The FedExForum was starting to seriously heat up when it saw Desmond Bane convert his winning shot to bring the Grizzlies within four points of the Mavs, with five minutes remaining. Unfortunately for the locals, Luka Doncic, whose team had a 17-point lead earlier in the quarter, still had a “stepback” on hand to calm Memphis down.
Dallas left Tennessee with a third victory in as many games, while the Grizzlies remained without success after four games. “ We need to take shots at the end of the game and be a little more focused on defense “, demands at the end of the meeting Marcus Smartwhose team is one of only two to have not yet won this season, with the Rockets.
“ I thought our offensive execution was up to par for most of the game. At the end of the match, that’s where it starts with me. We need to be better organized », Recognizes Taylor Jenkins, who also struggled to find a solution against the long distance address of the Texans (23/47).
His Grizzlies lost once again at home after losing their first two games there, against the Pelicans (104-111) and the reigning champions, the Nuggets (104-108). More alarming, however, was this defeat on the floor of the weak Wizards (113-106).
A workforce that is looking for itself
Recovered this summer, former Celtics player Marcus Smart considers this false start “ is part of learning, starting something new for everyone. We’ve been there (the ends of matches poorly negotiated), in every match, we’ve been there, so we have to keep moving forward, the tide will eventually turn. We know it’s a series game, we’ll make ours. »
This positive dynamic could start this week. The Grizzlies certainly leave their Forum for a sequence of three away games, but face two opponents within their reach, the Jazz then the Blazers twice.
“ We cannot see everything in black or see everything in white. The season is long, we must stay the course. Sometimes we make the right choices and efforts but it doesn’t work. We must not be discouraged. We have a lot, a lot of talent on this team, things will fall into place », promises the former best defender of the year, aware that certain members of the current squad “ probably didn’t imagine they’d be here this season “.
“ We might end up at 78-4, who knows?! »
Because there are many absentees. While Ja Morant is serving his suspension, Luke Kennard is in the infirmary (concussion) while the racket is devastated with more or less serious injuries (Steven Adams, Brandon Clarke, Santi Aldama). Result: the current five is very mobilized: all the starters play on average at least 30 minutes. This night, Taylor Jenkins relied on an eight-man rotation.
“ We are 0-4 but there are still 78 games left. We might end up at 78-4, who knows?! It’s so early in the season, we’re working on new offensive principles, we’re looking for chemistry with our new teammates, we have guys working to get back in shape, we’re working on a lot of things at the moment “, lists Desmond Bane.
The latter reminds us that the Grizzlies have already had bad times in the past. “ We’ve lost seven, eight in a row… but never at the start of the season so it doesn’t get a lot of attention. We’ve been through similar situations, we’ve always found a way to get through them, and become better because of it. Adversity, when you’re in it, always seems like a bad thing, but you get stronger », assures the team’s top scorer (25.5 points).
Challenges like this? Marcus Smart love “, he said smiling, before adding: “ I have faced challenges my whole life, growing up. I have never encountered an obstacle that I could not overcome. It will only make us better. We need to go through this adversity. This will help us in the long term. »
