The potential benefits of playing 33 different players during 2023-24’s testy campaign may have required time to surface, but through an October 26, 2024 victory that illustrated their depth, the Memphis Grizzlies found themselves prepared to finally reap said rewards. Reliable in his role of attaching two-way plays together for Memphis’ elite second string, Scotty Pippen Jr. reminds the Orlando Magic of the name stitched to his jersey’s back, countering Paolo Banchero’s post spin with a well-timed help steal. Keeping the montage creators busy for a fraction longer, Pippen Jr. discovers uncovered land along the 3-point arc, chaining a catch-and-shoot trifecta alongside it to push Memphis’ lead to 18. Taking portions of his game to heightened levels in Year Three, Pippen Jr. — currently guiding the league’s fourth-highest-scoring reserve bunch — helped coordinate a 70-point bench scoring demonstration against Orlando. Just as noteworthy individually, Pippen Jr. tallied 11 points (on five-of-seven), five rebounds, 12 assists, two swipes, one block, and a 3-pointer in 23 minutes. · Oct 27, 2024