Blake Griffin has launched a scathing critique of Ja Morant following the Memphis Grizzlies' 117-112 defeat to the L.A. Lakers in the opening game of the NBA Emirates Cup on Friday.Coming off the back of a team-high 28-point performance against the Phoenix Suns, Morant was nowhere near his best when matched up against one of the best players in the league in Luka Doncic.The star guard ended with eight points, seven assists, and one rebound in 31 minutes, on 3-of-14 shooting, missing all six of his three-point attempts. This was Morant's lowest scoring total since December 5, 2024.Speaking after the game, Griffin, who is a six-time NBA All-Star and also works as an analyst on Prime Video's NBA coverage, didn't hold back in his criticism for Morant's nearly absent display.“I didn't love what I saw from Ja Morant tonight,” Griffin said. “This is a guy who is insanely talented. Speed is his number one weapon. Coming off the ball screen, passes the ball like this, kind of lazily cutting to the corner.”“That's just not what's going to get it done for Memphis. Like, for a guy that's making $40 million and needs to be the leader of this team, I just don't love it. I don't know if he's not feeling well, if he's hurt, but that to me is a very bad sign, and it's something that needs to change. The Memphis Grizzlies will only go as far as Ja Morant takes them.”They have now fallen to a 3-3 record, holding the eighth seed early in the season and face a tricky back-to-back game against the Raptors and Pistons next. There will be plenty of eyes on how Morant responds.Ja Morant Vents Frustration at Coaching Staff After DefeatThere may be some trouble in paradise at the Grizzlies. Ja Morant cut a frustrated figure as he laid into the coaching staff over his poor performance against the Lakers.When asked what went wrong for the Grizzlies in the game, Morant stated:"Go ask the coaching staff."When pressed on what the team could have done better aside from asking the coaching staff, he doubled down, saying:"According to them (the coaching staff), probably don’t play me. That’s basically what the message was after."Morant’s message was firm and clear, which would invite a lot of trade chatter, and by the look of it, it suggests he’s fallen out with coach Tuomas Iisalo.Morant and the players are still struggling to get to grips with Iisalo, who’s in his first full season as the Grizzlies’ coach. If they want to get themselves out of trouble and really start their season, making Morant happy is a necessity.