LOS ANGELES — Injuries have hit the Memphis Grizzlies all throughout the season, and the latest example is guard Luke Kennard.
The Grizzlies sharpshooter is listed as questionable heading into Game 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Friday (9:30 p.m., ESPN) due to left shoulder soreness. The Lakers lead the Western Conference first-round series 3-2.
On Thursday, Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said Kennard’s status may not be revealed until close to gametime, which means Memphis is preparing to use several players if Kennard can’t play.
“I think mobility is fine and stuff,” Jenkins said of Kennard. “He was feeling good. It’s just general soreness he’s dealing with. Obviously it’s in his shooting arm.”
Before Kennard’ injury, he seemed to be cutting into Dillon Brooks’ minutes, too, so now Memphis may need Brooks to break out of his playoff shooting slump. Brooks said he will keep shooting, but he has made an effort to get downhill more as a playmaker.
OFF NIGHT: LeBron James used a 4-letter word to sum up his Game 5 performance vs. Memphis Grizzlies
GIANNOTTO: Ja Morant, Grizzlies earn another shot to silence their critics vs. Lakers | Giannotto
LINEUP DECISIONS: Memphis Grizzlies better without Dillon Brooks in Game 5. Should he start vs Lakers in Game 6?
Impact of Luke Kennard’s pending availability
Even though Kennard’s stats aren’t as eye-popping as the regular season, his impact numbers have led to the Grizzlies being successful when he’s on the floor. The Lakers are saying attached to Kennard behind the 3-point line, and that’s creating opportunities for teammates.
In Game 5, Kennard was a team-high plus-26 in 17 minutes, 39 seconds. Some of those minutes came as the Grizzlies unveiled a small-ball lineup pairing that will likely still be featured whether Kennard plays or not. Jenkins mentioned John Konchar, Tyus Jones, David Roddy and Ziaire Williams among the players who could get playing time in those lineups without Kennard.
“Guys that are willing to play with pace, move the ball, be willing to shoot it as well; those are multiple guys that we have talked about,” Jenkins said. “… It’s pretty much all hands on deck. If we get the news that (Kennard) is out , and my gut is that it’s going to be right up to gametime, so I know we’ve had internal dialogues on, we’re going to have to make a decision on one or two guys that are going to have to step into that role.”
What to do with Dillon Brooks
Memphis isn’t used to Brooks being guarded like this. There were moments throughout the season when opposing teams would sag off of Brooks, but the Lakers have left the Grizzlies forward wide open and limited the spacing Memphis gets in those lineups.
Jenkins said that Brooks has been vocal about other ways he can get himself involved in the offensive gameplan, and the team plans to be ready if the Lakers continue to sag off and leave Brooks open.
“One of our counters is using him as a screener in single actions, double actions, depending on who is matched up with him,” Jenkins said. “I think he’s doing a really good job of that and sacrificing in that area.”
The little things
Winning on the road will likely come down to the smallest details. Jenkins mentioned how the Grizzlies can’t have wasted possessions on offense. Quick and bad shots have sometimes fed the Lakers’ transition offense and created easy points.
Another way the Grizzlies can keep the Lakers out of transition is with how they compose themselves. There have been moments throughout the series where Grizzlies players will celebrate a basket or complain about a call, and those moments have led to easy Lakers transition baskets.
“Those are the things that get magnified,” Jenkins said. “That’s exactly what I’ve been hitting the guys with before we even knew our opponent, when we knew our opponent, game to game, it’s always the small things that matter,” Jenkins said. “… If we’re going to find our best 48 minutes of basketball, yes there is execution, there’s discipline, selfishness and all that stuff. It’s truly the mentality of embracing one possession at a time.”
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Luke Kennard injury update for Memphis Grizzlies vs Lakers in Game 6