It’s been a rough season so far for Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins.
The Grizzlies opened with six straight losses, and entered Friday’s game at American Airlines Center against the Mavericks with losses in four of their previous five games.
A slew of injuries to key players, coupled with a 25-game suspension to guard Ja Morant, has handcuffed the Grizzlies. But Jenkins, who was born in Arlington and graduated from St. Mark’s School of Texas in Dallas, has tried to maintain a positive approach with his players during a record that is 5-13 after Friday’s 108-94 victory over the Luka Doncic-less Mavs.
“It’s definitely a balancing act between the positive approach, but then the real honest talk as well,” Jenkins said. “It’s never going to be perfect day-to-day.
“You’ve just got to kind of read the room and see what the team needs, what buttons you’ve got to push. But it’s also what buttons our teammates got to push on each other, too.”
The Grizzlies pushed all of the necessary buttons on Friday in tripping up the Mavs. Coupled with Wednesday’s 105-91 victory over the Utah Jazz, the Grizzlies have now won two games in a row for the first time this season.
“But the big thing is just staying consistent in our approach every single day,” Jenkins said. “We know what our standard is — whether it’s through practice, through film. It’s something that I got to do in the game. It’s my voice. It’s the player’s voices.
“You’ve got to go about it different ways as you’ve faced your struggles. I always say our guys’ spirit has been great. Obviously, after some disappointing losses you feel crushed and you want to continue to get out of that hole and all that stuff. But our guys have come in with the right mentality and whatever buttons we’re pushing, they’re responding.”
BRIEFLY: Mavs guard Luka Doncic and his fiancée, Anamaria Goltes, have welcomed a baby girl (Gabriela) into the world. The couple made the joint announcement Friday on Instagram. Doncic sat out Friday’s game against Memphis, and before the game, coach Jason Kidd said he didn’t want his players to change anything because of the absence of his four-time All-Star. “Just stay in your role,” Kidd said. “Just do what you’ve been doing. No one can do Luka. There’s only one Luka.” Kidd is unsure if Doncic will play in Saturday’s game against Oklahoma City. “We don’t know what tomorrow brings,” Kidd said. “So, we’ll see.” In addition to Doncic, guards Tim Hardaway Jr. (back spasms) and Dante Exum (personal reasons), and forward Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation) also sat out Friday’s game. . .Rarely do the Mavs play home and home back-to-back games. But that’s what they’re in the middle of right now. After playing Memphis on Friday, the Mavs will host Oklahoma City on Saturday at 8 p.m. Asked what he likes about home and home back-to-backs, coach Jason Kidd said: “The schedule, I guess, that we don’t have to travel. I guess that’s the big thing. That’s what’s on the schedule and we’ve got to play it. I guess it’s cool that the back-to backs are at home.”. .When asked about second-year guard Jaden Hardy, Kidd said: “Right now with the depth of our team he doesn’t get that consistent minutes or a lot of minutes just because of health,” Kidd said. “But right now it looks like this week we’re going to have a health situation, so he’s going to get a lot of minutes and hopefully he can improve in that area.”. .Former Mavs assistant coach Kristi Toliver has been hired as an associate head coach of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. “That’s awesome,” Mavs coach Jason Kidd said. “With her being here and now going to Phoenix, I think that’s a great opportunity. Her basketball IQ is off the charts, so they’re getting a really good coach.” Toliver was an assistant coach with the Mavs the past two seasons. . .A fan won 100,000 miles on American Airlines after he dramatically buried a halfcourt shot between the third and fourth quarters.
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