The Memphis Grizzlies faced formidable challenges during their recent matchup against the Brooklyn Nets, a game marked by adversity and strategic recalibration. Despite starting the final quarter with only a one-point deficit, the Grizzlies found themselves struggling to keep pace as the lead swelled to 13 points within just eight minutes of play.
Instrumental in this struggle was the absence of key player Ja Morant for much of the critical period. Adding to the team's woes, Jaren Jackson Jr.’s more than four-minute absence, coupled with Desmond Bane's early exit due to an oblique injury, compounded Memphis's difficulties. Marcus Smart also left the game with a right ankle injury, further complicating head coach Taylor Jenkins' task of managing the lineup.
Lineup Dilemmas Amid Injuries
As adversity mounted, Coach Jenkins was forced to innovate, employing an all-bench lineup from 9:20 to 5:58 in the fourth quarter. Jenkins expressed the complexity of his predicament, stating, "There's a lot of things on the table. 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."
Memphis's reliance on a deep rotation was evident in their strategic choices, having utilized an expansive 11- or 12-man setup over their initial five games of the season. The Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors stand as exceptions in the league, being the only teams without a player averaging at least 30 minutes per game.
Pacing Peculiarities
Despite their setbacks, the Grizzlies maintain an impressive rank as the second-fastest offensive team in the league. This rapid pace has been sustained even as no individual player has reached the 30-minute mark in a game this season, with Santi Aldama leading the team in playing time at an average of 27.7 minutes per contest.
As the Grizzlies juggle both pace and player workload, Ja Morant’s situation remains a focal point. Discussing his return to the court, Morant remarked on the cautious approach being taken with his minutes: "Obviously, it's a process. You got to be smart. You don't want to go throw me in there for 36 minutes. God willing, nothing happens, but you just got to be smart."
The Road Ahead
Working closely with Morant and their medical team, Jenkins is carefully considering how to manage player deployment. "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," noted Jenkins, underscoring the ongoing adjustments needed in light of Morant's preseason absence.
As Memphis navigates through an arduous schedule featuring six games within nine days, their 2-3 record reflects the trials faced in finding consistent success. Each game presents new challenges but also, as Jenkins hinted, opportunities: "Every game is presenting a new opportunity to try to find chemistry."
The Grizzlies remain committed to adapting and evolving in real-time, balancing the immediate demands of game-day strategy with the longer-term goals of player health and team cohesion. While the season's opening weeks have brought their share of trials, the Memphis Grizzlies continue to demonstrate resilience, experimenting with their lineup to better integrate their talent under unpredictable conditions.