West Notes: Grizzlies, Xavier Tillman, Thunder, Rockets

Grizzlies

Big man Xavier Tillman came up big in the Game 2 win over the Lakers, and with the likes of center Steven Adams and forward Brandon Clarke injured and out (as well as star point guard Ja Morant), Tillman’s performance was desperately needed.

“I think it’s a true sign of a winner,” coach Taylor Jenkins said of Tillman, via Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “It’s a true sign of a pro, and that’s why we love him, a guy who always stays ready. He wants to impact winning in whatever his role is going to be.”

Tillman finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds, as the series is now tied at 1-all.

“You couldn’t write this, bro,” he said, via Cole. “It’s humbling. It lets me know that no matter what I’m going through, it always passes.”

• Forward Dillon Brooks said he wasn’t bothered by the back-and-forth with Lakers star LeBron James during Game 2. “I don’t care, he’s old,” Brooks said, via Cole. “I poke bears. I don’t respect no one until they come and give me 40 (points).”

Thunder

Head of basketball operations Sam Presti said there is room for improvement after the Thunder’s run to the play-in tournament.

“We’re still not a .500 team. I think we have the makings of a team that can be good,’ he said, via Brandon Rahbar of Daily Thunder. “We squeezed a lot of improvement into one year. We have to understand there’s a lot of work to do. We didn’t win half our games.”

Along with multiple draft picks, the Thunder will have 2022 NBA Draft No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren next season as he returns from a foot injury.

• Presti added that the Thunder could look to move some of their picks. ““We’ll play risk. One thing we’re not is scared,” he said, via Rahbar.
• Along with all that, Presti said he is no fan of the idea of banning charges, as been the talk among media and fans in recent weeks. “I don’t know how much easier we want to make it on the offense,” he told reporters. “Unless we just want to make it 5-on-0 and see who shoots better.”

Rockets

• In case you missed it, the idea of 76ers guard James Harden returning to the Rockets after the season isn’t that far-fetched, it seems. We have the full post here.
• Also, we have the latest on the Rockets’ coaching search right here. As we relayed, ex-Lakers coach Frank Vogel and former Celtics coach Ime Udoka are among those who have already interviewed.