In an surprising resolution, the Memphis Grizzlies dismissed head coach Taylor Jenkins on Friday afternoon, parting methods with one of many NBA’s most revered coaches simply weeks earlier than the playoffs. Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone weighed in on the shocking transfer.
“I used to be shocked. Stunning and odd on the similar time. There’s gotta be one thing occurring that I’m not aware of,” mentioned Malone in a quote through Altitude TV’s Vic Lombardi.
The Grizzlies maintain a 44-29 report, sitting in fifth place within the Western Convention. They’re simply as near second place as they’re to seventh, positioning themselves for his or her fourth assured playoff berth in 5 years. By any commonplace, this has been a powerful teaching efficiency.
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant, the workforce’s most explosive participant, has missed a 3rd of the season, together with their current skid of 4 losses in 5 video games. His availability has been inconsistent, with accidents to his again, shoulder, thigh, hip, knee, foot, and hamstring conserving him off the court docket.
Accidents have plagued the Grizzlies for years, but Jenkins has constantly turned unproven expertise into key contributors. He’s molded a roster that now options rookies Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells within the beginning lineup whereas additionally overseeing the expansion of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane into high-impact gamers.
Taylor Jenkins’ time with the Memphis Grizzlies
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From an outsider’s perspective, Jenkins has excelled in each side of teaching. Even their final two postseason exits have been largely attributable to Morant’s accidents. His absence for all however 9 video games final season resulted in a 27-55 report, a top-10 draft choose, and important adjustments to the teaching workers.
Letting go of a coach with simply 9 video games remaining earlier than the playoffs is nearly unparalleled in current reminiscence. The 44-29 Grizzlies, at present tied with the Lakers for the fourth and fifth seeds within the West, are heading into a vital stretch, together with a showdown with Los Angeles on Saturday.
Jenkins, the 2022 Coach of the Yr runner-up, had the Grizzlies in place for one more robust end till their current hunch. Because the finish of February, Memphis has gone 6-9, struggling on each ends of the ground.
Nonetheless, accidents and roster strikes performed a big function. Morant is sidelined with a hamstring problem, Brandon Clarke has been dominated out for the season as soon as once more, and the entrance workplace offloaded Marcus Sensible and Jake LaRavia in cost-cutting trades. Regardless of navigating these setbacks, Jenkins was the one proven the door.
Tuomas Iisalo, a Finnish coach and EuroCup Coach of the Yr, steps in because the interim head coach. Employed in July, he has shortly earned respect throughout the league. Now, he takes on the problem of main the Grizzlies by way of a pivotal stretch of the season.
Jenkins immediately turns into one of the vital sought-after coaches obtainable this summer time, as groups put together for inevitable teaching adjustments. In contrast to Memphis, nevertheless, most franchises will wait till the season concludes earlier than making such strikes.