Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Conley’s Long-term Injury Reality
By Tom Firme
Mike Conley was finally free of the mask he had played with since May, but it didn’t mean he was free of pain in the Memphis Grizzlies‘ second regular-season game.
After Conley slipped into caretaker mode during the Grizzlies’ 112-103 victory against the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, head coach Dave Joerger told Yahoo Sports’ Michael Lee, “He’s kind of struggling right now. Physically, he’s laboring. I think it’s going to come for him. They always say he’s ‘Mr. Clutch.’ I know he’s going to fight through it, and he’s going to get back to where he needs to be.”
The Grizzlies were only two games into the regular season, and Joerger already started worrying about Conley playing through an ailment the 6’1″, 175-pound point guard he wouldn’t discuss.
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An array of injuries, such as an ankle sprain and back pain, slowed Conley as he pushed through the stretch run last year. He averaged 13.1 points per game on 41.7 percent shooting and 34.2 percent from downtown in his last 19 games after amounting 16.8 points per game on 45.5 percent from the field and 40.3 percent from long range through 51 contests.
Joerger managed to hold him to 31.8 minutes per game for the season and rest him eight of the last 18 games.
The facial fracture Conley suffered in Game 3 of the first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers created a major trial for him. He came back carry the Grizzlies with 22 points against the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals, but struggled with fatigue the rest of the series.
Beyond gaining comfort with playing without a mask, the 28-year-old may be dealing with chronic ailments. Before the playoffs began in April, CBSSports.com’s Matt Moore reported Conley had been battling foot and ankle injuries for three years.
In his eighth season, playing through injury may be a constant for Conley.
Joerger faces a challenge in preserving his star floor general for an urgent playoff fight. Keeping him in a strong enough condition that he can speed around, hit teammates with brilliant passes, slash to the basket and defend effectively requires maintenance.
Conley doesn’t sound like he’s aware of it. He told Lee of coming back from the facial fracture, “You learn who you are when you go through situations like that, and what you’re made of. I saw that there’s another level I can get to and I am good, I can play with the elite in the game.”
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While it’s true that Conley discovered he can recover from a horrific injury and reach another level, he was only able to hit that for one game. Then he slowed significantly, scoring 11.3 points per game on 31.3 percent shooting the last four contests of the series.
The borderline elite player has a problem realizing his body’s limits. He has the potential to be one of the very best point guards when he combines his defensive discipline, pinpoint passing and multi-faceted scoring ability.
However, he often doesn’t acknowledge what must be done when he’s seriously injured.
Joerger must decide Conley’s physical maintenance. Sitting him once per month is the simplest prescription. Also, holding him to no more than 31 minutes per game saves him some of the pain he’ll experience grinding through a long season.
The Grizzlies can hold faith in their reserve point guards. Beno Udrih was fine in his first meaningful game on Thursday, posting 13 points and six assists. Last year, he excelled when starting for Conley, averaging 11.2 points and 3.3 assists in 12 starts with 112 points produced per 100 possessions. He shows great chemistry with Memphis’ starters.
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Saving Conley in the regular season is essential if the Grizzlies are to make the most of a win-now season. Keeping him at reasonable health makes him as close to elite as he can be. If he can’t play at his highest ability, the Grizzlies have no shot at making the Western Conference Finals.