The last full week of 2024 was both kind and unkind to the Memphis Grizzlies as they prepare for the new year. After beginning last week with a down-to-the-wire loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at home to snap their eight-game home win streak, the Grizzlies broke their franchise record of points scored in a game the night after Christmas against the Toronto Raptors.
However, that performance came at the price of losing Sixth Man of the Year candidate Santi Aldama to an ankle sprain for at least one week. In a win against the Pelicans the following night, Ja Morant suffered an AC Joint Sprain that the team awaits a timeline on in their victory in New Orleans to begin their five-game road trip against Western Conference opponents.
Finally, in their most anticipated matchup of the season against the #2 team in the NBA.com Power Rankings, the Grizzlies went into Oklahoma City hobbled and unable to hang with the Western Conference-leading Thunder. After a 2-2 week with their two losses coming to teams above .500, the Grizzles dropped one spot in this week's power rankings.
Grizzlies remain in the top five
The Grizzlies moved up one spot to fourth in last week's power rankings meaning their one-spot drop keeps them in the top five at number five in this week's edition. Their performance last week felt incomplete as they were missing five additional players along with the two they already had out to end the week against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
As expected with that amount of talent missing against one of the NBA's best teams on the road, the Grizzlies suffered their worst loss of the season in their 130-106 defeat to the Thunder. However, the Grizzlies have the worst record against the current Western Conference teams with a record over .500 at 3-8, which includes games played with a good amount of healthy players.
If the Grizzlies want to be taken seriously as a top Western Conference team, they will have to right the ship and have a tough stretch of games (12 straight against West teams) to make amends for it. Unfortunately, they have five players who are expected to miss time in this stretch including Ja Morant, Santi Aldama, Marcus Smart, GG Jackson, and VInce Williams Jr.
While they wait on Ja Morant's status, Marcus Smart GG Jackson, and Vince Williams Jr. will likely miss the majority of this upcoming stretch while Santi Aldama looks to return much sooner. Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke missed the Thunder game as well but their injuries are considered shorter term. Their injury timing came at the worst time for a team as hot as the Grizzlies.
No matter how this next stretch goes for the team, they anticipate having everyone back at some point, and as long as they can keep up their offensive pace (first in the NBA at 105.5) they will have a chance in any given game.