Grizzlies now viewed as team with most on line in NBA postseason

March 31, 2025

After the stunning dismissal of coach Taylor Jenkins, the Grizzlies have the most on the line in the NBA playoffs, wrote Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

The Grizzlies (44-30) enter Monday night as the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference. They were as high as No. 2. But now, it seems, everything is up in the air.

Per Windhorst, two things have come into play for Memphis after firing Jenkins with less than 10 games to go.

“First, the Grizzlies are taking a risk by handing the team to interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, a high-intensity and system-devoted coach who has had success overseas but doesn’t have NBA playoff experience,” Windhorst wrote. “Leaning into this is fascinating and could be inspired by general manager Zach Kleiman, who believes in Iisalo’s high-tempo, high-movement offense that bucks NBA norms.

“In a month, perhaps the clarity from this move — Jenkins had been moving away from an aggressive offensive style in recent weeks as the Grizzlies floundered — propels Memphis into a postseason run.”

Yes, that’s just the first thing.

“Second, how do the team’s stars feel about this direction?” Windhorst asked. “This season, Ja Morant and Desmond Bane have had their minutes, shots and points decrease. The Grizzlies’ offensive efficiency has improved season over season.

“But questions regarding how Morant, who is eligible to sign a contract extension this summer, feels about the changes prompted some rumors about his future in Memphis and led Kleiman to rebuke that noise after the trade deadline in February.”

So, yeah, a lot is riding on Kleiman’s decision to axe Jenkins and start fresh at the strangest time to make such a move.

“The bottom line is the Grizzlies have underachieved,” Windhorst wrote. “They were the No. 2 seed in the West after great regular seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23 but failed to reach the conference finals, with Morant’s off-court issues undoubtedly contributing.

“Last season was derailed by unrelenting injuries and Morant’s suspension. Now, after being the No. 2 seed again in early February, the Grizzlies have been dropping in the standings and lost all momentum as the playoffs approach. At some point, they need to prove it when it matters.”