Sitting at 10-7 with a four-game homestand against sub-500 teams on the horizon, the Memphis Grizzlies look to gain some continuity finally. Marcus Smart was questionable to play the last couple of games with an illness and is now off the injury report. Ja Morant is upgraded to questionable ahead of the Grizzlies’ game against the Portland Trail Blazers, meaning he is on his way back to the court this week.
Zach Edey remains out with a week-to-week prognostic after suffering a sprained ankle last Sunday but the team is getting closer to a relatively healthy roster. As the Grizzlies prepare for the return of their best player and a key role player, the storylines for this team get a bit more interesting.
Getting the big three on the court together
The Grizzlies’ big three of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane have played approximately 11 games together since the beginning of last season. This season they have only played two games together with the second game being cut short due to an injury to Desmond Bane in the first half.
With Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane back on the court and Ja Morant looking to return as soon as tonight, now is the time for this core to notch some games under their belt and push this team back into the upper echelon of the Western Conference. Having those three on the court will help the front office sort out whether the current surrounding pieces are enough or if the team will be active on the trade market come deadline time.
Jaren Jackson Jr. becoming a superstar
While carrying the team last year amidst the injuries around him, Jaren Jackson Jr. crafted his game and continued that into his offseason workouts. Previously known as a defensive stalwart with an evolving offensive game and foul troubles, Jaren has taken the next step in his development to give the Grizzlies a true low-post scoring threat.
Once again, he has been a model of consistency during the Grizzlies’ injury-riddled beginning of the season but this time he’s performing efficiently and with a renewed mindset as a leader of the team. Jaren Jackson Jr. taking on a leadership role and developing his offensive game will pay dividends for the team with championship aspirations.
The depth of the team is among the NBA’s best
The Grizzlies carry a full roster of guys that can play for arguably any team in the league, and a two-way rookie in Cam Spencer that can make the same case. The early season injuries helped the team realize that this year after last season’s depth didn’t live up to expectations early last season.
The team has a good problem on the horizon if and when the roster is close to full health in about a month when Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson are expected back from their injuries. As the grueling regular season schedule gets more difficult after this first month of playing the league’s fifth easiest schedule, their depth will play a key role in the Grizzlies being able to navigate their run back to the Western Conference’s elite.
