Coming into the season I was lower on the Memphis Grizzlies. I did not like the Jonas Valanciunas for Steven Adams trade that included picks going both ways and I did not like the Grayson Allen trade. I thought Memphis had a bad offseason and would be fighting to get into the play-in. I was wrong. The Grizzlies are really good, they are 4th in the west and have won 10 games in a row, including a win over the then 30-9 Golden State Warriors. The Grizzlies are scary, can they compete deep in the West playoffs?
Let’s start with the roster. Ja Morant is a superstar, one of the best players in the NBA. He will make his first All-Star team this season, in which should be a starter, and will make a push for 1st or 2nd team All-NBA. Jaren Jackson Jr. is having a solid season averaging 16.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Steven Adams is having a very nice bounce back season after a disaster year for the Pelicans as a really good screen setter, rebounder, and paint protector. They also have veterans in Kyle Anderson and Tyus Jones coming off of the bench who can step into the starting lineup when needed and are good players. Dillion Brooks is an elite defensive stopper who is needed with all the elite Western Conference scorers. However the story of the year for the Grizzlies has been 2nd year wing Desmond Bane. Bane, originally drafted by the Boston Celtics, was the 30th pick in the draft last year and was then quickly acquired by Memphis. He had a solid rookie season but has taken a huge leap this season, averaging 17.5 points and 4.5 rebounds on 47% from the field and 43% from 3 point range. A miss by plenty of teams on draft night Bane is such an important player for Memphis if they want to try and make a deep run in the West.
At a minimum the Grizzlies are the 4th best team in the West, they are better than the .500 Lakers, the depleted Nuggets and Clippers, and the Mavericks. However, are they on the same level as the Jazz, Suns, and Warriors? They need another star next to Ja Morant, which I think Jaren Jackson Jr., or Triple J, can become that and I think he should become that but is he there yet? The 10th overall pick Ziaire Williams has a lot of pressure to become a key player for Memphis in the future but he is nothing more than a rotation wing at this point. I think they also need upgrades on the roster, Steven Adams is not someone I want to rely on in the playoffs and they could use some shooting. So do I think the Grizzlies are a contender to win the West, someone who can win the West with the minimum of breaks? I am not sold on that idea. They need Dillion Brooks to shoot better from 3, they need Jaren Jackson to take a leap, and they need to remain healthy. However, they do have Ja Morant and that guy is awesome.
Ja Morant was the 2nd overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, behind Zion Williamson. After playing his college ball at Murray State, Morant has become a star not only in Memphis, but in the NBA. Averaging 25 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game, Morant’s play has taken a leap this season, he is shooting the ball much more efficiently then he did last season, and he is still developing as a defensive player. The dude flies, like legitimately flies in the air. If you missed the Grizzlies at Lakers game on Sunday, Avery Bradley was going for a layup and Morant took the ball off of the backboard, he did not block it, he snatched it off of the backboard. (Ja Morant Defies Gravity For Unreal Block vs. Lakers). His assist numbers are down but he has been much better in attacking the rim and finishing around the rim, every dunk he has is a legit highlight reel dunk that you get nervous about his landing. Ja Morant is awesome to watch play the sport of basketball.
The Memphis Grizzlies are really good, one of the up and coming teams in the NBA. They are fun to watch, their defense has been really good as of late, and they have won 10 games in a row. Memphis is must see TV and Ja Morant is the main reason for that.
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