Things continue to get worse in Memphis. Losers of nine straight games and fresh off firing their head coach 19 games into the season, they received the unfortunate news on Wednesday night that their starting point guard Mike Conley will miss two to three more weeks to recover from his sore Achilles and heel.
Here is an excerpt from the Grizzlies release on Conley’s injury status:
“Conley has progressed well through therapy and treatment to promote healing and alleviate soreness in his left heel and Achilles. He is expected to return in two to three weeks.”
That means anywhere from six to 10 more games for a team that is already sitting at 7-13, this could be the official last blow to the Grizzlies hopes of extending their seven year playoff streak, even though we’re still in November.
While there is still more than 60 games left for the Grizzlies, this has the feeling to me of an injury that could linger another month or month and a half before the Grizzlies may decide to just shut Conley down for the season and have him heal up for next season if they have little to play for. That would have a much higher probability if the Grizzlies weren’t one of a few prideful franchises who don’t believe in tanking though (the Indiana Pacers are another one), and with Marc Gasol still in tow, I doubt they shut down Mike Conley for the year if he is cleared to play.
The Grizzlies roster already sorely lacks depth and youth and this news will likely cause them to continue to plummet down to the bottom of the western conference standings.
