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.
Ja Morant doesn’t need to rush back for Memphis
Nov 17, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) takes videos with his phone after the game against the Denver Nuggets at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images|Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
As Desmond Bane and other Memphis Grizzlies players got interviewed post game following a 105-90 win over the Denver Nuggets, Ja Morant snapped some content on his phone. Whether it be for social media or just for himself, the pictures and/or videos were of Bane, and Jaylen Wells, and other Grizzlies players - not the star himself.
That’s because Ja is currently out due to injury. A hip issue suffered over a week ago against the Los Angeles Lakers has lingered - his return is called “week to week” by Head Coach Taylor Jenkins.
And between how the team is playing - and how the upcoming schedule shakes out for Memphis - the Grizzlies shouldn’t push to bring him back any time soon.
For starters, the depth of this Memphis roster is shining through. The Grizzlies played 11 players at least 12 minutes against the Nuggets Sunday night...and that’s without Marcus Smart, who missed the game due to illness.
Six of them scored at least eight points. Five players completed at least four assists, and four players snagged at least six rebounds. That’s impressive production from numerous sources.
The Grizzlies also find themselves with a record of 5-2 at home this season so far...and that’s without Morant playing in three of those games (and two of those wins). This was an area of weakness last season - Memphis was a pathetic 9-32 in the supposedly friendly confines of FedExForum in 2023-2024.
The team is playing better where they should be at their best - at 191 Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee. And six of the next seven games for the Grizzlies are happening at home. While Ja playing would surely help, role players historically play better in their home arenas. And the team is a lengthy stay in Memphis coming up.
It helps that the teams the Grizzlies are playing these next seven contests are...not very good. The combined records of these squads is roughly 37-57 as of this writing. It includes games against broken contenders (the Philadelphia 76ers), teams seemingly more injured than Memphis (the New Orleans Pelicans), and other squads that are either under-performing preseason expectations or are inexperienced and/or bad as expected.
All that combines to make a situation where the Grizzlies should do the opposite of what they normally do with Morant when it comes to injury. The caution Memphis usually applies to most of their roster usually does not apply to Ja - he almost always comes back from health issues faster than anticipated.
That should not be the case this time around.
The Grizzlies must worry more about the weeks and months ahead than the here and now. They’re firmly in the early playoff picture. The development of their roster is paying off. A majority of the next two weeks will be spent at home in Memphis. And the quality of opposition being played makes a 5-2 record a realistic expectation over this upcoming stretch. Morant is wanted...but he should not be needed.
After historic back-to-back nights over the weekend I hope the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox is on your radar. Fox delivered a 60 point game against the Timberwolves on Friday (the Kings, after all that, could not wrestle away the win) and then 49 points against the Jazz in a winning game on Saturday. While these scoring numbers are certainly a touch more astronomical than Fox’s norm, he’s still an athlete who’s averaged 25 points per game in the last three seasons.
Beyond pure shooting, Fox is a pleasure to watch. I mean that in an artful sense, like taking your time in a gallery or museum and letting your eyes rove over every flourish and detail. Fox has a knack for hang time, able to lightly adjust his body mid-air to tweak the angle of his jumper just so. It’s a bane to defenders because it’s nearly impossible to pre-calculate where Fox will wind up releasing the ball, but it’s startling, and fun, to see.
His passing follows the same rules. Namely: his own. One hand flings and scoops to teammates running down the lane, or flashing out to the wing, dependent on the sort of timing it takes trust and seasons of practice to nail. It speaks to the cohesiveness of the Kings, a team many are still quick to dismiss from contention but who will prove a difficult team to match up against once their roster returns to full strength.
Cade Cunningham
Admittedly, I hadn’t been paying that close of attention to Cade Cunningham, even with my well documented dedication to the Detroit Pistons. I changed that last Friday when the team was in Toronto to face the Raptors, and I spent a good chunk of pregame warmups watching Cunningham run through his drills.
There’s a new level of patience to Cade, who’s been — by circumstance — forced into holding pattern since he entered the NBA. This new level filters through his game. There’s still the juddery, at times mesmerizing, stop-start motion of his handle and with it the ability to force the pace he wants in a game, but now Cade’s letting the game come to him. Where there simply isn’t time to draw out a possession, or altering one might upend his team’s momentum (momentum has been something Detroit is relying on this season, to their benefit), Cade instead adopts the rhythm of the floor in motion. Now into his forth season, his maturation is evident, and it’s winning games.
Jabari Smith
It’s felt a touch disingenuous, how down on Jabari Smith those in the wider sphere of the Houston Rockets have been this season. Yes, he’s had some slow shooting nights, and made some frustrating decisions, but he’s also come back in the games that follow those less than stellar performances and done all the right things — leading to wins.
Smith’s a third year player in the league on a franchise that only really started to get the foundation of their rebuild right last season. He’s learning to adjust to quicker pace, tighter and more effortful defence (the Rockets are the league’s best rebounders), and what it means to actually compete versus playing at the whims of a single game, on a game-to-game basis. There’s continuity showing here, and it’s great.
Smith tends to have his best rebounding games when he’s also scoring, which just tells me that energy generated on one end of the floor is essential for him at the other. It’s also true of younger players — and teams, like the Rockets — learning what it is to stay consistent through a game’s many tide-turns.
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
Roster The Grizzlies boast a deep roster, creating a “good problem” when everyone is healthy. Key players like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. lead the lineup, with tough decisions ahead for rotation spots. (Beale Street Bears)
Injury The Grizzlies face another setback with Zach Edey re-aggravating his ankle injury against the Nuggets. His absence could impact the team’s depth and performance. (Sports Illustrated)
Biz Deep breaths. The NBA has settled its broadcast lawsuits, and “Inside the NBA” is here to stay. (Sportico)
Preview Major changes could soon be coming to the All-Star Game. (ESPN)
Analysis The “unicorn” era of Anthony Davis may be over, but could the “Lakers AD” era just be starting? (The Ringer)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Sunday’s NBA Fantasy Basketball Roundup
Nov 17, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) reacts after being called for a foul against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images|Nick Wosika/Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
As we dive into the latest NBA action, it’s clear that Sunday was packed with intriguing performances and unexpected developments. With 10 games on the schedule, there was no shortage of excitement and fantasy implications to unpack.
Injury Updates and Opportunities
The Sacramento Kings are dealing with some significant injury news. Domantas Sabonis, usually a reliable presence, is doubtful with a back issue, potentially missing his second consecutive game. This opens up opportunities for players like Kevin Huerter and Trey Lyles to step up. Meanwhile, DeMar DeRozan is officially out for his third consecutive game.
Key Performances and Fantasy Implications
The Minnesota Timberwolves’ victory over the Phoenix Suns highlighted some strategic missteps by the Suns. Starting Mason Plumlee and Jusuf Nurkic together against Minnesota’s big lineup didn’t pay off, with Nurkic playing only 14 minutes. His inconsistent performances make him a risky fantasy option, as his playing time and production fluctuate wildly.
On the Timberwolves’ side, Mike Conley’s increased minutes are worth noting. While his scoring was minimal, his contributions in other areas helped secure the win. Naz Reid, despite his scoring potential, continues to struggle defensively, which could limit his fantasy upside.
Click the button below to see why one of KD’s newest running mates could be worth a look, and how Charlotte’s injury concerns will affect your lineup.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Grizzlies podcasts.
Jaren Jackson Jr. leads Memphis in NBA Cup opener against Steph Curry’s Warriors The continued growth and development of Jaren Jackson Jr. is a bright spot in an uneven start to the season for the Grizzlies. Will his impressive play continue tonight on ESPN as Memphis starts their NBA Cup journey against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors? Host Joe Mullinax talks about that and much more on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
Memphis Grizzlies fall apart late in road loss to LeBron James, Lakers The Memphis Grizzlies battled and fought closely despite being undermanned in a 128-123 loss against the Lakers. In this episode, host Damichael Cole breaks down the good, bad, Zach Edey’s performance and key Taylor Jenkins decisions.
Which imminent return to the Grizzlies rotation will mean the most for Memphis? Marcus Smart is nearing a return to the Grizzlies active roster. But how will the Memphis rotation change/improve adding him to the fold? And will Vince Williams Jr.'s impending clearance to play again make more of a difference? Hosts Damichael Cole and Joe Mullinax discuss that, plus preview Grizzlies-Lakers, on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
