Through the first two games of the first-round series between the Memphis Grizzlies and Utah Jazz, Ja Morant averaged 36.5 points, shot 62% from inside the arc and generated 24 total free throw attempts.
Whether it was Rudy Gobert or Derrick Favors in a pick-and-roll, or a retreating Jazz defender in transition, Morant put constant pressure on the rim with one of the most devastating moves in the NBA: the cross jab. While we've seen this move from explosive NBA guards ranging from Russell Westbrook to De'Aaron Fox, Morant is one of the first to couple a violent change of pace with touch, finesse and craft.
What's the origin of Morant's move, what makes it so effective and how can he use it to help Memphis recapture its early series magic against Donovan Mitchell & Co.?
