We are in the midst of the happiest of holly, jolly days. 'Tis the holiday season! And until recently, the Memphis Grizzlies had plenty to celebrate. A run of winning the team desperately needed had Memphis on the precipice of a .500 record — and legitimacy in a playoff race instead of back-end hope in the NBA Play-In Tournament.
Since that time, however, things have taken yet another turn for the Grizzlies. Two losses — one to the lowly Washington Wizards, another to the best of the NBA in the Oklahoma City Thunder — have them moving in the wrong direction. Once again losing Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke to injury, and once again needing to sign a hardship waiver.
So in an uncertain but festive time, what do you get the NBA team that has both everything it needs to compete in the postseason and a lot of problems that may be impossible to solve?
Here are two gifts we can all agree to bestow upon the Memphis Grizzlies, in the spirit of the holiday season.
The Grizzlies receive the magical gift of health for Ja Morant and other key players
It goes without saying that this is the biggest problem facing Memphis. It of course is not just Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke. Zach Edey, Vince Williams Jr., Ty Jerome, Scotty Pippen Jr., and John Konchar are all players who figured to play at least a limited rotational role. Even two-way-contract players like Javon Small are out, hindering the depth of the Grizzlies at a key spot: point guard.
Up and down the injury report are players who could help Memphis continue to dig out of the standings hole it found itself in when as bad as 4-11. Imagine if the hypothetical rotation entering training camp had come to fruition.
Where would a team with a full first third of the season with Ja Morant's athleticism and offensive explosion alongside Zach Edey's league-best efficiency in particular be? How much better could the reserve unit score the ball with a healthy Ty Jerome in the fold?
There are silver linings to this dark cloud, of course. Perhaps we don't see the gifts of Cedric Coward as quickly or the ascension of Cam Spencer as aggressively if the team were at full strength. But the Grizzlies also almost certainly would not be below .500 at this stage of the season if Morant, Jerome, Edey, and Clarke had been available far more than they have been.
It isn't the reality for Memphis, of course. If only we could give our ankles and calves for use. Alas, for the time being, injury updates will continue to be the bad holiday gift that keeps on giving for the Grizzlies.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and others give Memphis the gift of increased consistency
Jaren Jackson Jr. was named Western Conference Player of the Week on Monday. He dominated the competition, putting Memphis on his back and looking every bit the part of a two-time All-Star worthy of every cent of the extension he inked this past summer.
The issue? That Jaren has not been around much this season.
As great as Jackson looked in a 2-1 stretch last week, he's been inconsistent most of the season. And he's not alone. As good as Jaylen Wells looks as a defender and offensive option some games, he completely disappears in others. As dependable as Kentavious Caldwell-Pope seems to be on good nights, bad ones can completely leave the Grizzlies in the lurch.
Whether it's because of finding fits in head coach Tuomas Iisalo's schemes or how he utilizes rotations, players who are active for Memphis must find a way to meaningfully contribute on a nightly basis. The heaters and cold spells don't make for consistently strong basketball.
It's reflected best in how the week ended for the Grizzlies during Jackson's peak play of the season. One night, Memphis knocked off the Minnesota Timberwolves with the laundry list of injuries on full display. That was the best Grizzlies victory of the season, a good win against a playoff team. How does Memphis follow that up? With a loss to one of the NBA's current bottom-feeders, the Washington Wizards.
The defensive execution that was present in Minnesota was lacking in Memphis. And that can travel and endure regardless of outside impacts. For the Grizzlies to make the most of this moment and push back into the playoff conversation, there can't be such significant ebbs and flows on a nightly basis. Whether a great win or a bad loss, it's just one game. Take the lessons and keep the effort and attitude steady.
That perspective is a gift we all can use, regardless of the time of year.