No. 1: Are the Memphis Grizzlies concerned about injury status of Ja Morant?
Morant has not been his usual explosive self in this series, he even acknowledged it in his comments made after the Game 4 loss in Minnesota.
“I’m not Ja…I’m not playing above the rim,” he said after the game.
Fans had been speculating for a few days that he was playing hurt, which is a dangerous thing to do for such a young talent like Morant.
Why sacrifice long-term injury in a first-round series matchup? What’s the risk/reward for playing Morant if you’re risking permanent or long-term damage to one of the best players in the entire league?
Morant has still found ways to be impactful on the court, despite not being able to score in the paint or get to the free-throw line regularly. He recorded a triple-double in Game 3. He was one one rebound shy of the feat in Game 2 and 2 rebounds shy in Game 3.
Morant has taken some punishing fouls and falls in this series. They will only get worse in Games 5, 6 and 7. Every time Morant hits the floor, Grizzlies fans hold their collective breath as he slowly gets back on to his feet.
Ja is tough-as-nails, but Jenkins has to protect him if he continues to get punished in the paint.