Chris Dodson Articles - Page 3

The New Orleans Pelicans may have fallen short against the New York Knicks. However, Zion Williamson’s return to the starting lineup offered a glimpse of hope for a franchise desperately seeking consistency and direction. After a stint coming off the bench, Williamson reclaimed his spot in the starting five, playing extended minutes without restrictions. While […]

For all the defensive progress Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans believe they are making heading toward 2026, one issue continues to undermine their climb. In the eyes of James Borrego, defensive rebounding is no longer a secondary concern or a situational weakness. It is the defining variable separating a respectable team from a potentially competitive […]

The blueprint for defending Trey Murphy III used to be simple, if daunting. Find the 2021 first-round pick in transition, stick to him in the half-court, and under no circumstances let the 6-foot-8 flamethrower see a clean look from beyond the arc. This season, and particularly with James Borrego at the helm of the upstart […]

Fans should be forgiven for asking if the year is over yet, even though one New Year’s Eve game against the Philadelphia 76ers remains. Beale Street will not see winning basketball in 2025; that much was assured with a second loss to CJ McCollum’s Washington Wizards in eight days. Ja Morant’s second game back (16th […]

The play was over, a routine fast-break for the Memphis Grizzlies leading to a second-quarter timeout, but the lesson was just beginning. As the rebuilding Washington Wizards grabbed some water, CJ McCollum was already deep in conversation with Alex Sarr, diagramming a read. It was a small moment, invisible to the public for the most […]

Everyone needs an occasional confidence boost from time to time. Whether from a friend or a professional peer in a high-wire field, just hearing the support of others can help a player. GG Jackson knows this all too well after years with the consistently inconsistent Memphis Grizzlies and some recent trade rumor news. So does […]

The banged-up Memphis Grizzlies reached Christmas Week still searching for traction, their recent stretch a study in uneven execution, fluctuating availability, and narrow margins. Those same trends have defined much of the season’s news. Sure, there have been some unexpected road victories. Too many frustrating setbacks are highlighted in the ongoing defensive lapses and challenges […]

Few stories capture the essence of perseverance quite like that of an overlooked rookie rising to the occasion. Thankfully for the rebuilding Washington Wizards, December numbers offer a snapshot of a young player beginning to turn promise into production. The 21st overall pick has been turning heads, averaging 8.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and […]

Outside of the Smoothie King Center, two-time All-Star Zion Williamson dominates the headlines alongside rookie Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears. Inside league circles and the rejuvenated New Orleans Pelicans practice facility, even interim head coach James Borrego concedes Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III’s voices are what cut through all the noise. However, the two […]

James Borrego’s New Orleans Pelicans are experimenting with an unconventional approach to managing a years-long headache, and the early returns suggest it might be working. Zion Williamson, the former number one overall pick and two-time All-Star, has recently shifted into a sixth man role coming off the bench. The move has been accepted as less a […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are finally finding their rhythm, capping off a pivotal stretch with a three-game winning streak that has injected new life into the team. Victories over the Portland Trail Blazers, Chicago Bulls, and Houston Rockets mark the franchise’s first such run this season, arriving precisely at the one-month anniversary of interim head […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are focused less on the standings and more on a set of standards going into the holidays. Zion Williamson and Derik Queen are starting to click, leading to a three-game winning streak in the process. However, while the climb from the Western Conference cellar to the Play-In tournament is steep, James […]

The New Orleans Pelicans have needed good news beyond rookies Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears, and thankfully for their fans, got a couple of mood-boosting wins before Christmas. James Borrego reflected on the significance of the victories in the context of the team’s ongoing efforts to establish a strong foundation around Zion Williamson. While victories […]

Rookies often face a steep learning curve, but the rebuilding New Orleans Pelicans might have found the most keeled ‘kid’ in the 2025 NBA Draft. James Borrego’s assessments of Jeremiah Fears after 27 games sound less like a coach managing a developmental curve and more like one describing a player already comfortable with responsibility. Fears, […]

The numbers are ugly, the film is worse, and the results are sinking a season of promise. Zion Williamson’s prideful New Orleans Pelicans know their defense has been a glaring, season-long vulnerability, a leaky dam threatening to wash away any NBA Play-In Tournament aspirations. Herb Jones can only do so much alone. Thankfully, interim head […]

The New Orleans Pelicans face a delicate balancing act as they welcome back key players from injury, with interim head coach James Borrego making it clear that the team won’t rush anyone into uncomfortable rotations. Jordan Poole and Zion Williamson’s reintegrations are prime examples of the new training philosophy, though fans can also look to […]

In the high-stakes world of NBA drafts, teams often weigh talent against risk, especially when injuries enter the equation. For the injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies, selecting a promising rookie who underwent shoulder surgery just a year ago during his college days might have seemed like a gamble. But as the Grizzlies prepare to face Anthony Edwards […]

The difference between struggling through a slump and breaking through often comes down to an unwavering commitment to the craft. Jaren Jackson Jr. knows this truth intimately, and he sees its perfect embodiment in Cam Spencer’s shooting. When asked about working through difficult stretches, Jackson Jr. offered a knowing smile and some straightforward wisdom. Sometimes […]

In a season defined by the absences of its franchise cornerstones, the Memphis Grizzlies have learned collective health is not merely about who is in uniform, but how the entire operation functions. Jaren Jackson Jr. missed the start of the season. Ja Morant and Zach Edey are back on the injury report, continuing a trend […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are navigating a challenging season marked by injuries to practically every key contributor, but there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Sure, Zach Edey is out for a month. Fortunately, Ja Morant’s ankle injury scare seems far less concerning than initially fear going by the latest injury report. It gets even […]

The College Football Playoff era promised clarity. Expanded access, fewer subjective debates, and a postseason that rewarded what happened on the field. It has come at the expense of balanced schedules, Conference Championship Game excitement, appreciation for matchup variance value, and competitive spirit. At issue is not the existence of conference title games, but how […]

In a league conditioned to spotlight stars, Tuomas Iisalo has been careful to redirect attention toward the connective tissue holding the Memphis Grizzlies together. After a victory over the LA Clippers, the first-year NBA head coach did so once again, framing backup point guard Cam Spencer as a Stephen Curry-like “engine” not in volume or […]

Tuomas Iisalo had barely finished addressing a locker room caught between celebration and concern before stepping to the podium and offering a revealing snapshot of how the Memphis Grizzlies are wired. The win over the LA Clippers was secure, but the mood was complicated. Ja Morant had exited with another ankle injury just days after […]

For most teams, the sight of a superstar like Ja Morant limping off the floor in the fourth quarter would trigger a crisis. For Jaren Jackson Jr.’s new-look Memphis Grizzlies, it was merely the latest chapter in a season-long manual on adaptation Tuomas Iisalo has been forced to write from scratch. Morant left in the […]

It is hard for Spencer Jones not to chuckle when he pauses to consider what his 10-year-old self would think of his life today. The 24-year-old is now a certified NBA starter, yet the concept of life in the league didn’t even cross his mind until late in his college career. There was no red carpet, […]

Just when the Memphis Grizzlies thought Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. were ready to wrap up the Western Conference standings, Tuomas Iisalo’s squad found a lump of coal in their Christmas stocking. A season marked by constant reintegration and recalibration has hit another obstacle. Unfortunately, after less than a month in the rotations, Zach […]

Traditional numbers don’t tell the full story of Jaren Jackson Jr.’s season so far, but no one in the locker room is worried about those metrics. Tuomas Iisalo is not concerned about the 2023 NBA Defensive Player of the Year’s offensive opportunities diminishing either. The two-time All-Star’s willingness to sacrifice individual production for team success […]

As the NBA’s marathon schedule grinds on, the depth of a roster is often what separates playoff contenders from the pack. However, managing rotational minutes can be a persistent headache for any coach. Thankfully for the drama-free Memphis Grizzlies, Tuomas Iisalo’s remedy has emerged in the form of a hungry second unit that is tilting […]

The Ja Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies have rediscovered an edge at just the right time, stifling opponents while surging up the Western Conference standings. Tuomas Iisalo has spent the first weeks of December rewiring the locker room’s identity, turning a sluggish start into one of the NBA’s most quietly dominant defensive stretches heading into the holidays. […]

As the New Orleans Pelicans begin a blistering holiday schedule, two of their key perimeter threats have unfortunately hit a cold spell from beyond the arc. However, despite the season-long struggles to find a consistent rhythm, interim coach James Borrego is not sounding any alarms about Trey Murphy III or Saddiq Bey. The team’s two […]

Playing with “speed and violence” has been a tenet of James Borrego’s since being elevated to the head job. Turning every change of possession, make or miss by the opponent, into an opportunity for Jeremiah Fears to ignite the break has been a catalyst for quick transitions and an aggressive pace. Fellow rookie Derik Queen […]

Learning curves are usually steep at the NBA level and interim head coach James Borrego knows it’s especially challenging for rookies. That is why the New Orleans Pelicans are simplifying their defensive schemes to shield Derik Queen from being overwhelmed defensively, an approach that is already paying off as the 19-year-old adjusts to NBA speed […]

When the New Orleans Pelicans made a coaching change after a dismal start to the season, one glaring issue lingered behind Willie Green. A tenure defined by disastrous third-quarter collapses required a simple, yet brutal, fix by interim James Borrego. Thankfully, it was not about complicated schemes, but about a mindset that Jeremiah Fears and […]

For the Memphis Grizzlies, the process of integrating two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. with second-year center Zach Edey is viewed not as a puzzle but as a necessary investment. Despite offensive growing pains as they learn to play together, the team’s leadership is expressing clear, long-term confidence in the pairing’s foundational potential. However, the adjustment […]

Building on a promising rookie year is always tough; no one is going to be taken by surprise in Year 2 after all. Responsibilities and burdens change, meaning second-round players on a rookie deal really have to adapt. For Jaylen Wells, the drama-driven Memphis Grizzlies were not simply asking him to “do more” on the […]

With Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans spiraling to a 3-18 start and already drifting out of postseason contention, the franchise’s focus has shifted from salvaging the season to reshaping its future. Interim coach James Borrego is navigating that transition in real time, tasked with helping the front office evaluate the roster ahead of a trade […]

Few moments in an NBA player’s career crystallize the payoff of relentless work and collective trust quite like a major scoring milestone. While Jaylen Wells has not been immune to the fits and starts slowing down the Memphis Grizzlies this season, the second-year swingman did cross the 1000-point threshold before Thanksgiving dinners went cold. Yet, […]

As the Memphis Grizzlies navigate the demanding holiday stretch of their schedule, one of the most encouraging developments has been the rise of rookie wing Cedric Coward. What began as a cautious, minutes-managed introduction to NBA life has quickly evolved into a meaningful rotation role. Tuomas Iisalo’s recent comments shed light on why the team […]

Anyone around sports has heard stories about when preparation meets opportunity. The eventual victories have always been less about a sudden breakout and more about the simple, often overlooked, luxury of consistency. Well, coaches needing a new grind-it-out example can put Jock Landale’s journey to the unbothered Memphis Grizzlies in an encyclopedia. After years of […]