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.
Jaren Jackson Jr. reminds Memphis of the urgency of now
Jan 4, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward/center Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) drives to the basket during a game against the Golden State Warriors in the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images | David Gonzales/David Gonzales-Imagn Images
The Memphis Grizzlies found a way to win against the Dallas Mavericks last night. After the tough trip to California that Memphis had - losing to both the Kings and Warriors - it was a needed victory to feel better about the start of 2025 for the Grizzlies. This was especially true considering Dallas was without both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
The Mavericks were without their two best players. And even though Memphis missed Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, the same could not be said of the Grizzlies.
Because Jaren Jackson Jr. suited up. And he was the best player on the floor in this contest.
While putting up an box score stuffing effort (INSERT STATS HERE) Jaren reminded us all that he is indeed the best two-way player on the Memphis Grizzlies. But that effort also should serve as a moment of reflection on what this Grizzlies season is.
It’s year six of the Ja Morant/Zach Kleiman/Taylor Jenkins era. Jaren Jackson Jr. is about to be due a major pay day as he enters the final year of his contract next season. These Grizzlies, while still among the NBA’s youngest teams, are not getting any younger.
Their standing near the top of the Western Conference is confirmed by the money being spent and the state of play for Memphis statistically. The time to try to win is now.
But what is the best way to go about that? A great question.
The rumors of Jimmy Butler coming to Memphis continue to simmer at the surface of the NBA’s consciousness. And that could be cool - but it would mean moving on from players like Luke Kennard. He’s been playing the best basketball of his Grizzlies tenure of late as minutes have come back his way with all the injuries Memphis has had to deal with.
It could also mean parting with Brandon Clarke, a versatile reserve big that has been part of this Jenkins/Morant/Kleiman Era as long as Morant has. And a big that helps to bring out the best in Jaren Jackson Jr. - especially defensively.
You see the predicament, right? Butler certainly raises the ceiling for Memphis, especially with their starting unit. But even there, moving the likes of Jaylen Wells - a likely Rookie of the Year candidate alongside his teammate Zach Edey - to the bench feels off.
What makes it especially hard is we’ve never seen this Grizzlies team at full strength. But it’s hard to apply “urgency” to injuries - and while Ja Morant may be nearing a return, others like Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson are still a ways away.
The trade deadline is in a month. It’s probable we never actually see that team at full strength - due to trade, health, or a combination of both.
Grizzlies GM Zach Kleiman has a tough job. Stay the course, or shake things up? You can argue either way.
But Jaren Jackson Jr. - and these Grizzlies - are entering their prime. The time is now one way or another.
Have we already seen a Finals preview to start 2025?
Jan 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the ball over Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the fourth quarter at Paycom Center. | Alonzo Adams/Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
It’s just one game, I whisper to myself, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander launches a three with lofty clearance over Jrue Holiday.
It’s just one game, I say, shaking my head as if to clear it when Isaiah Joe on a fastbreak flings the ball around Sam Hauser in hot pursuit, giving Hauser a ring of Saturn in basketball form for a split second, to Aaron Wiggins, shadowing them, for a tidy pop-up shot.
It’s just one game, I say, voice rising, whenGilgeous-Alexander pins the ball, barely out of Tatum’s hand, against the backboard for a block and then, immediately at the other end, lobs it to Isaiah Hartenstein for a dunk.
Sunday’s match between the Thunder and Celtics was just one game, and it’s only just January, but the contest showed what could very believably be a Finals preview. It also showed how OKC can aim to beat Boston in a series.
The Celtics are a machine, and like a machine, they are mechanical. Their dominance comes through the intuitive, expert understanding of what they are good at and how to deploy it, and what they are good at is launching threes. In Sunday’s game, the Celtics took 46 3-pointers. While they only made nine of them (for comparison, the Thunder were 16-of-38 from three), Boston is still shooting the most from deep in the league — sometimes as any as 20 more than their opponents over the course of a game.
The teams that are seeing success in recent wins over the Celtics aren’t necessarily attempting to limit Boston’s three-point attempts. With so many players capable of shooting the three ball it’s a futile effort and expends a lot of wasted energy. What they are doing, and what the Thunder did, is find ways to momentarily jam the machines.
The Thunder moved the ball more, they pressured Boston in the midrange and under the basket, they looked for any gap in the machine’s cogs they could wedge themselves into. Boston used to be way more susceptible to flustering, they abhorred a team that played a messy, gritty, or in any way abrasive style. It’s why the Heat have been so good at beating them in the postseason, because those Miami teams stopped at nothing to make things miserable and didn’t mind playing knee deep in the muck.
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
Ranking The Memphis Grizzlies landed lower than anticipated in the first NBA power rankings of 2025, facing scrutiny on their performance metrics and team dynamics. (Beale Street Bears)
Injury Jason Kidd disclosed concerning news regarding a key player’s injury post-Mavericks vs. Grizzlies game, impacting the team’s future plans. (Sports Illustrated)
Trade The 2025 NBA Trade Block Big Board lists potential new deals, with the Grizzlies eyeing top targets to strengthen their roster for a competitive edge. (Bleacher Report)
Analysis An in-depth look at who would take the last shot for each NBA team in a Game 7 scenario highlights the Grizzlies as part of this strategic analysis. (Bleacher Report)
Jan 5, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Utah Jazz guard Brice Sensabaugh (28) is interviewed by Seg Media reporter, Lauren Green following a game against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Russell Lansford-Imagn Images | Russell Lansford/Russell Lansford-Imagn Images
One of the most intriguing developments on Sunday came from the Utah Jazz, where rookie Brice Sensabaugh has suddenly burst onto the scene with a scoring explosion.
Sensabaugh dropped 27 points against the Orlando Magic, following up a 34-point performance in his previous outing. That’s a staggering 61 points over two games for a player who had been largely off the fantasy radar. His usage rate has skyrocketed to over 30% in these contests, and he’s been scorching hot from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 17 three-point attempts.
However, before we rush to add Sensabaugh in all leagues, it’s crucial to examine the context of his breakout. The Jazz were missing several key players, including Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson. This opened up a significant opportunity for Sensabaugh to showcase his scoring prowess.
The sustainability of Sensabaugh’s production is questionable. His three-point shooting percentage is bound to regress, and when the Jazz get healthier, his minutes and usage are likely to decrease. That said, he’s shown enough to warrant consideration as a streaming option in deeper leagues, particularly when Utah is shorthanded.
Click the button below for more insights, including another Thunder player to keep an eye on for your fantasy roster.
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Ja Morant’s poster dunk on Victor Wembanyama highlights Memphis Grizzlies win over Spurs This is the Ja Morant we all know and love. The guy confident and audacious enough to DUNK ON VICTOR WEMBANYAMA! The guard that can dish out assists at an elite level while limiting turnovers. Memphis Grizzlies fans saw superstar Ja Morant on Wednesday night. How could you not be entertained? Host Joe Mullinax breaks down the game, Memphis’ depth, and GG Jackson’s slow but steady return progressing through the G-League on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
Are the Houston Rockets a bad matchup for the Memphis Grizzlies? Is it a silly question? Sure, the Grizzlies have lost three straight to the Rockets. But Memphis collapsed in the fourth quarter while having a double-digit lead. So who would have the advantage in a seven game series - the Grizzlies, or Houston? Hosts Damichael Cole and Joe Mullinax break that down and preview Memphis’ game with Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
Memphis Grizzlies crumble in fourth quarter, lose again vs Rockets The Memphis Grizzlies dropped their third game this season against the Houston Rockets. In this episode, host Damichael Cole recaps the game, discusses key Taylor Jenkins decisions and provides an update on GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr.
