Six reasons to watch the NBA's dregs

Yes, even Detroit and Charlotte have fun reasons to tune in.

There are six teams in the NBA that, for a variety of reasons, have no shot of making the play-in tournament — the Sh*tty Six, if you will. However, the NBA is in an era of embarrassing riches; even these teams have compelling storylines to follow in the year’s last 20 games.

So whether you’re a local fan or a bored League Pass junkie, here’s what to watch for if morbid curiosity gets the better of you.

Memphis Grizzlies: Vince Williams, doin’ it all

The Internet is abuzz about Memphis rookie GG Jackson, the talented but erratic bucket-getting forward. His development is crucial to watch, but frankly, I’m far more interested in the unheralded Vince Williams.

If you’ve been a reader for a while (thanks!), then you know we’re getting close to my end-of-season All-Poetry team, comprised of the players I’ve loved watching most this season. Spoilers: Williams will be one.

It feels like the 23-year-old 6’6” sophomore plays a different position every night, yet he does them all with aplomb. He’s been an off-ball wing, a small-ball power forward, and, more recently, the point guard. Williams has averaged more than six assists since the start of February despite averaging fewer than three in the season up until that point!

And Williams has done it all with legitimately ferocious defense. He gets his hand on every loose ball, disrupts passing lanes, and rebounds harder than your college roommate after getting dumped for the fifth time this semester.

That versatility has been key to keeping Williams on the floor as the Grizzlies have battled an avalanche of injuries. He brings enough discrete skills to shapeshift into a peg that fits any hole.

Here is a typical Williams play. Williams (#5) is guarding Draymond Green but recognizes that teammate big man Jaren Jackson Jr. is mismatched on Steph Curry. Williams somehow beats Green’s bounce pass to the spot and forces a startled Curry into an airball:

Not bad for a 47th overall pick who entered the season on a two-way contract!

Williams will likely never be a 20-point scorer, but his deep bag of skills means that he will be a big part of winning Memphis basketball as soon as next season. He’s the exact sort of connector that every playoff team needs. When searching for a comparison, my mind goes to Miami’s Caleb Martin, the hero of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. But Williams is younger and might already be better, and he’s only just getting started.

San Antonio Spurs: Devin Vassell’s passing

If you’re watching the Spurs, you’re watching for Victor Wembanyama, but we’ve talked about him enough. Keep an eye out for Devin Vassell’s growth as a facilitator.

A recent mailbag question asked who, if anyone, the Spurs should keep around Wemby in the future. Vassell is the most important answer. Vassell hasn’t had the leap I expected in his third season, but there are signs that he is finally coming around.

Vassell’s playmaking and defense have both improved recently. February was Vassell’s best month of the season. He averaged nearly 23 points and five assists while adding nearly a block and a steal per game.

The passing is a crucial issue; it almost feels like Vassell just realized how tall Wembanyama is. The pick-and-roll has been more fluid, and Vassell is finding more creative angles to get his French counterpart the ball. This is university-level chemistry gestating in front of our eyes:

Vassell and Wembanyama have connected on 14 alley-oops this season; five occurred in February alone. Small samples be damned; that’s a positive trend!

Vassell is a proven shooter, and while he’s not a great defender, he’s getting better. But to thrive on the Spurs, he’ll have to learn how to feed the big dog his snacks. The last six weeks have made me feel much better about his long-term fit with Wemby.

Detroit Pistons: A lineup that doesn’t suck!

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