The Memphis Grizzlies faced a challenging encounter against the Brooklyn Nets, with their fortunes swinging dramatically during the fourth quarter. A game that began with promise saw the Grizzlies trailing by just a point at the end of the third quarter. However, the competitive edge quickly slipped away as the deficit ballooned to 13 points within eight minutes of the final period.
Contributing to the Grizzlies' struggles was the absence of key player Ja Morant, who was notably off the court for much of this critical stretch. Jaren Jackson Jr. also spent a significant portion on the bench, over four minutes, adding to the team's woes. The bad luck did not end there for Memphis. Desmond Bane departed early due to an oblique injury, while Marcus Smart exited with a right ankle issue, amplifying the pressure on head coach Taylor Jenkins to make difficult lineup decisions.
Managing a Volatile Lineup
The unexpected injuries and absences forced Jenkins to rely on an all-bench lineup from the 9:20 mark to the 5:58 mark in the fourth quarter. The challenge for Jenkins was not just dealing with the injuries but also maintaining any form of consistency in team chemistry amidst a constantly shifting squad. "There's a lot of things on the table," Jenkins remarked about the situation. "We have guys getting hurt in the middle of the game, so we're having to adjust. We're having guys out in the starting lineup, in and out, all that, so that kind of changes things."
This season, Memphis has adopted an 11- or 12-man rotation, which is quite unusual in the league. Notably, alongside the Golden State Warriors, they are among the only teams not averaging at least one player with 30 minutes per game. Santi Aldama, leading the Grizzlies in playing time, averages just 27.7 minutes per game. Despite this approach, the team has yet to have any player log over 30 minutes in a single game this season.
Balancing Player Health and Competition
Morant's situation further complicates Jenkins’ task in juggling player time and team strategy. The decision on how to deploy Morant remains a balancing act between competition and health management. "Obviously, it's a process. You got to be smart," Morant explained, emphasizing a cautious return strategy. "You don't want to go throw me in there for 36 minutes. God willing, nothing happens, but you just got to be smart."
Jenkins noted this careful strategy is part of working with Morant and the medical team to ensure his conditioning is right. "We're working with him and the medical team about how we want to deploy him over this stretch right now. Obviously, he was out for a portion of preseason, so getting his game legs and conditioning right," Jenkins said.
A Grueling Schedule and Offensive Prowess
The Grizzlies’ early season schedule has been relentless, squeezing six games into just nine days, resulting in a 2-3 record. Despite the challenges, Memphis stands out for their offensive pace, ranking second in the league. This frenetic tempo and depth are both a reflection of Jenkins’ strategy and a necessity given their current circumstances.
With every game, Memphis finds itself learning and adapting. "Every game is presenting a new opportunity to try to find chemistry," Jenkins observed, highlighting the fluid and evolving nature of their team dynamics.
As the Grizzlies navigate this turbulent start to the season, maintaining a high level of competition while managing player health remains their central mission. Can Memphis sustain this pace amid the injuries and intense schedule? Only time will tell, but Jenkins and his squad seem committed to facing every challenge head-on, hoping that stability will eventually offer them consistent success on the court.