Are the Memphis Grizzlies stuck at .500 until Jaren Jackson Jr. returns?

The Memphis Grizzlies received another blow when they learned that Jaren Jackson Jr.‘s projected return from injury would be pushed back a few weeks.

He was originally slated to be back on the court after the NBA All-Star break. The specific timing was vague, but it seemed clear that he was expected to rejoin the team after All-Star festivities. That being said, this team has played multiple games without him after the break.

On Thursday, it was announced that his return wouldn’t come for at least a couple more weeks. This was brutal for a team and fan base that was expecting to see their young star back for the entire second half of the year.

The Memphis Grizzlies have held their own without him

It’s not all bad though. In fact, the argument could be made that the Grizzlies have made some huge and important strides in JJJ’s absence. There are guys who are getting more time without him in the lineup, progressing further than we expected.

Take his former college teammate, Xavier Tillman, for example. Tillman was a 2nd round pick and most expected him to ride the bench, maybe even spend some time in the G-League. But he stepped in for an injured Jackson Jr. and even got a few starts along the way.

But that’s just the issue. A second round rookie, no matter how good he may be, cannot bring the same value to the court as Jackson. The Grizzlies can only do so much without him.

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