MEMPHIS – The chemistry, communication and camaraderie that manifested on the court to help salvage the season were rooted in a text message sent in a group chat from the longest-tenured member of the Grizzlies.
Different moments call for different leadership voices to emerge.
This time, it was Jaren Jackson Jr. taking the initiative.
With the Grizzlies’ season on the brink entering Friday’s elimination game against the Mavericks in the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament, Jackson reached out to teammates Ja Morant and Desmond Bane with a deliberate, direct and detailed message.
In the triumphant aftermath of a 120-106 home victory over Dallas to advance to the playoffs, none of the core Grizzlies would divulge specifics of what exactly was relayed in the text message. But the magnitude of its meaning was not lost in the moment as the Grizzlies secured the No. 8 and final seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
Before Jackson notched team highs of 24 points in 36 minutes, along with seven rebounds, four assists and a block, he delivered the motivation to galvanize the leadership core. Friday’s win came three days after Memphis missed its first shot to qualify for the playoffs in a 121-116 loss at Golden State in the Play-In opener. The Warriors earned the No. 7 seed. The Grizzlies dropped into a win-or-go-home game against Dallas.
“(Jaren) sent us a paragraph earlier, Des responded, and it was pretty much enough said,” Morant shared of Jackson’s message on resilience. “We already knew what we were going out there to do. Setting the tone, I feel us three were pretty much locked in the whole time. As soon as the Warriors game was over, we locked in on what we had to do to get to this point.”
It took Jackson reminding the group just how far they’ve come together, and how much more they could still accomplish during this emotional roller-coaster of a season.
It took Morant enduring two injections, round-the-clock treatment and therapy to be able to play Friday on the sprained ankle he sustained midway through Tuesday’s game at Golden State.
It took Bane continuing his recent scoring resurgence to keep the offense on track as the Grizzlies saw a 25-point lead dwindle before they restored control to finish off the Mavericks.
Jackson (24), Morant (22) and Bane (22) each finished with at least 20 points in the same postseason game for the first time in their five seasons together in Memphis. It’s going to take more of the same from that core if the Grizzlies are to have a legitimate shot in the first-round series against No. 1 seed Oklahoma City.
The Thunder swept the Grizzlies in four regular-season meetings by double figures and won nine straight overall against Memphis. OKC dominated from start to finish in the regular season for a league-best 68-14 record. It also posted the best net rating and point differential in history.
But the Grizzlies hold an edge in postseason battle scars and continuity. Jackson, Morant and Bane are in the playoffs together for the fourth time in five seasons. Denver is the only playoff team in the West that has had its current core together longer than Memphis.
That reminder was also part of the heartfelt push Jackson shared about accountability and taking advantage of the opportunity at hand. Despite a tumultuous stretch that has included recent season-ending injuries to two key role players and the late March dismissal of coach Taylor Jenkins, the Grizzlies still control their postseason fate.
As long as Jackson, Morant and Bane are on their feet, Memphis stands a fighting chance.
“We’ve had a nice little group chat running all year long, and we’ve been able to pinball different things off each other,” Bane explained of the context surrounding Jackson’s text message. “And I needed to hear it. I’m sure Ja needed to hear it, too, coming into this game. Our response was just, ‘Let’s march. Let’s put our best foot forward and go do it.”
In essentially one collective breakthrough performance, a frustrating and disappointing end to the season was averted for a team that stood second in the West standings two months ago.
Now that the Play-In business is done, the Grizzlies are back in familiar territory. Their weaknesses and warts are real, which are why they barely made it into the playoffs. Their defiance, pride, experience and explosive upside are what makes these Grizzlies dangerous.
They’re the relatively overlooked team against a Thunder squad that boasts not only the NBA’s most dominant statistics, but also the league’s presumptive MVP in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Yet, these Grizzlies swear they’re right where they want to be.
“We’re right back to being the underdogs, a place we’re very comfortable and feel like we can thrive in,” Bane added. “We ain’t done. We’re a hungry team that wants to continue playing. We feel like we’ve got more to give. We feel like we’re turning a corner at the right time.”
That turn was fueled by a message from the franchise anchor that arrived right on time, too.
Now, there’s no time to exhale and relax. Game 1 against at OKC was set to tip off just 37 hours after the Grizzlies exited the court at FedExForum freshly locked into the NBA’s last playoff spot.
“I don’t think we need to reset; we just need to stay in it – stay in whatever vibe it is right now,” Jackson insisted. “I feel like it’s better when you don’t have much time between games. You just try to keep some sort of rhythm, your body, your mind and emotion in that mode.”
Which sends another message, altogether. Yes, the Grizzlies are officially in the NBA playoffs.
Despite the enormous odds they now face, don’t think they’re simply satisfied to be here.
Message delivered.