SAN FRANCISCO – As Marcus Smart tried to articulate his feelings in the Grizzlies postgame locker room after returning from a two-week injury absence, the crowd around him and the banter from nearby teammates only grew louder.
At one point, Smart halted his response in mid-sentence and shouted over the noise.
“Damn, can I talk?” he bellowed, in an attempt to quiet the surrounding chatter just a bit.
In many ways, the scene was symbolic of the predicament the Grizzlies (7-5) are in as they wrap up a three-game west coast trip Friday against the surprising Golden State Warriors (9-2).
For Smart, reestablishing his comfort zone in a constantly-evolving playing rotation could be as challenging as it was to assert his voice in the locker room after Memphis saw its three-game win streak end with Wednesday’s 128-123 loss to the Lakers.
Smart came off the bench for the first time in four seasons and finished with 15 points, six assists, two rebounds, a steal and a block in nearly 23 minutes. The upside was that Smart was one of seven Memphis players who scored in double figures, a productive balance the team has shown in four consecutive games with that many contributors finishing with at least 10 points.
In fact, the Grizzlies lead the NBA through the season’s first month registering seven games with seven players scoring in double figures. With several key players, including three starters in Smart, Ja Morant and Desmond Bane, having missed time with injuries, the Grizzlies have gotten significant contributions from rookies and others projected to be deeper in the rotation.
As veterans and more established players work their way back into the fold, the team’s reliable depth is creating a bit of a welcomed dilemma in reestablishing a rotational pecking order. Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins acknowledged there could be some difficult days ahead.
Jenkins wasn’t only referring to the fact that the Grizzlies are in the midst of one of the most challenging stretches of their schedule. After falling to the Lakers, the Western Conference’s lone team yet to lose at home, Memphis plays at Golden State before returning home for a two-game set against the suddenly surging Denver Nuggets.
The Grizzlies don’t shy away from stiff competition from any opponent in the league. But those battles now are also internal as it relates to Jenkins juggling the rotation and doling out minutes.
Last week, veteran sharpshooter Luke Kennard returned from a foot injury that sidelined him for the first eight games of the season. This week, Smart is back after recovering from a sprained ankle that cost him six games. More reinforcements arrive as early as Friday, with versatile swingman Vince Williams Jr. on the verge of making his season debut after rehabbing nearly two months from a stress reaction in his left leg.
For the Grizzlies, these are potential good problems to face.
“It’s going to be some tough decisions looming,” Jenkins said of sorting through the rotation. “It’s exciting to get more guys back who can impact winning, and it’s been awesome to see the guys who have been taking advantage of these opportunities right now. We’ll make those decisions as we get guys back one at a time. We’re learning a lot about different combinations.”
Since the start of training camp, the Grizzlies have maintained ongoing discussions about roles, rotations and minutes. The hamstring strain that sidelined Jaren Jackson Jr. into the initial games of the season opened doors for Santi Aldama to show his versatility, rookie Zach Edey to find a comfort zone and for developmental prospect Jay Huff to earn a standard NBA contract.
And the recent injuries to Bane (oblique strain) and Morant (hip) have given extended opportunities for Jaylen Wells to emerge as a starter and one of the NBA’s most productive rookies, and for Scotty Pippen to prove in starter’s minutes he’s a reliable backup point guard. Jenkins has also pointed to the dependable effort forward Jake LaRavia has shown during this stretch.
The truth is, Jenkins can’t – and won’t – play everybody.
Statistically, Memphis has 13 players averaging between 15 and 30 minutes through the first dozen games of the season. But those numbers can be deceiving, because only nine of the Grizzlies primary players have been available for at least eight games so far.
Establishing continuity and chemistry has been a work in progress. That process led to a skittish start in Wednesday’s first quarter as the Grizzlies used their sixth starting lineup in 12 games. That, perhaps, contributed to the Lakers building a 38-26 lead in the opening 12 minutes.
The Grizzlies recovered, outscored the Lakers in the second and third quarters and led entering the fourth. But the uneven start was seen as the culprit that most impacted the overall game.
“We came out a little bit flat, more flat than we usually have,” Kennard said. “The first unit, second unit, everybody gave up way too many points in that first quarter. We talked about it after the game and know that’s something we’ve got to clean up. And we know that’s on us.”
And Jenkins knows it’s on him to sort through the options and find the best rotation combinations on a team where nearly a dozen players have shown they can produce. So how will it shake out as more players return to the lineup?
“I can’t give you that answer right now, but it’s been on my mind a lot,” Jenkins assured. “As I told these guys, it doesn’t matter whether you start or come off the bench. It’s about impacting winning. We’re looking to find our advantages.”
That search is getting deeper.
“It felt good out there to be back,” Smart shared. “I try not to worry about the ankle too much. I’m just trying to go out there and do whatever I can to help this team.”
As the options increase, it’s important that message resonates throughout the roster.