Chris Dodson Articles - Page 5

Relationships are built on the same cornerstones regardless of their nature. Talking things out and taking consideration of how the key stakeholders feel about a particular move are essential to strong bonds. Taylor Jenkins has been encouraging Memphis Grizzlies stars Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. to communicate more often down the stretch […]

After a narrow 120-118 home victory over a disappointed Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns, Taylor Jenkins praised the Memphis Grizzlies and Ja Morant’s resiliency amid some recent challenges as a driving force behind their ability to overcome offensive struggles. Morant’s misfiring Grizzlies have been battling through a teamwide shooting slump, but Jenkins is confident […]

A rookie’s fearless approach did not just rattle Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns, it ignited Ja Morant’s Memphis Grizzlies and a roaring FedExForum crowd. However, the usual suspects (Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells) took a backseat to Cam Spencer’s trash-talking, which helped Morant propel the Grizzlies to a much-needed 120-118 comeback victory. And forget […]

Skeptics of the Memphis Grizzlies sounded an alarm too soon going by a 120-118 win over Kevin Durant’s Phoenix Suns to start a four-game FedEx Forum homestand. The under fire Ja Morant demonstrated not just his scoring prowess but an uncanny ability to “manipulate” games and manufacture wins for his shorthanded squad. Taylor Jenkins could […]

The regrouping Memphis Grizzlies (40-24) are glad ugly wins count after escaping the Big Easy with a hard-fought, three-point road victory over the New Orleans Pelicans (17-48). While the win provided a momentary sigh of relief, All-Star guard Ja Morant was not in the mood to celebrate half-measures. After sealing the game in clutch moments, […]

Facing a seven-point halftime deficit against the New Orleans Pelicans, Taylor Jenkins faced a critical decision. With All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. sidelined due to an ankle injury and reserve center Brandon Clarke in foul trouble, Jenkins had to get creative with the rotations. Enter Jay Huff, an unheralded reserve patiently waiting for a moment. The […]

The regrouped Memphis Grizzlies do not have a leadership crisis, contrary to reports from ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins. However, Taylor Jenkins is starting to lose some patience as the NBA Playoffs loom. The faith in the system is unwavering, but the clock is ticking to turn good looks into made shots. Ja Morant and Desmond Bane […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are banking on more than just their star trio of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. to fuel a deep NBA Playoffs run. While All-Stars lift championship windows toward the ceiling, role players who can thrive under pressure anchor those NBA Finals expectations. With minutes tightening and the stakes rising, […]

As Ja Morant’s misfiring Memphis Grizzlies enter the stretch run, the Taylor Jenkins-led squad is at a March Madness crossroads. Despite recent flashes of brilliance from Desmond Bane and a roster brimming with talent, the Grizzlies have been plagued by inconsistency and injuries. A new knock to Jaren Jackson Jr. (ankle) has fans and analysts […]

The Ja Morant-led Memphis Grizzlies are striving for more than individual awards, but the team will surely be doing everything possible to get Jaren Jackson Jr. $100 million worth of leverage this summer. Unfortunately, the 25-year-old’s All-NBA and NBA Defensive Player of the Year campaign is on pause due to an ankle injury. Thankfully, the […]

The Memphis Grizzlies have more than a few problems but thankfully a leadership crisis is not on the list. Injuries top the charts as Jaren Jackson Jr., unable to corral rebounds, has taken to coaching up rookie Zach Edey lately. Jackson Jr., a two-time All-NBA Defensive Team selection, has historically anchored Memphis’ top-10 defense. Now […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are starting to feel the pain three-quarters of the way through the 2024-25 NBA season. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant are still growing as leaders, but also learning it’s hard to contribute much from the bench. Still, injuries are a part of the job so Taylor Jenkins is going to have […]

The red-hot Oklahoma City Thunder exposed Ja Morant’s misfiring Memphis Grizzlies in a nationally broadcast 120-103 win that lacked some luster due to injuries. Chet Holgrem and Jaren Jackson Jr.’s frontcourt faceoff will have to wait but neither would have made much of a difference in the outcome. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander left no doubt as to […]

The injury-ravaged Memphis Grizzlies are looking at big lineup changes, again. Ja Morant (shoulder) is day-to-day while NBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate Jaren Jackson Jr. (ankle) is more week-to-week. Taylor Jenkins might love March Madness, but that’s a bit too much bad luck for some FedEx Forum fans to bet on this team’s […]

Candid and insightful analysis is hard to come by in the NBA these days. Between ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins dropping Ja Morant missives and the national all but ignoring Jaren Jackson Jr., it is hard to get a full picture of the Memphis Grizzlies outside of a dedicated few. However, Fred Wells, Grizzlies rookie Jaylen’s father, […]

Every NBA team suffers a fair share of bumps and bruises throughout an 82-game season. Finding a way to fight through the pain is just part of the job. The New York Knicks rolled out the red carpet for Mitchell Robinson’s return. However, Josh Hart’s Oscar homage was issued a fine before the fan favorite […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are facing an uphill battle to stay competitive in the Western Conference playoffs race. They are 3-7 over the last 10 games and now Taylor Jenkins is looking at a stretch without Jaren Jackson Jr. (ankle) and misfiring Ja Morant (shoulder) in the rotations. Replacing that much of the offense is going […]

The misfiring Memphis Grizzlies need to regroup quickly as they battle for second place in the NBA’s Western Conference race. Unfortunately, Ja Morant admitted his production and confidence levels have not quite been up to the expected standard this season and Jaren Jackson Jr. is looking at weeks on the shelf. While Morant’s highlight-reel plays […]

The currently-faltering Memphis Grizzlies have long prided themselves on developing young talent, and this season, third-year forward Santi Aldama is emerging as the organization’s latest success story. Taylor Jenkins has repeatedly highlighted Aldama’s growth, emphasizing his expanded role as a versatile weapon off the bench. Jenkins even made a compelling case for the 23-year-old as […]

As the NBA Playoffs loom on the horizon, Ja Morant’s banged-up Memphis Grizzlies are preparing for another deep postseason run. However, with Jaren Jackson Jr.’s health now uncertain after a rolled ankle, Taylor Jenkins has a not-so-secret weapon in mind: forward Brandon Clarke. Known for his versatility, relentless energy, and a skill set that defies […]

Navigating the late-season ups and downs of an NBA’s 82-game slog, the excitement of NCAA March Madness, and high school elimination games reveal a lot about a team, collectively and individually. For Taylor Jenkins, the calendar flip is a reminder of the intensity and unpredictability that define basketball at its finest. The convergence of high […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are re-examining priorities amid a fitful start to the NBA regular season’s post-All-Star break stretch run. Jaren Jackson Jr. has been the roster’s most consistent, reliable, productive player. While the Grizzlies are not worried about Ja Morant’s body language, the franchise is feeling the pressure to keep the All-Star’s athletically lithe frame […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are at a crossroads following a gut-wrenching 114-113 road loss to the New York Knicks, a defeat sealed by OG Anunoby’s buzzer-beating three-pointer off a Jalen Brunson assist. The post-NBA All-Star break stretch has been a mixed bag for Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Ja Morant’s Grizzlies (38-21), who sit at […]

In a heartbreaking turn of events, Taylor Jenkins found himself shouldering the blame after a last-second Memphis Grizzlies loss to the visiting New York Knicks. Despite a valiant effort from Ja Morant, Jalen Brunson now holds the season’s bragging rights having swept both meetings. The Big Apple got to see a blowout (143-106) but the […]

The under-construction Memphis Grizzlies were getting tested by Kevin Durant’s Phoenix Suns once again in the FedEx Forum’s first post-NBA All-Star break game. Ja Morant was 0-8 from the field in the first half yet still found a way to force overtime before sealing a 151-148 home win. Morant’s ability to bounce back and deliver […]

The NBA is a competitive league, but there are varying degrees of competitors. Ja Morant is a Griddy-dancing, highlight-dunking competitor. That much is clear to anyone who’s watched the ego-checking Memphis Grizzlies between 2021 and 2023. The All-Star guard attacks the game with relentless energy and a flair for the dramatic. With that competitive fire […]

A mutual trust between players, coaches, and fans can fuel a plucky underdog’s rise to bona fide contender. For example, the small-market, homegrown Memphis Grizzlies are watching their stocks rise largely due to a belief in their process. In fact, Desmond Bane didn’t hesitate to a team-wide conviction after a big home win over the […]

Sometimes the easiest way to coax a friend out of their shell is to do something fun wrong.  Somehow, their fury is funnelled into a new corrective energy and everyone is back on a positive track. The Memphis Grizzlies were grumbling at recent report cards after wrapping up a 1-2 post-NBA All-Star break road trip. […]

As the complacency-averting Memphis Grizzlies approach the final stretch of the NBA regular season, Taylor Jenkins faces a high-stakes balancing act: refining the team’s rotation to optimize health, chemistry, and versatility ahead of a postseason run. With the Grizzlies finally healthy after battling years of injuries, Jenkins is tasked with making tough rotational decisions around […]

The amped-up Memphis Grizzlies are pushing back against ESPN’s hot take machine, Fueled by ‘personalities’ like Kendrick Perkins, the broadcasting giant has grown comfortable airing bold claims with little journalistic backing. Taylor Jenkins disagreed with Perkins suggesting Ja Morant must be the best player on the court for the Grizzlies to win an NBA Playoffs […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are not issuing standardized grades midway through the season but the 15-player deep squad has undeniably passed the first 50-game test. Taylor Jenkins has the team sitting tied for second place despite Ja Morant and Desmond Bane missing significant time. Jaren Jackson Jr. has led the Grizzlies by example and now the […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are in a four-team fight to avoid the Oklahoma City Thunder (46-10) this spring but a gamble last summer has been paying significant dividends. Zach Edey’s upside with Grizzlies All-Star Ja Morant was under severe scrutiny given the reliance on a traditional, post-heavy game at Purdue but already looks ready for NBA […]

The Ja Morant-led Memphis Grizzlies are not “doomed” quite yet but the team is nervously counting down the days until the NBA Playoffs begin. A season that began with championship aspirations has been repeatedly undermined by a glaring weakness: an inability to secure rebounds against the NBA’s elite. Taylor Jenkins laid bare this flaw following […]

Buy, sell, or hold? It’s the dilemma of every investment from finances to sporting fandom. From front offices to card collector conventions, Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane debate rages on after the NBA All-Star break. The Memphis Grizzlies are still learning to appreciate Zach Edey, not to mention their other NBA Rookie […]

The rookie reviews are in after the NBA All-Star break, and now, hundreds of different NBA Playoffs situations are starting to get attention. However, the list of All-NBA candidates continues to dwindle, thankfully. The game needs fewer toxic debates and more attention on the high-level talent on display night in and night out. A new […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are not out of the Western Conference woods just yet but Taylor Jenkins has the locker room on a top-two track for the postseason. Ja Morant may get most of the headlines but Jaren Jackson Jr. is the Theodore Roosevelt of the locker room. Trip’s (JJJ) ‘speak quietly but carry a big […]

The muscle-flexing Memphis Grizzlies are in a tight battle for playoff positioning in the Western Conference. While the downright scary Oklahoma City Thunder have established themselves as the front-runners for homecourt advantage, the race for second place is wide open. Securing that spot could be the difference between a deep playoff run and an early […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are still working in NBA Playoffs shape after standing relatively pat at the trade deadline. Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia were shipped out in exchange for Marvin Bagley III, Johnny Davis, and financial wiggle room this offseason. EVP/GM Zach Kleiman also swapped this year’s first-round draft pick for a second-rounder, effectively moving […]

Approximately two-thirds of the 2024-25 NBA season is in the books and the postseason races are starting to shape up. The highly methodical Memphis Grizzlies (36-17) still had their sights set on catching the Oklahoma City Thunder (43-9) for the top spot in the Western Conference. However, a humbling loss left the Grizzlies “Thunderstruck” just […]