The Memphis Grizzlies put in quite an effort on Friday night, as they were able to score an upset against the Utah Jazz, 114-104.
Following his team's victory, Grizzlies big man Jonas Valanciunas acknowledged that the team chemistry is still not at the level they want for it to be, but that they continue to take the right steps towards the same.
“We're finding that chemistry,” said Valanciunas, who came to the Grizzlies in the trade that sent Marc Gasol to the Toronto Raptors, via ESPN. “We're finding how we play together. How we share the ball. Each game, we're getting (those) small details. It comes with experience, and we're slowing getting that experience.
Valanciunas had another big game in this one, scoring 27 points on a very efficient 12-of-17 from the floor. The 26-year-old showed no fear against the reigning Defensive Player of the Year winner Rudy Gobert, as Valanciunas had arguably his best performance in a Memphis uniform.
JV has been great since joining the Grizzlies, and although the sample size is quite small, he has been putting up career-best numbers in nine games with Memphis: 19.2 points (on 61.5 percent shooting), 0.3 three-pointers, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 25.8 minutes per ballgame.
It is worth noting that the 7-foot Lithuanian will have a player option in his current deal for next season, which means that he may opt to part ways with Memphis in the summer. There's still a lot of basketball to be played from now until then, and surely, the next few weeks will play a big role in Valanciunas' decision in the offseason.
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