5 Grizzlies goals for rest of season
When the Grizzlies resume the second half, all of their season goals are still in play as they're still in contention for the Western Conference play-in tournament.
They have a three-game lead in the No. 10 spot in the West over the New Orleans Pelicans.
Only two games separate Memphis from the No. 7-seeded San Antonio Spurs, with whom they own a tiebreaker advantage.
Things are in good shape but fans can always hope for more with 40 games scheduled in the second half, more than any other NBA team. They can hope for good health.
They can hope for meaningful basketball this spring and summer.
The Grizzlies (16-16) won't have an easy finish, here are five specific things that could boost their chances as they return Wednesday to host the Washington Wizards (7 p.m., Fox Sports Southeast).
Jaren Jackson Jr. to play at
least 25-30 games
There's still no direct timetable for Jaren Jackson Jr.'s return from meniscus surgery.
Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said last week he's still making progress and there have been no setbacks since he returned to practice last month.
When Jackson does get cleared, the hope if for him to play in more games than not.
The Grizzlies need his shooting and defense to help in their playoff push and open the floor up more for Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks. They also need to see how he fits alongside Justise Winslow.
Playing 25-30 games is a high estimate, but finishing the season healthy for the first time in his career is a must for the Grizzlies to make the postseason.
De’anthony Melton stays in the rotation
It might be tricky when Jackson returns but it shouldn't be. Melton's improved 3-point shot (42.3%) has made him more valuable along with his defense and versatility.
This isn't a knock to Grayson Allen – who's shooting well and been valuable as a starter. But Melton's one of the Grizzlies' 10 best players. His potential as a three-and-d wing is valuable on a team in which 3point shooting has been encouraged but still isn't reliable enough to win games.
Jenkins said there could be some shuffling to keep players fresh on their 11 back-to-back games. With that said, Grizzlies fans should hope Melton doesn't get any DNPS because of a coach's decision and keeps contributing on both ends.
A decent April record
April is going to be a long month that tests the Grizzlies' depth and strength. They have 11 of 17 games on the road, including a seven-game road trip in 10 days.
It's a brutal stretch, even for a team that was 9-5 on the road in the first half. Fatigue will be an issue and
even with lineup shuffling, there's going to be some losses that just happen due to lack of fresh legs.
A .500 record might be asking for too much, but six to eight wins without major injury should keep Memphis in contention at the end of the month for the postseason play-in tournament.
A calm trade deadline
The Grizzlies are likely to stand pat during the March 25 trade deadline. While Gorgui Dieng's expiring deal makes him a trade candidate, he's also valuable in case of more injury issues in the second half.
Besides him, the Grizzlies' best assets are their extra first-round picks. They have a first-round pick this summer from the Utah Jazz that will likely defer to 2022 because of the Jazz have the NBA'S best record. There's also a 2024 first-round pick from the Warriors from the Andre Iguodala trade two years ago. Given the depth on the roster, the Grizzlies could make a move or wait and evaluate. The best hope for the franchise is a a quiet trade deadline as the front office looks toward bigger decisions to make in 2021-22.
Ja Morant’s improved shooting
Morant's last two games, both 35point outings, were among the best of his career.
Unfortunately, it didn't erase his season-long 3-point shooting issues (23.3%)
Morant has been adamant he'll shoot as long as he's open, as evidenced by the 13 attempts he took last week against the Milwaukee Bucks.
For the Grizzlies' sake, it's time for some of those shots to start falling. If they do, the Grizzlies can return to the play-in tournament.