Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
The Memphis Grizzlies have been playing basketball all season without their second-best player. It’s been hard to watch at times, but generally speaking, this team has exceeded expectations.
There have been a ton of positive takeaways in JJJ’s absence. Most notably, we’ve seen some young players receive playing time who would not have had room on this roster in the past.
We’ve also seen this team build an identity, even without Jackson in the lineup. It’s been clear that this squad is full of guys who can step up when this team needs them.