Led by head coach Taylor Jenkins, the Memphis Grizzlies finished as the second seed in the Western Conference two seasons ago. They were, without a question, the brightest young team in the NBA, with several all-star talents throughout their roster.
Franchise centerpiece Ja Morant had the city of Memphis on his back. He evolved into one of the league’s best point guards and crushed pre-draft expectations. Fans had every reason to love him, as he brought a unique swagger on and off the floor.
However, the following season, Morant essentially missed the entire season due to injury and off-court issues. This, plus countless other health concerns, prevented the Grizzlies from making a deep postseason run in 2024.
Now, with a potent roster and full head of steam, the Grizzlies are in peak shape as a top competitor in the Western Conference.
The Memphis Grizzlies have the most potential to win the Western Conference.
From a broad standpoint, the Memphis Grizzlies have perfected the championship blueprint. They have one of the league’s top superstars, a ridiculously talented supporting cast, and a strategic head coach.
Currently, Memphis is fourth in the Western Conference, tied with the Mavericks for third, and just two and a half games back from first. This is extremely impressive, as Morant has missed ten games thus far.
Memphis is able to win despite Morant’s absence largely due to the positive impact of their role players. Rookie Jaylen Wells has erupted as one of the best in his class, and 2021 first-round pick Santi Aldama has broken out as a high-volume contributor off the bench.
Moreover, the rest of the credit goes to Jenkins and his incredible coaching scheme. He has done a wonderful job building a system that can dominate when injuries occur. This explains the player development of Wells, Aldama, and even GG Jackson, which dates back to last season.
If Morant can find ways to avoid injury, the Grizzlies will likely jump as the favorites to win the Western Conference. He is the difference maker, as Memphis has proven they are a nightmare matchup, especially in the postseason.
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