Wednesday was rough for Memphis Grizzlies fans. Despite a dynamic first half that showed all the potential in this squad, they lost their nerve and poise and fell to the crafty Los Angeles Lakers. The hostile home crowd could do little to stop the Grizzlies from ceding a double-digit lead. The Lakers fought back valiantly in the second frame, overcoming that lead.
Ja Morant, perennial difference maker for the Grizzlies, had a rough go. He ended up with just eight points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field. Morant added seven assists, though he was well below his famously electrifying standards. When pressed on what he saw on the sidelines throughout the game, he looked sharp.
When asked what stood out to him while watching the game unfold, Morant offered an intriguing perspective. They sure don’t want to play against me,” he added. However, he didn’t want to divulge his personal pain points. When we pressed Montas on how he’s done so far in terms of integrating with the coaching staff, he echoed the same sentiments.
Things began smoothly for the Grizzlies, as they exploded offensively with 42 points in the second quarter. They created that substantial lead from which their advantage peaked at 69-55 by intermission. This wave started with a blistering 27-4 run during the last few minutes of the second quarter. Unfortunately, this momentum did not translate into the second half.
The Lakers, led by Luka Doncic’s 44 points, quickly erased the Grizzlies’ advantage in the first seven minutes of the third quarter. As this contest went on, it became apparent Memphis was not prepared to keep up with that early pace. The Lakers, behind the playmaking of Dennis Schröder, pulled away pretty decisively in the fourth quarter, en route to a 114-103 victory.
Morant’s coach, Tuomas Iisalo, ended the postgame press conference early, perhaps reflecting the frustration surrounding the team’s inability to hold onto their lead. Morant plays just 28.5 minutes a game across six games this year. This performance raises some intriguing questions regarding his future place on the team.
“That’s basically what the message was. It’s cool,” Morant stated, suggesting that he is aware of the team’s expectations but struggling to meet them at this juncture.
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