UnderCover Contenders
When thinking about the elite contenders for the NBA title this season, just a few teams come to mind. The defending champion Milwaukee Bucks are without question in the discussion as well as Booker and the Suns, and the Golden State Warriors. A few other squads can be thrown around casually in the conversation, but there is one that almost nobody is talking about as legit.
The Memphis Grizzlies are a name that has not been put in consideration as a real contender since its inception in 1994. The Grizzlies’ best finish in the regular season was at the five seed when they made it to the Western Conference Finals through their “grit and grind” style of play under Dave Joerger.
C/O: Washington DC NewsHub
Memphis is back and is flying under the radar of many teams in the NBA as potential Western Conference contenders. Phoenix and Golden State are the obvious picks. Ja Morant has turned into a flat-out superstar, and he along with Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson Jr, among others have led this determined Grizzlies team to a 41-19 record. They sit in the three seed in the West and are 1.5 games back of the Warriors for the two seed.
Memphis is one of four teams in the NBA that is both a top-ten in offensive and defensive rating. The other three teams are the Utah Jazz, Miami Heat, and the number one team in the NBA, the Phoenix Suns. While the Suns may feel like the obvious pick to get out of the West again, Morant has that bulldog mentality that not many in today’s NBA possess. If I am anybody in the Western Conference, I am deathly afraid of what the Grizzlies can do.
While Memphis lost in the first round to the number one seed, Jazz last season, the team has improved its record every single season since 2017-2018. The Grizzlies have never been a seed better than five, and if the postseason started today, they could be the three seed in arguably the tougher conference.
C/O: Beale Street Bears
Memphis is heading into contests after the All-Star break winning six of its last seven games. The Grizzlies are also one of five teams that have beaten the Suns on their home floor, the Footprint Center. The new version of the grit and grind Grizzlies has arrived.
Morant has increased his scoring average from 19.1 last season to 26.8 points per game this year which is good for eighth in the entire NBA. While Morant is the superstar and the motor that keeps the team going, he is not the only reason why the team is having so much success. 23-year-old Desmond Bane has turned into a regular starter in the league after putting up 9.2 points per game last season. Memphis picked up Steven Adams who is averaging a career-high in rebounds, and Jaren Jackson Jr is finally coming into his own after tearing his meniscus last season.
Don’t be surprised if this team makes some noise in the postseason. This Grizzlies team is sitting near the top of the standings and still plays with a chip on their shoulder. Ja Morant might be in the MVP conversation given his play this season, but this Memphis team is tough as nails and uses that to its advantage on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
