The Grizzlies are coming off a big win in Milwaukee, with an interesting, and potentially telling, stretch of games ahead.

We’ll take a look at the looming schedule tomorrow, but for today we take a break to open up the mailbag, which took off last week to make room for my annual Ten Takes After Ten Games column.

This week, the people are wondering about Jaren Jackson Jr.’s late-game usage, potential movement at the end of the Grizzlies roster, and the Chandler Parsons end game. Speaking of end games, we make room here for some solicited nonsense about basketball sneakers and Thanksgiving dining.

Grizzlies Questions of the Week

How do you feel about the Grizz right now compared to this time last season? To my recollection, they had not quite decided to sit Mike yet and this was when the losing streak began.

— RP (@RaganSmash) November 14, 2018

This question – all of these questions – came in before last night’s bravura win in Milwaukee, which marked a kind of demarcation point from the odd symmetry between the beginning of this season and the beginning of last season: Conley struggling with his shot, JaMychal Green going down to an early injury, a nice 7-4 start followed by a loss, and then a Game 13 roadie in Milwaukee.

I wrote about what last night's divergence represented, for the Grizzlies and Conley, in my Road Recap on the game. I wouldn’t have called a win for the Grizzlies last night, but even before it I would have said I felt much better about this year’s team and insisted it wasn’t mere hindsight.

Last season, even before Conley’s season was halted, I was arguing with fans that he wasn’t healthy. (I was accused of “making excuses” for his poor play.) And I’d written in the preseason that the team’s second tier of veterans – Chandler Parsons/Tyreke Evans/Mario Chalmers/Brandan Wright – were a collective injury/health risk. This year’s model could use a Tyreke Evans, perhaps, but is otherwise sturdier from top to bottom and has a Conley who is coming out of a health problem, not coming into one.

Should / will JJJ remain in the starting lineup when Jamychal returns from injury?

— Wes George (@dwestlakeg) November 14, 2018

I'm going to be the idiot fan who asks...why doesn't JB just play JJJ until he fouls out every game? His defensive presence is so incredibly valuable and his interior offense is better than expected.

— Matt Foley (@GrizzlyMan901) November 14, 2018

I’ll take these together, but start with the second. Matt doesn’t quite ask about Jackson closing out close games, though maybe that’s implied.

J.B. Bickerstaff was criticized for not playing Jackson down the stretch of Monday’s home game against Utah, which the Grizzlies lost by eight. He wasn’t criticized, as much, for not playing Jackson in the fourth quarter in Milwaukee, a game the Grizzlies won by three. So it goes.

At some point this will need to change, but I can’t yet work up much consternation about Jackson typically sitting in crunch time. He’s a 19-year-old rookie a month into his pro career on a team that’s actually pretty good. Jackson has indeed played fewer fourth-quarter minutes so far this season than his fellow Top 5 picks, but he’s younger, he’s on a better team, and he’s been worse, at least offensively, when he has played late. (Jackson’s shot 29 percent in fourth-quarter play.)

It’s not even the shooting or his foul problems, specifically, that I’d be concerned about. It’s the decision-making. At this stage, Jackson makes great plays but he can be a little shaky in the quiet moments in-between. His adjustment to the speed of the NBA game is as much mental as physical. You can see it in the stats: The lowest net rating or plus/minus among regular rotation players. That elite starting-lineup defense, which is best in the NBA among lineups that have logged at least 100 minutes? Evidence suggests that it’s Marc Gasol, Garrett Temple and Kyle Anderson who are doing the heaviest lifting there, even as Jackson has the big blocks.

Bickerstaff clearly feels more comfortable with his vets in the tightest moments, and most of the time, at least for now, that’s probably the right call. I do think that needs to change over time as part of Jackson’s development. But it’s still early, and I think the Grizzlies have done a nice job balancing developing Jackson and winning games.

But for that reason, I do think the team should be less squeamish about Jackson’s frequent fouls. For all of the focus on this as a problem, he’s only actually fouled out of a game once. If you may not be playing him late anyway, what are you saving him for? My personal opinion, in this case and most others, is that fouls should only cause you to use a player less than you want to if they actually foul out.

The first question? I’d say yes, and I imagine the team will too. It’s somewhat delicate given that Green is in a contract year. But even if I’m not calling for the Grizzlies to put the pedal to the floor on Jackson, I do think they should be pushing forward, not pulling back, with him. The guess here is that Green re-emerges as a third big, with inevitable injuries, slumps and “foul trouble” creating greater opportunities over time.

Do you have any intel (that you are willing/able to share) about the final roster spot?

— Adam Cohen (@ANC73) November 14, 2018

As of a couple of days ago, it didn’t seem like anything was imminent. Even the Dillon Brooks injury doesn’t seem to have forced the issue. Omri Casspi is about to be back, and I think the team is intrigued by Yuta Watanabe as a close-to-ready NBA defender. (Offense is a different story.)

I’d reported a couple of weeks ago that the team had taken a look a Joakim Noah, but weren’t going to be signing him, at least not at that/this time. Which leads to …

Is a 2nd big or a more true SF a better choice with the 15th roster spot

— TJ fr??m TWlTTER (@TJfromTWlTTER) November 14, 2018

The Grizzlies have survived pretty well down essentially three frontcourt players (Green, Casspi and Chandler Parsons). Even with those absences, Ivan Rabb has struggled to find the floor and, as explored above, the team hasn’t been maxing out Jackson’s minutes. So, unless Gasol goes down, I don’t really see another big man as a pressing need.

The Grizzlies were fairly full on the wing before the Dillon Brooks injury, but they’re pretty skimpy on pure small forwards. I probably would say that’s the position of greatest need, but also of greatest utility. You can never have too many useful wings in today’s NBA.

Mostly, though, I think they should prioritize talent, particularly talent that can shoot, regardless of position. They found free agent keepers out of the G League in JaMychal Green and Wayne Selden. They found a keeper out of China in MarShon Brooks. An open roster spot is an opportunity. And barring emergency, there’s nothing wrong with keeping it open until the right opportunity arises.

Someone has to ask: your thoughts on #MeloToMemphis? And if not, how do we address scoring deficiency? With rotation adjustments? Or signing someone?

— CHIEF (@TheBarnChief) November 14, 2018

Is this the right opportunity?

Michael Jordan scored 20 points a game as a 39-year-old with the Washington Wizards and that finale was a career low.

More typically, though, Great Scorer in Twilight goes one of two other ways, and Grizzlies fans have had a front-row seat for signature examples of each.

You can cling to your past play as your body declines and the game passes you and then burn out, like Allen Iverson.

Or you can adjust to new realities and fade into supporting roles gracefully, like Vince Carter.

At 34, Carmelo Anthony is the same age as Iverson in his final NBA season and risks a similar finale.

Anthony is still a Houston Rocket, as this is written, but seems likely to be released soon. Would he make sense for the Grizzlies?

The case for it: Anthony would provide a scoring boost to a team that needs one. (The Grizzlies are currently ranked 21st offensively.) The Grizzlies have stars in Mike Conley and Marc Gasol capable of accommodating a high-usage shotmaker and a team defense (ranked 3rd) that can mitigate Anthony’s weak play at that end.

I might have made that very case a couple of years ago, but Anthony’s teams have struggled with him through two stops since then, his game has declined, and the wider game has shifted away from that declining skill set. Even his diminished shotmaking would probably still be helpful for the Grizzlies, but positionally Anthony’s probably strictly a “four” now and you could argue that three of the Grizzlies' six or seven best players (Jackson, Green, Anderson) are already best at that position. The Grizzlies foundation this season is their defensive gestalt. I would argue that rather than being strong enough to absorb Anthony's defensive weakness, the Grizzlies would be advised to protect their strength. Gasol, in particular, seems energized by playing alongside other good defenders.

Still, I wouldn’t dismiss the notion. If both sides wanted to make it work, there’s a chance it might. But I don’t see it. Any #MeloToMemphis marriage would be a reluctant one, and likely to be more like Iverson than Carter. I don’t see either party having the appetite – or desperation – to give it a go. My bets on Melo’s next move? Heat, Pelicans or Lakers. Though it’s probably not too late for a Chinese Basketball Association scoring title.

As for a scoring boost otherwise, a very short answer would come from Wednesday night's Milwaukee box score: Getting a good Mike Conley will go a long way, but I'd especially like to see higher-volume three-point shooting, especially from the frontcourt and most especially from Marc Gasol.

Do you see the Grizz trying to sign ZBO if he is bought out by Sacramento? Then retire at the end of the season

— Charles Hurley (@CharlesHurley2) November 14, 2018

Nothing has changed on this front since I last dismissed it. I continue to think a portion of the fan base hungers for it much more than the Grizzlies do. But it’s also worth noting that as long as Randolph is accepting of the status quo in Sacramento – and he seems to be – there’s no reason for the Kings to buy him out until after the trade deadline. They don’t have their draft pick this summer and really want to win this year. Randolph’s $11.7 million expiring contract could be a trade chip.

Do you think the Grizzlies should entertain the idea of a Parsons waive-and-stretch?

— Will Walker (@WillWalker21) November 14, 2018

Not now, but I fully expect this question to be revisited in the summer. The only reason for any kind of buyout of Parsons this season would probably be to free up a roster spot, and the Grizzlies already have an open one.

But my guess – and I haven’t talked to anyone with the team about this specifically – is that this will be Parsons’ final season on the active Grizzlies roster. If so, the ending could come in different ways. Could Parsons’ expiring contract going into next season be used in a trade to take back players on larger contracts, from a team looking ahead to 2020 free agency and for a team (Grizzlies) that’s deemed free agency a likely dormant road? Doubtful, but maybe.

If Parsons were bought out going into next season, the decision would be whether to carry his full $25 million on next season’s books and clear it completely ahead of the summer of 2020 or to “stretch” him, which would mean spreading that money across three seasons, with a cap impact of roughly $8.4 million per season. That decision would be predicated on so many factors that are hard to forecast right now. How does this season go and what does that mean for the team’s competitive hopes going into 2019-2020? Does Marc Gasol opt in to the last year of his current contract? Does he opt out and leave, clearing nearly $26 million off the team’s books next season? Or does he opt out and re-sign for multiple years at some smaller average salary? All of those options seem possible today and all would factor into any decision the Grizzlies might make on Parsons. The confluence of Gasol’s opt-out clause and the potential to waive-and-stretch Parsons creates a pretty wide range of salary cap outcomes for the Grizzlies next summer.

There’s no need to dwell on that right now, but you asked. It will be an interesting decision matrix, but the bet here is that it can wait until this summer and shouldn’t detract from enjoying the rest of this season.

thoughts on wayne selden? makes a lot of great plays, does a lot of dumb stuff. should he be in the rotation more?

— jacob boughter (@jacob_boughter) November 14, 2018

I was a Selden advocate in the preseason and have been glad to see him not get completely lost in the mix, but the results so far this season have been pretty mixed. As with Jackson above, Selden makes plays but lacks sustained play. The difference is that Selden is five years older and in his third NBA season.

Still, he’s a long, strong wing player who can slash and shoot (42 percent from three so far this season, 38 percent on this career), and those are good to have around. Selden continues to underperform his physical abilities defensively and especially on the boards. I once thought he might be a better long-term prospect than Dillon Brooks, and I’ve pretty well backed off of that. But until Brooks gets back, yes, Selden should be in the rotation. But he hasn’t really made a strong case for a bigger role than he currently has.

Javon wasn’t your preferred pick at 32-a summer league and 10+ games in, how many players who were available at 32 do you still prefer over him?

— scott mccullough (@bking53) November 14, 2018

At the time, I would have taken long-limbed wing Khyri Thomas, who went to the Pistons a few picks later and has played a total of four minutes so far.

I had a handful of other players also ranked ahead of Jevon Carter and still available, and most of them haven’t done much either: De’Anthony Melton (Suns) has played 22 minutes in two games and is firmly behind fellow rookie Elie Okobo. Melvin Frazier (Magic) has played a total of 11 minutes. Jalen Brunson (Mavericks) has been playing regular bench minutes, but not well, shooting 38 percent from the floor and 29 percent from three-point range.

One exception is delayed preps-to-pros center Mitchell Robinson, who I would have considered taking a pure talent flier on, though with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ivan Rabb (and, at that point, Deyonta Davis) already on board, he probably wasn’t much of an option for the Grizzlies. Robinson is playing bench minutes for the Knicks and blocking shots like crazy. The road ahead is long, but he’s shown some stuff.

As good as the top of last summer’s draft looks, second-rounders have been pretty lackluster. The best non-first-rounder has been another Knick, undrafted guard Allonzo Trier, averaging 11 points a game. The best second-rounders have probably been wings Rodions Kurucs (Nets) and Hamidou Diallo (Thunder).

It’s too early to really pass judgments. I’d probably still stick with Thomas (22 points on a game on elite shooting in four G League games), though Robinson would be tempting. As for Carter, the Grizzlies have been keeping him with the Hustle to accelerate his development. Through five games himself, he’s averaged 21 points and three steals on 45 percent shooting, but has struggled from long-range. They’re going to need him at some point this season; hopefully he’ll be ready.

The 'Around the Association' Question of the Week

JJJs bright orange high tops made me wonder Chris ? What were your kicks of choice back when(?) you was ballin’ out ? #converse

— Don Woody (@Don_Woody62) November 14, 2018

We’ll consider this a wider basketball question, at least.

I’ve never been a sneakerhead, but as a junior high-schooler did have a pair of Jordans, version two. These were a big deal at the time, and I remember some consternation at the thought of spending $50 (I think that’s what it was) on a pair of shoes. A few years ago, I was over at my Dad’s house and he’d just come in from doing yard work and what did he have on his feet? My old Jordans. I had no idea they had survived and been repurposed:

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A post shared by Chris Herrington (@cherrington901) on Oct 31, 2014 at 4:04pm PDT

I say 2.0, because these were actually the second version of the instantly iconic shoe, a story preserved in a famous moment of American racial conversation, on “Late Night with David Letterman”:

Otherwise, I remember having general Nike brand loyalty (for no good reason) but don’t remember any other specific high-tops. My most recent pair of basketball shoes, still in my closet, are some basic white Reeboks. My days of mediocre pick-up play have been done for a while.

The ‘There’s More to Life Than Basketball’ Question of the Week

Do you have a concrete recipe for your post-Thanksgiving turkey gumbo, and will you ever share it with the masses?

— Chris Faulkner (@FaulknerMemphis) November 14, 2018

It’s that time of year and this question is an alley-oop pass to present my traditional six-point defense of the too-maligned Thanksgiving turkey, which does in part relate back to basketball (see #4) and which culminates in an answer to the above question. I’ll do an abridged version here:

1. Tradition is a good thing: The turkey is synonymous with the holiday. Let Thanksgiving be Thanksgiving, not just a generic day where people are off work and you’re having a meal. Protect our national institutions.

2. It looks good on the table: The dining experience isn’t just about tastes, but odors and aesthetics. A turkey slow-roasting in the oven makes a transformative olfactory impact on your home and makes your spread Instagram-worthy.

3. Brining is the key: Brine your bird. Turkey does not have to be dry and tasteless. A whole turkey is a culinary challenge, but you can do it. And whatever method you choose, it needs to start with a good brine to bring out flavor and tenderness. (Most years, we use this Alton Brown guide, but with a fresh rather than frozen bird. Even if you wuss out and order a pre-cooked bird – yes, we’ve done this too – it will have been brined and most of the rest of this list will still apply.)

4. The turkey is the “glue guy”: Just because the turkey comes out last in the pre-game introductions doesn’t mean it will dominate the ball once tipoff comes. On the plate, it’s really a role player. It sets picks and blocks out while the dressing, yams, rolls, mashed potatoes with gravy, and the rest put numbers on the board. It’s a gustatory glue guy. But it has staying power …

5. Leftovers: Because the turkey’s yield is so abundant and because there’s so much enthusiasm for the other components of the Thanksgiving meal, the turkey leaves a lot of leftovers. This is a feature, not a bug. Thanksgiving is a four-day holiday, and the Friday (or Thursday night) turkey sandwich is part of the ritual.

6. The weekend soup or gumbo: And here we are, the grand finale of the Thanksgiving turkey experience. Refrigerate the carcass. Make a stock. Use the stock and final leftover turkey meat to make gumbo or soup. This is especially good for the breast meat if it comes out a little dry.

To (finally) answer the question at hand, I always do a turkey/andouille gumbo. This Emeril recipe is pretty close to what I make.

A few differences and notes: I use red rather than green bell pepper, strictly a personal preference. I also use ground (raw) andouille rather than pre-cooked/smoked andouille. I prefer the texture with the turkey. I sprinkle filé powder (and some Crystal or Louisiana hot sauce) on top when I eat, rather than green onions. (Hopefully it goes without saying that you add the rice to individual bowls of gumbo when served.) A simpler rice-turkey-sausage soup would be, well, simpler, and delicious with a homemade stock. But the hour spent slowly stirring your roux until it darkens is worth the labor, as far as I’m concerned. I end up with a pretty thin gumbo (no okra in this), but that’s the way I prefer it for this recipe. Good crusty French bread pairs nicely.