomenal with his rehab now it’s full go basketball with him with all contact and you know now it’s been you know more on the body you know getting that back uh into the right spot but now he’s full go basketball wise and Diving to his basketball plan um but you know our expectation is just continuing more growth I mean obviously the West is stacked right now um you know so much great talent uh so many you know competitive teams uh we got to get back to you know where we were two years ago but that wasn’t good enough you know our sense of urgency has got to go up a level offensively defensively trust sacrifice all the things that matter into winning Health definitely you know factors into that but luckily we’re in a good spot healthwise and get some of our young guys opportunities here seeing the growth that GG Jackson showed you know last season Jake laier the way he finished the end of season you know our rookie class right here Zach obviously with a you know first you know game you know really successful cam Spencer Jaylen Wells you know a lot of guys that kind of fit the mold of a Grizzly player um that can play on both sides of the floor and you know hopefully get them integrated but they’re going have to earn that opportunity cuz we got a pretty deep team PR coach before we cut you loose what was your thoughts just on the finals with Boston the defense was superb and also you get the three ball working against Dallas they were able to shut down and really make it a sometimes a oneman or one and a halfman game with Kyrie and Luca but defense still has a purpose in this league along with that three-point shot yeah me when you got all Five Guys committed to that side of the floor um it’s hard to beat and I think Boston is one of the best if not the best um you know efficiency wise but the interchangeability of their Five Guys whether your start coming off the bench those guys the way they communicate the way they switch the way they kind of predict what the is going to do to shut them off um it was a phenomenal match I see Dallas had a great run through the Western Conference playoffs and you know winning the the Western Conference Finals uh but then they ran up to a team they had an answer for you on both sides of the Flor got the three ball going comp be you a lot different boys offensively especially defensively when we got the five guys commit to guarding on the perimeter playing with a level of physicality covering each other’s back making those multiple efforts it was hard to beat yeah foringas only two games but each time he was on the floor big impact big impact I mean when you got a guy that you know protect the rim but also play it on the perimeter uh you can switch one through five I guess obviously Luca Don or Kyrie Irving and a team that was rolling offensively he made a substantial impact defensively but also he can play a little bit on the offensive side too hey we want to thank your time since you sat down there’s been seven lead changes here in the third quarter I can see it I’m having a great dial with you guys I get back locked in this game back and forth right now hey we appreciate your time and right on Q the buzzer sounds you can get back to your seat J head coach of Memphis thanks for [Music] [Applause] time NBA is

Memphis head coach Taylor Jenkins speaks during the Grizzlies’ Summer League matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers about team’s lottery pick, Zach Edey,

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