The Memphis Grizzlies came into the NBA Playoffs as a trendy pick to make a run to the NBA Finals. However, that was always presumed on the notion that superstar Ja Morant would be there to power them into a deep run.
That appears to no longer be possible as the Grizzles have officially listed Morant as “doubtful” for the remainder of the playoffs following a knee injury suffered in Game 3 of their series against the Golden State Warriors.
An MRI revealed that Morant is dealing with a bone bruise. The Grizzlies anticipate that he will make a full recovery from the injury. That’s a small consolation at the moment as Memphis clings to life in the playoffs, trailing the Warriors 3-1 and on the verge of elimination. Morant missed Game 4, which the Warriors won 101-98.
Against the Warriors, Morant was averaging 38.3 points, 8.3 assists, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.0 steals per game.
Grizzlies fans are likely going to hold a grudge against Jordan Poole, who was involved in a play that potentially re-aggravated Morant’s problem knee. He limped off the court following the play, in which Poole grabbed his knee, though the Warriors guard said afterward it was a “basketball play” and he was going for the ball.
After the game, Morant briefly tweeted the phrase “broke the code,” a reference to a comment by Warriors coach Steve Kerr after Memphis’s Dillon Brooks committed a hard foul in Game 2 that sidelined Gary Payton II. He quickly deleted it but both teams discussed the play from their own vantage points afterward. The NBA declined to punish Brooks over the play.
It’s hard to imagine the Grizzlies can come back and defeat the Warriors, let alone advance to the NBA Finals. So it’s likely to be an offseason of “what could have been.” In the meantime, there were plenty of strong reactions to the news that Morant’s season is effectively over.
Devastating. Ja Morant was *the* story heading into the playoffs.
Memphis has obviously proven they can win without him, but this is against Draymond, Steph & Klay.
In the playoffs.
Bad, bad news. https://t.co/YN4e9SRv4I
— Ryan McKinnell (@RyanMcKinnell) May 10, 2022
Damn! Well hope Ja makes a full recovery for next season https://t.co/Vhmj535iB2
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) May 10, 2022