Grizzlies’ Struggles: The Ephemeral Nature of Success in the NBA

Ephemeral success is something inherent to sport. Also when it is not, but it seems that way. The Grizzlies have never won the ring, but the aftermath of the Grit and Grind and that eternally postponed reconstruction finally had its green shoots. In 2021-22 they reached second place in the Western Conference with 56 victories, and only the last champion Warriors (it seems like a thousand years have passed) could beat them in the semifinals, in six competitive games. That was where everything began to take shape: Ja Morant was nominated as the definitive franchise player, Taylor Jenkins as one of the best coaches in the NBA, Jaren Jackson as a staunch defender, Desmond Bane as a fantastic shooter…

Everything fell apart at the end of last season, when a 51-31 record took them to the same second place, but with a more than bittersweet ending. Morant was involved in a scandal with firearms in a nightclub that led to his sanction and unraveled the chemistry of a squad that arrived chemically broken in the playoffs to fall to a Lakers in full effervescence, determined to star in a story that did not culminate. The 4-2 this time was not enough, and Morant’s new uproar in the summer was too much. In the end, the NBA was forced to take serious action on the matter. Allowing Draymond Green until they couldn’t do it anymore is one thing, but doing the same with a topic so taboo for them (asking Gilbert Arenas) needed an answer that demarcated a clear red line.

In the end, a 25-match suspension for Morant. Something significant, which left the Grizzlies without his star until December. A very big problem that once again affected a franchise that did not know very well how to respond, neither on the track nor off it. Tyus Jones headed the Wizards in a three-way operation in which the Celtics were also involved. In that move, the Grizzlies acquired Marcus Smart to reinforce the point guard position and contain Morant’s madness, if that is possible, when he returned. The objective was to give his star one last chance and maintain the block, provide continuity with an older player with playoff experience. Continue with the project that has brought so much joy in recent times, with Jenkins consolidated in his position and three consecutive appearances in the playoffs that made us forget three seasons of absences. From Grit and Grind to a new assault on glory in record time that is usually much greater in other projects. Something, a priori, very positive. But…

When everything goes wrong

The idea has not gone well for the Grizzlies. And it’s partly not their fault: Steven Adams underwent surgery and will not be available for the entire season, Jaren Jackson and Santi Aldama started injured and Morant would be sidelined for 25 rounds. To make matters worse, in mid-November Smart was injured and will be out for between three and five weeks. And the start has been a disaster: 6-18, in the penultimate place in the Western Conference, well below 50% and, evidently, out of play in and the playoffs. Something truly worrying if we take into account that the Grizzlies have been a benchmark in the West in recent years, but that their relative success has come to nothing and leaves them in a very remote position to come back, especially with the trend, since typical, which has been installed in a Conference in which no one is very good but not very bad either.

Jenkins’ good framework in defense is partially maintained (without the fifth best team on that side of the court), but the Grizzlies’ problem is in attack, where the absence of Adams and the spaces created by Morant are conspicuous by their absence . They are the worst in the NBA in that section, and if you break down the data the debacle is confirmed. The second worst in field goal percentage, the worst in three-point percentage, the seventh from the bottom in rebounds, third in the fewest assists, second in the fewest shots scored and tenth in the most turnovers. The net rating is the seventh worst and the victories have come at specific times and almost always against lesser rivals: Blazers, Spurs and Pistons, three of the worst teams in the competition. Some Clippers who had just signed James Harden and didn’t beat anyone then (they do now). And Jazz and Mavericks, the latter being probably the most unlikely rival they have beaten.

Five of the six victories came against teams below 50%, in 18 of the 24 games they have scored 110 points or less; in 12 of them, 105 or less. And in four less than 100, all of them anomalous performances in an NBA in which points fall to anyone. Their offense is the worst in the NBA, but the fact that it is worse than the worst Pistons in history or the most pyrrhic Spurs ever is scary, not because of the record, but because of how little these two franchises have shown so far. And the difficulties in producing are evident: Brandon Clarke is also in dry dock, at least until March. And Luke Kennard, another regular unblocker, only played 8 games before going down and will be out for 2 or 3 more weeks. Too much.

Dying, the savior?

That Morant is going to resolve the situation upon his return is an exercise in too great optimism. He has not played a game since April 28 and said goodbye to the series against the Lakers with 10 points and 3 of 16 from the field. His level went from extraordinary to irregular with the scandals involved and his consistency was diminished. That does not mean that his athletic power remains intact and that he is capable of distributing and generating spaces that his teammates take advantage of. But his leadership ability is in question, as is his erratic attitude, which causes many insecurities. Combining all this with the unknown of how his colleagues will receive him and if his role will be that of the protagonist from the first minute.

Morant averaged more than 27 points two seasons ago and more than 26, with almost 6 rebounds and 8.1 assists last year. On his resume is the Rookie of the Year, the award for Most Improved Player and an inclusion in the Second Best Quintet, a distinction from which he disappeared a few months ago, who knows if because of his scandals. At 24 years old (he turned them in the summer), he also has two selections for the All Star and both a resume on and off the court, adding to what is already known the blows he gave to a minor, in whose trial he appeared relatively recently. bit. The treatment he has undergone and the confusing messages he shares on social networks have generated a stir and many doubts. And what he has achieved on a basketball court does not justify what he stars in street clothes.

We will only see Morant’s real level and the theoretical change he has had in his behavior over time. The only doubts he generates on the court tend to be his irregularity in shooting and his lack of sustainability in shooting threes. But his level helps him when it comes to focusing rival defenses on him and giving a lot of talent to an attack that desperately needs it. Desmond Bane does not give much more (almost 25 points per night) and Jaren Jackson produces in the zone (21.8) but lacks strength when it comes to closing the rebounds, something in which the Grizzlies greatly miss Adams already Clarke. They will continue to be weaker than strong in the zone, but Jackson leaves space for Morant’s dribbling and penetration and Bane can benefit from everything his teammate generates. We will see.

A question of numbers… and more things

The Grizzlies must first begin to recover their feelings, but above all to add victories. They are very far from the first places, but also from the play in, that barrier that can save them and in which they already have some experience, with the victory in 2021 that defeated the Warriors at the Chase Center and with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green in liza. It was the first warning from a team that right now does not scare anyone and has had the bad luck to ratify what it has done in the summer as a failure. On the one hand, due to the misfortune of injuries, but on the other hand, to get rid of material that is producing very well in someone else’s shirt. Dillon Brooks, a destabilizing element that generates questionable relationships, is consolidating in the Rockets, who are sixth in the West (13-9), with Brooks averaging 13.8 points… and almost 39% in triples, being much more more reliable in this matter than what he demonstrated in his time in Memphis.

Taylor Jenkins’ team is 8.5 wins from the Rockets, but also 6.5 from the play in, a tenth place now occupied by the Suns (13-12) and from which the Warriors (10-12) are hopelessly falling behind. 14), who suffer their particular scandals, Draymond through. It will be the goal to achieve, but it will not be easy. The Thunder will be the next rivals after losing to Houston with a triple in very painful clutch time by Brooks. After them, the Pelicans arrive in New Orleans, a game in which Morant will have already served his 25-game suspension. That is where he will be able to return and show that his mistakes will not end with a reputation now in question. Nothing better than a comeback that no one expects to reconcile with public opinion, one very dependent on social networks that have ended up being Morant’s grave.

There will be the key. The point guard has already said that he has had “horrible days” and claims to have learned from his mistakes, in addition to taking responsibility for the Grizzlies’ situation for not having been with his teammates. They need his talent more than the sermons of a Smart who remains all-hearted and never tires of insisting. Now, it is the turn of Ja Morant who will return to the courts to pick up the crumbs of his own decisions and forgive his own debt to society and the entity of the Grizzlies, from the fans to his teammates. Now, we just need to see what shape he is in, how he is in harmony with his teammates and how the public and rivals respond to his return, only half expected. All that and something more: that he doesn’t mess up again. One more could be his final sentence. And, if that happens, there will be no possible redemption. After all, everything has a limit in this life. The mistakes of the stars too. The brilliance they emanate can be very great, but ephemeral at the same time. So are the things.

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2023-12-18 17:47:38
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