Category: Articles
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MikeCheck: Edey’s dominance means ‘everything’ as Grizzlies gain stride entering December
SAN ANTONIO – Moments after exiting the court following the most dominant performance of his young NBA career, Zach Edey celebrated the moment by ducking into the arena’s makeshift weight room for a grueling postgame workout. Thirty minutes later, still drenched in sweat and adrenaline, a broad smile emerged as the 7-foot-4 center reflected on…
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MikeCheck: Grizzlies await word on Edey status as they gear up for opportunistic trip
MEMPHIS – The revolving door to the Grizzlies’ primary playing rotation took another deflating spin that could again impact frontcourt depth ahead of their looming road trip.
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MikeCheck: Grizzlies boosted by Edey impact, burdened by critically limited guard depth
As the Grizzlies work to resolve some early season struggles, the focus now shifts to addressing a critical shortage of backcourt depth.
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MikeCheck: Edey’s acclimation will be ‘a gradual process’ as Grizzlies address recent struggles
With Zach Edey on the verge of returning from summer ankle surgery, the Grizzlies are planning to take a measured approach to acclimating the second-year center to the rotation.
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MikeCheck: Grizzlies hope learning opportunities from losses translate to lessons on winning
NEW YORK – Through an erratic opening month of the NBA season, progress has been a matter of perspective for first-year Grizzlies’ coach Tuomas Iisalo. This first stretch of games has produced essentially two outcomes. “We’re either winning, or we’re learning,” Iisalo surmised. “A lot of times, when you’re going through tough times and you’re…
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MikeCheck: Edey progressing toward a ‘very, very important addition’ to Grizzlies rotation
At 7-foot-4 and 300 pounds, it’s impossible to go unnoticed. Even as Zach Edey conditioned off to the side and worked out in the shadows of the Grizzlies’ practices in recent weeks, the second-year center still projected a commanding presence.
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MikeCheck: For Grizzlies to capitalize on challenging homestand, ‘urgency has gotta be there’
The belief remains steadfast. Amid a turbulent start that has already included multiple injuries, a team-imposed suspension of the franchise’s biggest star and struggles to establish a new system, Jaren Jackson Jr. is confident the Grizzlies are soon headed for steadier ground.
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MikeCheck: Grizzlies gradually building trust and depth through early season tests
It was a gamble, but trust isn’t established in the absence of risks. At a critical stage midway through the fourth quarter of a tight game, Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo summoned Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. to the bench to get a few minutes of rest.
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MikeCheck: Thrown into fire; Grizzlies rooks Coward, Small embrace heat of opportunity
SAN FRANCISCO – As the locker room’s elder statesman and 12-year veteran with two NBA championships, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope clearly understands the difficult circumstances the Grizzlies’ rookie draft picks find themselves in these days. Opportunity can sometimes be overwhelming. Especially in the NBA when key roles and major responsibilities land too soon. But early indications are…
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MikeCheck: Grizzlies must build on Opening Night takeaways as key homestand continues
The growth mindset permeated the locker room. From Ja Morant’s astute assessments at one end of the room to the poignant perspective Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s shared at the other, the Grizzlies move forward from their season-opening victory embracing looming battles on multiple fronts.