Memphis Grizzlies: 5 takeaways from the first week of preseason

5. The Grizzlies’ scratches are noticeable

Not one of the Gasol, Tyreke Evans and Ben McLemore trio has played a single preseason game, and Mike Conley and JaMychal Green have managed just one a piece. Of those players, just McLemore is dealing with a long-term injury. Memphis is wise to be cautious, but the fact that the Grizzlies haven’t been able to put anything close to resembling what their starting lineup will be on opening night on the court is worth noting.

Injuries are by far the greatest risk to the team’s season, to the point where even minor ailments and intentional rest days can feel disconcerting. The optimistic perspective is that Memphis’ decision to hold many of its players out of games is giving them the time they need to be fully healthy come the start of the regular season, but there is a second, more fearful view of things.

It is one that wonders if Gasol’s ankle troubles are just the beginning of a year-long battle with they type of small, nagging infirmities that 32-year-old professional athletes are susceptible to. One must consider too if Tyreke Evans will ever be able to stay on the court consistently again (yes I know he’s just dealing with migraines, but that’s a weird enough issue to cause concern), and wait anxiously for the next malady to befall Brandan Wright and Chandler Parsons.

There are other, additionally frightening places this could go, but I’m not one to let fear dictate my life, so I’m ready to move on.