So far, the Memphis Grizzlies have played a total of 16 games without the presence of their superstar talent, Ja Morant. The former first-round selection is currently serving a 25-game suspension for his repeated actions that violate the NBA’s policy on personal conduct. With nine games remaining until Morant’s anticipated return, you have to wonder if the season is still salvageable. No one truly forecasts what we are currently witnessing with the Grizzlies.
The team has not met their lofty expectations, even without Morant being a part of the fold during the suspension. Many league pundits, both local and national, felt as though the Grizzlies would remain a top-seeded playoff team in the highly competitive Western Conference.
Since Morant has been a part of the Grizzlies, the team has become a top-five unit in the West over the past two seasons. They’ve had stretches where they performed like a well-oiled machine, even without Morant in the lineup. But this season, the Grizzlies have not replicated their resolve without their top talent on the court. The Grizzlies are currently 3-13, placing them at 14th in the Western Conference. Memphis is nowhere near reaching a top seed in the conference or a play-in tournament berth.
Did we underestimate how dire the situation would be without the presence of Morant on the court? It sure seems that way. I included myself as one of those local pundits who felt the Grizzlies could remain in contention for a top-five playoff seed in the West. Right now, a play-in tournament seems to be a likely outcome for the Grizzlies to get into the postseason. However, even with Morant returning, he cannot solve all of the Grizzlies’ problems. One area where Memphis needs to get better immediately is their perimeter defense. They’ve gotten far away from what has made them a formidable unit over the past two seasons.
If you have not noticed by now, opposing players have career nights from beyond the arc when facing Memphis. Opposing teams are shooting 40.7% from the three-point line, which places them last in the league. They also have a defensive rating of 114.1. Are the flaws going to go away once Morant returns magically? Who knows. But I know that it’s a proven fact that Morant is the eraser that the Grizzlies are missing right now. His presence on the court, along with teammates Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane, gives Memphis a puncher’s chance of defeating anyone. But this year’s situation is entirely different from previous seasons with Morant in the fold.
Not having their best player is one thing, but missing key components in the front court, such as Steven Adams and reliable big man Brandon Clarke, has magnified the issues with the Grizzlies. Bismack Biyombo has provided some stability at the center position, but his production has a ceiling. He does not offer the versatility that Adams presented when healthy. They’re grappling with the challenge of role players stepping into unfamiliar roles. Players such as Jake LaRavia, David Roddy, and Santi Aldama have all been thrust into situations that require them to go beyond their scope as contributors to the Grizzlies’ lineup.
The moves have presented Memphis with mixed results, which mostly tend to be negative. There is a glimmer of hope for the Grizzlies season to turn around for the best once Morant returns, but more will have to be done from a roster configuration standpoint to reach their final destination.
Remember that the Los Angeles Lakers were in the same spot as Memphis until their general manager, Rob Palinka, made significant moves at the trade deadline that transformed the team into a viable playoff contender. Will general manager and executive vice president of basketball operations Zach Kleinman follow the same path? It should not be a shock if he decides to pursue that route. Either way, the team cannot be in its present state once Morant returns to the lineup.
