Ja Morant’s Grizzlies Embracing ‘Trust and Care’ to Navigate Intense West Playoff Race

The injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies are showing signs of improvement under new head coach Tuomas Iisalo. Ja Morant has taken on the role of the league’s villain, celebrating with a fearless attitude, showing no concern for the opinions of others. NBA Sixth Man of the Year contender Santi Aldama shared with ClutchPoints that there’s a strong belief within the locker room that this team is ready for success before the NBA Playoffs start.

“I definitely feel like we’ve turned a corner,” Aldama said. “We’ve just got to go after the NBA Playoffs, but we’ve found something.”

The 24-year-old has been a significant contributor to the Grizzlies this season, averaging 12.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.3 steals/blocks while shooting 48.3% from the field, including 36.5% from three. Since Iisalo took over as head coach, Aldama’s stats have improved to 14.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals/blocks, shooting 47.6% from the field (35.7% from three) in the last four games.

This improvement in performance aligns with a renewed focus on rebounding, an area Aldama has prioritized under Iisalo’s direction. Under former coach Taylor Jenkins, Aldama averaged just 0.5 box outs per game. Now, he’s up to 1.7 box outs per game, reflecting an increased intensity and commitment to physicality on the boards.

“You’ve got to beat the best to be the best. That’s where we want to go,” Aldama declared. “Basketball is a game of runs, and we just have to stick to the plan. I think we understand where we need to improve. We just have to keep trusting each other and correcting the mistakes.”

Indeed, the Grizzlies have experienced significant shifts with Iisalo’s leadership. Aldama, however, remains optimistic about the team’s future.

“There have been a lot of changes, so there are things we have to adjust to,” Aldama admitted. “But as long as the trust and care factor remains, I believe we will figure it out. We’ll be fine.”

Memphis, now seen as a scrappy underdog rather than a true contender in the Western Conference, seems to be adapting well to Tuomas Iisalo’s system. With the playoffs approaching, Santi Aldama, Ja Morant, and the rest of the Grizzlies are focused on fine-tuning their play. If their recent form continues, this team could very well be on the verge of something special under their new head coach.