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.
Memphis might be the NBA’s deepest team
Nov 8, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) dunks during the first half against the Washington Wizards at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images|Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Before you roll your eyes at the thought of the Grizzlies having the deepest roster in the NBA, picture this. It is November 10th. You have three starters out - your entire back court, among them a top-15 player in the entire Association in Ja Morant. Beyond that, you are down two key bench rotation pieces who figure in to both your present and future.
Do that math. It is 50% of your rotation that you are missing.
Now go out and beat the Portland Trail Blazers by 45 points.
Sure, Portland is not very good and isn’t really trying to be. But to dominate the Trail Blazers - a team with only one player on the injury report, Matisse Thybulle - that completely with so many Memphis contributors out is significant.
Want to call the Trail Blazers effort in to question? That’s fair. But explain how Memphis won, with the same key players out (including Ja and Desmond Bane), against Washington in a double-digit fashion?
Sure, they are another bottom feeder in the NBA at this point. But with so many players out due to injury, Memphis is depending on guys like Jay Huff, and Scotty Pippen Jr., and other players who have spent more time in the G-League than the NBA.
They’re just meeting that moment - and Memphis is 7-4 because of it.
The depth begins with Jaren Jackson Jr., who continues to shine when given the opportunity to be the best player on the floor for the Grizzlies. This isn’t an argument for moving on from Ja Morant or Desmond Bane. It’s an acknowledgement of the leap that JJJ has made as a player on both ends of the floor, but especially offensively.
He’s a walking, talking mismatch. And that will only become more pronounced once Ja and Bane are back.
Beyond the former All-Star who perhaps you argue we should expect great contributions from, take your pick. Santi Aldama is well on his way to a career season. Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey both are looking to be tremendous draft selections and contributors. Jake LaRavia had six - SIX! - “stocks” (blocks and steals) against Portland.
The previously mentioned Huff and Pippen Jr. - you know, the former G-Leaguers - combined for 29 points on 16 shots. Luke Kennard had an off shooting night, but posted 11 assists against the Trail Blazers.
11 assists! From a three point specialist!
The new-look Grizzlies offense deserves credit for this development. The players are getting more comfortable in the scheme, and the movement/motion taxes opposing defenses. But the scouting and development of these players is also significant. Once healthy (if that ever actually happens) Memphis will have 13 - 13! - players that you can legitimately argue are NBA rotation contributors.
Given how banged up the Grizzlies have been over the last season and change, that makes a world of difference. How Head Coach Taylor Jenkins and the front office utilizes that depth in the months ahead will be fascinating to see.
37 points, 18 rebounds, 15 assists. The first NBA player to reach these numbers in a game, and Nikola Jokic did it on a Sunday night in Denver, snowy pockets of flurries settling over the city. I wish I’d been collecting these stat lines all along, or had thought to make a note on the calendar when they happened. I’d like to see if there’s a pattern, though I’ve got a hunch that the dates would come to mean less than what the volume of them proves: in Jokic’s hands, the unprecedented becomes routine.
It starts with his skill, we know this. But let’s zero in on how he carries himself around the floor, how he moves. Jokic lopes, jogs, shuffles, occasionally bops, tends to move laterally more than he does in a direct line. It all serves to create an illusion that he’s slow and behind the pace. It’s why so many have a difficult time categorizing what it is he’s doing — he doesn’t work the way a basketball player does, tends to be the refrain. It’s because he looks, most of the time, relaxed
He can also appear pressed, like there’s someplace else he’d rather be. This is not the kind of approach we like to see from our stars. If they don’t look dialled in, if it doesn’t look strenuous at least some of the time, we tend to distrust their effort and skill. But Jokic’s arduousness is some of my favourite in the league, because it presents at our expense. And indeed, it must be exhausting to prove nearly every night that you can manipulate the game at every level.
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
Watch The Grizzlies took down the Trail Blazers 134-89. Couldn’t tune in? Watch the full game highlights.
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Basketball Managers
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) holds his leg after a hard following a play against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter at Paycom Center.|Photo by Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Chet Holmgren’s Injury: What It Means for the Thunder and Fantasy Managers
Sunday’s NBA action took a concerning turn for the Oklahoma City Thunder as Chet Holmgren, their promising young centre, suffered a hip injury just five minutes into the game against the Golden State Warriors. This incident has left both the team and fantasy managers in a state of uncertainty, as Holmgren’s presence on the court has been pivotal.
The Impact of Holmgren’s Injury
Holmgren’s injury occurred during an attempt to contest a dunk, resulting in a hard fall that left him limping off the court. The Thunder have since reported it as a hip injury, but the full extent and severity remain unclear. Given Holmgren’s importance to the Thunder’s lineup, any absence could significantly impact their performance, especially considering their current lack of depth at the centre position.
Potential Replacements and Adjustments
In the wake of Holmgren’s injury, the Thunder may need to rely on a smaller lineup, as they did against the Warriors. This could mean increased minutes for players like Aaron Wiggins and Cason Wallace, who might see more court time and opportunities to contribute. In deeper leagues, Ousmane Dieng could also be considered for a temporary boost, though none are likely to replicate Holmgren’s production. Fantasy managers might consider these short-term pickups, but it’s crucial to temper expectations, as the Thunder’s rotation could remain fluid.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Grizzlies podcasts.
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