The Memphis Grizzlies had plenty of concerns after Ja Morant’s wee-hours decision-making at Shotgun Willie’s ignited a firestorm of controversy that resulted in a nine-game hiatus. Most of them, understandably, focused on the future, centering on the longterm well-being of the face of their franchise — the player to whom they’d just committed what could be nearly a quarter-billion dollars over the next five years to serve as their standard-bearer.
But there was also a pretty pressing immediate issue: How exactly was a Memphis team that ranked just 22nd in half-court offensive efficiency, 24th in team 3-point accuracy and 28th in field-goal percentage at the rim supposed to generate offense without its leading scorer and table-setter?