After starting the season 7-6 with Mike Conley on the floor, the Grizzlies have gone 5-21 in the games that their star point guard has missed. According to Mike Wallace of Grizzlies.com, Conley has set no timetable for his return, but he has made it clear that he intends to return to the Grizzlies' lineup at some point during the season.

Mike Conley meets with media before tonight's game and says he's not sure of a definitive time frame for his return. Says he does intend to come back from Achilles heel injury this season. Conley hasn't played since Nov. 13.

The Grizzlies are currently 12-26 in the season and are eight games back from the eighth seed in the Western Conference. It is unlikely that the team is going to make the postseason, which adds further questions if Conley will even return somewhere down the line.

As of right now, the Grizzlies' season has been a disaster. Sans Conley's injury, the Grizzlies have fired their head coach Dave Fizdale earlier in the season, and the core of the team doesn't seem to be built to win at this point of the season. There are even doubts about the future ownership of the team once the season is over.

Still, the Grizzlies should be optimistic about the return of their starting point guard, even if it's late in the season. According to Wallace, Conley is taking the necessary steps towards a return down the road.

Conley also said he's progressed to some light contact drill work with assistant coaches. He's basically testing tolerance levels to intensity drills. Says there's still a battle with soreness at times. Just the ebb and flow of dealing with rehab.

While time is running out for the Grizzlies to make a reasonable push for the postseason, Conley's presence will be needed to salvage the team's disappointing start.