The NBA experienced its second shocking head coaching dismissal of the season when the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor Jenkins this week. The Sacramento Kings fired Mike Brown earlier in the season, and the Kings playoff hopes are now in flux. It was interesting timing, considering the playoffs are just a few weeks away, and Memphis is still right in the race. Jenkins had done a tremendous job this season with Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant in and out of the lineup. Overall, Jenkins has done an admirable job in Memphis since becoming their head coach in 2019. With Memphis on the cusp of making the playoffs, it’s confusing why the organization thought it best to let Jenkins go. Nevertheless, he’s out, and despite reports that Morant had supported Jenkins until the end, there are also reports that Morant was disengaged with the offensive scheme the Grizzlies ran. Sam Amick, Fred Katz, and Joe Vardon of The Athletic have the report and back story.
Ja Morant At Odds With Grizzlies’ Offensive Scheme
Memphis Grizzlies’ New Offensive Strategies Took the Ball Out of Ja Morant’s Hands
Morant ‘hates the offense,’ as one league source cites from observation of Morant in Memphis team workouts. The source claims that on some days, Morant looks ready to play but looks the opposite on other days. Apparently, the style of offense the Grizzlies run doesn’t sit well with Morant, and he complained about it often. His argument was that the way assistant coach Noah LaRoche designed the offense took the ball out of Morant’s hands all too often, impeding his ability to run the offense how he likes, which uses a heavy dose of screens. Reportedly, LaRoche, a former trainer-now-assistant coach, played a pivotal role in changing the Grizzlies offense. LoRoche and Tuomas Iisalo were both in their first seasons as assistants to Jenkins. Iisalo now takes over as the interim head coach.
The newer offensive scheme in Memphis moved from a heavy screening style to off-ball movement and cutting. This resulted in Memphis setting the fewest screens of all 30 NBA teams this season. Seeing how screens make Morant so dangerous, among other game plan tactics, taking that away meant taking part of Morant’s game away, which is exactly how he viewed it. Of course, LaRoche went out the door with Jenkins. Still, according to The Athletic, Iisalo was in step with LaRoche’s game plan, so it is unlikely to change for Morant going forward unless Iisalo changes it.
What the Coaching Change Means for the Playoffs
Remember that this season was Iisalo’s first as an assistant coach. He has no prior NBA head coaching experience, never mind playoff coaching experience. It is highly likely that the Grizzlies playoff run will end quickly, and likely in the first round. Morant’s injury and health status are also up in the air, and there is no telling what his health will be like once the postseason begins.
On top of that, it is fair to question Morant’s future in Memphis past this season. That said, Grizzlies GM Zach Klieman is adamant that he has no plans to trade Morant. Of course, considering the situations around Jimmy Butler, Luka Dončić, and Anthony Davis earlier this season, a GM should never say never. Suppose Morant wants out of Memphis at some point, via trade or other means; he’ll figure out a path. A superstar usually does.
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