Chris Dodson Articles - Page 7

To say the honeymoon period with Zion Williamson is over is a huge understatement. Still, consequences for certain actions have been hard to find with the New Orleans Pelicans and the two-time NBA All-Star over the past six injury-ravaged seasons. EVP David Griffin decided enough was enough on January 10 as the team suspended Williamson […]

The road to the NBA Playoffs is getting more challenging by the day for Ja Morant’s fun, inconsistent Memphis Grizzlies. Injuries have been an issue all season as Taylor Jenkins has patched together winning rotations around Jaren Jackson Jr. Morant and Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves) will headline the next show while Zach Edey and Rudy […]

Well, Taylor Jenkins said the Memphis Grizzlies (24-14) would be getting funky midway through the 2024-25 NBA season. A lineup of Jaylen Wells, Luke Kennard, Santi Aldama, Brandon Clarke, and Jay Huff was featured in the fourth quarter of a 119-115 home loss to the Houston Rockets (25-12). Jenkins gave uncharacteristic one-word answers after the […]

Getting through the NBA’s 82-game slog requires a solid roster, luck, and a bit of rotational savvy. The Memphis Grizzlies (24-13) are getting funky but still find themselves in a battle for second place in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, Ja Morant (shoulder), Desmond Bane (ankle), Jaren Jackson Jr. (thigh), and Santi Aldama (ankle) are questionable […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are patching together rotations while learning how to best use Zach Edey’s skillset. Taylor Jenkins has been juggling injury reports and rehab returns all season while looking for lineups that work around Jaren Jackson Jr. It’s been a mostly successful season as the Grizzlies (23-14) have maintained a second-place level pace in […]

Approximately 45% of the NBA season is in the books and the injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies (24-13) are in a dogfight for second place in the Western Conference. Taylor Jenkins has patched together rotations despite Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Santi Aldama, and Zach Edey missing a combined 46 games. The lack of star power has required […]

The Memphis Grizzlies (24-13) are still learning Zach Edey‘s most efficient actions but Taylor Jenkins may need to lean on the rookie against the Houston Rockets (24-12). Ja Morant (right AC joint sprain), Desmond Bane (left ankle sprain), and Jaren Jackson Jr. (left thigh soreness) are all listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. […]

The Memphis Grizzlies know they have a problem as the team is second-worst in coughing up turnovers at 17.3 per game. Perhaps that flaw should not be very surprising though. Ja Morant (shoulder) has been unavailable to lead the offense for almost half of the season and the starting lineup usually includes two rookies. Sure, […]

Every team has weak points. The goal is to not let them become fatal characteristics. Problems arise when those flaws get accentuated in clutch moments. Identifying how to negate issues before being exposed is a job for Taylor Jenkins but Ja Morant’s captivating yet inconsistent Memphis Grizzlies now know the problem: Turnovers. Desmond Bane (eight […]

Fans love an early regular season preview of a potential NBA Playoffs matchup. Unfortunately, the Memphis Grizzlies will face the Golden State Warriors with most of the stars wearing regular person clothes. Well, not regular in price for most but Stephen Curry and Ja Morant will not be in uniform on Saturday, January 4. It […]

Everyone loves a Cinderella story, especially when they play for your hometown team. Thankfully for Fedex Forum fans, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.’s disrespected Memphis Grizzlies have a storybook rookie season unfolding this season. Jaylen Wells might even be worth mentioning with Morant and Jackson Jr. as off-limits assets through the NBA Trade Deadline. […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are not getting much NBA All-Star respect but that did not seem to stoke up a fire before facing the Sacramento Kings. Taylor Jenkins admitted the Grizzlies cannot grumble about a loss to the Kings despite an unusually wild Jaren Jackson Jr. fourth-quarter stat. After a flawless first three quarters, the officials […]

Upsets happen in every sport but more often than not the road team missing an All-Star is going to fall short. These Memphis Grizzlies do not go gently into that good night regardless of circumstance and a win over the Phoenix Suns is the latest example. In fact, the first two road games of the […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are used to Ja Morant’s needle-moving methods. His whirling dervish ways bring in fans and boost broadcast numbers. Despite missing 14 of 34 games, Morant is sitting seventh in Western Conference backcourt tallies. Grizzlies (23-11) big man Jaren Jackson Jr. has been the most available star in Memphis this season but is […]

The NBA’s 2024-25 season has been providing plenty of fireworks going into the New Year. Teams are making trades earlier than usual and stars have been shaking off critics complaining about competitive levels. Ja Morant’s captivating Memphis Grizzlies have been scrapping away all season, unconcerned with outside noise and injury woes. That has helped the […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are still waiting for Zion Williamson amid one of the worst seasons in NBA history. The front office has been shopping Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum to no avail while Willie Green tries to get the new-look roster back on track. Rookie Yves Missi has been one of the few bright spots […]

Some wins just cost more in the long run and Ja Morant’s captivating Memphis Grizzlies paid a price in a 132-124 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Unfortunately, Morant went down with a shoulder injury midway through the third quarter and could be unavailable for at least a few games. Not only does that throw […]

Getting through the NBA’s 82-game season relatively healthy has been a problem for Ja Morant’s ‘lackadaisical’ Memphis Grizzlies. This year has been no different. Unfortunately, a new knockout blow taken against the New Orleans Pelicans will have Grizzlies’ fans and the front office sleeping uneasily to start a five-game road trip. Morant went down midway […]

The NBA season is now one-third of the way complete with the lines between contenders, pretenders, and also-rans becoming clearer by the day. Some games are expected to be far more competitive than others but individual matchups in blowouts are still worth watching. Zach Edey versus Yves Missi is exactly the kind of clash that […]

Coaches love to talk about how offense wins games, but defense wins championships. By that metric, Ja Morant’s highly entertaining Memphis Grizzlies have some work to do, and they know it. Taylor Jenkins appreciated the offensive explosion in a 155-126 victory over the Toronto Raptors. However, the franchise’s all-time wins leader was not happy with […]

Rookies have a hard time adjusting to any business or industry. Basketball’s learning curve is just a bit more steep but the captivating Memphis Grizzlies (20-10) have been giving their first-year players room to grow. Both Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells are regularly starting games next to Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. […]

Defense often takes a backseat to flashy offensive plays but Ja Morant’s captivating Memphis Grizzlies have a rookie giving every All-Star a headache. Jaylen Wells has been a quick fan favorite thanks to some relentless effort on the less glamorous side of the hardwood. Taylor Jenkins has every reason to trust the second-rounder consistently corralling […]

The NBA’s list of the most popular players included the usual suspects known for highlight dunks, halfcourt threes, and hard-to-believe outlet passes. LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) topped the league’s most recent most-viewed player charts. The announcement gave the Memphis Grizzlies another reason to brag about Ja Morant as their All-World star was close behind […]

Fans and media personalities have spent too many hours trying to pinpoint exactly why NBA television broadcast ratings are declining. Even stars on the level of LeBron James have shared varying opinions on playstyles, criticisms of the All-Star Game format, and how to fix the game. However, Taylor Jenkins and Ja Morant’s extremely salty Memphis […]

The NBA is a star-driven league, of that there is no doubt. Not since the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons has a team won a title without having multiple All-NBA talents on the roster. However, the road to the NBA Finals requires a proper supporting cast ready to step up when an All-Star is sidelined. The Memphis […]

The cursed, injury-plagued New Orleans Pelicans are running out of time and options this season and it’s not yet Christmas. Dozens of games missed by Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, and Trey Murphy III have taken a toll. Fans are in a frenzy and other front offices are calling to ask which […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are fielding calls for practically everyone on the roster according to several reports. Fans can rest easy knowing Herb Jones, Yves Missi, and Trey Murphy III are seemingly safe. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Dejounte Murray, and CJ McCollum could be on the move if the price is right. That exception is […]

The entire league took a day off after the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Cup. Now it’s back to business, and a showdown between Ja Morant’s resurgent Memphis Grizzlies and Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors might be the best game on the Dec. 19 docket. Morant missed the first Grizzlies-Warriors meeting, a 123-118 loss in […]

Taylor Jenkins was looking at a problem all NBA coaches wished they had during training camp. The Memphis Grizzlies had more talent on the bench than minutes available in a game even with GG Jackson in a walking boot. Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Zach Edey being unavailable for week-long stretches created opportunities for Santi […]

The Memphis Grizzlies (18-9) are starting to get loud about their intentions this season. Ja Morant’s return has coincided with a run up the Western Conference standings. Jaren Jackson Jr. has been rock solid all season, posting All-NBA numbers. Desmond Bane has been bruised up but the Grizzlies’ bench has stepped up in a big […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are being left with few options as the season drags on. However, the definition of insanity is so well known that it’s cliche, but it applies to Willie Green’s draft lottery-bound Pelicans in late-game situations. New Orleans had the Sacramento Kings on the ropes but failed to pull out a win […]

The New Orleans Pelicans (5-20) are feeling the pain this season as Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram mostly watch loss from the sidelines. Practically everyone on the payroll has needed a few days to a few months off due to injury. Thankfully for head coach Willie Green, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, and Trey […]

Everyone has a wish list going into the holiday season, and the looking-mighty-nice Memphis Grizzlies got a huge injury-report-related gift. Zach Edey (left ankle sprain) and GG Jackson (right fifth metatarsal repair) were seen on the practice court, and the rookie was even upgraded to doubtful a day before hosting the Brooklyn Nets. The team […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are making winning moves on the court and enjoying Ja Morant’s nightly highlights going into the holiday season. Still, shopping for upgrades is on the front office’s agenda. There can be no complacency in this version of the NBA’s Western Conference. Checking on rotational upgrades at various price ranges is part of […]

The NBA’s player acquisition markets are constantly shifting around new CBA parameters, the supply of talent, and the demand from contenders to add another All-Star piece. Only game-changing, globally marketable stars are truly worth a full max-level deal. That principle is why the market has settled on New Orleans Pelicans star Brandon Ingram. Though eligible, Ingram […]

The Milwaukee Bucks are silencing the skeptics after a slow start and are one win away from a Sin City trip. A win over the Orlando Magic in the NBA Cup quarterfinals would secure a spot in the Las Vegas-based Final Four. Thankfully, the most recent injury updates on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are […]

NBA contending tiers seem pretty clear-cut going into the last three weeks of 2024. The Boston Celtics (19-5) and Cleveland Cavaliers (21-4) are running away from the Eastern Conference pack. The Oklahoma City Thunder (18-5) and Memphis Grizzlies (17-8) are on course for a Western Conference Finals clash. Everyone else is playing for the upset. […]

The Memphis Grizzlies (17-8) are gaining ground on the Western Conference’s frontrunners now that Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane are healthy. Taylor Jenkins heard some jeers from behind the bench after an 8-7 start, but a 9-1 run to start the holiday season has silenced almost every skeptic. Having an impressive bench […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are playing for pride now that Brandon Ingram has joined Zion Williamson on the out indefinitely part of the injury report. Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, and Trey Murphy III are too good to tank. Even with Herb Jones back in action, it’s hard to imagine the Pelicans (5-19) will make the […]