Following a 4th quarter collapse against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 27, Zach Kleiman decided to fire head coach Taylor Jenkins the following morning. The timing of Jenkins' firing surprised fans and media outside of Memphis, as the start of the NBA playoffs was not far away. However, this was an emerging possibility, as the Grizzlies declined significantly post-All-Star break.
With just nine games left in the regular season, the Grizzlies elevated Tuomas Iisalo to interim coach. The circumstances were particularly difficult as the Grizzlies were already reeling and still entering a daunting stretch of games to close the regular season. Due to the sudden nature of the firing, Iisalo admitted that time was a constraint and that there would not be a major overhaul.
The Grizzlies went 4-5 to finish the regular season, with most of the losses being against tough Western Conference opponents. The team showed more grit but lacked the offensive firepower to close games late. Eventually, the Grizzlies ended up facing the Thunder in the first round following the play-in tournament. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies lost Ja Morant to injury during Game 3 and were swept despite the Grizzlies being more competitive after a 51-point loss in Game 1.
Despite the coaching change, the Grizzlies had too much to overcome with trade deadline losses and bad injury luck. While players such as Ja Morant and Zach Edey improved significantly under Iisalo, Jaren Jackson Jr. took a step back offensively. There was some team improvement with rebounding and defense, but the offense as a whole scored less. A key challenge for Iisalo will be to maximize the strengths of Morant and Jackson Jr. while still being a well-balanced team across the board.
The Grizzlies have already showed strong faith in Tuomas Iisalo
The Grizzlies made a puzzling decision to not interview any external candidates for the head coaching vacancy after the season. While Tuomas Iisalo has been very successful coaching in Europe and showed some promising signs as the interim coach, the Grizzlies would've likely benefitted from doing a more extensive search, even if they still eventually hired Iisalo regardless.
Despite Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. nearing their primes and the Grizzlies acquiring Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ty Jerome this offseason, it is important to note that most of the projected rotation for the Grizzlies is still young. Iisalo's ability to get the best out of players such as Jaylen Wells, Zach Edey, and Cedric Coward, etc., will strongly define how successful he is in Memphis.
The biggest changes that Iisalo will bring to the Grizzlies will be the increased use of the pick-and-roll and an improved team approach to rebounding. Getting the defense back to an elite level will also be a major priority, with an emphasis on more full-court pressure and guarding the perimeter effectively. Due to scheme tweaks and injuries to Edey and Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies will likely have a bit of an adjustment period to start the season.
The current makeup of this roster is well-suited for Iisalo's style of play compared to when he took over last season. While the Grizzlies at full strength should remain difficult to beat, it is unlikely for the team to be a top contender in the West, barring a major trade for a star. Regardless, this is an exciting opportunity for Iisalo to build his reputation as one of the best young coaches in the NBA.