Injuries are haunting the Memphis Grizzlies again as they lose Mike Conley to a back injury in their loss to the Charlotte Hornets. Vince Carter also suffered an injury in that game and wasn't able to finish the game.
Mike Conley suffered fractures in his vertebrae on his back when he took an inadvertent knee from the Hornets' Frank Kaminsky. Conley took a charge from a driving Michale Kidd-Gilchrist and hit Kaminsky's knee as he was falling down. Mike Conley's injury is expected to make him miss at least six weeks and will be re-evaluated in four weeks. Carter traveled with the team to Toronto and is listed as day-to-day.
The Memphis Grizzlies were already without four of their regular rotation guys prior to the Hornets game: Brandan Wright (ankle), Chandler Parsons (knee), James Ennis (Calf) and Zach Randolph. Randolph is not injured but is still recovering from an emotional standpoint following the death of his mother on Thanksgiving Day.
Last year, the Grizzlies set an NBA record for most players played in a single season. They were forced to use 28 players and 18 different starting lineups because of injuries.
The Grizzlies are 11-7; that is a good start considering they are missing several key players. Their situation now is similar to last season where they grinded their way to the playoffs despite being ravaged by injuries.
With Mike Conley out, Troy Daniels, Andrew Harrison, and Wade Baldwin IV have to step up as they will share the ball handling responsibilities. This also puts more pressure on the Grizzlies offense as they will have to make up for the 19.2 points and 5.7 assists Conley was averaging.
The Grizzlies will be eligible for the NBA's hardship rule after their game against the Los Angeles Lakers on December 3. The hardship rule allows a team to add another roster spot if four or more players on the current roster miss at least three games.