The Grizzlies have lost six of seven games since Steven Adams went down with a knee sprain, and it’s clear the team has missed its starting center, says Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
“I’ve said it multiple times: You’re not going to replace what Steven does,” head coach Taylor Jenkins said. “I wish we could get every rebound, but it’s willpower. We were first in the league in offensive rebounding and defensive rebounding when he’s on the floor, and that’s even when he’s healthy and in the lineup. And then we’re 28th, even when he’s healthy and sitting on the bench, we’re like 28th in rebounding on both sides. So, we’ve got to find a way.”
Adams’ 11.5 rebounds per game are a career high and represent the highest average for any Grizzlies player this season. Beyond that, his traditional stats are modest (he’s the team’s eighth-leading scorer with 8.6 PPG), but Memphis has a -1.3 net rating when he isn’t playing, the lowest mark for any single player on the team. As Cole relays, Adams’ teammates certainly recognize the value he provides.
“I mean, (Adams) was a big part of what we do,” Desmond Bane said. “Similar to guys like Draymond (Green) and other guys that may not fill up the stat sheet in every single area, but their magnitude is felt on the court. A veteran presence, a screen-setter, rebounder, and a connecter on offense … he does a lot for us.”
Here’s more on the Grizzlies:
- After being eliminated in the first round of last season’s three-point contest, Desmond Bane was determined to get another invite and win it. However, while his .437 3PT% makes him a solid candidate to be included in this year’s field, he has changed his tune and doesn’t plan to take part in this year’s contest in Utah, Cole writes for The Commercial Appeal. “I want to take some time with my son,” Bane said. “We been moving around a lot. I’d rather hang out with him.”
- Asked about an alleged incident involving his associates that took place after a Grizzlies/Pacers game last Sunday, Ja Morant was dismissive of the report. “All that stuff pretty much false. It’s been proven,” Morant said, per Mark Giannotto of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. “That’s all I got to say on it.” According to The Athletic’s reporting, members of the Pacers traveling party alleged that someone in an SUV (in which Morant was a passenger) pointed a red laser at them; a Pacers security guard said he believed the laser was attached to a gun.
- In a subscriber-only story for The Daily Memphian, Chris Herrington makes a case for why the Grizzlies should be focusing on a three-year contention window and should be active at the trade deadline.
- The latest budget proposal from Tennessee governor Bill Lee includes funds that would go toward renovating FedExForum, according to Adam Friedman and Duane W. Gang of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. The city of Memphis requested money from the state to put toward the Grizzlies’ home arena in the hopes of ensuring the team remains in the city long-term. The Grizzlies’ lease with the city at FedExForum runs through the 2028/29 season.
The Grizz are slowly turning from fun team to a bunch of egos only a few enjoy…
Hoping they can sort it out and grow up…
Yeah, Desmond Bane wanting to spend time with his child is really egotistical
Yeah that has nothing to do with being an adult… Plenty of grown children have kids…
It’s not a badge to adulthood, it’s like taking a dump, anyone can do it…
Plumlee or Poeltl would make a ton of sense for them.
Trade Tillman and their two picks this year( bad picks ) for a young center to develop behind Adams and get another young SF
Adams is the best offensive rebounder in the league, and there’s no real way to replace his numbers there. Jaren Jackson is as good a defensive C as there is (even better there than at PF), but he isn’t is an elite offensive rebounder.
NYK had a similar problem after losing Mitch, who was 2nd to Adams before his injury. We instantly went from 1st in team offensive rebounding to pedestrian numbers. Whereas the drop in defensive rebounding was not nearly as dramatic and stabilized quickly. Offensive rebounding has been better, but not returned to near the level it was.
Andre Drummond.
Grizzlies have picks and Danny Greens 10M deal.
Drummond and Caruso for Danny, GSW 24 1st, their 23 1st and 2 2nds. Done deal.
I’d think no, since Drummond wouldn’t play for them once Adams is back, and he’ll play very little until then. Maybe a 2nd. I have no idea if they’d be interested in Caruso. But they’re very deep on the wings, and protective of their FRPs.
If you want to go deep into the playoffs adding the best defensive guard/wing this year to your roster would be a good start no? And Drummond is a cheap backup insurance. They will have suitors for both so you’ll have to overpay slightly.
Memphis could swap Tyus Jones and filler for Andre Drummond, solving some problems for both teams.
No
I really hope this is a cruel joke and that you’re not actually serious
Really hope Ja doesn’t go full blown weirdo on us. It’s his life and I can’t judge him but I much prefer hometown heart over hometown hardo
Yeah the team has an ego problem that could end up getting way out of hand and ruin some promising careers…
I blame the head coach for all the problems in Grizzly players. He needs to nip it in the rear right now instead of letting them do what they want. When Morant twisted his knee in the playoffs the coach tried to blame the Warrior player when it was nothing. When Brooks broke Payton’s arm the coach defended Brooks pretending like it wasn’t a bad play by Brooks.
It’s all a part of them vs us jock culture crap…
The coach can’t be seen to go against his players when the enemy could ve at blame…
He’s the only one that can do these players right by holding them to account for their actions… But in today’s player empowerment era there are very few coaches that have the backing to do it… It’s really down to Pop and Spo… Every other coach has to weigh their own job security…