IN SURVIVAL MODE
LOS ANGELES - Injured forward Chandler Parsons sat on the Grizzlies bench Sunday afternoon providing moral support in his first public appearance after being rendered unable to contribute on the court because of left knee surgery.
Albeit not because of pain associated with his surgically repaired right foot, center Marc Gasol watched the Grizzlies’ 108-103 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers while nursing a left foot strain. Another big void. Grizzlies coach David Fizdale played just eight guys while the active franchise pillars – Mike Conley, Tony Allen and Zach Randolph – tried to keep the team from crumbling against an NBA lottery-bound opponent. Who: Memphis vs. San Antonio Spurs When, where: 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, AT&T Center TV, radio: Fox Sports Southeast; WMFS 92.9 FM/680 AM
Memphis almost escaped with a win, but the scene in Staples Center put the Grizzlies’ season back into the context of this sobering reality: A team good enough to earn a postseason berth near the bottom of the Western Conference playoff standings but still searching for feasible support and chemistry in large part because of crippling injuries.
That is how the Grizzlies’ season began, and the theme still rings true with five regular-season games remaining. So after their fifth loss in seven games, the Grizzlies are saying what you’re thinking: They’ll only be as good as their health in the league’s second season.
No longer are the Grizzlies scratching and crawling to potentially reap the rewards of home-court advantage in the first round. Sunday’s result had the Grizzlies just about resigned to facing the second- or third-best team in the West.
If the playoffs began today, the seventh-place Grizzlies would play the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs. Memphis still has a mathematical shot at moving up to sixth, and that would mean a date with the third-seeded Houston Rockets.
“We’re at the end now,” Fizdale said. “Wherever we end up, it’s going to be a great team anyway. Right now it’s the last five games, so can we get better? Can we get some guys feeling healthier? We’ve got some guys really nicked up. That’s all it’s about right now, and I told the guys I was really happy with their effort. The mental part came back to bite us again, being able to focus under duress while you’re fatigued and execute. That’s something we’ve just got to keep working on.”
Veteran swingman Allen agreed with Fizdale’s assessment, particularly as it had to do with how the Grizzlies fell apart against the Lakers. Of the Grizzlies 14 turnovers, six happened in the fourth quarter. The Grizzlies were beaten 17-5 on the offensive glass, and that undermined their 50 percent shooting and 13 3-pointers.
“I just thought they caught us by surprise,” Allen said. “Their speed, secondchance points, pick-and-roll coverages, 50-50 balls, it was a little bit of everything. Safe to say, early (afternoon) games, you have to adapt to that. It was rough.”
In having their two-game winning streak snapped, the Grizzlies missed an opportunity to gain ground on the Thunder. They remain 1 games behind the Thunder for sixth in the standings. Oklahoma City loss to Charlotte on Sunday.
The Grizzlies and Thunder meet Wednesday night in Memphis for the final time this season.
“It’s unfortunate for us, but that’s how our season has been,” Conley said. “We just have to try to regroup and work on our game. It doesn’t matter who we play in the playoffs, it’s going to be a good team, so we have to be ready.”
Fizdale acknowledged that he’ll continue to find time for his main players to get rest before the regular-season ends.
Memphis had just 10 players available against the Lakers.
Gasol (left foot strain) missed a fifth straight game. Forward JaMychal Green (shoulder) missed a third consecutive outing, and guard Andrew Harrison (ankle) also was ruled out.
Veteran swingman Vince Carter was given the day off.
“For us, it’s not as much rest as we’ve really got guys that are banged up right now that are playing hurt from it,” Fizdale said. “I didn’t want to risk Vince getting banged up today because he was already at his max. T.A. is there, Mike is there. Guys definitely need a game or two at some point before we end this thing, and I’m going to make sure they get it.”
Reach Ronald Tillery at Ronald.Tillery@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @CAGrizBeat.