The Grizzlies believe this firing will help reconnect the team's tantalizing core -- and reignite Ja Morant. But in truth, this dismissal began with five other ones nearly a year ago.

With just nine games left before the playoffs start, here is some insight as to why the Memphis Grizzlies decided to let go of Taylor Jenkins now.

It caught the Grizzlies players off guard, too. Nobody expected Memphis to fire coach Taylor Jenkins with just a few weeks left in the regular season — the team had slipped in recent months but was still 15 games over .