NBA Daily: 2022-2023 Season Preview #26 – Memphis Grizzlies
By Reylan Loberternos
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 10 Oct 2022
In this limited 30-part series, we shall be discussing each team’s latest developments, current roster, and future prospects in the upcoming 2022-2023 NBA season. For every team, we will examine bit-by-bit the important aspects that may shape its progress and provide a rough projection of how it will fare vis-à-vis its previous year’s performance and versus the rest of the league.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
2021-2022 Season Win-Loss Record:
56-26
Depth Chart:
PG – Ja Morant, Tyus Jones, Kennedy Chandler
SG – Desmond Bane, John Konchar, Ziaire Williams
SF – Dillon Brooks, David Roddy, Danny Green*
PF – Jaren Jackson Jr.*, Brandon Clarke, Jake LaRavia, Santi Aldama
CE – Steven Adams, Xavier Tillman, Killian Tillie
*Currently Injured
Injury Updates:
Starting power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. underwent a surgery last June to address a stress fracture in his right foot. Recovery period will require approximately four to six months.
Danny Green suffered a torn ACL and LCL in the second round of the playoffs when he was still with Philadelphia. He will likely miss the entirety of the 2022-2023 NBA season. Green was traded to the Grizzlies, together with the 23rd overall pick (David Roddy) for De’Anthony Melton in the offseason.
Head Coach:
Taylor Jenkins
Headliners:
Ja Morant was chosen as the Most Improved Player for the 2021-2022 NBA season. The award may even be considered as an understatement to his jump from being a solid starter into an MVP contender, where he averaged 27.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per contest.
If it were not for Morant, Desmond Bane would also have been a contender for the Most Improved Player award, as he almost doubled his scoring output to 18.2 markers on a nightly basis as a starter in only his second season in the league.
Morant and Bane should continue to form a deadly backcourt combo for the Grizzlies this upcoming season. Dillon Brooks, who was saddled by injuries last season and played only 32 regular season games, will still man the small forward spot for Memphis.
Brandon Clarke will probably be elevated to a starter’s role at the four, while Jaren Jackson Jr. recuperates from his surgically repaired right foot that sustained a stress fracture last postseason. Veteran forward Kyle Anderson’s departure via free agency will be sorely missed by the Grizzlies. Good thing that they selected a player of somewhat similar skillset in Jake LaRavia with the 19th overall pick in the recent NBA Rookie Draft, which may address this issue to a certain extent.
Big man Steven Adams signed a $25-million contract extension to stay in Memphis for two more years. Even with very limited scoring production, he was excellent for the Grizzlies last season, creating more opportunities for Morant and the other shot creators through solid screens and superb rebounding.
The Memphis Grizzlies battled the Golden State Warriors, the eventual NBA champions, in six games during the Western Conference semifinal series last playoffs. With Jaren Jackson Jr. sidelined in the first few months of the season, the road back to a deep playoff run may be more difficult. Nonetheless, the Grizzlies should still be considered as serious title contenders, especially with Morant running the show.
Comments are highly appreciated. You may send them to reylanloberternos@yahoo.com.ph and you may follow me @reylan_l on twitter.
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