Playoff-bound teams rest players at the risk of losing games or even home-court advantage… as do lowly ones like Memphis, which rested 20-year-old rookie Ja Morant for a weekend home loss. I’ve got an idea! Play fewer games! Oh, right, that would mean less revenue and lower salaries. That’s one thing that unites owners and players: No one wants that.
Memphis Grizzlies Rumors
Andy Larsen: Interesting! Jazz/Grizzlies L2M report says that the Solomon Hill strip was a Correct No Call. “Hill (MEM) makes contact with the ball and incidental contact with Mitchell’s (UTA) hand that is considered part of the ball during his upward shooting motion.”
Eric Walden: Mike Conley: “It was a hard game to play, but it was special. A lot of emotions. Part of you is just soaking it all in, and another part is trying to focus on the game. I’m glad I got it over with. It was an amazing experience, but it would’ve been better if we’d won.” pic.twitter.com/u6Jj9QXr5H
On a night when Conley struggled for the Utah Jazz, making only 5 of his 19 shots from the floor, Morant starred. Morant, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft, had 25 points and eight assists in Memphis’ 107-106 victory, hitting a floater that put the Grizzlies up for good with 1 minute, 32 seconds remaining. Several of Conley’s former teammates lined up after the game to express their appreciation for him. Morant also shared a moment with Conley, whose 12-year run as the Grizzlies’ point guard essentially ended when Memphis got lucky enough to move up six spots in the lottery to land Morant and officially was over when the Jazz traded for him before free agency. “I just told him, ‘I love your game. Just keep working. You’re a special player. You’re going to be here a long time,'” Conley told ESPN.
Emiliano Carchia: Jarell Martin has signed with Shenzhen Leopards, a source told @Emiliano Carchia. Martin has played in the NBA with Memphis and Orlando
No, Conley never reached the mountain top that is an NBA championship. It’s one of the reasons the Grizzlies moved on from the era. But, you can’t mention the city of Memphis and not think of Conley and what he’s meant to a community for a generation. “It’s going to be tough because there are going to be so many emotions,” Conley told The Athletic. “And then, I’m going to have to find a way to try and play a basketball game.”
In the locker room, Conley was one of the best teammates in the league. A big reason why the Jazz were so successful in free agency — signing Bojan Bogdanovic, Jeff Green and Ed Davis — was because they all wanted to play with Conley. Green and Davis were teammates with Conley in Memphis. Bogdanovic wanted to play with a guy of Conley’s playmaking ability. “He taught us a lot,” Memphis small forward Dillon Brooks said. “He was quiet at first. But then, when you get to know him, he opens up to you. He taught us how to prepare for games, how to stretch. He told us every single game was a learning experience. He has so much knowledge from being in the league.”
