Ja Morant has been deemed as a frontrunner after his refusal to speak openly with the NBA media following the Grizzlies’ Game 4 defeat.
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The Memphis Grizzlies were able to snag the no. 2 seed in a very competitive Western Conference. Their tale of misfortune began, however, in late January.
Steven Adams was ruled out with a long-term injury, and Brandon Clarke joined him on the treatment table too. Shorn of their strength in big man depth, their record fell off significantly by the end of the season.
More misfortune awaited their fans as Ja found himself suspended because of his gun-wielding actions in Colorado in March. Morant missed 8 games in a spell that most fans believe took the wind out of Memphis’ sails.
Right now, the team looks down and out in a contest that they could’ve had the upper hand in. Morant, who claimed that he was ‘fine in the West’ in January, is now close to eating crow for that statement.
Ja Morant’s leadership ability questioned by ESPN pundit
Tim MacMahon of the Hoop Collective podcast had some scathing comments to make about Morant’s leadership abilities this year. According to the ESPN writer, the 23-year-old has a lot of growing up to do:
“The biggest mistake I’ve made about Ja’s career is when I compared him to Damian Lillard as a leader. Ja is not that. He’s not a grown up yet. He’s a front-runner right now. He’s not accountable. He’s got to look into the mirror and ask himself who am I?”
Compared to a leader and a model franchise player like Damian Lillard, Morant truly has a long way to go. But is it a fair comparison to make at this stage of his career? Ja is still playing out his rookie contract – although he does become eligible for a supermax extension next year.
The prospects look bleak for Morant’s Grizzlies against LeBron’s Lakers in Game 5
By himself, LeBron has got more playoff experience under his belt than the entire Grizzlies squad. The last 3 times James was in the Western Conference playoffs with a 3-1 lead, he took care of business deftly.
The Lakers will be on the road tonight, against a spirited Memphis crowd witnessing likely their last game of the year. They can expect some fire and energy from the beginning.
But with the biggest star in basketball still carrying them when needed, Lakers Nation should feel upbeat about their chances of finishing the series tonight.
