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.
How Memphis can endure their current injury woes
Dec 27, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, center, wears flip flops after returning from a screen collision during the second half against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Morant did not play after the third quarter. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images | Matthew Hinton/Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
After a weekend of bad vibes and worse news as the injury list kept growing and growing and growing, finally some positivity hit the Memphis Grizzlies news cycle. Ja Morant’s shoulder injury is a Grade 1 AC Joint Sprain, meaning he is week to week - and not out for a longer stretch as could’ve been possible.
That breeze you felt around 7 PM CT yesterday was the city of Memphis exhaling.
That is a lot of production on the bench - not to mention the likes of GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr., who of course remain out.
Phoenix is floundering, but the Suns still have a healthy Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal to contend with. Devin Booker is now questionable for the game as well, meaning there’s a chance the Suns Big Three takes on a Grizzlies team whose 3rd man in such an alignment right now would be Jaylen Wells.
Far from ideal. But the Memphis Grizzlies must still play the game. How can they win tonight - and moving forward - even in their current state?
Shoot the heck out of the three ball.
Assuming the starting five remains Scotty Pippen Jr., Desmond Bane, Jaylen Wells, John Konchar, and Jaren Jackson Jr., there are five potential threats (theoretical threats - looking at you, Konchar) from three. That level of “gravity” can be a benefit to a team bereft of dribble penetration scoring beyond their stars.
Then consider the key reserves are the likes of Cam Spencer, Jay Huff, and Luke Kennard? Letting that basketball fly from beyond the arc isn’t just a prayer to keep games close - it’s a legitimate strategy. Memphis loves to touch the paint every offensive possession, but more often than not those drives and cuts should result in kicking to open shooters. It’s what they have in terms of personnel at the moment.
So lean in to it. Set some records. Make it rain.
Protect the rock.
With great pace, comes greater propensity to commit turnovers. That isn’t surprising - it’s simple arithmetic. More possessions, more lost possessions. Unfortunately for Memphis, with so many offensive options out at the moment, that really cannot be a thing. The Grizzlies need every chance they can get to score the basketball.
Against the Thunder the Grizzlies had 21 turnovers, which led to 33 Oklahoma City points. There’s just no way Memphis can endure such a lopsided split. They must be less careless, even if that means sacrificing a possession or two pace-wise.
Between teams like the Suns not having players that can defend Jaren Jackson Jr. (he went off against Phoenix last season) and Bane’s return to form? Sometimes it’s easy.
Those two get paid lots of money. Time to work.
The Locked on Grizzlies newsletter will be off on Wednesday, January 1st for the New Year’s holiday. We will be back Thursday - from my family to yours, I wish you a safe and successful Happy New Year!
The NBA’s next generation of stars is already here
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and guard Isaiah Joe (11) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. | Kirby Lee/Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Here’s something that will read like a riddle: When do you know the future has arrived?
Fitting, on the eve of a new year, to have one foot in the future and one eye still cast over the shoulder, looking back at the past. I value New Year’s Eve for this liminal space it lends, the opportunity to pause and consider the year that was and the one to come without a sense yet of its pressures. In-between spaces like this are rare in life, and if or when you find them, are nice not to rush out of.
Basketball has its liminal spaces too, though they’re a bit more rare. The time right after the Draft, when the next season’s rookies-to-be have their teams but no hulking expectations. The brief stretch between the regular season and the playoffs is another — the brackets set, but no competition commenced. It’s easier to tell in these situations when the future arrives, when the liminal space shuts.
But back to the riddle. Under the surface of this season’s NBA discourse, there’s been a persistent hum. With the inevitable aging of the game’s superstars comes the question of who’s next?
What confuses me is that I’ve mainly seen it asked in worry and incredulity, the implication being that there’s no one obvious, or ready, to fill those well-worn shoes. All it takes is a cursory glance at the season’s standings, now firmly set as we shift past the quarter mark, to see that the future is here — and it’s been humming for a while now.
The top four teams in the East and West all boast talent, skill, and star-power. Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell and Karl-Anthony Towns are the most established in terms of their fan familiarity, but Darius Garland, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Williams, and Jalen Green are already on their way to being as regularly recited — and that’s really it.
When the skill and flare of an NBA athlete proves to have staying power, to dazzle consistently, the rest comes down to name recognition, which comes through repetition.
We’ve been saying the same big names for a long time now. LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo — their names conjure stats and highlight reels in our heads.
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.
Ticket Booth
Presented by
Grizzlies @ Suns
Tuesday, Dec. 31 | 7:00PM | Footprint Center, Phoenix, AZ | Get Tickets
Grizzlies @ Kings
Friday, Jan. 3 | 7:00PM | Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA | Get Tickets
Grizzlies @ Warriors
Saturday, Jan. 4 | 5:30PM | Chase Center, San Francisco, CA | Get Tickets
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Roundup: Morant’s Injury, Waiver Wire Trends, and Monday’s Game Recaps
Dec 27, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts after a screen by New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis (10) during the third quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images | Matthew Hinton/Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
As we enter the final week of 2024 for fantasy basketball, there’s plenty to discuss. Let’s dive into the latest injury updates, waiver wire trends, and recap Monday’s action.
Ja Morant’s Injury Update
The Memphis Grizzlies received some concerning news about Ja Morant. He’s been diagnosed with a right AC joint sprain in the same shoulder that was reconstructed last season. The team is considering him week-to-week, which typically means a minimum absence of one week, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it stretches to two or three weeks.
The Grizzlies’ injury report is staggering. In addition to Morant, Marcus Smart is out for multiple weeks, Santi Aldama is week-to-week, and several others are sidelined. This situation could lead to increased opportunities for players like Scotty Pippen Jr. and John Konchar.
Waiver Wire Trends
Looking at the most added players over the last 48 hours, Scoot Henderson tops the list. With the Portland Trail Blazers dealing with injuries, Henderson could see increased minutes. However, I’m skeptical about consistent 30-minute outings for him.
Other notable additions include Scottie Pippen Jr., Justin Champagnie, and Keon Johnson. While Pippen seems like a clear add given the Grizzlies’ injury woes, I’m less convinced about Johnson’s role with the Brooklyn Nets.
On the drop list, Larry Nance Jr. leads the pack due to his broken hand. Brandin Podziemski and Royce O’Neale are also seeing significant drops, which aligns with my expectations.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Grizzlies podcasts.
Without Ja Morant and Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies blown out vs OKC Thunder The Memphis Grizzlies loss 130-106 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. In this episode of Locked on Grizzlies, host Damichael Cole recaps the game, updates on the latest injuries and Dorian Finney-Smith trade
Missing Marcus Smart this Christmas, Morant or Jackson Jr.'s fault Memphis lost to Clippers? The Memphis Grizzlies are back in action tonight after a break that included the Christmas holiday. All Host Joe Mullinax wants for Christmas is more Marcus Smart - will he ever get his wish?
Scotty Pippen Jr., Desmond Bane help Memphis Grizzlies cruise past Atlanta Hawks The Memphis Grizzlies won their second straight game in wire-to-wire fashion with a 128-112 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
