Insider Insights: Grizzlies Can’t Close Out, Fall To Kings In OT

It would’ve been nice to kick off the Grizzlies last West coast roadtrip of the season with a win yeah? Alas… It was not meant to be. As Memphis was unable to close out yesterday evening’s contest in Sac-Town.

The Grizzlies fell to the Kings in OT.

It was a game within reach up until the final seconds of regulation. Which is always a bummer way to end a bout. And yet… There were various points throughout the game were it not only seemed within reach…

But it seemed like the Grizzlies were the better of the two teams.

Which makes the loss even more frustrating. And yet, there were still things to like… And things to not. As we continue down this home stretch of the season each are worth keeping an eye on.

Two Things I Liked…

• Double Deuce back at it

It was his second game back and howdy-Bob-howdy was it good to see the him hooping. And it seems like Des may have missed the court… About as much as we missed him out there playing.

And last night wasn’t any different. He built of his first night back, and exploded for even more points against the Kings. He put in 24 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST, and 3 STL. Des was doing a bit of everything that the Grizzlies’ needed him to.

DEUCE DEUCEEEEEEE 🗣️🗣️ pic.twitter.com/OlUynaka1f

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) March 19, 2024

What may be the most relieving thing of all though? When it comes to Bane being back?

For me it’s fearlessness at getting his shots off. Many guys may need to ease themselves back into the speed—the NBA speed—of things… Not Des.

He attempted 19 shots on the basket last night. And that level of attack is what’s been missing from this team in his absence. The fact that he’s missing zero beats at all when getting back at it is more than a good sign.

And exactly what we’re going to need from him next season. Once this squad is back and firing on all cylinders.

• A playoff workload

One thing that Taylor Jenkins has been making quite clear in these losses… Is that he’s willing to play these dudes playoff minutes no matter what. In a win, or in a loss.

And last night wasn’t any different. At all actually. In fact, last night may have presented the most evidence up to this point. The most evidence that the guys and this team are ready for big time minutes if required.

Case in point… Last night? How many Grizzlies would you assume played more than 30 minutes? Six. Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., Santi Aldama, John Konchar, GG Jackson II, and Jake LaRavia.

Of those six you know how many played at least 35 minutes? All but ‘Jitty’.

Let’s go one further… How many of those five saw the court more than 40 total minutes? Two. GG and Jake.

OH MY @_ggjackson 😳

And that pass from @jacob_laravia3 🤌 pic.twitter.com/RU1lLqxqgg

— Bally Sports: Grizzlies (@GrizzOnBally) March 19, 2024

Those are big boy minutes for the young guys. And big boy minutes for that entire sextet. If I were Memphis’ head coach the fact that the guys were holding up? With an increased workload, amidst a ‘loss’ season?

It would go along way towards solidifying what the rotation will look like next season. It’s looking like the squad is going to be a-ok.

…And One Thing I Didn’t…

• What’s with these NWTs?

NWT. You know what that stands for? I’ll give you a hint. It’s not ‘Ninja’s With Tinnitus’. Nor is ‘Non-Working Turtles’. Although either would be a good guess I reckon.

No. It stands for ‘Not With Team’. And there were two players on the Grizzlies given this designation last night.

Luke Kennard and Lamar Stevens. Kennard was ‘Not With Team’ due to personal reasons. Whereas Stevens? He’s been dealing with injury/illness that’s kept him ‘Not With Team’.

I’m not doubting either’s status. Far from it.

What I am doing though is expressing my disappointment. Because both still have things to play for in the home stretch of this season. Both of them.

Kennard has yet to ink an extension and should be raining fire from deep until he has. And Lamar has zero guarantees he’s even on this roster next season. If I were either of them… I’d be getting my ducks in a row and scraping for any minutes I could get.

Fingers crossed both will be available soon for Memphis. Or at the very least not be ‘Not With Team’. I’d prefer a DNP before that next time. At least then we’ll know they’re in the building.

Photo Credit: (Randall Benton/AP Photo)