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Injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies set record for most used starting lineups in one season
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- Injury-riddled Memphis Grizzlies set record for most used starting lineups in one season
It has been another record-setting season for the Memphis Grizzlies. This time, the records aren't the ones teams tend to celebrate.
The Grizzlies unveiled their 50th starting lineup combination of the season in Tuesday's 102-87 loss to the San Antonio Spurs . That is the most lineups used in NBA history over one season since the league began tracking them in 1970-71, per ESPN Stats & Info.
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"It's a crazy stat," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said. "Moving forward, hopefully this isn't the case next year."
Memphis has been scrambling for lineups since the first game of the season. Projected starting center Steven Adams ' return was halted in the preseason due to needing surgery on his knee. Ja Morant was also suspended 25 games. Morant went on to play nine games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.
Other key Grizzlies like Marcus Smart , Desmond Bane , Derrick Rose and Vince Williams Jr. have all missed extended periods of the season. Brandon Clarke didn't make his season debut until late March.
Memphis also has the current NBA record for most active players for one team in a season. Forward Jack White signed a 10-day deal on Tuesday and became the Grizzlies' 33rd player to participate in a game.
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"He literally just got here (Monday)," Jenkins said. "We're hitting him with new things, he's trying to execute our offense and defense. And then when we hit him with something to correct, he's trying to do it immediately in a game."
All of the changes have stemmed from injuries and the required roster changes that resulted from them. GG Jackson and Williams started the season on two-way contracts, but they played themselves onto the 15-man roster as opportunities came. Each time, a Grizzlies player needed to be waived as a corresponding move.
MORE INJURY UPDATES: Memphis Grizzlies shutting down Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane for remainder of season
Adams, David Roddy and Xavier Tillman Sr. were also traded before the trade deadline, clearing the way for more roster additions and lineup changes. Tillman and Roddy both started games for Memphis before being traded.
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Long-term injuries have led to the Grizzlies taking advantage of a rule that allowed them to add players to 10-day contracts. When a team has four or more players declared out for multiple weeks, the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement states that they can sign players to 10-day injury hardship exceptions.
"It's definitely not the season that we were anticipating coming off a heartbreaking one last year with a first-round exit," Jenkins said. "A lot of work was put in [during] the off-season, development wise, roster wise, and we haven't really been able to see it."
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Grizzlies set NBA record for most used starting lineups in a season
