Chris Dempsey: Jokic added that he "cannot jump with my…
May 25, 2022 | 11:21 am EDT Update
Grant Williams names Darius Garland as toughest cover in the league for him
SI: Who’s the toughest cover in the league? Grant Williams: For guys like myself, the hardest people to guard are like Darius Garland. Small, shifty point guards. The longer, taller guys, and the physical guys I’m OK with. I do a good job on Darius and guys like that, but for me, it’s always been a small, small, small point guard that’s really shifty and quick.
SI: You have a long history with Bam. Does that help at all? Grant Williams: I feel like he’s gotten so much better since then. So as much as it could help, he’s improved so much that it’s one of those things, I can’t really go off my high school scouting report. As the years have gone on, it’s gotten more and more fun to play against him because of how much he’s improved, how much he continually wants to get better and improve his shot. I’m really just excited to play him throughout my career.
SI: Not to kick this off by asking a weird question, but how does your body feel right now? You’ve taken as much punishment in this playoff run as any player that I can remember since I started covering the league. Have you ever felt like you do right now, playing basketball? Grant Williams: Definitely not. But hey, this is what the playoffs and everything is about, right? It’s my role to deal with. It’s something you embrace, and I feel like it’s just even more fun because it’s something that I feel is unique and I don’t see many guys that can do the same things that I do.
SI: Which is what, exactly? Grant Williams: Just like in terms of going from the first series of guarding Kyrie and KD, then going to the next series with Giannis, the guys there. And now it’s what, Bam and Jimmy, and having primary matchups with each one of them. Even next series, maybe Steph and those guys? It’s interesting.
He said working on every part of his offensive game will be an offseason priority. “I really haven’t had a summer healthy to really work on my game,” Victor Oladipo said. “This summer I’m looking forward to fine-tuning all the stuff I’m great at, which includes [three-pointers, pull-ups, drives to the basket] and more. Transition, half-court, all the stuff that was second nature to me.”
So is his biggest room for growth offensively and not defensively? “Definitely [offensively], especially because I didn’t have had an opportunity to find my rhythm,” he said last week. “I can still be effective, find ways to affect the game. Even offensively, it’s more of a mind-set thing. I haven’t played a lot. I don’t have as much reps as everyone else but I can still play at a high level.”
The Memphis Grizzlies could be looking at an expensive price tag to keep unrestricted free agent Tyus Jones this summer. If Memphis goes in another direction, it will have the draft, free agency and trade market to explore for a quality backup point guard. However, one of the best options may already be on the roster.
