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Memphis Grizzlies’ Season Requires Intervention After Fifth Straight Loss

By Ed Memphis

SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 21: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies and Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on December 21, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - DECEMBER 21: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies and Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on December 21, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Memphis Grizzlies continue to fall within the season standings and it is time for the Front Office to step in if they want to salvage the season.

As the final buzzer sounded and the Sacramento Kings made the last few free-throws to seal the deal on Friday evening, one could not help but to stare in shock as our beloved Memphis Grizzlies lost again for the 11th game out of the past 14.

That is mind-boggling considering the Grizzlies were the best team in the league less than one month ago. Talk about Jeckle & Hyde. Now as the Memphis Grizzlies free fall down the Western Conference standings, one thing has become clear. Major changes need to be made, and we are talking three weeks too late right now.

99. 211. 102. 84. Final

Mike Conley is banged up again, and though he is showing courage while playing injured, it is not uncommon when you are upheld and compensated as the franchise player and All-Star candidate.

The thing is when you step on the court — injured or not — folks expect you to deliver. At this point, that means winning games to stop a five-game slide that put the Grizzlies at an even 16-16 on the 2018-19 season. This team lacks serious firepower and they cannot afford for Conley and Marc Gasol to not come out swinging for all four quarters.

This team needs an alpha personality and at least another serious scoring threat to have a chance this season. If not, the Memphis Grizzlies will miss the playoffs and likely say goodbye to their first round Draft pick as well.

Is General Manager Chris Wallace and the rest of the Grizzlies’ Front Office ambitious enough to make a game-changing roster move or does he do as expected and sit tight with maybe another one of his usual PR-perfected press conferences that reveal nothing?

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As the horn sounded on Friday, I also heard noises I did not expect to hear nor did I ever think of my own. The voices were public tweets alluding to changing coaches with some throwing out Jerry Stackhouse as a replacement option.

If Chris Wallace & Grizz brass make a move, is it by way of a head coaching change? It is difficult to fight for a guy who refuses to play Memphis’ extremely promising fourth overall pick in the rising star role he has earned in Jaren Jackson Jr.

In the matchup against the Sacramento Kings, Jaren scored twelve points in the first quarter. The Memphis Grizzlies went up big on the scoreboard and were scoring like a well-oiled machine when everything was going through Jackson Jr. early on.

After the first quarter, Jaren only received three more shot attempts throughout the rest of the game and the Grizzlies lost! Unbelievable coaching came from J.B. Bickerstaff. Does he not like Jaren? Or does the rookie turn hollow when making plays? It is crazy because J.B. treats Jaren like a fluke two-way player.

J.B. Bickerstaff also seems determined to prove Shelvin Mack and JaMychal Green are very underrated players even at the cost of the star rookie who has outplayed both of the former.

Bickerstaff has proven to be a Shelvin Mack loyalist even if it costs him his job. Hold or fold, the Memphis Grizzlies are at a serious crossroads.

The train engine is the ambition of Chris Wallace, because clearly Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are not going to carry this team to the  Western Conference Playoffs alone. They need another guy who is proven to be reliable to score buckets if nothing else.

At this point, defense should not be an issue when looking for scoring, being as Memphis has more than enough solid defensive guys to cover a guy who focuses solely on scoring.

Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Conley and Marc Gasol's Health Pivotal to Playoff Push. dark. Next

Hopefully Wallace & company have the ambitions of colleagues Magic Johnson or Daryl Morey. By now, the Grizzlies should be ready to see what two-way stud Yuta Watanabe can pull off at the grown folks’ table.

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