MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Grizzlies normal supervisor Zach Kleiman took possession Saturday for the shock dismissal of coach Taylor Jenkins, however didn’t supply readability on the motivations behind the choice.
In his first public feedback since firing Jenkins on Friday with simply 9 video games left within the common season, Kleiman stated a number of instances that the choice was “mine and mine solely” and that he didn’t seek the advice of the Grizzlies gamers earlier than making his resolution. Kleiman stated the choice was “in one of the best curiosity of the staff.”
“Urgency is a core precept of ours,” stated Kleiman, who spoke for lower than three minutes. “So, (I) determined to go on with the transfer.”
Memphis holds a 44-29 file heading into an important three-game homestand, which begins with a recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers, a fellow Western Convention contender with the identical file, on Saturday night time. Nonetheless, the Grizzlies have dipped within the standings in current weeks after going 2-5 of their final seven video games and 8-11 because the All-Star break. They enter Saturday’s play two video games forward of the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors. In the event that they fall behind each groups, they must undergo no less than one Play-In recreation to make the playoffs. Solely one of many Grizzlies’ remaining video games is in opposition to a staff assured to fall in need of the Play-In.
Regardless of their total file, the struggles lengthen past the previous couple of weeks, too. Memphis has misplaced 9 consecutive video games in opposition to groups with a file of .500 or higher and ranks twentieth in protection because the begin of January.
With the playoffs just a few weeks away, Kleiman determined it was time to make a transfer.
As reported by The Athletic, the Grizzlies have struggled to put in a brand new offense this season. There have been rumblings that Grizzlies star Ja Morant hasn’t at all times been pleased with the brand new scheme that always requires him to play with out the ball as an alternative of leaning on the heavy pick-and-roll schemes that helped him develop into a two-time All-Star.
Kleiman downplayed Morant’s function in Jenkins’ firing and, as soon as once more, emphasised that the choice was one he made on his personal.
“I’m centered on how we function. I’m answerable for all the pieces. I’m answerable for teaching. I’m answerable for the roster. I’m not attempting to absolve myself of something. I’m excited to see what this staff can do the remainder of the best way,” Kleiman stated. “That is the conclusion I got here to that that is in one of the best curiosity of the staff and we push ahead with this group.”
The Grizzlies additionally introduced Friday that assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo will take over as interim head coach. Kleiman declined to reply a query about Iisalo’s possibilities of eradicating the interim tag based mostly on his efficiency the remainder of this season, however he did say he’s excited to see how Iisalo can get essentially the most out of this group.
“There’s lifelike expectations. There’s not going to be time to put in a bunch of issues this time of yr,” Kleiman stated. “My expectations are readability of route and we’ll see what we are able to do. We’ll see what we are able to execute.”
(Photograph: Petre Thomas / Imagn Photographs)
