Ja Morant Reveals How Off-Court Issues Affected Team’s Performance
Memphis Grizzlies All-Star guard Ja Morant has taken responsibility for the team’s early exit from the Western Conference playoffs, stating that his off-the-court issues had an impact on the team’s performance throughout the season (Bleacher Report). Following a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Morant expressed disappointment over the Grizzlies’ elimination from the NBA playoffs in round one (Hindustan Times).
The team, which had expected to seriously compete for the championship this season, was knocked out after just six playoff games (CBS Sports). One of the Grizzlies’ major late-season issues stemmed from bad luck, while the other was correctable and within their control (The Athletic). Morant’s off-court issues significantly affected the organization, leading to a wake-up call for the team during the playoffs (The Athletic).
Despite his hand injury, Morant has continued to showcase his determination on the court, attacking the basket with reckless abandon against the Lakers (Basketball Network). However, after the Lakers’ victory over the Grizzlies on Friday night, Morant’s past comments about being “fine in the West” resurfaced on NBA Twitter (Lakers Daily). This led to a renewed focus on Morant’s performance and potential lessons to be learned moving forward.
In the wake of the Grizzlies’ elimination from the playoffs, the question now becomes whether Memphis has the right core around Morant to win it all down the line (Sporting News). As the team prepares for the future, they will need to learn from their mistakes in the 2023 NBA Playoffs to ensure a more successful run next season.
