The Memphis Grizzlies (44-29) shocked the NBA world Friday by firing head coach Taylor Jenkins on the tail finish of the common season. In response to ESPN, the dismissal marked solely the second time in NBA historical past {that a} crew with a profitable report axed a head coach with lower than 10 video games left.
Whereas the abrupt choice caught analysts and followers off guard, the teaching shakeup was supposedly brewing for months. In response to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Grizzlies entrance workplace and Taylor Jenkins had been not on the identical web page, and even sure gamers had been sad with the longtime coach’s rules, particularly on offense.
“The Grizzlies felt that Taylor Jenkins had progressively misplaced the locker room,” Charania reported on ESPN’s “NBA Right this moment” on Friday. “Their play plateaued within the second half of this NBA season, from the attitude of how they performed towards groups over .500. They’d misplaced 9 consecutive video games by a mean of over 13 factors towards groups over .500.”
Memphis’ regression on protection greatest highlights its alarming report towards profitable groups lately. Jenkins’ crew ranked No. 7 on protection pre-All-Star break however has slipped to nineteenth for the reason that midseason break. In 19 video games for the reason that All-Star break, the Grizzlies have had a damaging internet ranking (-0.2) whereas giving up a whopping 116.4 factors per 100 possessions — markers of a mediocre crew.
The Grizzlies have named assistant Tuomas Iisalo the interim head coach for the season’s ultimate stretch. In response to a number of insiders, Lisalo plans to implement a brand new offensive philosophy involving fewer pick-and-rolls and extra uptempo basketball. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Friday that Jenkins most popular to stay to the normal route of placing the ball within the fingers of Ja Morant and Desmond Bane. Nonetheless, the Grizzlies’ entrance workplace felt the offensive system wanted to alter, propelling them to interchange Jenkins with Lisalo.
Below Lisalo, the new-look Grizzlies will face the Lakers on Saturday in a crucial matchup with potential playoff implications. The groups are in a good battle for the fourth and fifth seeds.
