The Memphis Grizzlies were once the number one team in the Western Conference. That was so very long ago.
Now Memphis is struggling to stay within earshot of the eighth seed out west, and it appears they will need to battle on without starting small forward Kyle Anderson.
The team announced on Sunday that Anderson, who has been a major contributor for the Grizzlies this year, will be out two-to-four weeks after suffering an ankle sprain agains the Miami Heat on Saturday.
While Anderson has not played up to his previous high-water mark set last season with the San Antonio Spurs, he has still been a net-positive for the Grizzlies and played above replacement level.
Anderson's injury is a real blow to Memphis' depth. His backup at small forward would be Dillon Brooks if it weren't for the Oregon product's toe surgery.
It's possible the Grizzlies bring in another player, or shift around some of their existing forward lineups. For now it seems as though Omri Casspi taking on a more significant load at SF is the most likely outcome.