Injuries continue to haunt the Memphis Grizzlies in the early part of the new NBA season but the team is better equipped to handle the adversity this season. The biggest reason is that Ja Morant has been available more often than not (he played eight of thetheir first 10 games).
For a second consecutive season, Memphis ranks #1 in games missed because of injury. https://t.co/ZY4gn2xGZT
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) November 9, 2024
News dropped yesterday that Ja Morant will be considered week-to-week with a hip subluxation and pelvic muscle strains suffered on an alley-oop attempt against the Los Angeles Lakers. While that news is good and bad (depends on who you talk to), it means that he will return to the court soon.
Other starters Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart remain out on a week-to-week basis and both have played only five of the team's 10 games this season. Due to this, the lineup the Grizzlies have used the most will come as a surprise.
Starting 2 rookies
In NBA.com's first Rookie Ladder rankings, the Grizzlies found themselves with two rookies ranked in the top three with Zach Edey at one and Jaylen Wells at three. A huge reason for that was Taylor Jenkins deciding to start Jaylen Wells after losing Desmond Bane and Marcus Smart.
While Zach Edey has started all but one game as the team's expected starting center, Wells' entering the starting lineup came somewhat as a surprise. The word "somewhat" is used because the only other available guard to insert into the lineup was Scotty Pippen Jr. as the team was also without Luke Kennard, Vince Williams Jr., and John Konchar at the time of Bane and Smart's injury announcements.
Wells has rewarded the team by averaging 13.6 points and four rebounds in his five starts while guarding the opposing team's best perimeter player. Adding on to that, Wells has been a part of the Grizzlies' most-used lineup combination through the team's first 10 games.
Footage of Jaylen Wells shutting Jordan Poole's water off last night. When guarded by Jaylen Wells, Poole shot 1-7 from the floor and had 3 turnovers. Poole came into the game averaging 22 points.
— TJ (@TraMurr) November 9, 2024
Since being inserted into the starting lineup Jalen Wells has guarded Damian… https://t.co/wIWhvnkwQe pic.twitter.com/SNXw9XtRoo
Along with Jaylen Wells, the Grizzlies' most used lineup combination includes Ja Morant, Santi Aldama, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Zach Edey. That group has been the starting five for four of the team's last five games.
That group has played 34 minutes together and has the best rebounding percentage with 65.4% (including 87% defensive rebounding %). With Morant set to miss time, the team will need to figure out another successful lineup combination to offer them the best chance at success.
The most consistent player used throughout the team's top five most-used lineup combinations is Santi Aldama, as he offers the most positional versatility of the team's healthy options. As the Grizzlies continue to cycle through injuries, expect more surprise lineup combinations as the team attempts to weather the early storm of important pieces missing time.