The Memphis Grizzlies have been hit extremely hard by the injury bug during the 2023-24 NBA regular season. They had some massive expectations coming into the year, but are going to fall woefully short as they are barely able to field a team on most nights.
The Grizzlies have already used 30 different starting lineup combinations this season with 18 different players being in the starting five. Virtually their entire rotation has been sidelined at points this season, with several of those players dealing with season-ending ailments.
51 games into the season, Memphis has had 23 players and counting get into a game for them this season. With the NBA Trade Deadline on Thursday afternoon, there is a chance that number increases as the Grizzlies could do some wheeling and dealing as a surprising seller.
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Despite being so short-handed, this is a team that plays hard every night for head coach Taylor Jenkins. Unfortunately for them, it takes more than effort to win games in the NBA. Memphis is using a lineup that looks more like a G League team, as their rotation consists of two-way players and 10-day hardship contracts.
Against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night, the Grizzlies season was epitomized. Despite being short-handed themselves, the Knicks still had All-Star Jalen Brunson in the lineup, who missed the first matchup of the season.
New York opened up a 28-point lead at one point, running the undermanned Grizzlies out of MSG. But, Memphis never gave up, as they cut the lead to four points in the fourth quarter. But, their lack of a closer showed as they couldn’t get over the hump in the end, losing 123-113.
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In the process, they accomplished something that no other team in the NBA has during the 2023-24 regular season. According to KnicksMuse on X, Memphis became the first team this season to shoot 50+ percent from the field and 55+ percent from 3-point range and lose.
That is an unfortunate bit of season history to be a part of, but just another example of how hard this season has been for the Grizzlies. Nothing has gone right for them, as they are heading toward an unexpected spot in the NBA Lottery at the end of the season.
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