Chris Dodson Articles - Page 5

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 […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are leaning on in-game lessons this season as Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. build chemistry in a new offense. Unfortunately, Taylor Jenkins has had to rely on a deep bench and even deeper trust within the locker room as the injuries have mounted. However, Memphis is home to the […]

The NBA’s 82-game regular season is well past the halfway mark but the Memphis Grizzlies are still figuring out the priorities. Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane are seemingly primed for another Western Conference Finals run. The trio chemistry’s has been interrupted by injuries for years now but a deep supporting cast has […]

NBA Hall of Famers are hyping the Memphis Grizzlies as potential Western Conference monsters now that the roster is fully healthy. That praise tracks with EVP/GM Zach Kleiman’s decision to stand relatively pat at the trade deadline, signaling a clear bet on the in-house All-Stars and a deep supporting cast. However, while Ja Morant remains […]

Comfortably in second place, the Memphis Grizzlies were relatively quiet through the NBA Trade Deadline. However, Santi Aldama knows the Grizzlies will need to evolve to stay ahead of the curve. The Western Conference’s middle class is a gauntlet, with teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, and Golden State Warriors fighting […]

Preferred basketball styles, strategies, and NBA player prototypes have been in flux since before the introduction of the three-point line. A new trend has emerged this season as Taylor Jenkins and the muscled-up Memphis Grizzlies are going against the pick-and-roll grain. Why? Well, using Santi Aldama as a 6-foot-9 Swiss Army knife to support Jaren […]

While practically every other mid-standings team scrambled, the ever-evolving, second-place Memphis Grizzlies did not waver in their approach to the NBA Trade Deadline this year. Rather than making flashy moves to win a press conference, EVP/GM Zach Kleiman focused on strategic decisions that set the franchise up for long-term success. All things considered, it’s mission […]

The tight-knit Memphis Grizzlies stood relatively pat through the NBA Trade Deadline. Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia are gone, but the core of the squad remains intact. There was no wavering from the plan by GM Zach Kleiman’s front office. The Grizzlies ignored Scotty Pippen Jr.’s shooting slump and stuck with the status quo. GG […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are still balancing out the offense going into the 2025 NBA All-Star break. Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane’s chemistry with rookie big man Zach Edey is just part of the equation. Injury streaks and off-aim shots have been an issue for long stretches of the season. Taylor Jenkins has […]

The San Antonio Spurs made a significant organizational shift with the recent acquisition of NBA All-Star De’Aaron Fox. However, the trade with the Sacramento Kings also meant the Spurs parted ways with three players who have left an indelible mark on the team: Tre Jones, Zach Collins, and Sidy Cissoko. Interim head coach Mitchell Johnson […]