The Memphis Grizzlies are a fiery group. And apparently, those emotions spilled over into the locker room on Wednesday night after a tough loss to the Detroit Pistons, which was Memphis’ third straight defeat.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff tried his best to downplay the incident to reporters after the fact, characterizing it more as a conversation between two players that was somehow productive. The Athletic’s Shams Charania tweeted that it was veterans Garrett Temple and Omri Casspi who were involved in the scuffle, but Bickerstaff didn’t name any names initially.
The Memphis Grizzlies' emotional team meeting after loss to Detroit tonight turned physical in an altercation between veterans Garrett Temple and Omri Casspi in locker room, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @WatchStadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 3, 2019
Afterward, Marc Gasol told the media that he’d have to rethink his leadership style and assume a more hands-on approach, whereas he’s been more cautious in the past so as not to step on toes.
Marc Gasol says he is going to be "a lot more vocal" with his teammates now.
“I think it’s needed, and guys expect that. I’ve worked on not being that critical with my teammates, because in the past it creates some problems. But now it’s going to change a little bit.”
— David Cobb (@DavidWCobb) January 3, 2019
It’s been a rough stretch for the Grizzlies of late as they’ve lost eight of their last 10 games following a solid start to the season and have fallen below .500. Jaren Jackson Jr. continued his stellar rookie campaign with 26 points and 10 rebounds, but he didn’t get much help elsewhere.
Mike Conley, who has been fighting shoulder soreness, was held scoreless for the first time since December of 2015. Both Temple and Casspi are new to the team this season, and the Grizzlies are without the type of vocal leadership they’ve had in the past with veterans like Tony Allen, Zach Randolph, and even Vince Carter on the roster.
It remains to be seen what, if any, consequences await for Temple and Casspi for their part in the altercation or whether the team will opt to simply handle the matter internally.
