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.
Showing gratitude for a good Grizzlies start
Nov 25, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) and forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) react during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
In the United States, it is Thanksgiving Eve (no, not a real thing, but work with me). On this day before the quintessential American holiday in which we stuff our faces and watch football all day, it felt like a great opportunity to reflect on where Memphis is at this stage of the season.
For on November 27th last year? The Memphis Grizzlies were free falling. The team was 3-13, struggling through the regular season slate without their superstar Ja Morant due to a league suspension. The Grizzlies were 0-8 at home in FedExForum, a place that had once been rocking with positive energy and home court advantage. The franchise was short on answers, and low on hope.
Fast forward 365 days. Memphis is 11-7, even with Ja Morant missing half those contests too (and he will once again be out tonight). The Grizzlies are back to winning at home (7-3 at home) and are scoring as effectively as they have the entire Ja Morant era. The team is keeping minutes low and pace high. And while the vibes aren’t as immaculate as they once were, things feel a lot more like those 2-seed seasons than the despair of 2023-2024.
That, in and of itself, is something to be thankful for. There’s always room for improvement - rotations continue to confound at times, the team turns the ball over too much. Yet despite any possible frustrations that may exist, the fact remains that this team is competing at a much higher level. It’s much more fun to follow this team because of the energy and attitude they bring to the court on a nightly basis.
He has led the way in the absence of Ja Morant. But he isn’t alone. There are players who didn’t get contract extensions this offseason like Jake LaRavia and Santi Aldama who are both doing things to perhaps make Memphis regret that decision. There are former two-way contracted players like Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jay Huff that have earned full time NBA deals and have contributed to winning for the Grizzlies.
Brandon Clarke has looked like his old self on the defensive end especially. Marcus Smart is buying in to being a reserve in the best interest of the team as a rookie in Jaylen Wells lights up the league from downtown. And the likes of Zach Edey, Vince Williams Jr., and GG Jackson will eventually return to add even more depth.
It’s a much better position to be in than what the Memphis Grizzlies faced on November 27th, 2023. And that is something to be thankful for.
Nov 26, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier (2) shoots the basketball over Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) during the fourth quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro/Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Here’s the thing, Scary Terry has hops. At 30-years-old and with a decade of play under his belt, Terry Rozier can cut like a knife, shake loose defenders, deflect, drive, and kick the ball out to the wing on a layup with the court vision still 20/20. He shoots, too. Tidy jumpers, deep and swooning corner threes, tricky little one-handed layups, fastbreak two-handed deliveries, Rozier runs through them like a personal rolodex.
Perhaps it’s a good reminder, for you as much as me, that age really doesn’t have anything to do with it. For one, despite what we’re led to believe by watching NBA basketball and listening to people talk about it, 30 isn’t old. Besides age, there’s a more important personal factor: whether an athlete keeps up. NBA basketball gets pushed in new directions every season as competitive teams break the mold and not yet competitive teams try to keep up.
Optimization is an unfortunate word in our modern and decidedly capitalist lexicon, but it’s what good athletes do. If there’s a skill to develop, they figure out what it is. Giannis Antetokounmpo in the mid-range this season is a perfect and very successful example. The bigger thing these smaller improvements add up to are teams with a depth of different weapons to pull out against the seemingly unbeatable juggernauts at the top. Occasionally, front offices identify what their unique skillset or style of play can be — think the decidedly big Cleveland Cavaliers, or the micro, play-every-position, Thunder — and build toward it.
For an athlete like Rozier, who many were quick to call a Kyle Lowry 2.0 when he arrived in Miami, the improvisation he’s shown with the Heat was born out of necessity but also an aptitude for reading the room. The Heat are a workaholic organization with a next-man-up mentality they don’t just talk about as an inspirational soundbite, but is twined through the fibre of all that they do.
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 Jaylen Wells edges out Marcus Smart for the starting small forward role, adding a new dynamic to the Grizzlies’ lineup. Wells’ performance has impressed coaches and fans alike. (Beale Street Bears)
Preview Memphis gets set to host Detroit tonight at 8 p.m. ET. Read the preview. (NBA)
Analysis The point guard position is in good hands. Shaun Powell takes stock of the position and what the future looks like. (NBA)
Opinion The NBA can tinker with the All-Star Game format all it wants, but there’s only one fix. (The Athletic, subscription required)
Feel Good What happens with the money collected from fines? How the league turns bad moments into good deeds. (SB Nation)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Another Lauri Markkanen Injury For Fantasy Basketball Managers To Digest
Nov 26, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Jazz forward/center Lauri Markkanen (23) on the floor after a collision with San Antonio Spurs forward/center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images | Christopher Creveling/Christopher Creveling-Imagn Images
Injury Concerns and Player Updates
Joel Embiid’s ongoing knee issues are another significant concern. With a history of multiple meniscus surgeries, Embiid’s situation remains precarious. His recent absences highlight the risks associated with drafting him early in fantasy leagues. The high failure rate of such surgeries suggests that Embiid’s availability might be limited, making him a risky trade target.
Donovan Clingan’s grade 2 MCL sprain is also noteworthy. The Portland Trail Blazers plan to reevaluate him in two weeks, but this type of injury typically requires a longer recovery period. With Clingan sidelined, players like Ayton and Rob Williams are expected to see increased playing time, making Williams a valuable addition to fantasy rosters.
Lauri Markkanen’s Injury Impact
Lauri Markkanen’s recent knee injury adds another layer of complexity to fantasy basketball strategies. Markkanen, who has been dealing with back and knee issues, was helped off the court after a knee knock. While the injury doesn’t appear to be a severe ACL or MCL tear, it could sideline him for at least a week, if not longer. This development opens up opportunities for players like John Collins to step up and fill the void, potentially increasing their fantasy value.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Grizzlies podcasts.
Ja Morant reminds NBA he’s the most must-see star in Grizzlies win over Blazers No disrespect to the Luka Doncics and Nikola Jokics of the world, but the king of box office for the NBA is back. Ja Morant returned for the Grizzlies on Monday night and helped pace Memphis in a blowout win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Host Joe Mullinax breaks down the game, Marcus Smart coming off the bench, and more on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
Ja Morant, Marcus Smart back soon for Memphis Grizzlies homestand The Memphis Grizzlies could get more help soon with the potential return of two key players. In this episode, co-hosts Damichael Cole and Joe Mullinax recap a recent Grizzlies win against the Bulls, Desmond Bane’s role in Memphis and preview Monday’s game against the Trail Blazers.
Another Memphis injury tests the Grizzlies depth Injury report updates from the Memphis Grizzlies are becoming harder and harder to endure. Vince Williams Jr. will miss a significant amount of time due to a serious ankle issue. Hosts Joe Mullinax and Damichael Cole talk about how that will impact Memphis, plus point out the strengths of the Grizzlies ahead of a Saturday night game against the Bulls, on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
