Jaren Jackson Jr goes up for a monster block.
(Credit: NBAE via Getty Images )
The Grizzlies faced off against the New Orleans Pelicans Tuesday night and were well and truly trounced. The Grizzlies were without Desmond Bane and the Pelicans were without Zion Williamson. The Pelicans were able to overcome their teammate’s absence, but the Grizzlies decidedly were not.
Let’s get into it.
The Good: Jaren Jackson Jr made his season debut and registered 5 blocks. Including this beautiful one:
The Bad: Desmond Bane has been added to the injured list with a big toe sprain, to be evaluated in 2-3 weeks.
The Ugly: 26% from beyond the arc, 68% from the free throw line, and minus 15 in the assist battle. The meager 16 Grizzlies assists to 31 Pelicans assists = embarrassing and unacceptable.
New Orleans thrashed Memphis and it wasn’t a particularly fun battle to watch. And it was extra frustrating knowing that the Pelicans were missing their best player. Turns out they didn’t need Zion Williamson to win.
CJ McCollum, a certified Grizz killer, lit up the three-point line, going 7 for 13. That is only two fewer made threes than the entire Grizzlies squad. Which is … less than ideal. Brandon Ingram and Larry Nance Jr each put up 19 points. Ingram shot 2 of 2 from three. Nance put Santi Aldama on a poster.
By the Numbers:
Ja Morant led all scorers with a game-high 36 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.
Dillon Brooks finished with 19 points and 2 rebounds while shooting 2 of 9 from distance.
With Bane out, Brooks took it upon himself to try and make up for the loss of three-point shooting. Not great. Hopefully, we will see fewer three-point attempts and more driving to the basket from Brooks in the future.
Brandon Clarke led the scoring off the bench, putting up 15 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks.
No other Grizzlies player scored in double figures.
Who Got Next?
The gang is headed back to home turf. The Grizzlies will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, November 18th. Tip-off is at 7 PM CST.
The Grizzlies just keep celebrating in this historic season. (Photo cred: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
On Wednesday night, the Grizzlies’ star guard was sidelined for the second straight game with knee soreness as Memphis took on the Nets. Still, the Grizzlies showed they are a complete team with the next man up mentality.
Ja Morant is by far the best player on the team, but his teammates are solid players as well. Their skill was on full display in front of a packed FedExForum — and a national TV audience on ESPN. The Grizzlies beat the Nets 132-120.
Nets head coach Steve Nash had some interesting and telling words after the game about the Grizzlies ability to win without Ja Morant. He said, “Talent — they have a talented, balanced roster. Our roster is built on three stars. When they’re out it makes it very difficult and puts a big strain on guys to play roles that they haven’t played before.”
Kevin Durant also spoke about Memphis’ ability to win without Morant. “I mean look down the line, they got solid players all the way down the line, just good players, you know. De’Anthony Melton came in and changed the game. I think that’s what won them the game. I think our starting five, pretty much match them. You know, then you know you got guys off the bench that came in and play well, so they got a deep team. They got a lot of athletic guys and they run fast, and he played [with] a lot of confidence.”
Durant continued, “I think one through 10 in their rotation are just solid players. You know Ja [Morant] is the superstar on this team, but they got guys that can start with pretty much a lot of teams in the league. Their front office did a great job putting this team together.”
De’Anthony Melton led the charge off the bench with a season-high 23 points, including a career-high six 3-pointers.
The Memphis bench outscored the Nets reserves 52-11.
“We are nothing to play with — one man goes down, two men go down — we are so deep you know we have a lot of depth in our team,” said Melton after the statement win before a national TV audience. “We have a lot of guys that work on their game and want to win from the top to the bottom no matter what. So, we understand what we need to do to go out there and get the victory. We’re going to do that no matter what. Each guy understands that and is willing to put their body on the line for it.”
In Morant’s absence, Melton had his own highlight dunk that surely will be featured on SportsCenter.
Dillon Brooks also has a special message about the Grizzlies. “We still got the grit — we still got the grind,” Brooks proclaimed. “I feel like we just got a lot of swagger to us. It doesn’t matter who it is on the floor. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing against. We just have that different type of swagger. It shouldn’t matter if we’re playing Brooklyn or if we’re playing Atlanta. We have to figure out how to keep this same energy, the same grit, the same attention to detail so we can finish out the season and go into the playoffs with some momentum.” Brooks ended the night with 21 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Desmond Bane had 23 points on 6-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc, including 3 three-pointers in the game’s final frame to help give Memphis a 132-120 victory over the Nets as “Whoop That Trick” blasted loudly on ESPN.
Bane walked to the interview podium with the game ball tucked in his hand. “It’s a huge accomplishment — I’m super thankful,” Bane said about breaking the franchise record. “I have to thank my teammates, first and foremost. And Coach Jenkins, for giving us all the confidence to be aggressive and continue to let it fly, make or miss. We got a great team, something special going on. We always share the ball and the ball happens to find me in the right place. And the rest is history.”
The TCU alum said he will have Mike Miller sign the game ball, and he will sign it himself, date it, and then put it up. Bane also revealed that he and Miller had a good relationship.
“We’re not sneaking up on nobody anymore. The Grizzlies got that respect. I mean, it started kind of this morning and yesterday with All Access [ESPN] and stuff like that.”
Desmond Bane at the post game presser with his record breaking game ball.
ESPN crews had been in Memphis the last couple of days to bring national attention to the Grizzlies. Personalities including Andrews, Stephen A. Smith, Jalen Rose, Kendrick Perkins, and more were in the Bluff City.
“The national networks are starting to take notice and pick up on our team and a great season we’re having,” Bane added. “To beat a team like Brooklyn, who’s building, trying to contend for it all. We’re shorthanded without Ja; it says a lot about our team and what we’re capable of.”
Stingy defense by Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke kept Brooklyn at just 16 points in the fourth quarter and ensured a decisive victory. Jackson Jr. ended with 13 points, five rebounds, and four blocks while Clarke finished with a double-double, 14 points, and 10 rebounds off the bench.
— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) March 24, 2022
“That’s one of our best big combinations and we didn’t know what they were going to do lineup-wise,” Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins said of the two defensive studs. “Start off the fourth quarter, which we normally start our force with [Brandon Clarke] and [Jaren Jackson Jr.], those guys. You just see the activity they play with. We started switching actions more, pick-and-rolls, putting bigs onto [Kyrie] Irving.”
Jenkins added, “Great one-on-one defense, and then when they were getting inside to the paint, we were just swarming them and blocking shots or rebounds. And then, when those guys just play with great guard play the way that they run the floor, [Clarke] the threat in the paint and at the rim, and then [Jackson Jr.] from the 3-point line, it’s just great balance.”
“They really set the tone with their defense because they’re very versatile,” Jenkins continued. “As I said, they were able to switch onto two of the most elite playmakers in the league and really hold it down.”
With the win, the Grizzlies improved to 50-23 on the season.
Melton was thankful for getting 50 for the first time ever. “I won 19 games my rookie year out of 82, which is crazy,” said Melton. “I mean from the jump, from the time I got here, I mean, I noticed the team — you know going uphill, upstream right now, and I feel like everybody has gotten better and everybody keeps getting better. I think that’s the motto in Memphis. Everybody has adapted to that and understands that.”
Eventually people will stop sleeping on the depth of this team. Great in game response to the Nets runs and lockdown 4th qtr D. Respect this team!!
The Grizzlies closed out a three-game homestand on Sunday with a wire-to-wire 128-101 win against the Sacramento Kings, their first such win this season. The victory also snaps a two-game Memphis losing streak.
A Morant-less Memphis team made a big statement against the Kings, leading by as many as 37 points. This is the kind of team-effort-oriented basketball that the Grizzlies need to play while their star point guard is on the injured list. Sharing the load becomes incredibly important now, and the better they manage to do it, the better they will fare during this stretch.
Every player that took the floor made a positive contribution of some sort. Several guys on the roster whose names you don’t often hear played hefty minutes in the second half, and all but one scored at least one basket. Jarrett Culver has the distinction of being the only Grizzlies player finishing the game scoreless.
More Is More:
The Grizzlies not only beat the Kings overall, but they also beat them in rebounds (68-49), they beat them in the paint (72-36), they beat them on fast-break points (20-10), they beat them from beyond the arc (13-9), and they beat them in assists (30-17).
By the Numbers:
Dillon Brooks finished with a game-high 21 points, 6 rebounds, and two steals, and Brandon Clarke closed out with 15 points, 6 rebounds. Shoutout Canada!
Brandon Clarke versus the Timberwolves (Courtesy Memphis Grizzlies)
The Memphis Grizzlies appeared to be dead in the water at the FedExForum on Monday night, while the Minnesota Timberwolves looked to be in command, ahead by 16 in the fourth. A 14-point deficit loomed over the Grizzlies with less than five minutes remaining.
When it was all said and done, the Grizzlies emerged victorious in overtime, 125-118, over the Timberwolves. With the most recent victory, the Grizzlies have now beaten the Timberwolves seven times in a row.
After the game, Taylor Jenkins talked about his team’s perseverance. He said, “The positive vibes throughout, the guys knew that [it’s a] long game, we have more to give. They went on a crazy run there. We went cold, down 16 in the fourth quarter. Just to hear the guys saying there’s tons of time left, there’s six minutes left, 12 point game, we knock down these free throws — it’s a 10 point game. Just that confidence and you get the result.”
Jenkins added, “Some crazy plays down the stretch that forced it to overtime, that will really test your resolve and your spirit going into overtime with a momentum play like that, but we’re the ones that jump out to the lead in overtime. I think a couple quick buckets and then we just made the plays. Our guys were dialed in on the fly defensively, offensively. Tons of credit. Hopefully, this is something that we can build off of. Find consistency. There’s lots of different ways to win a game. This is an impressive one for sure.”
Brandon Clarke, who had been the odd man out of the Grizzlies rotation, played a critical part in their comeback win with his best game of the season.
Jenkins applauded Clarke’s crucial contribution off the bench. “I’ve definitely got to shout out Brandon Clarke — he’s been out of the rotation for a while,” Jenkins said. “He was huge tonight early in the game and then he’s out. And then when Jaren [Jackson Jr.] fouls out, still it had been a really long time since he had been in the game, and now he’s got to read and guard one-on-one and a couple big time tip-in plays. He was huge.”
In 24 minutes, Clarke led the bench with a season-high 20 points and nine rebounds. Clarke was thankful about his return to the lineup. “I am just glad that coach had trust in me,” he shared. “I have been working on my game every day and training. I have been ready every game, so I am just glad that coach had that trust. I am just glad that coach saw me working, and that he knew when he put me in the game I would be able to be me. It is really just me bringing my energy. That really makes me.”
Clarke admitted it was difficult being out of the rotation. “It was kind of hard mentally,” the 25-year old said. “It was harder last year when I wasn’t in the rotation, because that was the first time that happened to me. I learned from last year not to get down and I knew how fast things change. It was really early in the year, so I was never really down mentally. I wasn’t happy, but I was never down. I was always putting in the work, and I felt like whenever I was given the chance, that I would just try to make the best of it.”
Tidbits Ja Morant continues to amazes. The 22-year-old finished with 33 points, eight assists, and six rebounds on 10-of-24 shooting. According to the Grizzlies, Morant now ranks fifth in the NBA, averaging 5.3 points per game in “clutch time.” Take a look at two clutch plays.
Melton chipped in 19 points, three rebounds, and three assists while shooting 7-of-12 from the field.
The Grizzlies’ bench outscored the Minnesota Timberwolves’ bench 43-16 while shooting 61 percent from the field and 43 percent from beyond the arc.
The Timberwolves had three players with 20 plus points. D’Angelo Russell scored season-high 30 points adding seven assists and five rebounds. Anthony Edwards added 27 points with five rebounds and three steals, and Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double by 25 points and grabbing 13 boards.
Up next On Wednesday, the Grizzlies will face off against LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets at the FedExForum. Tip-off: 7 p.m. CT
The Grizzlies (3–6) were able to secure their first home win of the season after defeating the Brooklyn Nets (5–5), 115–110 on Friday night. Memphis finished the game shooting 45.9 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from three. The Grizzlies take the season series 2-0.
Dillion Brooks led the Grizzlies with a season-high 24 points, while going 10-of-19 from the field. Memphis is now 3–0 this season when Brooks scores 20 or more points and 23–6 going back to last season.
Brooks, Clarke Help Grizzlies Pull Past Brooklyn (3)
Brandon Clarke arguably had his best performance of the season after struggling in previous games. Clarke finished with a season-high 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two blocks in 33 minutes. After the game, Clarke said, “It was hurting, obviously losing those games ’cause we all just really really want to win — we got a bunch of winners, so it just feels really good to get that first game at home.”
Tyus Jones recorded his second double-double of the season with 11 points, 10 assists, and a team-high four steals. Meanwhile, De’Anthony Melton led the bench with 14 points, five rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Brooks, Clarke Help Grizzlies Pull Past Brooklyn (2)
Caris LeVert led the Nets with a game-high 43 points, five rebounds, and six assists on the night. Taurean Prince chipped in 16 points and four rebounds, while Joe Harris added 13 points while going 6-of-9 from the field as a reserve in 28 minutes of play for Brooklyn.
Notes
It was announced at halftime that Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas wouldn’t return to the game due to health and safety protocols.
“As soon as we got the notification in conversations with the league, we had to pull him from the game out of an abundance of caution and put him into the Health and Safety Protocols,” said Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins. “The big thing is he’s not (tested) positive, but it’s an abundance of caution.”
Up Next
The Grizzlies will head to Cleveland to seek revenge against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, Jan 11. Tip-off starts at 6 pm CST.
The Grizzlies got the new year started off right with a sound thrashing delivered to the Hornets, bringing them to 2-1 for the first road trip of the season.
Injuries left Memphis with only nine available players against Charlotte. Despite the unfavorable odds, several players stepped up to fill the gaps in the roster. Six out of nine Grizzlies finished the game in double digits. Here’s the breakdown:
Dillon Brooks
Dillon Brooks led all scorers with 21 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals, including 5 of 10 from beyond the arc.
Kyle Anderson continues to be critical to the success of this squad, finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Brandon Clarke had his best night of the young season, looking a lot more like last season’s self, with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Jonas Valanciunas had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Gorgui Dieng gave a much-needed spark off the bench and ended the night with 14 points and 8 rebounds.
Desmond Bane, the rookie from TCU, got his first career start and finished with 10 points and 4 assists.
Tyus Jones only scored 6 points, but provided a dozen assists as he made things easier for his teammates.
The Grizzlies did all the right things, despite being short-handed, and it paid off.
They played smart defense, scoring 25 points off 19 Charlotte turnovers. And they sharing the ball well, with a team total of 34 assists. The performance in Charlotte is exactly what the Grizzlies need going forward. Everyone contributing something until the injured big guns — Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. — return.
Who Got Next?
The Grizzlies return home to face the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Tip-off is at 5 pm CST.
On March 11, 2020, the NBA suspended its season after Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. Now, more than four months later, 22 teams are in Orlando, Florida, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (Walt Disney World). All 22 teams have had mini training camp sessions and will participate in three inter-squad scrimmages before the remainder of the shortened “regular season” kicks off on July 30, closely followed by the playoffs.
All teams will be playing eight regular-season games before the playoffs. The Grizzlies will face the Philadelphia 76ers today (July 24) at 2:30 p.m. CT. The other two scrimmages will be against the Houston Rockets on July 26 at 7 p.m. CST and the Miami Heat on July 28 at 1 p.m. CST. The scrimmages will be shown live on Grizzlies.com with commentary from Pete Pranica and Rob Fischer.
When the season was interrupted, The Grizzlies sat in the eighth spot in the West with a 32–33 record — 3.5 games ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, and Sacramento Kings.
Here’s the play-in scenario for the eighth seed. If the team in eighth place is more than four games ahead of the team in ninth place, the eighth-placed team qualifies for the playoff berth. If the team in ninth place is within four games, those two teams would compete in a play-in tournament for the eighth seed in the playoffs. The ninth-place team must win two games before the eighth-place team wins one to clinch the eighth playoff spot.
The Grizzlies eight seeding games are as follows:
Friday, July 31 — Trail Blazers, 3 p.m.
Sunday, August 2 — Spurs, 3 p.m.
Monday, August 3 — Pelicans, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, August 5 — Jazz, 1:30 p.m.
Friday, August 7 — Thunder, 3 p.m.
Sunday, August 9 — Raptors, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, August 11 — Celtics, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 13 — Bucks, TBD
Here are five questions that face the Grizzlies as the NBA restarts:
1. The Grizzlies roster makeup has changed since the start of the regular season, and since the hiatus. Do you think the new-look Grizzlies can succeed?
Aimee Steigemeyer: It will be the core group of players that put together wins before the hiatus who will be the deciding factors in whatever success the Grizzlies have going forward. Having all those key guys healthy when the season resumes will be a huge asset in the team’s favor. The new additions are like sprinkles on a cupcake — nice if you can get it but not critically necessary.
Sharon Brown: Yes, I believe it will lead to success. If Gorgui Dieng or Anthony Tolliver can go in to knock down shots or defend to give the starters a bit of rest then it will be beneficial for the team. But make no mistake about it, success will ultimately rely on all the players that are there.
At the beginning of the season, Josh Jackson was in Southaven, playing for the Hustle, before he was called up to the main roster. Jackson had been performing well and was finding a groove before the season was suspended. In his last five games, the Kansas product averaged 16.6 points.
2. Speaking of success, how will the season be viewed if the Grizzlies make a playoff run — or not?
Aimee: Given where this team was “supposed” to be, the season is already a success. But it would absolutely make it much sweeter to see them hold onto the eighth seed and try to make whatever kind of splash they can in the playoffs. I know that I am still eating crow for my comments in January about the playoffs not being a realistic goal for this team. I don’t have a problem admitting when I am wrong, and I will happily wear my clown mask and root for a playoff run. I don’t think you put an asterisk on this season either.
And if ever there were a year when a young and hungry team could be a dark horse threat in the postseason, it is this year and this team. If by some chance #GrzNxtGen manages to run through the Lakers in the first round, it will not be the craziest thing to happen in 2020.
Sharon: The 2019–2020 will be a success for the team whether they clinch the playoffs or not. Memphis was supposed to be at the bottom of the league and projected to win 20 to 23 games. This is a fun team that fans can be proud of for years to come. This season will be something the players can build upon and grow to eventually become a championship contender.
3. According to a number of reports, the NBA informed teams that the 2019–20 NBA Awards (MVP, Rookie of Year, Sixth Man, Defensive Player, etc) will be based upon the regular season through the date the season was suspended on March 11. What are the chances the Grizzlies guard Ja Morant will win Rookie of the Year?
Aimee: I’d say damn near 100 percent. Morant should be the unanimous Rookie of the Year (ROY) and it’s not even close. I know the national media loves Zion Williamson, but it would be outright favoritism to consider him a ROY candidate having played less than two dozen games.
Sharon: Morant most definitely should be the Rookie of the Year and it should be a unanimous decision. Morant has put in the work and then some. He leads all qualified rookies in scoring (17.6), assists (6.9) and double-doubles (11). The three-time NBA Rookie of the Month for the Western Conference (October/November, December, January) is the only rookie this season to post a triple-double (with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Washington Wizards in February).
There’s more — the first-year guard also is Mr. Fourth Quarter. He ranks sixth in fourth-quarter scoring at 7.3 points.
4. Besides Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., who will be the X-factor in the season restart?
Aimee: [Justise Winslow could be another piece that fits.] That would have been my answer to this question before the announcement of his hip injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Said injury is unfortunate, but if you take into account that no one really expected Winslow to play at all until next season, I don’t think this puts them in any worse shape.
Brandon Clarke and Grayson Allen being healthy and available will be significant factor in any success the Grizzlies achieve during the restart. I also hope that Coach Jenkins has paid attention to the campaign to #FreeJoshJackson, especially now that he’s spent some time under Tony Allen’s wing.
Sharon: Dillon Brooks is definitely an X-factor. This season the Grizzlies are 18–4 when he scores 20 or more points a game and are 4–15 when he scores in single digits. Memphis needs Brooks to ball out along with the other young core in order to stay on pace to clinch its first playoff berth since 2017.
Also, the Grizzlies bench is a big key to victory and is ranked in the top five in efficiency. The Grizzlies’ reserves average 41.4 points a game, which ranks sixth in the NBA. The bench ranks first among benches in field goal percentage (.479) assists (12.1) and steals (4.1). The hiatus was a blessing in disguise since Brandon Clarke and Grayson Allen will be healthy and back in action.
5. Have your expectations for Memphis changed from the beginning of the 2019-2020 season through the hiatus and the season restart?
Aimee: Honestly, I will be happy just to watch some basketball again. That said, I hope to see them retain their position as the 8th seed. If they do, no one can say they didn’t earn it. (I’m looking at you, Pelicans Twitter)
Sharon: Of course. Many thought it would take years for this version of the Grizzlies to be successful. But somehow, the team found a way to win and are knocking on the door to the playoffs. The team collectively isn’t afraid to compete with any other team and has the mindset of proving everyone wrong. Jackson Jr. summed up that feeling back in February. He said, “Nobody really thought that we’d be in this position at this point. People just said to us, “Oh, you have time. Don’t worry about it! You’re young!” We kind of were just like, “We don’t care.” That’s how we play and how we are — we just don’t care.”
My apologies for doubting the team, Jaren. It won’t happen again.
Good news from the Memphis Grizzlies Monday afternoon regarding Jaren Jackson, Jr and Justice Winslow. The team announced Jackson and Winslow both are likely to return within the next week.
Jackson has been sidelined since February 21st due to a knee injury and Winslow has not seen playing time with his new team since being traded. Winslow suffered a back injury while playing with the Miami Heat and has been out of action since January 8th.
Brandon Clarke suffered a right quadriceps strain on February 24 against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Grizzlies announced Clarke is progressing well in his recovery and is expected to return this season.
Jackson and Winslow are likely to return to action as soon as the Grizzlies’ upcoming three-game road trip that begins Thursday in Portland against the Trailblazers, who are also vying for the 8th seed in the Western Conference.
With just over a month remaining in the regular season, Memphis holds a four-game lead over the ninth-place Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans.
New Locker Room Procedures
The NBA will take active precautionary measures against the coronavirus, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He reported that the NBA will prohibit non-essential personnel from entering team locker rooms, including media. The league will reportedly keep media members at a six-to-eight feet distance from players.
Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) issued a joint statement on Monday:
“After consultation with infectious disease and public health experts, and given the issues that can be associated with close contact in pre- and post-game settings, all team locker rooms, and clubhouses will be open only to players and essential employees of teams and team facilities until further notice. Media access will be maintained in designated locations outside of the locker room and clubhouse setting.”
Statement from the Memphis Grizzlies regarding the new directive:
“This will go into effect starting with our game tomorrow against Orlando, and we will have one interview room available for each team’s media availability starting with shootaround. The media dining room located inside the Don Poier Media Center will now be turned into a mixed-use press conference/dining room on a consistent basis for Memphis Grizzlies media availabilities (practices, shootarounds, pre and postgame). For tomorrow’s shootaround, please gather in the media dining room and we will take interview requests from this location. The Memphis Grizzlies communications team will be happy to show credentialed media the location of the visiting team’s interview room or answer any further questions.”
I understand why the NBA is taking these precautions, but I wonder about others who have access to the players when they are not around their team. Will teams limit what players do outside of work? Will the NBA limit family members or business partners? Will the players and essential personnel be quarantined?
There are so many questions that need to be answered. But it is understandable why the NBA is being proactive in this situation.
A combination of recency bias and media-fueled hype have derailed the conversation regarding the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year award. Ever since late January when he made his NBA debut, there has been talk amongst media about New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson being in contention for Rookie of the Year, despite being sidelined the majority of the season.
This chatter is growing increasingly loud and hard to ignore, hence why I am writing this today.All this for a player who has playedin only 17 games this season, and who would at most play 37 games — provided he plays every game left in the season.
Ja Morant
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have had the two best rookies in the league all season long in Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke. Clarke will likely remain unacknowledged, but Morant’s phenomenal play has been impossible to ignore. Morant has been the Rookie of the Year front-runner for most of the season, and for good reason.
Even though it was widely predicted they would be hot garbage this season, the Memphis Grizzlies are light years ahead in their rebuilding process. In fact, the team that many predicted would have the worst record in the league has been sitting comfortably in the 8th seed since before Williamson played a single minute of regular season basketball.
Moreover, the Rookie of the Year award is meant to spotlight achievement across the entire season. This would be impossible for a player who will have played less than half the season; it’s small-sample-size theater at best. It is unfortunate that Williamson’s rookie season has been marred by injury, but the fact remains that it has.
There have only been four instances in league history of a rookie of the year recipient playing less than 60 games, and two of those were during lockout seasons:
Kyrie Irving – 51 games – 2011-12
Vince Carter – 50 games – 1998-99
Patrick Ewing – 50 games – 1985-86
Terry Dischinger – 57 games – 1962-63
There is zero precedent for a player who has played as few games as Williamson has to be considered for Rookie of the Year, and now is not the time to start.
For the record, Morant isn’t stressing about this in the slightest. Recently, before the game against the Atlanta Hawks, Morant said, “I honestly don’t care about Rookie of the Year. They can give that to who they want.” The first year guard said he’s focused on getting the Grizzlies to the playoffs.
Morant has led a lottery team into playoff contention, no small feat for the first season of a rebuild. There has not been a player so dynamic and impactful so early in his career in a long time, and acknowledging Morant’s skill does not detract from Williamson in any way.
Would this be a different conversation if Williamson had played since the beginning of the season? Possibly. But that isn’t how the season has gone, and there is no sense in pretending a comparison between Morant and Williamson would be equitable or accurate.
The injury bug has hit the Memphis Grizzlies. First, Jaren Jackson Jr. went down against the Los Angeles Lakers with a knee injury, and then Brandon Clarke, who replaced Jackson in the starting lineup, went down with a hip injury against the Clippers after just four minutes of play on Monday night at Staples Center. Both are to be re-evaluated in two weeks. How will these injuries affect the Grizzlies’ playoff chances? It’s anyone’s guess.
Larry Kuzniewski
Jaren Jackson Jr.
The Grizzlies have lost three in a row and will be without Jackson and Clarke from seven to 10 games, or possibly longer, depending on the healing process. It doesn’t help that Dillon Brooks and Jonas Valanciunas have been in a funk lately, averaging a combined 13.66 points over the last three games. With Jackson and Clarke out, the Grizzlies can’t win when Brooks and Valanciunas aren’t playing well. And rookie phenom Ja Morant can’t carry the load alone if the Grizzlies want to continue to make a push for the playoffs.
What will the starting lineup look like without Jackson Jr. or Clarke?
Larry Kuzniewski
Brandon Clarke
Josh Jackson more than likely will become a starter, since he has been more comfortable playing as of late. He is averaging 15 points over the last three games and has been helping when the Grizzlies’ offense has gone stagnant. Gorgiu Dieng is another player who may get starter minutes. In the past two games, Dieng has averaged a double-double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
How will Coach Taylor Jenkins tweak it? He will certainly have to make adjustments. And Morant really might have to put the team on his back and play out of his mind until Jackson and Clarke return. And the now-depleted bench has to continue its strong play.
Memphis still has a hold on the eighth spot in the Western Conference at 28–29 on the season, three games in front of the Portland Trail Blazers, and 3.5 games ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs.
Adjustments will have to come quick, starting tonight in Houston against the Rockets, who will have Russell Westbrook available to play. Westbrook hasn’t played in either game against Memphis this season. The series is tied 1–1.
Larry Kuzniewski 
Larry Kuzniewski