The Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant will be out for three to five weeks with an ankle injury. How do the Grizzlies adjust, and do they miss the playoffs?
The Memphis Grizzlies were already suffering from injuries, both Justise Winslow and Jaren Jackson Jr. have been out all season and both have no clear timeline to return. And now star point guard Ja Morant is going to be out for three to five weeks with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain.
Prior to Morant’s injury, he was averaging 26.3 points per game and 6.3 assists per game shooting 33 percent from three.
The Grizzlies have been heavily dependent on Morant’s individual talent to keep them within games this first week of the season. In game one Morant had a career-high 44 points and nine assists and in game two Morant had 28 points and seven assists.
The on/off numbers for Morant this season so far have been absurd. The Grizzlies have a +5.9 net rating when he’s on the floor and -17.4 when he’s off it. We’re just a few games into the season, but the story checks out.
The Grizzlies will have to find a way to replace the scoring output and the playmaking that Morant provides for this team, not an easy task when your second-leading scorer from last season in Jackson is also out with injury.
With all that being said, what are the three adjustments the Grizzlies can make to stay afloat while Ja Morant is injured? And does this injury end their playoff hopes?