The Grizzlies haven’t determined Ja Morant‘s status going forward, but the scene in the locker room wasn’t encouraging after Sunday’s loss to the Lakers, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Morant kept his right hand at his side after hurting it on a collision with Anthony Davis in the fourth quarter. He used his left hand to check his phone, put on headphones and get dressed after a shower, raising questions about whether he can be ready when the series resumes Wednesday night.
Morant appeared to reaggravate a bruise on his hand that he suffered in the next-to-last game of the season. An X-ray on the hand Sunday was negative, but Morant described his pain level as “about a 10” and admitted there was “doubt” that he can be ready for Game 2.
“I’m gonna do anything to try to be out there for my team, be out there on the floor, pretty much how much I can tolerate, to like I can go out there and be somewhat like myself,” he said. “ If not, I don’t want to do anything to hurt the team.”
Vardon notes that most of Morant’s difficulties this season have been self-inflicted, with the most obvious being an eight-game suspension last month after posting a video of himself with a gun in a Denver-area nightclub. That seemed to be weighing on him as he considered the injury he suffered Sunday, Vardon states.
“It’s very tough, stressful,” Morant said. “Obviously, I feel like you guys can tell my body language and stuff now. Pretty much taking what happened, I don’t know, I’m numb to everything right now. It’s like, I’m not even surprised. It’s one thing after another.”
There’s more from Memphis:
- The suspension gave the Grizzlies a chance to get used to playing without Morant, so they have some confidence even if he can’t be ready for Wednesday, Vardon adds. Backup point guard Tyus Jones made 22 starts this season, averaging 16.4 points and 8.1 assists per game in that role, and Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. look to score more often when Morant is out. “We’ve been in that position before without him on the floor, and Tyus is obviously capable to play a big role and make plays on both ends of the floor,” Bane said. “You know, so, hopefully, Ja is back Wednesday, but if not, Ty will be ready to go.”
- Jackson was a bright spot for Memphis with 31 points while hitting 13 of his 21 shots from the field, notes Damichael Cole of The Commercial Appeal. Jackson was one of the league’s best interior players over the last month of the regular season and he looked like a mismatch for LeBron James in Game 1, Cole adds.
- The Lakers may now be the favorites to win the series considering Sunday’s performance and the uncertainty surrounding Morant, contends Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated.
Ja Morant is all world with his ability but the Grizzlies are not done here. Tyus Jones is a great point guard and as steady as they come. Just need the other guys to step up a little bit and they can make this a series.
All the ability except a brain unfortunately. He really had the potential to be great bit we have seen this story a million times. Him trying to dunk on ad was stupid when he tried it and he got what he deserved. He will go down as the player who was almost great that couldn’t get out of his own way.
Hard to argue against that…
He’s done just about everything possible to prove this is correct…
Playing with an injury and being an important piece you can’t play as if you are fully healthy… You have to find other ways and work around it…
You can’t pin your season on one iffy drive that he got called for a charge on anyway…
What are you talking about!!!? He goes out there to win. He is driving to the rim like nobody can stop him, even AD. That is how a winner has to think. All of this bs strategizing you are talking about; nonsense. In the moment instincts set in and he was going for the jugular.
AD was the only one within the 3 point arc… Morant is supposed to cede the entire floor because his hand hurt? Nah, he was going to try to go through him so the rest of the Lakers would have to respect him and pull back in to offer more support.
Your missing the point man. Trying to poster ad was insanely stupid. Do a euro draw a foul anything else. Trying to dunk on a player that is in perfect position and an elite defender is ALWAYS a bad basketball play. He could have floated it anything. He is just not a smart player. Theres a reason they win more games with tyus jones at pg and him out. Tyus jones knows how to run an offense. Ja does not. Ja is a highlight player. He does not understand basketball yet and honestly it seems like he doesnt learn his lessons so he probably never will. Ja has the most talent in the world but the iq of a literal caveman
That was basically his signature move, drive into the heart of the defense, jump above everybpdy else, make contact, and decide to either shoot or pass. The only differnce was there was nobody else around and AD just happened to get to a spot that caused him to completely lose his balance. It was a fluke, not an immature play. He did the right thing imo.
A fluke?
He had no one else inside the 3 point line, drove straight in for a charge that was always going to be called a charge and jumped hoping to get a dodgy call for a foul on AD…
This maybe his go to move, but with an already injured hand and the space that was available to make a smarter move, he chose to risk his teams season on a highlight…
Dumb move…
Grizzlies need to learn to shut up before claiming how great you are. Never motivate the other team. Instead of saying Laker players need to prove its no fluke they should say its time for us to play better to beat the Lakers.
“Why can’t we all just get along?!” Lol
i picked the grizzlies to win. their defense is better without Morant on the floor. So let’s see if they can come together as a team. just let LeBron do all the talking and play good defense.
Yeah they just come off as a bunch of over confident jocks that think they are better than they are…
They’re the type that shows up to a game show thinking they’ll smash everything despite having limited knowledge of the subject they are answering questions for…
Entertaining in a way, but also annoying…
MEM has the kind of depth where their best player (if Ja is that) being out isn’t as big a hit to them as it might be for other teams. But the “hits” are starting to pile up. Losing Adams and Clarke not only deducted two talented players, but two different looks they use at 4/5 as part of their regular rotation. If Morant can’t play, then, at a minimum, they lose the 2 PG look (with both in the game) that they employ as part of their regular rotation. They certainly can still win any game they play in this series, but winning 4 of the next 6 against this LAL team will be a challenge.
They needed to look at the free agent pool but they never did
They had the deepest roster in the league, even their two 1st round picks were 3rd string on the DC and they released their 2nd rounder. Not sure there was any FA that would have made sense for them, or the FA. Any FA in particular?