The Memphis Grizzlies have seen better seasons.
Marc Gasol is already done for the year, and Mike Conley hasn’t played in nearly a month. The war-weary Grizzlies are not expected to get much healthier in time for the playoffs, either. On Monday, head coach Dave Joerger all but ruled out Conley’s return, per The Commerical Appeal‘s Ronald Tillery:
Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger listened to a reporter’s question, made certain he understood it and then paused.
He let the inquiry marinate in his mind and delivered a succinct answer.
Is there any expectation for Mike Conley, Brandan Wright, Jordan Adams and P.J. Hairston to play for the Griz again this season?
“I think we’ll see P.J. again,” Joerger said as he walked away.
Well, crap.
The Grizzlies are clinging to fifth place in the Western Conference, just a half-game ahead of the surprising Portland Trail Blazers. It seems unlikely that they’ll hold on to that slot at this point. They are stuck in the throes of a six-game losing streak, and the Blazers have spent the better part of the second half of the season surging up the Western Conference ladder.
While this comes as a crushing blow for the Grizzlies in many respects, it hardly resets their postseason ceiling. There’s a chance they’ll be facing the Oklahoma City Thunder instead of the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers are more beatable, but either team is far from ideal with or without Conley. This always seemed like the season they were guaranteed a first-round exit, and that hasn’t changed.
Now they’ll need to look ahead to the offseason. Conley is slated for free agency, and though it’s long been expected he’ll remain in Memphis, his latest bout with injuries could prevent the Grizzlies, among many other teams, from wanting to give him a max contract.
