Grind City Media

MEMPHIS – If recent history is any indication, the Grizzlies are essentially a lock to make a smart, productive and impactful addition to their roster coming out of Thursday’s NBA Draft.

“Memphis is a bit of a gold standard as far as being able to draft and turn players into starters or rotation players,” former NBA executive and ESPN front-office insider Bobby Marks insists. “They’re going to get two really good players where they’re picking, or maybe those picks get packaged and they move up. And that’s the recipe for roster sustainability here.”

Count Marks among those around the league who believe the Grizzlies are one of the best-positioned franchises entering both the draft on Thursday and the July 1 start of free agency.

Memphis enters the draft with two first-round picks (Nos. 22 and 29) in addition to the No. 47 overall pick in the second round. Beyond that, executive vice president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman and the front office could have at least $20 million in salary cap space for free agency. There’s also tremendous flexibility to make further moves with a collection of attractive expiring contracts as well as potential sign-and-trade options to facilitate larger deals.

At a minimum, the Grizzlies could simply use their draft picks to add more depth to one of the NBA’s brightest young cores alongside Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Ziaire Williams. Those players were all first-round picks at various stages of the last four NBA drafts.

And that group fueled a historic run in which the Grizzlies matched a franchise record with 56 victories and pushed the eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors to six games in the Western Conference semifinals. Memphis posted the league’s second-best record with the second-youngest playing rotation among the NBA’s 30 teams last season.

Kleiman and coach Taylor Jenkins, who signed a multiyear contract extension last week, intend to remain aggressive and opportunistic this offseason as the team builds on what they believe is a championship foundation. The next step in that process leads Memphis into the draft, where the Kleiman-led front office has traded up from its initial position each of the last three years.

“Our approach is we’re going to take whatever we have available to us and work to make this team better,” Kleiman said entering the offseason. “We have a lot of draft assets. Are there opportunities that we have to make ourselves better within a window of contention? I’m excited to see what opportunities there are. We’re not going to lose sight of what got us here. We’re going to put ourselves in position to keep capitalizing on it.”

Speaking on a national conference call to promote ESPN’s coverage of the NBA Draft, Marks praised the Grizzlies for establishing a great culture and building their foundation through the draft. He also emphasized the success of Jenkins’ development system in Memphis after the front office brought in quality players through the draft.

Morant (2019) and Jackson (2018), who arrived as the second and fourth overall lottery picks, made All-NBA teams this past season. Their success was highly anticipated if not outright expected entering the league. But the Grizzlies have also seen Dillon Brooks arrive as the No. 45 overall pick in the second round and become one of the league’s most productive two-way wing players. They’ve witnessed Desmond Bane, who arrived as the No. 30 and final pick of the first round two years ago, become one of the league’s top-five three-point shooters this past season.

And regardless of the Grizzlies’ draft night outcome this time, more of the same is expected.

“Certainly, Ja is the headliner, but just look at what they’ve been able to do in the draft when you look at Desmond Bane, Xavier Tillman, Jaren, Brandon Clarke, the list goes on and on,” Marks explained. “They’ve been able to identify and develop, and the goal is now to retain. They’ve kind of hit the market on building their roster organically.”

The Grizzlies should find ample value in the 20s with this year’s draft class if they stand pat as currently positioned, according to highly regarded ESPN draft analyst Jonathan Givony.

“The Grizzlies, with those two picks, have a lot of options in front of them,” Givony said on the eve of the draft. “This is an interesting draft because very few players who were projected first-round picks or even top-40 picks decided not to enter their names in the draft. You have incredible depth of all these young players who, a lot of them in my opinion, should have probably stayed another year in college to really enter the NBA on the (lottery) red carpet.”

Most offseason projections – in the draft and free agency – list the Grizzlies biggest potential needs at backup point guard and depth at the wing-forward position.

Among some notable prospects Givony believes could be available in the Grizzlies’ draft range late in the first round at point guard are Tennessee’s Kennedy Chandler and Gonzaga’s Andrew Nembhard. And wing prospects who fall in that early-20s range for the Grizzlies on recent mock drafts are Duke’s Wendell Moore, Arizona’s Dalen Terry and Notre Dame’s Blake Wesley.

The Grizzlies have previously shown a willingness to leverage draft assets to trade up on the board. They’ve also gone the other way and packaged picks with a current player in deals to acquire a proven veteran with playoff experience.

But there are similar characteristics they seek in just about any player they target.

“When you step into Memphis, you’re going to embrace giving everything of yourself for the team,” Jenkins said. “There’s a care factor that goes into winning. We just love guys who come in and want to compete, want to win in every little thing. It’s the shooting games, the drills, the card games, the free-throw championship belt, the halfcourt shots, it’s everything. If you compete, you’re unselfish and ultimately care at the end of the day, those are great building blocks. We’ll take it from there. We’re going to develop as much as we can the great talent we bring into the organization.”

Another draft brings another chance to maintain that Grizzlies gold standard.

The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Memphis Grizzlies. All opinions expressed by Michael Wallace are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Memphis Grizzlies or its Basketball Operations staff, owners, parent companies, partners or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Memphis Grizzlies and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies building ‘gold standard’ track record for NBA draft, development success

Tyus Jones Talks Being a Veteran, Making Memories This Season, and More | Michael Wallace Interview

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MEMPHIS – The baseline drive, reverse dunk and icy stare-down set it off.

On the way to arguably the Grizzlies’ most improbable victory of the season, rookie Santi
                Aldama pump-faked Suns defender Jae Crowder into the air at the
        3-point
        line, drove past Phoenix center Deandre Ayton along the baseline and slammed in a reverse dunk.

As he descended from the air, Aldama calmly stared across the way toward the Grizzlies bench that night in April.
        Greeting his gaze was a raucous bench, where teammates Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson
            Jr., De’Anthony Melton, Desmond Bane and others jumped from their
        seats and
        emphatically crashed into one another in unbridled excitement.

Aldama was later mobbed by those same teammates when he checked out of the game as the shorthanded Grizzlies
        throttled a healthy Suns team that posted the NBA’s best record.

When several Grizzlies – from franchise catalysts Morant and Jackson to role players at the end of the bench –
        declared this week during exit interviews that this was the most fun season many have ever had playing
        basketball,
        it’s the ‘Santi dunk’ moments they point to as evidence.

“We’ve got a special group here,” Bane assured. “We’ve said it all year long – everybody here loves this team,
        loves
        this year, loves these times, loves our locker room. This is probably the most fun I’ve had playing basketball
        since
        I was a kid and first picked up a ball.”

The fact that the Grizzlies maintained their youthful energy all season long made it fun. And the reality that a
        core
        of first and second-year players were right in the middle of the season’s most productive moments keeps optimism
        growing that the fun will keep flowing in Memphis.

As the Grizzlies exit the most prolific season in franchise history and eye next month’s NBA Draft, they’re set
        up to
        extend a pipeline of young talent contributing to success. This week’s lottery solidified Memphis with two
        first-round picks – Nos. 22 and 29 – in the June 23 draft.

Meanwhile, the last four players Memphis selected in the last two drafts will enter the summer eager to
        improve their games and expand their roles ahead of next season. That development process continues with
        workouts in
        preparation for summer league play in July.

“I told all the coaches I’m locked in this summer,” said swingman Ziaire
                Williams,
        who played 71 regular season and playoff games as a rookie after being picked tenth in the 2021 draft. “I’m
        going to
        take a week to see the family, and then after that I want to be here. I want to be in the gym every day, the
        weightroom, focus on my nutrition. I’ve never been more excited for a summer offseason more than this one. With
        the
        progression I made this year along, I know I’m going to be an even better player by summer league and into next
        season.”

Aldama, picked No. 30 last year, played least but the 6-10 developing power forward provided arguably the most
        enjoyable highlight of the Grizzlies’ season with that dunk against Phoenix. Bane, Williams and Xavier
            Tillman gained significant playoff experience and combined for 19 postseason starts during the
        team’s
        run to the Western Conference semifinals.

While Morant and Jackson, both age 22, anchor the youth movement as franchise cornerstones, the Grizzlies have
        meticulously added promising core pieces around them in the two drafts that followed their arrivals. The
        collective
        breakthrough led to Memphis posting the league’s second-best record at 56-26 while playing with the NBA’s
        second-youngest roster.

And from the viral postgame team videos and photos to the celebratory moments on and off the court, the Grizzlies
        have made sure to enjoy every chance to bond as a team. The enthusiasm and connection are essential aspects of
        the
        culture that is in place.

“The care factor is incredibly high,” Grizzlies executive vice president Zach Kleiman said. “They look out for
        each
        other, they care for each other. If you look out for the team, the individual stuff will take care of itself.
        When I
        talk about proof of concept in how we operate, I’m encouraged our guys have so deeply bought into that notion.
        And
        they enjoy it. Everyone enjoys what we’re doing. We keep our foot on the gas, but we enjoy what we’re doing.”

Both Bane and Tillman built on encouraging rookie seasons to plug key holes for the Grizzlies during their second
        runs through the league. Bane was one of the league’s most improved players and averaged nearly 19 points, four
        rebounds and two assists during the playoffs.

As the full-time starter alongside Morant in the backcourt, Bane became one of the NBA’s most lethal 3-point
        shooters
        this season, knocking down a franchise-record 271 shots from beyond the arc. His 48.9 percent shooting on threes
        in
        the playoffs is the highest among players attempting at least six 3-pointers per game.

After spending time in summer league last year primarily at point guard, Bane’s focus this summer is to further
        improve ball-handling and to shoot even more efficiently and effectively.

“You look at all the high-level scorers in this league, and I feel like they either get to the free-throw line a
        lot
        or shoot a lot of threes,” Bane said as he referenced Damian Lillard, CJ
                McCollum, Klay Thompson and Steph Curry. “It’s about variety. I think
        I
        complement Ja’s game well because he collapses the defense and draws attention. So I know I’ll get a few of
        those
        (open looks). But to get a few myself off pick-and-rolls, transition threes, on rebounds and kick-aheads, just
        those
        things to where I can get 10 efficient threes up a game (is the goal).”

Williams is expected to supplant Bane as the primary catalyst on the Grizzlies upcoming summer league teams as he
        prepares for his sophomore NBA campaign. Bane plans to partner with Williams in workouts this offseason to help
        Williams take the next leap in production.

The Grizzlies traded up in the lottery to pick Williams at No. 10 overall, and some outside the organization
        expected
        the wiry, 6-9 forward to be a development project his first few seasons. But Williams quickly played his way
        into a
        rotation role for coach Taylor Jenkins because of his athleticism, defense, confident 3-point
        shooting and ability to finish in transition.

Williams knows there’s plenty of work ahead to improve in all facets of his game – and frame.

“I think I can tap into another level I haven’t reached with my body yet, for sure,” said Williams, who is listed
        at
        185 pounds. “My biggest thing is I want to win. Whatever my role is after the summer, I just want to be the best
        version of me to help my team for next year. It’s going to be fun. I can’t wait to show everybody what I can
        do.”

The young Grizzlies showed plenty of potential this season.

They’re confident the best is on the horizon.

“This season was successful, for sure,” said Tillman, who stepped in as starting center during the first-round series win over Minnesota. “I didn’t really know where we’d finish at the beginning of the year. It didn’t look too good for us early, but we got it together and went on some serious runs. I had a lot of
        ups
        and downs, but I really learned how to be a pro.”

The games have ended this season for the Grizzlies.

But the learning never stops for their budding prospects.

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MikeCheck: Rising young Grizzlies eager to attack next steps in offseason development process

And that’s the key word Ja Morant used when asked to describe the impact he and Jaren Jackson Jr. will have on the court together for the Grizzlies when the talented young tandem starts to really put it together. After three NBA seasons as teammates, Morant and Jackson believe they’re only just beginning to reveal how dominant their bond can be for this franchise.

As Morant exits a breakthrough 2021-22 season, one of his biggest takeaways is the glimpse of promise he and Jackson flashed early in the Western Conference semifinals against Golden State.

Both Morant and Jackson posted 30-point efforts in Game 1, combining for 67 points, 19 rebounds, 11 assists and three steals. They knocked down 10-of-20 attempts from 3-point range and shot 48.9 percent overall from the field to open the series against the Warriors.

Memphis came up just short in a one-point loss that night. But a larger point was made as the Grizzlies' catalyst reflected after the season on the long game moving forward.

“I feel like we showed good signs early on in this series, and the first couple of games I played, about how special we can be with both of us on the floor together,” Morant said of growing with Jackson as they shifted focus toward offseason improvements. “It’s just a matter of time before it’s real scary for everybody once we’re actually clicking.”

Finding effective ways for one of the NBA’s most dynamic young duos to start “clicking” more consistently next season is a top priority for Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins. A major step toward developing that click requires Morant and Jackson to stick on the floor together.

The fact that Morant and Jackson enter the offseason without any major injury or recovery concerns is a significant boost. Morant and Grizzlies top basketball executive Zach Kleiman confirmed earlier this week that the knee bone bruise that sidelined Morant for the final two games of the 4-2 series loss to Golden State wouldn’t require offseason surgery.

After a few weeks of “offloading” and rest, Morant plans to get back to work on his game and his body coming off a season in which he finished sixth in MVP voting, won the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award and averaged 27.1 points, 9.8 assists and 8.0 rebounds in the playoffs.

Expect Morant to remain connected on the summer workout trail with Jackson, who’s coming off the best and healthiest season of his four-year career after playing in 78 regular-season games and all 12 playoff contests.

Injuries and rehab stints have limited Jackson and Morant to 135 of a possible 247 games they could have played together since Morant entered the league as the No. 2 overall pick in 2019. Last season, with Morant mostly healthy, Jackson missed all but a dozen games before recovering from knee surgery to finish the season.

This season, Morant missed 27 games to injuries while Jackson was the team’s most durable player and finished as the NBA’s leader in total blocked shots. But there’s optimism that the stars will align for the pair of 22-year-old, franchise cornerstones.

“You saw the Warriors series, even all year, what we can do,” Jackson said of the tandem’s upside when available. “We’re always on the same page, always locked. Mentally, we’ve always had the same goals since Day 1, so it’s been easy to click on and off the court. There’s a lot to be positive about and to think about. But there’s so much more to do, we’re still young. We’re going to strive more, and this is a good foundation for us.”

Jenkins has seen a large enough sample size to unlock the next layers of development for Morant and Jackson. The Grizzlies have also built an ideal supporting cast around the two superstars, with second-year guard Desmond Bane and rookie lottery pick Ziaire Williams contributing to the NBA’s second-youngest roster posting the league’s second-best record.

Having matched the franchise’s best record at 56-26 – including a 20-5 mark in games Morant was sidelined – there’s reason for excitement about where this team can end up with good health.

“Trying to put a full season together is a big first step in that direction, and we’ve got more of a sample size of that for sure,” Jenkins said. “The connection they can have on the offensive end – I’m always trying to come up with ways to get them involved in different actions and what it might be. I think they’re starting to get that sixth sense wavelength over time. I’m starting to see it more, and you can see it on the floor.”

Jenkins can’t wait to work on more schemes this offseason to activate Jackson and Morant in unison. Even after delivering historic production amid career seasons, both players emerged from exit interviews with comprehensive notebooks of offseason improvements to make.

“You see all these pages? It’s long,” Jackson quipped as he pointed at his development packet. “(Jenkins) expects a lot of me and I expect a lot of myself, so we’re on the same page there.”

The goal is to add more sustainable and productive moments to the script.

The Grizzlies are 75-60 in the 135 games Morant and Jackson have played together since 2019, with Morant averaging 22.5 points, 7.2 assists and 4.9 rebounds. Meanwhile, Jackson has contributed 15.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in those contests.

They’ve both scored 20 or more points in the same game 22 times, including twice in the playoffs. The Game 1 output against Golden State was their most productive postseason game together. As Morant suggested, it only provided a hint of how scary this combo is.

“Those guys are pillars of what we do on both ends of the floor,” Jenkins said. “That’s going to be one of my biggest tasks of the summer – continue to understand how I’m going to unlock those guys amongst all the great depth we have. But when Ja and Jaren are leading the charge, that’s my responsibility to figure out better ways.”

The best is ahead of them both. Especially if they remain hungry and can stay healthy.

“So now it’s just about getting the reps (because) we know what each other wants, we know what we’re looking for,” Morant insisted. “I don’t want to say it’s a one-two punch, because we have a lot of guys who jump in as well and throw punches. It’s going to be scary, but we’ve got to continue to lead. Lead us to wins and lead us to a championship.”

With Jackson locked into a contract extension that kicks in next season and Morant eligible to sign his own max extension this summer, the commitment is there.

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MikeCheck: Morant, Jackson to unlock ‘scary’ next level as Grizzlies build on breakout season

MEMPHIS – After advancing a step farther into the playoffs for a third straight season, the North Star guiding the Grizzlies toward NBA title aspirations is moving closer within reach.

And the Grizzlies are firmly committed to clearing any hurdles necessary to further develop and keep their talented young core intact, according to the team’s top basketball executive.

“The goal is, and continues to be, to win a championship here,” said Zach Kleiman, Grizzlies executive vice president for basketball affairs. “The decision-making North Star continues to be what’s going to maximize our chances of doing so, building in a sustainable way. I’m excited to see what opportunities there are to make us better. We’re going to look at everything on the table . . . to increase our likelihood of getting us to the point we believe we can get to.”

Kleiman’s comments came Sunday afternoon as the team wrapped up exit interviews following one of the best seasons in franchise history. The Grizzlies came up short in a 4-2 series loss in the Western Conference semifinals to the championship-savvy Golden State Warriors.

Despite playing the final two games without All-Star point guard and leading scorer Ja Morant, the Grizzlies initially staved off elimination with a record-setting, 39-point home win in Game 5. But Golden State’s experience and clutch performances from future Hall-of-Famers Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green eventually overwhelmed Memphis in Game 6.

Kleiman, coach Taylor Jenkins and several of the team’s core players were encouragingly reflective on a breakout 2021-22 season and eager to come back next season even stronger. The priority is to take the necessary steps to build on a 56-26 season, which tied the Grizzlies’ franchise record and was also the second-best mark in the league this season.

The fact that Memphis accomplished those feats with the second-youngest roster in the NBA was the primary reason Kleiman, 33, became the youngest recipient to be named league executive of the year. With the Grizzlies also guided from the bench by Jenkins, runner-up in NBA Coach of the Year balloting, the direction of the league’s most improved team is clear.

Before arriving in Memphis three years ago, Jenkins was an assistant in Atlanta and Milwaukee. He played a key role in helping to develop the young and rising Hawks and Bucks, respectively, into 60-win teams and – in Milwaukee’s case – an eventual NBA champion.

The blueprint isn’t completely different in Memphis. Neither are the expectations for the Grizzlies, who have advanced farther each season Jenkins has been on the bench. It started two years ago when the Grizzlies lost in the play-in round in the NBA bubble in Orlando.

The following year, Memphis won the Play-In Tournament and advanced to the playoffs for the first time in four years before losing in five games to Utah. And this season, the Grizzlies beat Minnesota in six games to win a playoff series for the first time since 2015.

“We can’t wait to get back to work, sit down with Zach and our amazing staff and get back to work to figure out how we can keep moving forward in this progression,” Jenkins said. “It’s been an unbelievable year, but there are also plenty of ways we can get better. Our guys on this team have never wavered in their ability to adjust and adapt to whatever challenges we’ve faced. And we’ve found success together. After a win, after a loss, no matter, we found ways to stick with our values and get better from it. We take that same mindset into the offseason.”

The team that sent the Grizzlies into the offseason provided the greatest compliment of all. Curry and Green, who have been on three NBA championship teams in Golden State, both said they see plenty of potential in Memphis. They also see a few similarities in the steps the Warriors took to keep their core together, and what the Grizzlies have a chance to do with Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane forming Memphis’ foundation.

“You’ve got to keep that team together,” Green said of the Grizzlies’ promising future. “That’s a group of young guys that are hungry, they are talented, they are athletic. They’ve got it. It will be good to see their progression over these next few years and where they can take it. Because, that’s an incredible young team. They can be special. They can be really special.”

The Grizzlies enter the offseason relatively healthy, potentially stocked with two first-round picks in the upcoming draft and well-positioned with salary-cap space for free-agency.

Kleiman confirmed the bone bruise in Morant’s right knee that sidelined him during the Golden State series does not require surgery this summer. Morant also suggested Sunday that had the Grizzlies forced a Game 7 against the Warriors back in Memphis, he would have pushed desperately to test the knee to see if he could’ve possibly played in the game.

One of the most important orders of business this offseason sounds like it’ll be an easy one: locking Morant into a rookie max contract extension as soon as he’s eligible. Citing NBA collective bargaining rules, Kleiman declined to talk specifics, but intimated the Grizzlies are committed to Morant for the foreseeable future.

Morant also didn’t hesitate when asked about his long-term desire to lead the franchise.

“If your (question) is, Do I want to be in Memphis?” Morant said. “Hell yeah!”

The foundation is set for a team that led the NBA this season in rebounding, blocks, steals, second-chance points, fast-break points and points in the paint. The Grizzlies’ brand also had a breakthrough season as Memphis ranked in the top-10 in NBA merchandise sales while Morant also cracked the top 10 in player jersey sales.

Both on and off the court, the Grizzlies are connected on a mission and a vision.

That vision remains locked on the championship North Star Kleiman first mentioned two years ago. And it’s a target zooming closer into focus now.

“Even at that point, I was confident and hopeful that if we bought into it, were exact and were disciplined in our approach, we’d establish a process for team-building,” Kleiman reflected. “And here we are. There’s a very clear proof of concept of what we’re building. There’s an internal and external buy in to how we’re operating here. We’re thrilled to be at this point now, but we’re not taking anything for granted. We’re not satisfied.”

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MikeCheck: Kleiman, Jenkins seek sustainable success as ‘hungry’ Grizzlies plot NBA title course

SAN FRANCISCO – Even as the Grizzlies continue to provide resounding answers about their
        collective postseason growth, coach Taylor Jenkins is far more interested in the next set of
        questions as they push forward in the playoffs.

Barely 12 hours after staving off elimination with a historic, lopsided win at home in Game 5, the Grizzlies
        boarded a four-hour flight to play Game 6 against the Warriors on Friday night.

Although 48 hours is an incredibly short turnaround for a cross-country flight and pivotal game, it’s plenty of
        time to reflect on priorities when a team’s postseason fate is at stake.

So while proudly answering questions about the Grizzlies’ 39-point throttling of the Warriors to make it a 3-2
        series, Jenkins was locked in philosophically as the Grizzlies returned to the Bay.

Ultimately, the Grizzlies want to defy the odds, rally to win this series and advance to the Western Conference
        finals. To do that, they must force a Game 7 back in Memphis on Monday. But first, to set any of that in motion,
        the Grizzlies need to win Game 6 on Friday.

But Jenkins doesn’t want his team even thinking about the bigger picture heading into the Chase Center. The
        immediate goals are much smaller and more incremental than that.

“Moving forward, how do you win one possession, to win one game, to win one series?” Jenkins rhetorically asked.
        “You don’t get to win the series until you win one possession. It’s going to be a tough one, but are we
        accepting the challenge? Are we responding to it? And are we going to do everything we can in our control to go
        in and get a victory?”

Essentially, that’s the same question the Grizzlies answered in convincing fashion, with their backs against the
        proverbial wall, to deliver their most lopsided win in postseason history the other night. So, the confidence is
        there that these Grizzlies can beat the Warriors.

Evidence also suggests Memphis has discovered a formula for success against Golden State despite losing star
        guard Ja Morant likely for the rest of the playoffs to a knee injury. In their previous game at
        Chase Center, the Grizzlies built a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter with stifling defense before
        late-game lapses derailed their chances to even the series at 2-2. Instead, they suffered a 101-98 loss that sent the
        Grizzlies home facing elimination.

But after struggling to finish Game 4, the Grizzlies never let up from the start in Game 5 and built as large as
        a 55-point lead to cruise to the finish. The hope is that the Grizzlies can maintain their edge in three areas
        in which they were dominant with their season on the line.

On Wednesday, Memphis capitalized on nearly every turnover Golden State committed in the first half. By the end,
        the Grizzlies had scored 29 points on 22 of the Warriors’ miscues. Memphis also finally found a consistent
        rhythm from 3-point range, connecting on a series-best 18 attempts from beyond the arc as seven players made at
        least one from deep.

And the return of center Steven Adams from the league’s health and safety
        protocols absence has drastically impacted the Grizzlies’ success in the third area: rebounding. After getting
        outrebounded in each of the first four games of the series, the Grizzlies fared much better in Game 4 and
        outright dominated the Warriors on the boards in Game 5 with a 55-37 edge.

Over the past two games, the Grizzlies have outrebounded the Warriors 103-91 and have outscored them in the paint
        by a total of 28 points. In other words, Golden State is leading the series by a game, but it is no longer
        beating the Grizzlies at Memphis' preferred style of play.

“I would say we’re energized; we’re locked in and we’re all eyes on Game 6,” Grizzlies swingman Dillon
            Brooks said. “We’re trying to keep surviving so we can force a Game 7. But first comes Game 6.
        We’ve got to give that same effort. That’s the only way we’re going to have a chance to win. It’s going to be a
        hostile environment, as you know. We’ve got to give our whole effort and just follow the game plan and work out
        the adjustments.”

In the span of three games in this series, the Grizzlies have gone from suffering one of their worst playoff
        losses in franchise history in a 142-112 drubbing in Game 3 to securing their biggest postseason victory ever in
        Game 5. More than anything, that speaks to the resilience and growth the league’s second-youngest team has shown
        over the course of this series.

The characteristics and makeup of this team was recognized with another high honor when 33-year-old Zach Kleiman
        became the youngest recipient in history to win NBA Executive of the Year. In his third season as Grizzlies
        executive vice president for basketball affairs, Kleiman and his staff assembled a roster that tied the
        franchise’s single-season record win total at 56-26.

In addition to that, Jenkins finished second in Coach of the Year voting, Morant was sixth in MVP balloting and
        three different Grizzlies players received votes in both the Sixth Man of the Year and Most Improved Player
        award races.

Right now, the Grizzlies are only focusing on maintaining their stride to keep their season alive.

And they have plenty of respect for Golden State and its core of three-time NBA champions in Steph Curry,Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

But this series has proved that the respect is mutual. The Grizzlies know exactly what it’ll take to get one more
        victory to swing the series back to Memphis for a seventh and decisive game. To do that, they must beat a Golden
        State team that has won seven straight home games.

“Across the board, we understand what’s at stake,” Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane insisted. “We’re
        on the road against a veteran Golden State trying to close out a series. They’re obviously going to throw a good
        punch. So go in there, be ready and keep that same mindset.”

These Grizzlies have already answered plenty of questions this season.

Regardless of Friday’s outcome on the scoreboard, they’ve proved quite a point.

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MikeCheck: Regardless of Game 6 outcome, resilient Grizzlies prove major point in playoffs

SAN FRANCISCO – Already likely to be without catalyst Ja Morant for Game 4 on Monday, the Grizzlies know they can’t also afford to miss defensive assignments if they have any chance to turn this series around against Golden State.

“We’ll find a better game plan, go out and execute and play better,” Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said as his team seeks to regroup from one of the worst playoff losses in franchise history. “Do what we’ve done all season long. Come back and try to find a way to get better.”

The Grizzlies have proved to be a resilient team all season. But they’ll face their stiffest challenge yet when they return to the Chase Center on Monday against the Warriors, trailing 2-1 in the series and likely missing their All-Star point guard.

Morant is listed as doubtful on the team’s injury report entering Game 4 with knee soreness, potentially leaving the Grizzlies without one of the leading scorers in the NBA playoffs. The injury stems from a scramble in Saturday’s game when Golden State guard Jordan Poole reached and grabbed Morant’s right knee as two Warriors defenders were swarming for the ball.

Morant left the game late in the fourth quarter and did not return as the Warriors cruised to a 142-112 win that featured the second-most points scored in their franchise’s playoff history. If Morant is unable to play Monday, the Grizzlies will be missing the marquee production of a player who is averaging 27.1 points, 9.8 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals this postseason.

The Grizzlies maintained success during the regular season by posting a 20-5 record during games Morant has missed. But they now face a three-time champion Golden State team coming off its most dominant performance of the playoffs and looking to take a 3-1 series lead.

An equally daunting challenge requires figuring out a way to slow down the Warriors, who tied a franchise record with 78 points in the second half of Game 3 after shooting 63.1 percent from the field overall. After struggling with their vaunted three-point shooting through the first two games of the series, the Warriors found their rhythm in Game 3 by hitting 17-of-32 from deep.

Jenkins said Monday’s priority is to adjust defensively after watching Game 3 film. Among the more disturbing trends in this series has been the Warriors ability to essentially beat the Grizzlies at their own game. After leading the NBA this season in rebounds, second-chance scoring and points in the paint, Memphis has been outworked in all three areas in this series.

The starkest difference in output came in Game 3, when the Warriors outscored the Grizzlies 62-44 in the paint. Overall, through three games, Golden State has outrebounded Memphis by 15 boards and holds a 48-point edge in points in the paint.

The remedy starts with improved on-ball defense and preventing guards such as Poole and Steph Curry from getting into the lane and forcing the Grizzlies into defensive breakdowns.

“First and foremost, we’re going to have to keep guys in front of us, meaning we’ve got to do a better job guarding our man, whoever it is,” Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane said. “Give (Golden State) credit; they have a good system and a good offense. But we’ve got to do a better job of keeping people in front of us and limit rotations. You’ve got to continue to scramble against this team. You need a lot of extra efforts, and we weren’t good enough (in Game 3).”

Grizzlies guard De’Anthony Melton insisted the best thing his team could do is to put the previous effort “in the rearview mirror and keep on pushing” ahead defensively.

“They hit some shots that we wanted them to hit, and they hit some shots that they weren’t supposed to hit,” Melton said. “We have to continue to make all their shots tough and figure out where we were wrong. A 30-point loss like this? It’s not us, and we know it’s not us. So we’ve got to get better.”

Reaching their best will be a major obstacle without Morant. But the Grizzlies get another top player back Monday with swingman Dillon Brooks returning from the one-game suspension he served Saturday for a flagrant foul he committed in Game 2.

Brooks, one of five Memphis players averaging double figures in scoring this postseason, is considered the team’s best two-way perimeter player. His offensive punch and his defensive prowess will be desperately needed to help fill the void caused by Morant’s potential absence.

As the second-youngest team in the league, the Grizzlies have responded to adversity all season on the way to finishing with the NBA’s second-best record and No. 2 overall playoff seed.

“We don’t have a problem with that – you don’t base your confidence on (one) game,” forward Jaren Jackson Jr. said of overcoming tough times. “We’ve played a lot of games, so trust me, confidence ain’t a problem. We’re just moving on to the next one, and correct (things) like we know how to. You always look forward. There’s no looking backwards.”

Perhaps the hardest test of the season awaits Monday.

The Grizzlies may be depleted, but they aren’t defeated.

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies remain determined facing daunting task with Morant doubtful for Game 4

SAN FRANCISCO – The Grizzlies are hopeful center Steven Adams’ return to action and the improved health of guard Desmond Bane will provide a boost against the Warriors as their second-round playoff series shifts to Golden State.

Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins confirmed after Friday’s practice in Oakland that Adams will be available to play as soon as Saturday, and that Bane’s sore back condition has improved significantly entering a pivotal Game 3 at the Chase Center.

Both Adams and Bane participated in Friday’s workout as the Grizzlies look to regain homecourt advantage in the 1-1 series by winning at least one of the next two games in Golden State.

Adams was cleared earlier this week to return from the NBA’s health and safety protocols and went through his second day of additional five-on-five scrimmage work after practice. Although Adams started at center throughout the season, the 7-foot veteran fell out of the rotation because of matchup problems in the Grizzlies’ opening-round series win over Minnesota.

But his return after more than a week away could provide the rebounding punch the Grizzlies desperately need after being outworked in that area through two games against the Warriors. A Memphis team that led the NBA in rebounding in the regular season now trails on the glass 104-94 overall through two games, and has been outscored 46-32 in second-chance points.

Jenkins was non-committal when asked Friday if Adams would start or come off the bench in Game 3, but he does expect the Grizzzlies’ leading rebounder to be ready if called upon.

“He’ll be active, and I’ll figure out the rotations in the next 24 hours, but he’s trending in a good direction and he’s getting his wind back – you know, doing Steven Adams things out there,” Jenkins said of Adams, who led the NBA in offensive rebounding this season when he averaged 6.9 points, 10 boards and 3.4 assists a game. “So we’ve got a lot of confidence that when we put him in the lineup, he’s going to go out there and be successful.”

Jenkins is also optimistic Bane will return to form in the upcoming games after back soreness limited his play the past two contests. Bane is averaging just seven points on 29.4 percent shooting from the field in the two games against Golden State. Those numbers are drastically down from his breakout performance against Minnesota in the previous series, when Bane averaged 23.5 points on 50.4 percent shooting overall and 46.0 percent on threes.

Bane tweaked his back in the Game 6 clinching win in Minnesota last week, and has played through soreness in the two games against Golden State. Both Bane and Jenkins said rest and treatment between Game 2 on Tuesday and Saturday’s Game 3 have been helpful.

Bane’s production will be key without Dillon Brooks available as the Grizzlies try to compensate on the wing in Game 3. Brooks will serve his one-game, NBA-sanctioned suspension for his ejection on a flagrant foul he committed on Warriors guard Gary Payton II in Game 2.

“He’s doing good,” Jenkins said of Bane. “We didn’t do a lot of contact these last two days of practice, but he’s been a full participant in everything. He’s trending in a really good direction.”

Adams brings far more than a rebounding edge to the Grizzlies. His passing as a facilitator in the offense has been exceptional this season from the center position, and his screen-setting at the top of the key routinely has allowed point guard Ja Morant to get into the lane.

Morant is the first guard in league history to lead the NBA in points in the paint because of his penchant for getting into the restricted area and dominating at the basket. Adams plays an essential role in creating space and openings for Morant, who is coming off a playoff career-high, 47-point scoring effort in a 106-101 win over the Warriors in Game 2 to even the series.

Grizzlies’ teammates were thrilled to see the progress Adams made over the past two days to get his health and conditioning level back up to speed amid his looming return to game action.

“It’s just his energy,” Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones said of Adams’ approach to practice sessions this week. “Steve-O is a leader on this team and he brings a lot of energy. We’ve missed him while he was out, so we’re excited to get him back, and he’s ready to go.”

Exactly when and where Adams will be reintegrated into the mix remains in question. Jenkins has changed his starting lineup four different times through the first eight playoff games this postseason. In the past five games, Memphis has started second-year center Xavier Tillman.

One potential dilemma facing the Grizzlies is how to match up with the Warriors when they play a smaller lineup, with Draymond Green at center surrounded by four wing players. Theoretically, Adams would be a more natural matchup fit in the minutes when the Warriors use reserve big man Kevon Looney, who is a more traditional center.

But Adams has found success on the floor under many different circumstances as the Grizzlies have imposed their playing style on opponents much of the season. This stage of the playoffs, however, represents a different sort of chess match between elite teams.

Still, the Grizzlies are eager to get one of their biggest pieces back on the board in Adams.

“It’s been great (to have him back out there), because we definitely need Steve-O,” forward Ziaire Williams said ahead of Game 3. “He’s just a big body, a bruiser with that physicality. He’s one of the leaders on our team. So we appreciate having him back.”

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MikeCheck: Grizzlies optimistic amid progress from Adams, Bane as series shift to Golden State

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