Analysis: This is how Taylor Jenkins' farewell from Memphis Grizzlies has been developed
One of the most surprising decisions in recent years, even though the team, truth be told, was destined to fail in the playoffs.
After a challenging 2023-24 season, the Memphis Grizzlies decided to revamp assistant coach staff under Taylor Jenkins, retaining only two members. Promotions and external hires were made with the goal of strengthening player development, improving half-court offense — which had been a problem in the playoffs two years ago — and getting closer to the championship objective.
The team showed signs of improvement at the start of the season, albeit facing one of the most accessible schedules in the NBA. However, as the difficulty of opponents increased, weaknesses were exposed. Ja Morant, the supposed superstar despite his gun issues, has not fully settled in this year. Despite the good initial results, the feelings were strange.
Frustration reached its peak after Memphis lost four of the last five games on their West Coast tour. Faced with this situation, on Friday it was announced to Jenkins that, after six seasons at the helm, he was leaving the team.
Several players were surprised by the decision, as reported by a source to The Commercial Appeal. Jenkins leaves as the coach with the most victories in franchise history, surpassing Lionel Hollins in November. Up until Friday, the Grizzlies held the fifth spot in the Western Conference, with nine games remaining before the playoffs begin.
During Jenkins' tenure, Memphis managed to be the second-best team in the West in the regular season twice, but only secured one playoff series win in those two years.
As the season progressed, the numbers pointed towards an early elimination. The team had an 11-20 record against opponents with a positive record, the worst winning percentage among the top nine teams in the conference. After the All-Star break, the issues intensified. With a 44-29 record in the season, the team went 8-11 in that stretch, falling from the second to the fifth spot in the West.
The Grizzlies have one of the youngest rosters in the league, trailing only the Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder among playoff-contending teams. To balance the lack of experience, the team added veterans Derrick Rose and Marcus Smart before the 2023-24 season. However, Rose retired at the end of the season, and Smart was traded in February after playing just 19 games due to injuries.
The organization identified Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. as the new team leaders, but it became clear that it would be necessary to rely even more on the young players. One of them, center Zach Edey, was selected in the first round of the 2024 Draft with the expectation of making a difference with his ability to set screens, protect the rim, and contribute offensively. Although Edey has stated that pick-and-roll is his "favorite offensive type," the Grizzlies have reduced the use of that strategy compared to previous seasons.
When Edey was chosen, general manager Zach Kleiman mentioned that the intention was to punish teams opting for small lineups instead of adapting the game to match their style. However, the way Jenkins utilized the 2.24-meter rookie suggests the opposite. Edey has started in 47 of the 58 games he has played, but in the last three matches, he came off the bench.
A league source cited by The Commercial Appeal stated, "Zach (Kleiman) blamed Taylor. Taylor blamed Zach. No one takes responsibility for absolutely anything."
Morant's injuries have also affected the team. Memphis has a record of 16-14 without him and 28-15 when he plays. After the March 5 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Morant, visibly upset, commented that he should not have played. It is unclear whether he insisted on playing or if the decision was made by the team, but multiple sources have mentioned his frustration this season. Another source suggested that the team pressured him to play when he was not ready.
Jenkins and the organization identified half-court offense as the main weakness in recent years. Memphis has struggled in the playoffs when fast break opportunities decrease and execution in the final minutes becomes crucial.
Therefore, last summer, the coaching staff was revamped with the arrival of assistants like Tuomas Iisalo and Noah LaRoche, among others, with the intention of bringing new ideas. The team drastically changed its offensive approach, achieving greater efficiency in the half-court, albeit without solidifying themselves as one of the league's best offenses.
Defense had been the team's cornerstone under Jenkins' leadership, but this also changed in the last two months. Before the All-Star break, the Grizzlies had a defensive rating of 110.9. In the following 19 games, that number increased to 118.9, showing a drop in performance.
All of this has led to his dismissal at the beginning of a possible rebuild, which could involve the departure of Ja Morant next summer. Step by step...
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