{"id":2128851,"date":"2023-12-19T11:21:03","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T16:21:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ja-morant-set-for-season-debut-as-grizzlies-face-pelicans\/"},"modified":"2023-12-19T11:22:02","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T16:22:02","slug":"ja-morant-set-for-season-debut-as-grizzlies-face-pelicans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ja-morant-set-for-season-debut-as-grizzlies-face-pelicans\/","title":{"rendered":"Ja Morant to make season debut against Pelicans as Grizzlies take the court"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fja-morant-set-for-season-debut-as-grizzlies-face-pelicans%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2128851&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><strong>December 18, 2023 \u2013\u200b 11:36 PM\u2062 PST<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Tuesday matchup between the visiting Memphis Grizzlies and the New \u200cOrleans Pelicans might appear to be another normal contest on the busy NBA schedule.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-3\" style=\"min-width: 320px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center;\">  \t<script>  \t\tgoogletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1663871513696-art-3'); });  \t<\/script>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"ad-slot__ad-label\">Advertisement<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<p><strong>For Memphis, the \u200bgame is anything but ordinary. With star Ja Morant set to make his much-anticipated season debut, the Grizzlies are hoping the matchup marks the\u2063 start of a concerted playoff push.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Memphis has struggled \u2064mightily without \u2064Morant, who received a 25-game suspension after he held a gun during a livestream video last year. The NBA ruled that his actions were detrimental to the league and announced the punishment.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Grizzlies lost their fifth straight and fell\u2062 to 6-19 with a 116-97 road defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.\u200c After\u2062 averaging 35.7 points in his three previous games, Memphis forward Jaren Jackson Jr.\u200b was held to 11 in the loss.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Morant was permitted to \u200dpractice with the Grizzlies during his suspension and appears ready to make an immediate impact.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cI\u2019m proud of him, what he\u2019s\u200b been able to do,\u201d injured Memphis guard Derrick Rose said. \u201cThe work he\u2019s put in \u200cand his mindset have been straight. He\u2019s been the first one in here, he\u2019s\u200c been staying late.\u2064 He\u2019s been helping younger guys, being\u2063 a \u2063leader and a positive voice throughout this (process).\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>In addition to Morant, the Grizzlies could have both Marcus Smart (sprained left\u200b foot) and\u200c Rose (left hamstring tightness) available within the next two weeks.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>All eyes will be on Morant on Tuesday, but the two-time All-Star said he is just looking\u200b forward to joining teammates on the \u2063court again.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cI\u200d take it day by day,\u201d Morant said. \u201cJust having our focus on the now. (Desmond \u200dBane and Jackson) are playing at an All-Star \u2064level, All-NBA level. When I come \u200dback, hopefully, it stays the same and makes \u2064their job easier.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Morant and the Grizzlies will be tested by the resurgent Pelicans,\u2062 who have won four straight since losing by 44 points to the Los Angeles Lakers.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cIt\u2019s a blessing to\u200b have a group \u2063of guys who care,\u201d\u2062 New Orleans coach Willie Green said. \u201cWe are going to go through highs and lows throughout the course of the season. These guys care. They care about \u200deach other. Guys have responded. \u2063We want to continue to have that resiliency throughout the course of the season.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>New\u200b Orleans\u200c set a \u200bfranchise record\u2064 with 22 3-pointers in a 146-110 rout \u200bof the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday. CJ McCollum scored 29 points in \u200cthe victory, Brandon Ingram added 26 points\u200b and Jonas Valanciunas registered 15 points and \u200c15 rebounds.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zion Williamson is\u2062 averaging 22.5 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Pelicans, who led by as many as 40 against San Antonio.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cThe guys are buying into what we are asking them \u200bto do,\u201d Green said. \u201cWe\u2062 are staying with it. We \u2062are \u2063trusting it.\u200b We are\u200b showing them the pictures when we watch film. We are getting on the floor and going over it again and\u2062 again. Expressing to them how important it is to play with force,\u200d play with pace. Continue to share\u200b the ball. Just make \u2062the simple plays over and over again.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Grizzlies and \u2062Pelicans are meeting for the first time since New Orleans\u2063 posted\u200b a 111-104 victory in\u2063 the season opener at Memphis on Oct. 25. McCollum paced the Pelicans with\u200c 24 points, while Bane led the Grizzlies with 31 points. The teams will face off again on Dec. 26\u2063 in New Orleans.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2013Field Level Media<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"rc-widget-10bad2\" data-rc-widget data-widget-host=\"habitat\" data-endpoint=\"\/\/trends.revcontent.com\" data-widget-id=\"278641\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"dpsp-share-text\" style=\"margin-bottom:10px\"> \t\t<strong>Share this post!<\/strong>\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><strong>Ashley Biden owes back taxes, Jonathon Majors is found guilty and John Fetterman wants\u200c US Steel to\u2063 stay American.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><strong>Former National Security\u2064 Council Special Advisor Kash Patel tells One America News that President Joe Biden\u2019s foreign policy \u2062is\u2064 making it dangerous for Americans to travel outside the country.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><strong>There\u200c are eight American hostages still in the grasp of \u2063Hamas terrorists. While President Joe Biden met with members of their families this week, the U.S. \u2062is no\u2063 closer \u200dto bringing them home safely.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><strong>There \u2063seems to be a war on cattle in\u2063 D.C. From the supposed climate crisis linked to the production of\u200b beef, to congress taking a second look at whole milk\u2019s place in school cafeterias.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><strong>Google will pay $700 million and revamp its Play app store to allow for greater competition as part of an antitrust settlement with U.S. states and consumers.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><strong>Apple said it would pause\u200d sales of the smartwatches as it deals with\u200b a patent dispute \u2063over \u200bthe technology that enables the\u200c blood\u2062 oxygen feature on the devices.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><strong>The SEC denied a petition by \u200bthe\u200c country\u2019s largest\u200c crypto exchange \u2063Coinbase Global asking the agency to \u2062create new rules for the \u2063digital asset industry.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p><strong>OpenAI CEO \u200bSam Altman has doubled down on\u200c his vision for Worldcoin, following reports the company was seeking $50 million in funding.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> rnrn  <\/p>\n<h2> How has Ja Morant&#8217;s absence affected the Memphis Grizzlies&#8217; performance this \u2064season?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Formal Article:<\/p>\n<p>Title: Memphis Grizzlies\u200d Prepares for Ja Morant&#8217;s Highly-Anticipated Season Debut<\/p>\n<p>Date: December\u200d 18, 2023<\/p>\n<p>The Tuesday matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and the New Orleans Pelicans\u200c may \u2062seem like just another game on the \u2064packed NBA schedule. However, for the Grizzlies, this game holds special significance as their star player Ja Morant is set to make his much-anticipated season debut. With Morant&#8217;s return, the Grizzlies hope to kickstart their playoff push after struggling without him.<\/p>\n<p>Memphis \u200bhas faced significant \u200cchallenges in Morant&#8217;s absence. Last year, Morant received a 25-game suspension after holding \u2064a gun during a livestream video. The NBA ruled that his actions \u200cwere detrimental to \u200cthe league and handed down the \u2062punishment. The Grizzlies have suffered greatly without Morant, currently holding a \u200b6-19 record and losing\u200d their fifth straight game to the Oklahoma City Thunder.<\/p>\n<p>In Morant&#8217;s absence, forward Jaren Jackson Jr. saw \u2064a decline in his performance, scoring only 11 points in the recent loss. However, Morant was permitted to\u2064 practice with the Grizzlies during his suspension and looks ready to make an immediate impact on the court.<\/p>\n<p>Teammate Derrick Rose expressed his\u2062 pride in Morant&#8217;s dedication and work ethic during his suspension. He commended Morant for being the first one in the gym and staying \u2063late, as well as for his leadership and positive attitude towards the younger players.<\/p>\n<p>In\u200d addition\u200b to Morant, the Grizzlies could potentially have \u200cboth Marcus\u2062 Smart and Derrick Rose back in the lineup within the \u2062next two weeks. This \u200bwill undoubtedly bolster the team&#8217;s chances \u200dof turning their season \u2064around.<\/p>\n<p>All eyes will be on \u200dMorant \u200bas he returns to action on Tuesday, but the two-time All-Star brushes off the attention, stating that he \u2064is simply looking forward to rejoining his teammates on the court. He acknowledges the stellar performances of Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr., hoping that upon his return, their success continues and makes their job easier.<\/p>\n<p>However, the\u2062 Grizzlies will face a tough challenge from the resurgent Pelicans, who\u200d have won four straight games \u200csince a crushing defeat against the Los \u2062Angeles Lakers. New Orleans coach Willie Green praises his team&#8217;s resilience and emphasizes the \u2063importance of playing with force and \u200cpace, \u2062as well \u2064as\u200c sharing the ball.<\/p>\n<p>The Pelicans&#8217; recent victory against the San Antonio Spurs saw them set a franchise record of 22 three-pointers. CJ \u2062McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and Jonas\u200d Valanciunas delivered strong performances in the game, and Zion Williamson continues to \u2063be a key player for the team, averaging 22.5 points and \u200d5.9 rebounds.<\/p>\n<p>The Grizzlies and Pelicans last met in \u2064the season opener, with New Orleans emerging\u200d victorious. McCollum led the Pelicans with 24\u2064 points, while Bane stood out for the Grizzlies with 31 points. The teams are set to face each other again on December 26 in New Orleans.<\/p>\n<p>As the anticipation builds for \u2063Morant&#8217;s \u2064return, the Grizzlies look to reverse their \u200dfortunes and \u200dmake a playoff push with their star player back in action. The upcoming game against the Pelicans will undoubtedly be \u2062a test for both teams, \u2064with playoff aspirations on the line.<\/p>\n<p>-\u2063 Field Level Media<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>December 18, 2023 \u2013 11:36 PM PST: The Memphis Grizzlies face the New Orleans Pelicans in a seemingly regular NBA game. However, it holds great significance for Memphis as their star player, Ja Morant, is making his highly anticipated season debut<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1911,"featured_media":2128852,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[542],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2128851","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-oann"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2128851","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1911"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2128851"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2128851\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2128852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2128851"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2128851"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2128851"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}