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Memphis Grizzlies Hit Rock Bottom in Similar Fashion in Consecutive Seasons

By Christian Dudley

TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 19: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies passes the ball as Serge Ibaka #9 and Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors defend during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena of January 19, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JANUARY 19: Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies passes the ball as Serge Ibaka #9 and Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors defend during the first half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena of January 19, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. 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. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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After a bad loss in Toronto on Saturday, the Memphis Grizzlies sit in a similar situation they faced in March of 2018 where they lost by 61 points.

The free-falling Memphis Grizzlies have finally found solid ground, albeit in negative territory. After having a productive first half on Saturday versus the Toronto Raptors, the game quickly got out of hand and Memphis lost by 29 points.

After overcoming an early double figure deficit to take a one-point advantage in the first half, Memphis trailed by seven at halftime. It was still a winnable game and the Grizzlies were finding ways to score buckets even with a depleted frontcourt. Marc Gasol was out with upper back soreness and Joakim Noah left the team for the game due to personal reasons.

As soon as the third quarter opened, the Memphis Grizzlies became an entirely different ball club. This type of thing has happened to them far too many times in the past month or more of games. They went away from doing the things that had kept them in the game in Toronto, but that was not the most concerning item.

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Just a few minutes into the third quarter, the team clearly became disinterested. They were down and they looked defeated by the Raptors. Halfway through the third, Memphis trailed 77-55. Danny Green‘s seven made three-pointers in the quarter was enough to single-handedly bury the Grizzlies.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the scoreboard read 100-62. Memphis had truly given up. They did not care that they were getting blown out of the gym. Again, an entirely different team came out of the locker room in the second half, and it was not in a good way.

This is absolutely concerning going forward. As the Memphis Grizzlies sit just 5.5 games out of the Western Conference‘s eighth and final playoff spot (with 36 games remaining heading into Monday, January 21st), there is still plenty of the time to rejoin the playoff race.

Even so, this Grizzly squad does not want it right now. It is not so much the ongoing injury problem they have had throughout this season. The roster is out of sorts right now with no end to their illness in sight. It feels as if they are much further away from a playoff spot than what their record demonstrates.

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Memphis cut their Saturday deficit to 29 by the final buzzer, so a slight improvement was made over the final 12 minutes of action. Still, the feeling during the game was one that had not been touched since March 22, 2018.

Why is this date important? Fans of the Memphis Grizzlies should recognize this as the date the team lost on the road to the Charlotte Hornets by an unbelievable 61 points. Marc Gasol was also inactive for that individual game, too. Coincidence? The 2017-18 season was lost prior to the start of the month of March, but that night was the absolute rock bottom point for the Grizzlies roster that finished with a 22-60 record.

Just over halfway in January 2019, Memphis has only won one game in the New Year. The are still attempting to find their 22nd win this season, and with a tough schedule to round out the month, they very well may not reach that point for several weeks. They currently stand at 19-27.

Following that lowly loss in March of 2018, that Grizzly group went on to finish the season with a 3-7 record over their last 10 games. The losses were nothing nearly as drastic as the road loss in Charlotte, North Carolina. Regardless, the young Grizzlies were getting plenty of burn at this point, and this is something that should start immediately if these are the types of games the fan base will begin to receive from their team.

As the signs are pointing more and more toward a total tank job the by the 2018-19 Memphis Grizzlies, a definite direction should be known by the end of January.

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The tough opponents continue, including on Martin Luther King Jr Day against the New Orleans Pelicans. Memphis must win if they are truly serious, but most likely this will be a second consecutive lost season. Saturday in Toronto may have proved just that.

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