The Memphis Grizzlies are 8-11 since big man Steven Adams went out with a sprained PCL in his knee. That’s not a coincidence, he did the little things, the dirty work — setting rock-solid screens, boxing out and crashing the glass, being a physical defense e presence in the paint — the high-flying Grizzlies need and miss.
Memphis is going to. have to hold on without him, Adams is out at least another month after getting a stem cell injection in his problem knee, the team announced.
The @memgrizz announced the following medical update: pic.twitter.com/xmSEN6KWyS
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) March 9, 2023
That leaves the Grizzlies particularly thin up front with Brandon Clarke out for the season with a torn Achilles. Xavier Tillman has been the Grizzlies starting five of late.
Throw in Ja Morant being away from the team after waiving a gun around on social media and you have a very shorthanded Memphis squad who have been passed by the Kings as the No. 2 seed in the West and are trying to hang on to the No. 3 spot (the Suns are only 2.5 games back, but with Kevin Durant out it’s hard to see them making a rapid push up the standings).
The Grizzlies didn’t look shorthanded Thursday night, handing the Warriors another road loss. Dillon Brooks enjoyed that win very much.