By Sunday 
Patience and Process: Iisalo’s Steady Approach to Early Struggles
The Memphis Grizzlies’ new head coach, Tuomas Iisalo, has been thrown straight into the fire. His debut as an NBA coach featured matchups against two of the league’s most formidable opponents—the Los Angeles Lakers and the defending champion Boston Celtics. Despite dropping both games, Iisalo remains unfazed, emphasizing patience, process, and the team’s fight rather than dwelling on the early losses.
A Tough Start Against Elite Opponents
The Grizzlies’ 0-2 start came at the hands of LeBron James’ Lakers (134-127) and Joe Mazzulla’s Celtics (117-103). Their next two matchups offer no respite, with a home game against Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors followed by a trip to face Erik Spoelstra’s Miami Heat.
While some might panic over an 0-2 beginning, Iisalo sees the bigger picture. He praised the cohesion and effort from key players like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr., who have all logged major minutes under his leadership. Morant has averaged 24 points, 7.5 assists, and seven rebounds per game, while Bane and Jackson Jr. have also posted solid numbers.
Understanding the Setbacks
After the loss to the Celtics, Iisalo pointed to specific moments that cost them the game, particularly a disastrous second quarter where the Grizzlies were outscored 41-25.
“Everybody was kind of feeling each other out (against the Lakers), and I think that led a bit to the bad start,” Iisalo explained. “(Against the Celtics), guys were locked in from the first moment. We had some slip-ups in the second half of the second quarter. We started doing some things that we had not agreed to do, and that caused some miscommunications, or we were maybe frustrated with not getting a foul call.”
Encouraging Signs Amidst the Losses
Despite the setbacks, Iisalo sees promising signs from his squad.
“It’s just against this level of a team, like one of the best if not the best team in the league, it’s very hard to win if you don’t put 48 minutes of very high-level basketball on the defensive end,” Iisalo said. “Other than that, I think we can be very satisfied with the effort and team play that the guys are showing. They are really playing for each other.”
The Grizzlies have shown flashes of elite play, but sustaining that level for a full game remains the challenge. Iisalo recognizes that fatigue may be playing a role in the execution lapses.
“Maybe it is an energy question,” he admitted. “Maybe it’s just like when you get a little bit tired, the mistakes start to come out. But we don’t have a lot of time to fix it.”
Eyes on the Bigger Picture
As Memphis navigates a difficult early schedule, Iisalo remains focused on long-term growth rather than immediate results. He understands the challenge of stepping into the NBA spotlight against juggernaut teams but believes in his system and his players.
It’s been a baptism by fire, but Iisalo’s calm demeanor and emphasis on process suggest he’s here for the long haul. While an 0-2 start isn’t ideal, the Grizzlies’ new coach isn’t rattled—and that might be exactly what the team needs.