While this would be a fun space to rally the troops regarding boycotting future NBA Cup games (the Memphis Grizzlies are now 0-6 in NBA Cup play dating back to last season after last night’s loss to the Denver Nuggets), the cup is here to stay.
Previewing tonight’s game would also be a worthwhile endeavor. Philadelphia is desperate to win, and Memphis should feel the same way after their showing against Denver.
Instead, the topic to tackle is the unfortunate truth surrounding the Grizzlies injury situation. For yet again, a Grizzlies player (Vince Williams Jr.) exited a contest - this time after a fairly ugly looking turn of an ankle - and is expected to miss some time.
Now Vince Williams Jr. just came back from another health issue. And Ja Morant and Zach Edey are also on the shelf - Ja for his hip, Edey for his ankle as well. GG Jackson Jr. has been out the entire season to date to to foot surgery, as has Cam Spencer with his own lower leg ailment.
The Memphis Grizzlies seemingly have been without a third of their roster (and half their projected rotation) the entire season. And naturally, you want to figure out why. Followed by blaming that source of the team’s health woes and firing them.
Or maybe shooting them off in a rocket to space. Or at the very least burn sage around them to cleanse their spirit.
The toughest part of this Grizzlies season to date is the unfortunate reality that Memphis is just experiencing dumb, bad, luck. Ja Morant fell down and landed on his hip, causing it to dislocate and then slide back in to the socket on its own.
How is that Head Coach Taylor Jenkins’ fault, exactly?
Zach Edey and Vince Williams Jr. both rolled their ankles playing the game of basketball, which for anyone who has ever played basketball knows is a fairly common occurance. And GG Jackson hurt his foot preparing for the NBA season in a workout with teammate with Desmond Bane (another Grizzlies player who has spent time on the injury list).
Where does the line start to ask Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman why he picked such injury prone players? Did the medical staff not do their research? We demand answers!
Here’s the answer - s*** happens.
Basketball is a contact sport. While the frequency and severity of injury doesn’t exist at the same level as, say, football (a collision sport), there is still plenty of room for soft and hard tissue issues. The Grizzlies have revamped their training staff. They have done their due diligence on these players. They are among the most cautious organizations in the NBA with player returns from injury.
If you’re hosting an outdoor party and an unexpected rain storm rolls in, you can yell at the clouds that produced it. Or the weatherperson that tried to predict the unpredictable. Or, you can accept that sometimes there are things beyond your control.
Grab your umbrellas, Memphis. The rain isn’t going away anytime soon.
