It has been a turbulent start to the season for the Memphis Grizzlies, but finally a team that has searched for answers all season is getting a taste of what it’s like when the pieces they do have available come together. 

For six quarters, the Grizzlies have played the way coach Taylor Jenkins has envisioned. 

Sure, he has discovered some things along the way. 

Jacob Gilyard, a two-way point guard who could help development by providing a steady hand in the G League, has turned out to be a useful player at the NBA level, especially given the circumstances of Ja Morant’s 25-game league suspension. 

Ziaire Williams has looked more comfortable with the ball in his hands than off the ball and in corner or on the wing. 

Memphis plays more consistently with two bigs in the game rather than one. 

But none of those things is the solo reason the Grizzlies are starting to play better. The difference, according to Jenkins, is recapturing the team’s edge. 

Down by 19 points during the first half San Antonio last Saturday, it was the perfect time to issue that reminder. On blast at halftime, it was most important message. 

“How are you going to embrace this adversity?” Jenkins asked the team.

They turned on the film. It was ugly. The challenge was set. 

“The first play the third quarter,” Jenkins said, “(John Konchar) picks up defensively full court and gets a strip and a layup. ... Our physicality picked up and started to improve. ... As the third quarter went on, we finally kind of broke free. 

“Our guys know what we’ve been talking about the last couple of days. We know what our M.O. has to be, but it’s about taking the time to commit to it for the full 48 minutes.”

A major run pushed the Grizzlies back in front. They smothered the Spurs defensively in the fourth quarter to hold onto a win. 

So Jenkins asked again. 

“After the game I said, ‘Guys, what is it going to be? Are we going to wait until halftime? Are we going to wait until some speech?’” he said. “These are the kind of things that we know we are fully capable of. It’s everyone’s responsibility to do that.

“(Against San Antonio) different guys did that throughout the second half. ... I said, ‘Don’t worry about the fouls. Don’t worry about the free throws. Lock in on what our edge and style of play has to be.’”

That mentality carried over to the game against Boston a day later, even in a loss. 

Memphis pushed the team with the NBA’s best record into the final seconds despite playing with a depleted roster and foul trouble. 

It was undeniably progress. Can it be sustained?

Mathematically speaking, every victory at this stage of the season is heightened. The Grizzlies are waiting for the return of Morant, who will surely make them better. 

A trip to the playoffs or play-in tournament could depend on the size of hole they will have to climb out of. 

But that’s the last thing Jenkins is thinking about right now. He needs his team to hold the momentum. 

“I’m not projecting out to Game 25 or 26,” Jenkins said Saturday. “We are zoned in right now. Our guys are locked in day-to-day, which is great. 

“We try to put the past behind us and don’t even think about the future. The focus needs to be on what is staring us right in the face. (Saturday) is a great example of that.

“If you are thinking about what the future holds, going, ‘Gosh, we have to get this,’ you can tighten up. ... Our guys just focused on the fact they we were down 19. They were yelling it, the coaches were yelling it. Someone had to break through and spark us, and it turned out to be a multitude of guys that sparked us.

“Live in the moment. That’s what the guys have to do right now.”

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