Five road wins have turned the coverage toward Memphis, and it breaks into four threads: Cameron Boozer, Ty Jerome's future, Ja Morant's hamstring and a Sacramento team in trouble. The record carries some of it cleanly, and some of it is still other outlets' reporting and nothing more.
How are the Grizzlies 5-0, according to the people covering them?
The Athletic credits hustle, muscle and Boozer, and the record backs all three. Memphis carries a 104.9 defensive rating through five games, a long way from a defense that ranked 27th a year ago. ESPN and The Athletic both covered his first career triple-double in Portland: 18 points, 12 assists and 12 boards. The Athletic added that only one younger player has ever done it. He has started all five games and averages 32.1 minutes.
Is Ty Jerome a keeper or a trade chip?
Chris Herrington of the Daily Memphian wrote that Jerome's future here raises plenty of questions, starting with whether Memphis can keep him, but that none of them is pressing. The production is loud: 25.8 a game, 31 in the win at Sacramento, and a share of the league's Player of the Week honor, per Hoops Rumors. He makes $9.2M and shook off a back issue this week. No trade report names him.
How bad is Ja Morant's hamstring, and does it change anything here?
Per ESPN, Morant left Wednesday's meeting in Portland with a hamstring injury after 23 minutes and 14 points on 6-of-14 shooting. No severity or timeline has been given. Beforehand, The Athletic had him calling himself not a big grudge guy. Memphis got Jerami Grant in that deal, with Kris Murray coming along too, and won by 21 that night. The trade is already paying off on the scoreboard.
Is Sacramento as shaky as it looks?
The Athletic is writing about a hot seat in Sacramento, and the standings explain why: 0-5 under Doug Christie, with a minus-15.7 net rating. Keegan Murray, Ben Simmons, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell are all out. Memphis already beat them 123-112 on their floor. The threats are Zach LaVine at 26 a game and Domantas Sabonis at 16.2 boards. Quinten Post's right ankle has him day-to-day, with a return targeted for this game.
Did Cameron Boozer get a triple-double against Portland?
Yes. He had 18 points, 12 assists and 12 boards in the 124-103 win at Portland, the first triple-double of his career.
Is Quinten Post playing against the Kings?
He is day-to-day with a right ankle issue. His estimated return is the Kings game at home.
