Adamas averaged 8.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game this season before a knee injury sidelined him in late January. He was diagnosed with a sprained PCL and the Grizzlies expected him to return sometime in March.<\/p>\n
Even though it\u2019s been nearly 10 weeks since the initial injury, Adams showed very little improvement, so the Grizzlies decided to shut him down for the entire postseason.<\/p>\n
It’s pretty confirmed Steven is most likely out for the playoffs,”<\/strong> said head coach Taylor Jenkins. “We don’t have definitive words on what the next steps are. It’s been an ongoing process the last couple of weeks.”<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nAdams underwent a stem cell injection to boost the healing process, but it didn’t work.<\/p>\n
“No setbacks, no reinjuries, it was just not progressing to a level,” added Jenkins. “Obviously some unfortunate news. We thought we were making headway with the process, but each evaluation opportunity we had with the doctors kind of revealed it’s not progressing like we need it to.”<\/p>\n
Xavier Tillman, a third-year big man from Michigan State, averaged 7.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game this season. Tillman started 29 games, and Jenkins inserted him in the lineup after Adams suffered his knee injury in January.<\/p>\n
Santi Aldama, a second-year power forward from Spain, has been a huge surprise for the Grizzlies this year after Adams went down. Aldama averages 9.0 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 36% from 3-point range.<\/p>\n
Rookie Kenneth Lofton, Jr. could also earn a spot in the postseason rotation. The Louisiana Tech forward appeared in 24 games and averaged 5.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, and exploded for 42 points in the final game of the season.<\/p>\n