The Memphis Grizzlies stopped a sinking ship with a buzzer-beating victory over the Miami Heat on April 3rd. The win came with controversy surrounding Ja Morant's signature three-point celebration that caused the NBA to fine him after being warned about using the gesture again.
However, the most important thing going for the Grizzlies right now is the Western Conference standings, and after jumping up to sixth place, they enter their game at the Detroit Pistons on April 5th back in 8th place after the Los Angeles Clippers' win over the Dallas Mavericks on April 4th. The Grizzlies have five games remaining with momentum on their side to get back in the top six of the standings.
A little over a week ago, the team fired their head coach, Taylor Jenkins, with nine games remaining, and proceeded to lose their next three games (all at home) before breaking the streak on Thursday night. Despite the struggles, the team's play has looked better and given their interim coach a chance at securing the head position going forward.
1. Tuomas Iisalo
The Grizzlies' current interim head coach and lead assistant for much of the season was added to the staff last season from the EuroLeague. Tuomas Iisalo won the EuroCup Coach of the Year and the EuroCup finals after leading Paris Basketball to the highest points per game average in the history of the league in 2024.
He was brought over by Grizzlies' General Manager Zach Kleiman to make an imprint on the offense that struggled in the halfcourt. His up-tempo style has the Grizzlies with the second-best scoring offense (121.8 points per game) but he didn't have full imprint over everything.
Former Grizzlies' assistant Noah LaRoache, who was fired along with Taylor Jenkins and other assistant Patrick St. Andrews, was apparently responsible for the team's low usage of the pick-and-roll. Iisalo has brought that part back to the offense to help Ja Morant return to his superstar form and Zach Edey become a bigger part of the gameplan. That will give him the edge to get the interim tag removed.
2. Sam Cassell
The Boston Celtics' assistant coach is a four-time NBA champion (three as a player and one as a coach) and has been a name in the hat for a head coaching position for the last couple of seasons. The Grizzlies' opening presents an excellent opportunity for the former point guard and one-time NBA All-Star who knows what it takes to win a championship. He has been an assistant since 2008 and is in his second season with the Boston Celtics.
3. Mike Brown
The only other coach besides Taylor Jenkins to be fired this season represents the most experienced name on this list. Mike Brown has been a head coach for three different teams (Cleveland Cavaliers twice, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings), including a stints as an assistant coach of the Golden State Warriors, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, and Washington Wizards dating back to 1997.
He recently led the Sacramento Kings to their first playoff appearance in 17 seasons and ran a fast-paced offense during his tenure with the team. Brown has been fired four times and has yet to get over the hump of winning a championship as a head coach but he will be a hot commodity this off-season, and the Grizzlies should consider bringing him onboard.