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Memphis Grizzlies

DALLAS – Fresh off their first home victory of the season, the Grizzlies look to carry momentum on the road as they finally leave behind a difficult month of November.

Although December awaits with its own set of daunting challenges, here are two takeaways from the breakthrough win over the Jazz and a look-ahead to Friday’s visit to face early MVP frontrunner Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks.

A year after celebrating the best home record in franchise history, the Grizzlies followed their NBA-best, 35-6 mark last season with a franchise-worst, 0-8 start this season at FedExForum.

But that streak of futility came to a screeching halt when the Grizzlies delivered their most dominant and complete effort of the season in Wednesday’s 105-91 victory over the Jazz.

The performance provided equal parts relief and reassurance. The coaching staff pushed every button imaginable to find answers and group of players largely held themselves accountable for a lackluster start to the season that left the fanbase reasonably restless.

“We’ve had some tough battles and stuff, but we were a great home team last year,” Jenkins said of the Grizzlies, who became the last team in the NBA to win a home game this season. “Our fans deserve better play at home – that’s the biggest thing that jumps out. So, if we go out there and perform better, we can turn the tide for sure. We’ve just got to take care of business.”

In many ways, the Grizzlies took care of business in a fashion that was similar to their blueprint from each of the two previous seasons. During the two-year run when Memphis posted the second-best record in the Western Conference over consecutive seasons, the team ranked among the best in the NBA in paint scoring, creating transition points off stingy defense and sharing the ball in a balanced offensive attack.

Those elements were on display Wednesday, when the Grizzlies tallied season highs in points in the paint (58), rebounds (51) and combined blocks and steals (19). That production was the result of a greater commitment to dictate tempo and generate disruptive defense. Two games after failing to score a fastbreak point, the Grizzlies notched 23 points in transition against Utah.

To fans, that energy in the building was familiar. And so were the results on the scoreboard. After securing a much-needed win at home, the Grizzlies will play 10 of their 15 December games on the road. They got back to their identity as they closed out November at home. The hope is that effort will give the Grizzlies something to draw from as they embark on the road.

“We’ve been here before though, through all the streaks,” Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. said of enduring the ups and downs of a season. “It makes you appreciate the win, but there’s totally more to do. There’s more (success) coming for sure. It’s going to be a good next month.”

The revolving door to the Grizzlies starting lineup took yet another spin, with veteran Derrick Rose and second-year forward David Roddy inserted into the opening group against Utah.

Rose and Roddy joined regulars Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Bismack Biyombo for what was the Grizzlies’ eighth different starting lineup through 17 games this season. According to Jenkins, Rose moved into the first unit to give the team a change of pace in an attempt to speed up the offense and generate transition opportunities.

And Roddy’s rugged presence gives the Grizzlies a physical defender on the perimeter to help stabilize and solidify the frontcourt. The move worked to near perfection in the one-game sample size, with Rose contributing season highs of nine assists and 27 minutes while Roddy knocked down a career-best five 3-pointers to go along with a stellar defensive effort.

Ideally, Rose won’t be asked to play minutes that extend into the high 20s at this stage of his career. The 16-year veteran is best suited to give the Grizzlies about 15-20 minutes a game to help preserve his health at age 35.

“I’m having to re-learn and adjust to where my body is now versus where it was even two or three years ago,” Rose said. “When I feel something, I know. And I know I’m in a good situation right now, just listening to my body and knowing to trust my regimen and what’s best for me.”

It is possible Rose will remain in the starting lineup for now when he’s available, with the team limiting his minutes and permitting for rest-and-recovery days, particularly on back-to-back sets.&nbsp;

Veteran point guard Marcus Smart (foot sprain) was out of his walking boot Wednesday, but likely remains sidelined for another couple weeks. And Ja Morant has eight games remaining on his 25-game NBA suspension before he’s eligible to return Dec. 19 against the Pelicans.

So, what awaits the Grizzlies now that they’ve regained some confidence after notching their first home win of the season? A back-to-back set on the road against two of the NBA’s most dominant offensive forces.

First up is Friday’s matchup against Doncic, who emerged from a recent slump by pouring in 41 points Tuesday against a Houston Rockets team that tied for league’s No. 1-ranked defense. And on Saturday, the Grizzlies head to Phoenix to face the Suns just over a week after Devin Booker scored his season-high 40 points during a win in Memphis.

The last time Doncic faced the Grizzlies, he finished with his 58th career triple-double, accounting for 35 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in the Mavericks’ 125-110 win in Memphis on Oct. 30. Dallas also knocked down 23 shots from beyond the arc, which were the second-most 3-pointers made by a Grizzlies opponent in franchise history.

Sustaining their defensive effort from Wednesday’s effort is the top priority as the Grizzlies brace for a tough trip.

“If we play the (same) way we did on the defensive end of the floor, we’re going to give ourselves a chance to win most of those games,” Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane said. “And that’s all you can ask for. Attention to detail, especially on the defensive end, really fuels our offense.”

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MikeCheck: After breakthrough home win, Grizzlies aim to sustain defensive effort on road trip

HOUSTON – Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. had options.

Either take the bait that was cast from Houston by former teammate Dillon Brooks and respond to some of the antics and comments designed to get under their skin.

Or, the Grizzlies could draw motivation from their encouraging play over the past six quarters rather than the trash talk and slights from someone they last played with six months ago.

“It’s an NBA game . . . there’s a lot more going on than the back-and-forth (banter),” Jackson assured. “You just have to focus. We play a hundred of these. Everyone has to lock in and know what we need to bring to the table to go out and get a win.”

That was the mindset as the Grizzlies wrapped up preparations before traveling to Houston for Wednesday’s game against the Rockets. The matchup marks the first time the feisty Brooks will face his former team since signing as a prioritized free agent last summer with the Rockets.

For six years, Brooks was the Grizzlies’ top perimeter defender. He helped bridge the end of the Grit-and-Grind era during Mike Conley’s and Marc Gasol’s final season to the birth of the Next Gen transition anchored by Jackson, Bane and Ja Morant.

After a frustrating finish to last season, both sides felt it was time to part ways. The Grizzlies wanted to reset the roster with more mature veterans with deep playoff experience, while Brooks signed a four-year, $80 million contract as part of Houston’s offseason makeover.

The Rockets enter Wednesday’s matchup on a three-game losing streak after emerging as one of the NBA’s early surprise teams following their 6-3 start. Now at 6-6, Houston owns a .500 or better record for the first time through 12 games since the 2019-20 season.

Meanwhile, the Grizzlies (3-10) are trying to turn a corner after losing their first six games. Memphis has battled mounting injuries since training camp, with the team announcing Monday that reserve swingman Luke Kennard will miss at least two weeks with a bone bruise in his knee. Backup center Xavier Tillman is also likely out for a week with knee soreness.

Only three players – Bane, Jackson and David Roddy – have played in all the first 13 games. The injuries and attrition have also led to the Grizzlies using seven different starting lineups to fill the various voids.

The Grizzlies hope to build on their recent effort. That includes much-improved defensive performances the past two games, when they rallied from a 19-point deficit for a 120-108 win against the Spurs and held Boston to its fewest points of the season in Sunday’s 102-100 loss.

“We’re playing some unique lineups every single day,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said of the constant rotation tweaks. “It’s about pouring in work on how we can put guys in spots to be successful offensively and defensively, especially the last two games with how hard guys are playing. We’ll work through the kinks with that. But we just have to adapt right now.”

Among those adjustments has included relying on a pair of developmental prospects who are on Two-Way contracts. Backup point guard Jacob Gilyard was recently pressed into a starting role amid injuries to Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose in addition to Morant’s ongoing 25-game suspension.

And on Sunday against Boston, second-year swingman Vince Williams Jr. contributed to a defensive effort that limited superstars Jayson Tatum to eight turnovers and Jaylen Brown to just 5-of-16 shooting from the field.

Although he’s played infrequently this season, Williams leads the Grizzlies in plus-minus ratio by a significant margin, meaning the team outperforms its opponent when he’s on the floor.

Also on the wing, Santi Aldama has been the latest player to step into a starting role and respond. With depth limited at small forward, the 6-11 Aldama has shifted over from his role as Jackson’s backup at power forward to play both forward spots as well as some time at center.

Aldama has scored in double figures three straight games, including 28 points, 12 rebounds and six assists – all career highs – Sunday against Boston.

“We’re obviously in a tough situation with guys out, and then when guys come back other guys go out,” said Aldama, averaging 23 points and nine rebounds the last three games. “There’s nothing you can really do about it but stay ready and keep that next-man-up mentality we always talk about. Just keep grinding. Everybody will get their opportunity. Everybody is ready.”

The Rockets represent another challenge for which the Grizzlies insist they’re ready.

They know Brooks will certainly be ready, too.

Bane anticipates an intense matchup when he takes the court against his former mentor. Brooks initially took Bane under his wing in Memphis when Bane was a rookie four seasons ago. Bane is now one of the most productive shooting guards in the NBA this season and recently signed the most lucrative contract in Grizzlies’ franchise history.&nbsp;

“He helped me a lot – showed me how to work, showed me what it takes to stick in this league and be a pro,” Bane expressed Tuesday of his relationship with Brooks. “It’s paid off a lot for me. Against any good team, it’s going to bring (intensity) out of us. But with Dillon being on the other side, it’ll definitely be some extra emotion.”

A win over Houston would improve the Grizzlies to 4-4 in their last eight games.&nbsp;

Considering where they started, that would be significant improvement. That’s the ultimate goal for Wednesday’s game.

So, whether it’s reflecting on the past with Brooks or that 0-6 start to this season, the Grizzlies would much rather focus on present progress.

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies set to face former teammate Brooks motivated by building, not banter

LOS ANGELES – The ice supply surrounding Desmond Bane’s locker was approaching igloo territory as he regrouped from another night of heavy lifting.

With each knee wrapped in bandaged ice and both feet submerged in buckets of frozen cubes, the Grizzlies’ guard was fitted with the postgame accessories of an emerging superstar.

The wardrobe was commensurate with the workload.

“I’m doing everything I can to stay healthy and fresh, both mentally and physically,” Bane shared as he recently leaned into his postgame recovery process. “I love the game of basketball. And when you love the game and have a great group like we have in this locker room, it’s easy to go out there night in and night out and give it your all.”

Bane is flat-out wrong about at least one thing: There’s nothing easy about what he’s doing this season. Many nights, he simply makes it look that way.

Nor, is anything coming particularly easy for the Grizzlies as they work their way back from a rough start to the season. But as one of the NBA’s most productive players, Bane personifies the fortitude that gives the Grizzlies a fighting chance to ultimately regain their footing this season.

After opening the schedule with six straight losses, the Grizzlies (2-8) have split their past four games entering Tuesday’s matchup with the Lakers to wrap up a two-game Los Angeles swing. And through those 10 games, Bane is off to the second-most prolific start in franchise history.

Coming off a game-high 27 points in Sunday’s 105-101 win over the Clippers, Bane has 265 points in the season’s first 10 games. That point total over that stretch falls behind only the 285 points that franchise catalyst Ja Morant scored through the first 10 games of last season.

Bane’s scoring average of 26.5 points a game was ranked 13th in the NBA entering the week. But the responsibilities he carries extends well beyond his scoring. In fact, Bane’s usage rate, which factors overall production based on minutes played per game, places him among the league’s elite superstars through the first month of the regular season.

While the Grizzlies have grappled with injuries that have sidelined as many as five rotation players on a given night, as well as the 25-game suspension Morant is serving to start the season, Bane has shouldered a larger load.

He’s responded to the initial challenge at an All-NBA level.

Entering the week, Bane ranked among the NBA’s top-15 in several categories on both sides of the ball. He’s third in total minutes played (354), third in field goals attempted (21.6), fourth in 3-pointers made (3.5), fourth in steals (1.6), 13th in scoring (26.5) and 14th in usage rate (30.8).

Bane embraces the opportunities and the bigger target from opposing teams that come with stepping into the role as the Grizzlies’ primary option. The mission is to keep his team afloat and provide whatever is needed each time he takes the court.

“He’s seeing different coverages every night, and each time he’s accepting the challenge to do whatever’s required to put our team in the best possible position to compete and win,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said of Bane. “Obviously, we’re leaning on him a lot for offense right now, scoring and playmaking. But he and I talked about how he wants to be challenged defensively and to strike that right balance with usage. The guy is one of the best workers I’ve ever seen.”

The grueling and meticulous work that went on behind closed doors during the summer is now manifesting on the NBA’s global stage. But Bane’s goal is to simply sustain his remarkable start. This time last season, Bane produced at a similar breakout level and was trending toward early All-Star consideration before a toe injury stalled his progress.

It was exactly a year ago this week when Bane first suffered the injury during a Nov. 11 game against Minnesota and would miss the next 17 games. He returned to produce a career season, averaging 21.5 points, five rebounds and 4.4 assists over 58 games.

Offseason surgery followed in May, but Bane had shown enough through his first three years in the league to garner a franchise-record $204 million contract extension last summer. The move solidifies Bane, the No. 30 overall pick in the 2020 draft, alongside All-Stars in Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. as cornerstones in the franchise’s pursuit of a championship.

An ultimate sign of both respect and just how much Bane has improved was shown last week, when Heat coach Erik Spoelstra devised a scheme to contain the Grizzlies’ top threat. All-NBA swingman Jimmy Butler sacrificed shots and shifted his focus to exclusively defend Bane.

“All of these things are easier said than done,” Spoelstra said after Bane was limited to matching his season-low of 15 points and four made shots in Miami’s 108-104 win. “We knew coming into the game that Bane is a guy who can really break free. If he hits four or five 3-pointers in the first half, it’s really downhill for him. If he gets into a rhythm early, you’re dealing with a lot.” &nbsp; &nbsp;

Both Bane and Jackson are off to the best starts of their careers this season, although victories have been hard to come by so far. Four of the Grizzlies’ eight losses were by six or fewer points, but there are encouraging signs that a turnaround could be looming.

There has been a boost to the depth at point guard and center. Developmental G League prospect Jacob Gilyard has started the past two games and averaged 10 points and 5.5 assists while shooting 40-percent on 3-pointers. And in the post, recent free-agent pickup Bismack Biyombo is adding 11.2 points and 11.8 rebounds through four starts since joining the team.

The bench is also gaining rhythm, with Luke Kennard scoring double figures in four straight games while shooting 15-for-26 (57.5-percent) on 3-pointers. Reserve forwards Santi Aldama and Ziaire Williams are back from recent injuries to add depth, and backup center Xavier Tillman also appears close to returning after sitting out with knee soreness the past four games.

“We’ve kept the faith the whole time, because we know we have players capable of doing a bunch of different things,” Bane said of the team’s collective confidence. “We’re still down some bodies. But we just keep battling and keep focusing on getting better. And we’re going to keep doing that regardless of the results.”

Jenkins is mindful of the workload Bane must carry at this stage of the season. It’s why rest and recovery are as much of a priority between games as points and playmaking are during them.

After facing the Lakers on Tuesday, the Grizzlies will have a three-break before traveling for a home-road set Saturday in San Antonio against the Spurs and Sunday at home against Boston.

Jenkins has seen Bane work himself into prime condition to take on the tasks at hand.

“He made sure he was as strong as possible, as conditioned as possible to hit the ground running, and he hasn’t skipped a beat since camp,” Jenkins said of Bane. “It’s also his ownership of the responsibility he has to make an impact for our group. It’s offense, defense, leadership, everything. This guy is the epitome of what it means to work hard and seeing it pay off.”

Now, it’s about seeing it result in victories.

“I feel like my body is in a really good spot,” Bane said of his mental and physical approach. “My role is different, but everybody is being asked to do more. I definitely feel I’m doing more out there, and it’s helping me become a better player. At times, it hasn’t been pretty. I’m learning through it all and continuing to grow. Hopefully, we can now string together some wins.”

Bane is working relentlessly toward that outcome.

Just keep the postgame icepacks handy for one of the early NBA season’s hottest players.

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies relying early on prolific Bane as ‘one of hardest workers I’ve ever seen’

MEMPHIS – As the Grizzlies navigate a sluggish start to the season, their focus remains on regaining their stride in two areas that were definitive strengths last season.

In hindsight, here are two takeaways from Wednesday’s setback to the Heat and a look-ahead to Friday’s visit from the Jazz as Memphis seeks to jumpstart its offense and defend home court.

Although the outcomes have been mixed on the scoreboard, Bismack Biyombo’s impact on the court for the Grizzlies has been impressive since he joined the team last week.

The veteran center has started the past two games and has made three appearances after signing as a free agent to begin a frenetic acclimation process.

It started with Biyombo officially joining the team in Utah after the Nov. 1 loss to the Jazz, traveling with the Grizzlies and playing in the two-game weekend set in Portland, and then making his home debut in Memphis during Wednesday’s 108-102 loss to the Heat.

“It’s great to have all the guys helping me integrate as quickly as possible,” said Biyombo, who was available after finishing last season with the Phoenix Suns. “I have faith in God to put me in the right situation with the right people, more than anything. Everyone here, from the players to coaches to staff, have tried to make things as easy as possible. At the same time, it’s a long season and we’re just getting started.”

The initial production with his fifth team in 13 NBA seasons has been encouraging. Through two starts filling the void at center, Biyombo is shooting 70 percent from the field, averaging a team-best 10.5 rebounds and contributing 8.5 points in 28 minutes a game.

In those two games, Biyombo has tallied 11 offensive rebounds, four assists and three blocks. His energy, activity and screen-setting around the lane helped the Grizzlies trigger a 26-2 run to close the game for their first win of the season Sunday in Portland. And Wednesday, he made all four of his shots from the field and posted his second game with double-digit rebounds.

The Grizzlies are pleased with Biyombo’s progress as the team regroups after losing Steven Adams to season-ending knee surgery. Backup center Xavier Tillman has also missed the past two games with knee soreness, which created the need to add frontcourt help.

Biyombo’s presence has also contributed to a productive stretch for Grizzlies’ All-Star power forward Jaren Jackson Jr., who has benefited from sharing the court with another active, rim-protecting big man on the court. Jackson had a team-high 28 points against Miami in his third straight game scoring at least 25, which is the second-longest streak of his six-year NBA career.

“He’s had to learn a new system right away and play a lot,” Jackson said of Biyombo. “It’s hard but he’s handling it really well. It reminds me of when Steven was getting those crazy offensive boards, through three people. It helps a lot because rebounding is one of the things we need.”

After watching his team again shoot below 40 percent from the field overall and under 30 percent on 3-pointers, coach Taylor Jenkins zeroed in on some issues the Grizzlies must address.

“Our running habits didn’t really help us get into the right spots on the floor,” Jenkins said, in part, of what’s ailing the offense. “We’re bringing the ball up in some weird spots on the floor, too, so it’s hard to recognize when we need to slow down . . . too much of the game, we’re just running around out of position. That’s on me to get these guys better organized.”

Getting the offense consistently organized has been a significant challenge this season. With Ja Morant serving a 25-game suspension and Derrick Rose sidelined with knee soreness, the Grizzlies are down to Marcus Smart as the lone, experienced traditional point guard.

The Grizzlies have elevated two-way, G League developmental point guard Jacob Gilyard into the rotation as the primary backup to help fill the void. Jenkins is also relying heavily on swingmen Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard and Ziaire Williams to take on more playmaking duties.

But there have been growing pains with an offense that ranks 28th in field-goal percentage (43.6), 27th in scoring (107.5) and 25th in 3-point shooting (32.4) among the league’s 30 teams.

“We’re starting to figure some things out,” Kennard said of an offense that ranked among the NBA’s best last season in transition scoring, paint points and points off turnovers. “There are definitely some things that we need to work on, but there also some things we’re getting better at. We’ll keep watching film and get better at those things we need to continue to get better at.”

The Grizzlies should have plenty of motivation to deliver a breakthrough when they return to action Friday at FedExForum against the Jazz.

That matchup will be the second NBA In-Season Tournament game for the Grizzlies, who lost their West Group A opener last Friday in Portland. Friday will also mark their second meeting in 10 days with the Jazz after falling 133-109 last week in Salt Lake City.

The Grizzlies, Blazers and Jazz are joined in Group A with the Suns and Lakers, with each team playing four games in the initial stage for a chance to advance in the tournament.

And if there was any additional incentive needed Friday, the Grizzlies are the NBA’s lone team without a home win this season after posting the league’s best home record last season at 35-6. &nbsp;

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MikeCheck: Biyombo settling in, offense seeks reboot and Grizzlies aim for home breakthrough

MEMPHIS – Taylor Jenkins typically communicates in great detail.

But with his team currently short of full strength on available bodies, inconsistent on offense and struggling to overcome defensive lapses at key moments, the Grizzlies’ coach only needed three words to get his larger point across.

If being accountable is the first step toward turning around a difficult situation, the Grizzlies are collectively in stride as they search for a breakthrough amid their 0-4 start to the season.

From top to bottom – the coaching staff down to the last player on the roster – this team refuses to hide behind reasonable explanations or excuses to explain their early stumbles. The focus remains on keeping a positive mindset and finding better ways to execute.

Still, that doesn’t make the path ahead any less challenging for the Grizzlies, who embark on their first extended road trip of the season for the next three games. Monday’s 125-110 home loss to the Mavericks was the latest example of an outing in which the Grizzlies addressed a problem from a previous game, only to see another issue surface that they struggled to combat.

This time, it was an inability to defend the 3-point line on a night when early league MVP frontrunner Luka Doncic led a Dallas barrage from beyond the arc. The Mavericks made 23 shots from 3-point range, which tied for the second-most allowed by Memphis in franchise history.

Through four games, the Grizzlies have allowed opponents to shoot 41.4 percent from deep, which is the second-highest percentage surrendered among the NBA’s 30 teams. By sheer volume, both the 162 attempts and 67 makes are most from opponents against any team so far.

The Grizzlies begin the trip Wednesday against a Utah team that ranks third in the NBA in 3-point attempts, with All-Star swingman Lauri Markkanen leading the way averaging 25 points. Sometimes, an opponent simply gets hot against Memphis.

That was the case Monday with Doncic doing MVP-level things as the NBA’s leading scorer nailed six 3-pointers on the way to a triple-double with 35 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds. But it’s harder to explain when Dallas role players Derrick Jones Jr. and Grant Williams combine to drill eight, Wizards’ reserve Corey Kispert knocks down five in Saturday’s setback to Washington or Denver’s Reggie Jackson and Peyton Watson efficiently net four in Friday’s loss.

The Grizzlies’ lack of depth might be the biggest issue plaguing the team. There is a greater level of patience required there, with reserves Santi Aldama yet to play this season as he recovers from an ankle injury and Luke Kennard missing the past three games in concussion protocol.

But the attention to detail defensively is something that must be collectively addressed regardless of who’s available in the rotation on a given night. That, essentially, was the point Jenkins was intending to drive home when he set the tone from the post-game podium by taking personal responsibility for fixing what can be fixed.

“Our shifts have to be better, our recognition when to build out to 3-point shooters, our rotations when they get to drive-and-kick,” Jenkins listed of key adjustments. “We’re probably a step slow at times, but that’s the nature of the league right now. Especially with teams built on shooting a million threes a game. You’re not going to be able to take away everything.”

For now, the plan is to improve where they can.

On the court, leadership personnel is in place. With power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. and point guard Marcus Smart, the Grizzlies employ the past two winners of the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year award. That pairing was considered a major strength of the team, although Smart is working to build chemistry after missing most of the preseason with abdominal soreness.

Until roster reinforcements arrive and the offense gains some rhythm, the Grizzlies know they must prioritize the defensive end of the court.

“You can’t get too high; can’t get too low because it’s a long season,” Smart surmised. “We’ve got to lock in a bit more down the stretch on the defensive end. It’s part of the learning process, part of coming into something new for everybody. For us, it’s just to keep going. Eventually, the tide is going to turn. Things are going to click. It’s just taking some time right now.”

It’s only a matter of time before the bench gets a much-needed boost, possibly as early as this week’s trip. Both Kennard and Aldama were scheduled to travel with the team for Wednesday’s game in Utah and a set of matchups Friday and Sunday in Portland against the Trail Blazers.

Aldama is expected to advance to five-on-five workouts and scrimmages in the coming days to test the ankle he injured in practice two days before the season-opening loss to the Pelicans. Jenkins suggested that Kennard is improving and moving toward the latter stages of protocols clearance, stemming from an inadvertent blow to the head on Oct. 25 against New Orleans.

When both are healthy, Kennard and Aldama will immediately infuse a bench unit that’s been outscored 127-90 through four games this season. Memphis will also become eligible to add help in the frontcourt with a roster exemption that allows the team to sign a player once star point guard Ja Morant reaches the fifth game of his 25-game suspension.

The Grizzlies reportedly have interest in signing free-agent veteran center Bismack Biyombo. Provided they reach a deal after Wednesday’s game in Utah, Biyombo could help fill the void of losing starting center Steven Adams to season-ending knee surgery.

Again, these are all reasonable and rational reasons why the Grizzlies are off to their toughest start to a season in nearly 20 years.

Just don’t expect any of them to sulk through any excuses.

“We’re 0-4, but we have 78 games left,” Grizzlies leading scorer Desmond Bane pointed out. “We’re working towards something. We have guys working to get back on the court and get healthy, we’re working on new schemes and building chemistry with new teammates. So, we’re working through a lot of things right now. The only thing we’re focused on is continuing to get better.”

The wins will eventually come. The commitment to work guarantees as much. &nbsp;

The Grizzlies hit the road looking to build off an effort that saw Jackson and Bane each score 30 and Smart deliver his most productive game since joining Memphis. They also limited turnovers to a season-low total.

That’s a winning formula that won’t fall short much longer.

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MikeCheck: Growth-seeking Grizzlies endure early struggles as ‘part of learning process’

MEMPHIS – As the Grizzlies address the rebounding and shooting woes that haunted them in the season-opening loss to the Pelicans, a far bigger test looms in efforts to correct those issues.

In hindsight, here are two takeaways from the 111-104 setback to New Orleans and a look-ahead to Friday’s visit from Finals MVP Nikola Jokic and the defending champion Nuggets.

Steven Adams won’t be checking into a game at any point this season. That much is known, as the Grizzlies’ starting center recovers from the right knee surgery that has cost him his season before it ever began this week.

But what Memphis vows to avoid is a drastic drop-off from where it was much of the last two seasons as one of the NBA’s top rebounding, offensive rebounding, paint scoring and second-chance scoring teams. Simply put, life without Adams can’t regularly resemble the level of disparity the Grizzlies faced Wednesday against the Pelicans.

In the season opener, the Grizzlies were outrebounded 52-37 and surrendered 11 offensive boards to the Pelicans, who converted nearly each one for 25 total second-chance points.

Rebounding likely won’t be an elite strength for the Grizzlies as they start the season adjusting to key frontcourt injuries. But they certainly can’t afford for it to be an overwhelming weakness.

“We’ve got to figure that out,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said of his message to the team about an increased level of commitment to work on the boards. “I said, ‘Guys, we know our reality (and) we’ve just got to figure out what it’s going to come down to. It’s the battle on the boards. Right now, it’s definitely kind of a feel-out process.”

Barring any immediate changes to the roster, the Grizzlies must rebound by committee.

Against the Pelicans, reigning league Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. was held scoreless and without a rebound through much of the first half. Replacement starting center Xavier Tillman led the Grizzlies with 12 rebounds along with 17 points. But the other eight players who logged rotation minutes Wednesday combined to snag just 25 boards.

Jenkins refuses to point to small lineups as an excuse. With Adams and power forward Brandon Clarke both likely out for the season, and reserve forward Santi Aldama to miss his second straight game with a sore ankle, the Grizzlies shifted wing players David Roddy and Jake LaRavia to minutes at power forward.

The goal is to collectively produce a more competitive result on the glass. Immediately.

“If you can’t rebound or consistently play defense to make (opponents) miss shots, it’s going to be a long year,” Grizzlies guard Derrick Rose said. “We’ve got to be able to make adjustments on the fly. Good, bad or ugly, we’ve got to make sure body language and all that stays consistent and play as hard as we can.”

Grizzlies guard Luke Kennard was the NBA’s best 3-point shooter over the second half of last season, knocking down nearly 52 percent after he was acquired at the February trade deadline.

The sharpshooter will head into Friday’s game looking to bounce back from an outlier 0-for-5 effort from beyond the arc in the season opener. Kennard’s struggles from deep underscored the team’s overall ineffectiveness on a night when the Grizzlies missed 31 of 43 attempts.

The 3-point issues are a carryover from the preseason, and it’s likely going to take some time for the Grizzlies to find a consistent rhythm. In addition to some lineup tweaks and getting new players such as Rose and Marcus Smart acclimated, Jenkins and the staff are also installing some different schemes in the offensive system.

Overall, the Grizzlies were satisfied with the looks they got from 3-point range – just not the results. It was a feast-or-famine scenario for the Grizzlies from beyond the arc, where Desmond Bane and Rose were a combined 7-for-14 but Kennard and Jackson were a collective 0-for-10.

“We’ll make shots and we’ll miss shots, but staying positive and keeping our swag is Grizzlies basketball,” Bane said. “We didn’t have that for 48 minutes. We’ll watch film and after that, all eyes turn to Denver, which is a great team. We’ll do everything we can to slow them down.”

The turnaround will have to begin Friday without Kennard, who will sit out against the Nuggets while in concussion protocol.

The Nuggets unveiled the franchise’s first championship banner, received their championship rings and placed all five starters in double figures during an impressive debut in Tuesday’s season-opening win over the Lakers.

Jokic arrives in FedExForum coming off 29 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists for his 106th regular season career triple-double. His next triple-double will push Jokic into a three-way tie with Jason Kidd and LeBron James for fourth place in NBA history.

Although Jokic has four career triple-doubles against the Grizzlies, none have come in Memphis.

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies regroup from opening setback, brace for Jokic and NBA defending champs

Jaren Jackson Jr. stood against a Memphis Grizzlies backdrop and surveyed everything unfolding in front of him at the team’s practice facility on the eve of the season opener.

Immediately in front of Jackson were dozens of media members and cameras ready to capture his every word. A bit farther into the distance were teammates, coaches and basketball staffers wrapping up workouts and preparing for a team meeting and video session.

As the Grizzlies were collectively pivoting from the realization that starting center Steven Adams will be shut down for season-ending knee surgery, Jackson was in a real-time juggling act.

On one hand, the longest-tenured member of the Grizzlies expressed sympathy and disappointment for losing Adams from the lineup just days before the start of the season. On the other hand, Jackson was first to step up and carry the burden of increased responsibilities for salvaging heightened expectations entering this bounce-back season for the Grizzlies.

Yet in a moment of ultimate transparency, even the most optimistic of Grizzlies players stopped short of delivering any promises when asked how this initial transition will play out.

“We’ll see,” Jackson responded. “Ask me (again) in five games.”

The Grizzlies by then will have forged through the first eight days of their schedule, which starts with Wednesday’s regular-season opener against the Pelicans at FedExForum. By then, Memphis will have already endured an opening stretch of four games in six nights that also includes Friday’s visit from Finals MVP Nikola Jokic and the defending champion Nuggets.

Additionally, by then, the Grizzlies will have embarked on the opening stop of their first extended road trip of the season for a game in Utah followed by two in Portland.

That’s a lot to face in five games. But this team has stared down obstacles before and has not only survived but thrived in the eye of challenges and adversity.

In addition to the absence of Adams, the Grizzlies will be without suspended superstar point guard Ja Morant for the season’s first 25 as well reserve forward Brandon Clarke for much – if not all – of the season as he recovers from Achilles surgery.

Under normal circumstances, Adams, Morant and Clarke represent two starters and three of coach Taylor Jenkins’ top eight rotation players. Under current conditions, their absences represent enormous opportunities for others on the team to step into the void and push ahead.

The Grizzlies’ depth under Jenkins has delivered before.

There was the 18-11 record down the stretch last season after Adams first suffered the right knee injury in January that cost him the rest of that season and now requires surgery.&nbsp;

There was the 20-5 stretch the Grizzlies went on two seasons ago in the games Morant missed to deal with various nagging injuries.

In both seasons, the Grizzlies finished with more than 50 victories and the second-best record in the Western Conference. On each occasion, they found a way for younger wing players and veteran backups to galvanize the team and press on to the postseason.

Ultimately, in each of the past two playoffs, missing a marquee player or two caught up to the Grizzlies and sent them into the offseason wondering what might have been if healthy.

But that’s not the concern right now. Memphis doesn’t have to worry about how they stack up in the playoffs for another five months. The priority now is to get through the first five games, sort through necessary rotation or roster adjustments and steadily find their balance.

“But obviously, we also have to be realistic,” Jenkins said of the path ahead. “Steven unlocked so much for us offensively and defensively, with rebounding and physicality. It’s on everyone to step it up, how we coach the team in those directions. We’ve got a lot of strengths in this group, a lot of competitors that are going to lay it on the line every single day. Knowing on the front end, we’re going to be able to navigate it because we’ve got a deep roster and we’ve got a committed roster. Now the games will reveal where we’ve got to coach better.”

The Grizzlies already addressed Morant’s absence by adding veteran guards Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose to bolster the backcourt, especially through the season’s first two months.

And although no outside players were added to the frontcourt, the Grizzlies took steps recently to extend contract options on young bigs in Xavier Tillman and Santi Aldama. They also converted second-year center Kenny Lofton Jr. from a two-way developmental deal to a standard NBA contract at the end of last season.

However, the Grizzlies suffered a minor blow Tuesday when the team announced that Aldama will miss Wednesday's opener after spraining an ankle in practice. Aldama is considered day-to-day and will be reevaluated prior to Friday's game against the Nuggets.

Tillman has started 43 games the past two seasons, including 12 in the playoffs. That’s most likely where the Grizzlies will again start their search for answers at center entering the season. The fourth-year center was in the starting lineup for Friday’s preseason finale against the Bucks while Adams was away from the team having the knee evaluated before opting for surgery.

Beyond that, Jenkins said he remains in talks with team president and general manager Zach Kleiman regarding potential outside targets through trades or currently unsigned free agents.

“There’s more to come for sure,” Jenkins admitted. “We’re having great dialogues with that. So, we’ll sit down and process where this team is and how we can best help moving forward.”

Directly ahead is a set of games against two of the West’s bigger and more physical teams.

The combination of power forward Zion Williamson and center Jonas Valanciunas are relentless in the paint for the Pelicans, who have split their past 12 meetings with the Grizzlies dating to the 2020 season. Two days later come Jokic and the Nuggets, who held off the Grizzlies for the best record in the conference last season by just two games.

Smart said the Grizzlies carried a “professional” mindset into practices this week as they tweaked and adjusted on the fly for the start of the season. Having made repeated trips to the conference finals and one stop in the NBA Finals while with Boston, Smart said adversity always tends to strike just when a contending team is headed for a breakthrough.

“Bad things happen to those on track to make a good run and do something special,” Smart said. “That’s part of basketball and just part of life. But that’s only going to continue to make us stronger and better. And I definitely feel that here, and I see it in these guys.”

Jackson saw the same thing when he scanned the practice facility the other day.

“Optimism is always up,” Jackson reiterated. “Keep the vibes up, keep the energy up. You never let the spirit go down for any reason. Injuries happen. I’ve had some myself. Bringing the energy down is worse. And you don’t want to do that.”

This team will have to regroup in a hurry.

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies unrattled but ‘realistic’ facing injuries, adversity entering season opener 

After nine seasons in the league, five trips to the conference finals, one stop in the NBA Finals and garnering Defensive Player of the Year honors, there’s absolutely nothing Marcus Smart needs to prove in a relatively meaningless preseason game.

But there is something he wants to accomplish.

“Build that chemistry – that’s really it,” Smart insisted. “All preseason, we’ve been talking about how our entire focus is really on us. I’ve already missed four preseason games. Our goal is to get better with every opportunity we get. And we have this next opportunity. For me, it’s just to get a feel for everything before we go into our season opener.”

Those words and that mindset will propel Smart into Friday’s debut with the Grizzlies when they wrap up the preseason in Milwaukee against the Bucks.

After missing the first four preseason games with abdominal soreness, Smart pushed through a ‘ramp-up process’ that featured high-intensity individual workouts and team practices this week. The regimen culminated with Smart participating in Wednesday’s extensive intrasquad scrimmage in addition to Thursday’s team walk-through before the team’s flight to Milwaukee.

Smart is expected to play limited minutes Friday, his first game action with his new teammates after arriving from Boston in a three-team trade in June. Although Smart has been a vocal leader throughout the preseason, the Grizzlies have taken precautions with his workload since the abdominal soreness surfaced in training camp earlier this month.

By all indications, the Grizzlies are encouraged by the way Smart has progressed through the treatment, practices and recovery this week.