MEMPHIS – For these Grizzlies, preseason progress requires patience with the process.
Significant patience.
That much was clear as rookie lottery pick Cedric Coward balanced the benefits of extended playing time to work through his mistakes with the burdens of the team missing so many key contributors in these days of exhibition development.
The Grizzlies approach the midpoint of their five-game preseason schedule with Saturday’s matchup against the Hawks at FedExForum. With the Oct. 22 regular season opener two weeks away, it’s highly possible Memphis won’t publicly get many of its primary players on the court together until that first game against the Pelicans.
Coward acknowledged after Wednesday’s exhibition loss to the Celtics he’s yet to experience what it’s like to share the court with franchise cornerstones Jaren Jackson Jr. and Ja Morant.
“Together? … I haven’t done that yet,” said Coward, who the Grizzlies selected No. 11 overall in June’s NBA Draft. “But at the same time, both of them are them for a reason. As people like to say, ‘They’re Him.’ Each of them are ‘Him.’ For me, it’s going to be a hell of a lot easier to play with them than without them.”
Jackson and Morant haven’t played in the preseason, and could be sidelined for the remaining exhibitions against the Hawks on Saturday and next week’s trip to face the Hornets and Heat.
Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo reiterated this week the two stars are among a group of core players being evaluated and cautiously prepared in a “ramping up” process designed to have many available for the season opener.
Morant is considered “week-to-week” after he suffered a mild ankle sprain during Sunday’s practice ahead of Monday’s 128-112 loss in the preseason opener to Detroit. Jackson is in the final stages of his rehab regimen after undergoing July toe surgery.
Between injury recoveries and the strategic scheduling of those available, the Grizzlies were without eight of their top 10 projected rotation players in Wednesday’s 121-103 loss to Boston. On one hand, the shortage of core players has created extensive opportunities.
Coward and fellow rookie draft pick Javon Small were the starting backcourt across from a Celtics unit that opened with veterans and NBA champions in Derrick White and Jaylen Brown. On the other hand, Memphis struggled from the outset to build on the positive strides they made in Monday’s early efforts against the Pistons.
In that game, veteran additions Ty Jerome, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Jock Landale started as the Grizzlies opened a 20-point lead with a breakout 42-point first quarter on the Pistons. All three offseason pickups were held out of Wednesday’s game against Boston.
Iisalo admits the approach with the preseason deployment of lineups has its challenges. But he also asserts the overall philosophy has pertinent goals beyond the results of exhibition games.
Entering his first full season as coach, Iisalo alluded to a collective decision-making process that involves the coaching staff, medical/performance team and the front office.
“We have a clear idea of how we’re going to be – it’s called an optimal situation – on Game Day One,” Iisalo described. “We have a clear plan for how we’re going to get there. That’s the process and we respect that. Of course, I would love to have those veteran guys available. That would help our younger guys with the lineups so there’s more balance for them.”
Iisalo continued by addressing the bigger picture developing.
“At the same time, we want to make sure everybody’s in a situation where they can start off the season in a good way,” he added. “You don’t get points in the standings from preseason games, so it’s more about getting the team ready for that first game. That’s how decisions are made.”
For now, the Grizzlies are creatively trying to establish some semblance of continuity.
Forwards Jaylen Wells and Santi Aldama are the two lone primary rotation players from last season to see action in both exhibition games. As starters, they’ve both been thrust in roles designed to expand their production on both ends of the floor while key contributors are out.
With the Grizzlies at full strength, Wells would be a frontrunner to retain his job as the starting small forward. Aldama would likely be the first frontcourt big off the bench behind Jackson and center Zach Edey, who is rehabbing from ankle surgery and will be reevaluated in November.
Therefore, the preseason is shaping up as a juggling act of obstacles and opportunities.
“I think it’s how you look at it,” Wells suggested. “We’ve got opportunities for other guys to get out there, and you could build chemistry with them – playing a role they wouldn’t have the opportunity to play. I mean, (overall) it definitely sucks – we need to get the starting five guys back. It’s definitely important for the season, definitely an opportunity we’re missing. But I think there are positives we can take from this, too.”
Measuring preseason progress might be a difficult task for the Grizzlies.
But there are developments taking shape.
Patience must be embraced.