MEMPHIS – His eyes were hidden behind the dark tint of the white-rimmed designer shades he wore as he analyzed the latest victory amid the Grizzlies’ longest win streak of the season.
But it was clear to see where Dillon Brooks set his sights.
It’s a fleeting and fluid place, where the Grizzlies have yet to arrive this season but moved a significant step closer this week as they settle into their longest homestand. No, the Grizzlies aren’t whole yet.
But – fingers crossed – they’re getting there.
And as the roster gradually returns to relative full strength, it’s hardly a coincidence Memphis is gaining momentum, climbing the Western Conference standings and starting to produce its best and most consistent basketball of the young season.
At 16-9 and only a half-game out of first place in the West, it’s easy to envision this team’s upside – especially when fully up to speed with their full complement of frontline players.
“It’s been tough, thinking about the ‘what ifs’ and all that,” Brooks said of where this team would be if and when the health of all its stars align. “But we just stay the course because it’s a long season. We know that. Just to see a bright light coming through right now is good.”
This week is shedding even more encouraging light on the Grizzlies’ current performance, short-term promise and long-term potential. They have won four consecutive games, including a 2-0 start in a five-game homestand that concludes with games Friday against the Pistons, Monday against the Hawks, and Thursday against the Bucks.
The Grizzlies are coming off Wednesday’s blowout win over the Thunder, a game that saw All-NBA point guard Ja Morant set the franchise record with his sixth career triple-double. Another significant development emerged when 2021 lottery pick Ziaire Williams made his season debut after missing the first 24 games with knee tendinitis.
After that game, the Grizzlies announced that emerging star shooting guard Desmond Bane, barring a setback, could return to action in three-to-four weeks. Bane has missed the past 12 games with a right big toe sprain, an injury that tempered his torrid start to the season. The third-year sharpshooter had averaged 24.7 points through his first 12 games.
The hope now is that the Grizzlies will emerge from the holiday season and start 2023 with their core group and primary rotation available for what would be the first time this season. Memphis has yet to play a game this season with Morant, Bane, Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Steven Adams – the projected starting five – on the court together. And Williams is slated to be one of the team’s top reserves alongside second-unit anchors Tyus Jones and Brandon Clarke.
Just as Jackson was returning after missing the first 14 games to complete rehab from offseason foot surgery, Bane’s absences with the toe injury began. Despite those issues, the Grizzlies pushed ahead from a sluggish start and now rank among the NBA’s top-10 teams in both offensive and defensive rating entering the weekend.
“Obviously injuries suck, but as we start to get close to full strength here everyone is getting eager to see what that looks like,” said Jones, Grizzlies backup point guard. “Everyone in that locker room is extremely excited because we know we haven’t had our full ballclub yet, and we still have so much room to grow. We’re just continuing to stick with it, staying patient.”
For now, the Grizzlies simply want to make the most of each opportunity they have now. Some nights, that means relying more on rookies or second-year players to step up the way David Roddy and Santi Aldama have in meaningful minutes during this stretch. At other times, there are breakout moments from superstars such as Morant and Jackson.
And at points in between, Memphis has relied on the consistency of Jones, Clarke and Adams to lay the foundation for the workmanlike approach that has steadied the team throughout.
“The first thing that comes to my mind is we’re adding more competitors and depth; even with guys out, we’ve had great developmental opportunities for other guys,” coach Taylor Jenkins said. “Guys are playing out of position or playing different roles for sure, but that’s all for the benefit of the long-term. As guys are slowly rolling back in getting healthy, it adds more depth that can help us win a lot of games and play good basketball night in and night out.”
The Grizzlies are winning in multiple ways these days. They relied on offense and three-point shooting to notch 132, 127, 122 and 123 points in victories over the Pelicans, Knicks, Pistons and Thunder. And a shorthanded Grizzlies team stifled the Heat defensively in Monday’s 101-93 win to open the homestand at FedExForum, where Memphis is 10-2 this season.
The players view this homestand as an opportunity to settle into a rhythm and reestablish their identity on both ends of the court as they try to make an early mark in conference.
“This is usually the part of the season where we catch our stride, where we get some of that separation in the West,” Clarke said. “We are very, very focused and have a really good team this year. We all know that. We know how big of a stretch this is to win these home games.”
Brooks sees a level of energy and urgency in this group, traits no one takes for granted because they all know how quickly things can change. As the longest-tenured Grizzlies player, Brooks has seen how injuries and bad timing have limited opportunities for this core group to collectively establish and sustain production.
Reaching that level remains a goal.
“We really need that early on . . . kind of having everyone playing together through the tougher parts of the season,” Brooks said. “We want to be together for at least half a season, so we can learn and grow and show what we’re about, establish roles and perfect that chemistry. I’m happy guys are getting healthy and are amped-up and ready to play. That’s a good thing.”
And potentially a great thing, once everyone is intact.