Joe Mullinax here, the host of the daily Locked On Grizzlies podcast, with your daily Locked On Grizzlies newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Grizzlies and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Why does the injury bug keep biting Memphis?
Nov 6, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) drives to the basket during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images|Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
As part of the Memphis victory Wednesday night, Ja Morant celebrated the first points of his new friend Yuki Kawamura’s NBA career hopping on one leg.
It wasn’t part of a new celebratory dance, a Griddy 2.0 if you will. It was because Morant got injured during the game with the Los Angeles Lakers. It is his hip this time - and it will mean he will at least miss tonight’s contest with the Washington Wizards. And perhaps even more time than that.
So add Morant’s name to a long, but distinguished, injury report that already includes Desmond Bane, Marcus Smart, and more.
What gives? Ja has openly discussed dunking less to try to protect his body. Memphis has revamped their training staff. The team has to be aware of how the health and availability of their players has derailed their goals over the last year.
It isn’t like they are trying to keep their rotation unstable. And yet, here we are, trying to figure out how we got to a place where going in to Friday night’s game half the projected regular season rotation in the preseason got out of the rotation due to injury.
Could it be the much-analyzed increased pace of the Grizzlies this season? An increased pace means more plays and reps, but literally/physically also means more steps. Is the roster over-taxed from the installment of this new-look offense?
Maybe it’s as simple as the way Memphis practices overall. The coaching staff has also undergone a lot of change, but Head Coach Taylor Jenkins and his structure remains a constant. Is the team working too hard? Or could it be they’re not working hard enough?
The 39-year-old LeBron James played in the Olympics this past summer and is logging major minutes for the Los Angeles Lakers now. While LeBron is a physical specimen and perhaps the greatest of all time, at his advanced basketball age for him to log 35 minutes a game and compete how he does flies in the face of the Grizzlies philosophy.
25-year-olds, meanwhile, are often on minutes restrictions in Memphis. That seems like a bridge too far.
The Grizzlies organization takes great pride in zigging while the rest of the NBA zags. It makes them unique in a market that makes it necessary. They have to build through the draft. They must prioritize finding diamonds in the rough and investing in them early with team-friendly deals. It works for them in a lot of ways.
But there has to be real reflection on how the team handles their players and their usage. Preparing for the grind of an 82-game season is an extremely difficult task. But over the last year or so, no team has struggled with keeping their roster healthy the way Memphis has.
If it’s not the players themselves, and it’s not the training staff, perhaps it is time to look at how the coaches are preparing them day to day.
The Nuggets did it (Nikola Jokic did it), the Warriors did it (the death lineup and defensive efficiency), the Celtics did it (switching one through five, pre-switching, neutralizing open lanes), and now the Thunder are doing it.
It’s been described as pestering, smothering, swarming, but I‘d like to put “car wash” into consideration. That’s the set up awaiting opponents. The car (the opposing team) gets locked into those self-driving tracks and the gauntlet begins. Lu Dort and Alex Caruso appear as those cylindrical spinning brushes, stripping the ball outright and early or else funnelling players into the next wave of guards. Pressure continues from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Williams but it becomes more targeted, thinking of the jet streams of water now being directed at the car from every angle — and those spinning whirlwinds of Caruso and Dort haven’t relented.
If, somehow, an opposing player finds a sliver of daylight in the so-small-its-micro-ball switching scheme the Thunder are playing, if they manage to get out from the many hands reaching in, pressuring, forcing turnovers, then they will meet Chet Holmgren at the rim. Holmgren is like those long, slapping shammy tentacles that come down on the hood, sides and roof of the car from every angle, though his reach and hands are much more expertly deployed. The Thunder have a defensive rating of 96.5 (for context the Warriors, at second best, seem light-years behind with a respectable 103.8) and lead the league in steals (13.4) and blocks (7.3). The cars are coming out spotless, utterly worked.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells’ progress offers hope for Memphis Grizzlies’ future, showcasing potential to significantly impact the team’s success. (Beale Street Bears)
Fans Grizzlies’ unpredictable journey this season has fans and analysts using one word to describe them: ‘enigmatic’. (Beale Street Bears)
Watch Defense wins games? Here’s an insightful breakdown of OKC’s defensive schemes. (Thinking Basketball)
Must Read The Influence of Sedona Price: Take a fascinating look at the domino effect of NIL on college athletics, women’s sports, social media and athlete health. (The New Yorker)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Impact of Miles Bridges’ Injury
Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) holds his knee after a collision at the basket against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Spectrum Center.|Photo by Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
With only three games on Thursday, there was ample time to delve into the latest injury news and its implications for fantasy managers.
Injury Updates and Their Impact
Miles Bridges’ knee injury is a significant concern. After initially returning to play, he’s now sidelined for at least two weeks with a knee bone bruise. This situation opens up opportunities for other players. With Nick Richards and Mark Williams also out, Taj Gibson steps in as the starting centre. Grant Williams, who has been getting centre minutes, will likely shift to playing more at the four, alongside Tidjane Salaun. This reshuffling could push Williams into a more prominent role, making him a potential pick-up in 12-team leagues.
The absence of Bridges also means increased usage for Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball. Tre Mann is another player to watch; holding onto him could be beneficial as the team adjusts to these injuries.
Ja Morant’s hamstring injury is another blow, with expectations of a two-week absence. Memphis’ injury reporting is notoriously vague, so fantasy managers should prepare for an extended period without Morant. Tyrese Maxey’s situation is similar, with the Sixers indicating a reevaluation in a week, but realistically, it could be longer. Kyle Lowry is a suitable replacement in the meantime.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Grizzlies podcasts.
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