SALT LAKE CITY – Through four seasons as coach, Taylor Jenkins has routinely drilled home three principles that define the culture the Grizzlies have established since he arrived as coach.
Compete.
Play together.
Get better every day.
There’s a fourth foundational mantra that also continues to carry the Grizzlies through their rapid development into one of the league’s budding title contenders these days: Next man up.
Make no mistake about it. These aren’t cliches. They’re collective rallying points that have fueled the Grizzlies’ 4-1 start despite dealing with minor injuries or rehab recoveries that have already sidelined as many as four key rotation players this season.
The same balance and depth that resulted in a franchise-tying 56 victories last season are already pushing the Grizzlies this season. They continue a four-game trek on Saturday in Utah for the first of consecutive matchups with the Jazz after opening the trip with an impressively complete victory in Sacramento.
If there’s a script the Grizzlies would strive to play by for the remaining games of this trip, the blueprint was established in Thursday’s 125-110 win against the Kings.
Memphis competed after falling behind by a double-digit margin early to post at least 125 points for the third time in four victories. Entering the weekend, the Grizzlies rank sixth in the NBA in scoring (119.8) and three-point shooting (39.1%).
They’ve played together and in sync, with 27 team assists against the Kings largely contributing to seven players scoring in double figures, including 45 bench points.
When we need our depth to show out every single night – you never know what the gameplan is going to be – but it’s a great team effort and a great win to start the road trip.
Taylor Jenkins
Playing that way typically results in getting a bit better every day.
Since suffering that 41-point loss in Dallas on the second night of a back-to-back set of road games last weekend, the Grizzlies have knocked down a total 30 three-pointers, dished 48 assists and scored 134 and 125 points, respectively, in wins over Brooklyn and Sacramento.
The early results are reassuring. Next comes the process of sustainability.
“It’s very encouraging,” Jenkins said of the spark he’ll challenge the team to carry into the two games Saturday and Monday against the Jazz. “When we need our depth to show out every single night – you never know what the gameplan is going to be – but it’s a great team effort and a great win to start the road trip.”
Managing injuries and recoveries requires the Grizzlies to find multiple ways to win.
Against the Nets, Memphis relied on its star backcourt. All-NBA point guard Ja Morant and Desmond Bane each scored 38 – combining for 76 points, 14 assists, nine rebounds and three steals – to carry the load as the Grizzlies pulled away late from the Nets.
Against the Kings, it was largely the second unit that got the Grizzlies going until Bane eventually found his rhythm for a second consecutive 30-point scoring effort. The level of production from its revamped bench posed one of the biggest questions facing the team entering this season after the departures of Kyle Anderson and De’Anthony Melton.
Initial indications are that Brandon Clarke and Tyus Jones will continue to be the veteran bookends as the reserve unit’s primary post player and point guard to keep things on track. That appears to be the case even as the bench rotation on the wing remains fluid.
Backup swingman John Konchar missed Thursday’s game with a sore shoulder and his status remains in question for Saturday’s game in Utah. Konchar had moved into the starting lineup last week to replace Dillon Brooks, who made his season debut on Monday against the Nets after missing the first few games with a thigh bruise.
Coming in off the bench is a little bit harder, but we came out there and played with energy. We played together, stuck to the game plan . . . and it worked out for us.
Jake LaRavia
The Grizzlies on Wednesday announced that second-year swingman Ziaire Williams could mix four-to-six weeks to treat knee tendinitis that has sidelined him since early in the preseason. Memphis is also without All-NBA defensive team forward Jaren Jackson Jr. for another few weeks as he continues to work his way back from offseason foot surgery.
And on Friday, the team announced that Morant is doubtful for Saturday’s game with a non-COVID illness.
Persevering through the constant shuffling has become a strength for this team under Jenkins. The early success this season is a continuation of the strides the Grizzlies made last season when they went 20-5 during games Morant missed.
This season, the Grizzlies is turning much earlier to rookies than what may have been originally planned. First-round picks Jake LaRavia and David Roddy saw their most meaningful action Thursday when they were pressed into early minutes off the bench at the forward spots.
It shows how hungry we are. I feel like it shows night in and night out how we have guys step up on the floor, and that’s a credit to their work.
Ja Morant
LaRavia provided a huge rebounding boost and showed no hesitation with his shooting. It resulted in the 19th overall pick finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes – all seasons/career highs – while registering a team-best, plus-24 impact in plus-minus ratio. Roddy, selected four spots later at No. 23 last June, played 18 minutes off the bench Thursday.
Jenkins has regularly relied on rookies to step into key roles in the rotation, and this season is proving to be no exception. The challenge for LaRavia has been to adjust to the pace of the NBA while aggressively taking advantage of opportunities within the offense.
“We always talk about being ready to go,” LaRavia said after knocking down five of his six shot attempts and finishing two short of Steven Adams’ game-high 11 rebounds. “Coming in off the bench is a little bit harder, but we came out there and played with energy. We played together, stuck to the game plan . . . and it worked out for us.”
Morant appreciates what he’s seeing from the start.
“I feel like the guys are all locked in from the jump,” Morant surmised. “It shows how hungry we are. I feel like it shows night in and night out how we have guys step up on the floor, and that’s a credit to their work.”
The key is to keep working.
Keep competing.
Keep playing together, regardless of who’s in or out on a given night.
And, ultimately, keep getting better every day.