In case some Miami Heat fans missed it, Justise Winslow has already returned to the active lineup for the Memphis Grizzlies this season. The former Miami Heat forward is averaging 9.5 points and 5.2 rebounds across the six games that he’s played in so far.
As expected, the Grizzlies are strictly managing Winslow’s workload. The lefty swingman missed the team’s first 25 games due to a hip injury.
Former Miami Heat wing, Justise Winslow, didn’t work out for them, but seems to be thriving in Memphis.
But even with the limited amount of action he is seeing on the floor, Winslow has been showing glimpses of his all-around skill set. He struggled early on, particularly in his combined 2-9 performance from the three-point line in the first two games of his return.
But Winslow has adjusted and quickly shied away from shooting those long-range bombs. As a result, Winslow has become more efficient.
He shot a combined six attempts from beyond the arc in the next four games and it’s no coincidence that he had a positive Player Efficiency Rating (PER) in each of those contests. Most importantly, it’s nice to see Winslow out there healthy and ready to play.
He had a 20-point outing against the Houston Rockets on February 28, where he only missed four of his 12 field goal attempts. That was the only high-scoring game for Winslow this season, but there was a particular bucket off a pick-and-roll play at the top of the key should be a source of optimism for him and the whole Grizzlies team.
It’s still a work of progress and it remains to be seen if the 24-year old Winslow can still live up to his potential. You should remember what Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra said in 2018 about putting Winslow in the starting point guard role.
Unfortunately, Winslow sustained consecutive injuries that have stripped Heat and Grizzlies fans of the chance to see the young forward further develop his game. Hopefully, it all comes together for him in Memphis, as it appears he’s off to a good start.
That’s great for Justise! It’s good to see it.