Cameron Boozer didn’t waste much time giving the Memphis Grizzlies a fresh problem to think about.
In his NBA preseason debut Monday night in Atlanta, the former Duke star flashed a new wrinkle that could make life even tougher for defenders: a post fadeaway. About three and a half minutes into the first quarter, Boozer got a one-on-one look on the block, absorbed contact from former Duke forward Jalen Johnson, spun to his right and dropped in the jumper.
That kind of move changes the conversation around him. If Boozer can punish single coverage with a post fade, defenders can’t just lean on strength and size to slow him down. He already has the ability to get to the rim from that area, and if teams send help, he’s the kind of passer who will find the open man.
The Grizzlies gave Boozer a limited but productive first run, starting him and playing him 18 minutes in a game where Memphis spread the floor time around 18 different players. He made the most of it in the 132-123 win, finishing with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Three of those rebounds came on the offensive glass.
The matchup picture is already clear. Put a standard NBA power forward on Boozer, and he can overpower that look.
Switch a center onto him, and Boozer can drag that big away from the paint, where his spacing and quickness open up the rest of his game. It’s the kind of offensive profile that forces a defense to choose its poison.
And now there’s another layer to it. That post fadeaway wasn’t part of his Duke package, and it gives him yet another way to beat coverage at the next level.
Boozer and the Grizzlies are back Wednesday against the Orlando Magic in Memphis at FedEx Forum for their second preseason game.
In Other News...
Duke Defense Faces Its Biggest Identity Test Yet At Georgia Tech
A bye week often gives a coaching staff time to sharpen the details, and for Jonathan Patke, Dukes defensive coordinator, it has also meant reinforcing something less tangible: the soul of the unit. The Blue Devils have taken real steps forward on defense this season, sitting near the top nationally in scoring and total defense, and Manny Diaz has pointed to the groups cohesion and its ability to keep opponents from generating easy chunk gains as a major reason.
Georgia Tech brings a different kind of test after making changes on offense, with a new play caller and a new quarterback steering the operation. For Duke, the matchup is less about matching stats than proving its identity holds up when the pictures change, the pace shifts and the game asks the defense to communicate on the fly. The next step for this unit is about whether those improvements still look the same when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Undefeated Duke Faces Another Chance To Prove This Start Is Real
Duke heads into its conference trip to Georgia Tech with an undefeated record and a growing sense that this start is more than a hot spell. Manny Diaz has made clear the Blue Devils know what is waiting in Atlanta, where winning is rarely simple and respect for the opponent is part of the preparation. So far, Duke has leaned on a strong defense and a balanced offense, with transfer quarterback Walker Eget and running back Nate Sheppard helping steady the attack.
Georgia Tech comes in off a bye looking for a reset after a difficult season, and Brent Keys team will try to build around first-year starter Alberto Mendoza. For Duke, the broader question is not just whether it can stay unbeaten, but whether it can keep answering the same test on the road, against a team still searching for traction and a setting that has made this matchup tricky before. [Read more 🡒]
Dukes Frontcourt May Hinge On One Underrated Newcomer
Jon Scheyer keeps circling back to Drew Scharnowski as one of the more intriguing pieces in Dukes offseason haul, and not just because the Belmont transfer arrives with a reputation for bringing size and versatility to the frontcourt. The Blue Devils are trying to sort out a rotation that can hold up once games start counting, and Scharnowskis presence was always going to matter because of how he fits with returning big man Patrick Ngongba and the younger forwards trying to earn minutes.
For now, though, Duke is waiting. Scharnowski is dealing with a knee injury and will not be available for the exhibition against Belmont, which at least delays the first look at how the frontcourt might take shape. Scheyer has indicated the two big men could share the floor often, and there is even a path for Scharnowski to push into the starting mix, a development that would not only change the look of Dukes lineup but also ease the pressure on freshmen Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje and Cameron Williams as they learn on the fly. [Read more 🡒]