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

The Memphis Grizzlies took a step forward after some bad losses

The Grizzlies would kick this off with a split series against the Los Angeles Clippers. They won the first game convincingly and the Clippers one the second game in dominant fashion. The series with the Clippers series marked the start of the Grizzlies staying competitive in each and every game.

They’d go on to blow out the Rockets in the biggest win in franchise history, beat the Wizards twice, and lose by a single point to the Bucks and Nuggets, both of whom are contenders in their respective conferences.

And these 1-point losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets were exactly what they sounded like. Hard-fought games to the end, where the Grizzlies were in position to win.

In fact, in both games, Ja Morant took the ball down low in an attempt to get a lead, drew contact, and didn’t get a foul call. In the first game against the Bucks, it looked like officials should have called a foul, but didn’t. Morant was on the floor and this led to a 5-on-4 and the game-winning bucket for Milwaukee.

In the second, a no-call was correct, but an official would throw his hand up, indicating a foul. Grizzlies fans were confused, but the referees confirmed that it was a foul on Memphis after the ensuing rebound, despite making a clear call before the shot had even gone up. Controversial.

Maybe it’s bad officiating, but maybe the Grizzlies have hit their final ceiling without JJJ?