After Ja Morant’s off-court incident and all the uncertainty surrounding his playing status, the Memphis Grizzlies’ rest-of-season outlook was bleak, to say the least.
With all of that seemingly behind Morant, the Grizzlies went from being left for dead to being overlooked. In a wide-open Western Conference, Memphis has a chance to reach the conference finals for the first time since the Grit-and-Grind team did so in 2013.
Since the return of Ja Morant, the Grizzlies are 6-2. Not to mention, they went 5-3 during his absence. The Grizzlies are no stranger to having to win games without their superstar point guard, going 20-5 in the 25 games he missed last year.
The team’s lack of dependency on Morant is something that bodes well for their playoff chances. In the playoffs, being able to beat teams in a multitude of ways is crucial around this time of year.
In a best-of-seven series, teams are doing everything in their power to take away your first and second options. You must be willing to adapt and overcome that, which is what separates good playoff teams from great playoff teams.
Memphis’ ability to beat you with multiple styles of play is not only a testament to the coaching but also to the depth of this Grizzlies roster.
Tyus Jones, the league’s highest-paid backup point guard, has continued to show he is talented and capable enough to lead an offense.
Last year, both teams to represent their respective conference in the NBA Finals had one major thing in common: strong play from their wings.
The Golden State Warriors got elite 3-and-D play from Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins was arguably the most valuable player of the Warriors postseason run last year not named Stephen Curry.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are two of the NBA’s best players. Their strong play in the postseason propelled the Boston Celtics to the NBA Finals. They may not be of the stature of a duo like Tatum/Brown, but the Grizzlies have a formidable wing duo of their own.
Desmond Bane is the x-factor for this team’s postseason success.
He will have to be the best wing player on the floor almost every night, and he’s up to the task. Averaging 22 points per game, five rebounds, and four assists, Bane gives you a little bit of everything.
Bane is one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA, shooting 41% from beyond the arc this season on seven attempts per game. That is incredible efficiency on high volume, which cannot be said for his counterpart on the wing.
Dillon Brooks may not be the three-point shooter that his attempts/game reflect, but he can certainly get hot from three in a hurry. The most crucial aspect of Brooks’ game for the Grizzlies is his role as an elite defender and agitator.
They have a budding All-Star in Jaren Jackson Jr. Leading the league in blocks, he is on the shortlist of finalists for Defensive Player of the Year. With the help of Jackson Jr.’s defense, the Grizzlies have been able to lead the NBA in opponent shooting percentage.
Their defensive prowess has allowed them to take care of business against their conference foes, having the third-most wins against rival teams in the Western Conference. Memphis also finished the season with the league’s best home record (35-6).
With so much uncertainty surrounding the rest of the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies seem like one of the more trustworthy teams. This team has what it takes to make noise this postseason.
Get the latest sports news via Fantom Sports Industries. Follow us on Twitter via @Fantom_sports. Like us on Facebook at Fantom Sports Industries. Subscribe to our YouTube channel via Fantom Sports. Subscribe to our Newsletter! Shop Fantom Sports Industries Merch.
Lior Lampert is a Sports and Betting Content Writer for Fantom Sports Industries. Follow him on Twitter for more @LiorLampert1
Invest in your favorite athletes like stocks with “Prediction Strike!” Use code FANTOM when you sign up.