The Memphis Grizzlies crept into the NBA Playoffs last season by completing a terrific upset against the eighth-seed Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament. The Grizzlies ended up succumbing to the first seed Utah Jazz in five games, but Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and the rest of the crew put the world on notice. Morant tallied a 47-point outing in Game 2 of the Jazz series and proved that he has superstar potential in the league.
The ascension was quick and spectacular for Memphis as they have catapulted themselves to currently the second seed of the Western Conference. Despite the missed games of Morant, the other guys of the Grizzlies have stepped up whether he is on the floor or on the sidelines. Individuals like Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane and Brandon Clarke have emerged as some of the best supplementary pieces alongside Morant. Thus, these are some of the main reasons for the incredible success of the Grizzlies this season.
A gifted superstar in a small market city
For a city like Memphis, it is tough for them to attract big-name free agents because they are competing with markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Boston. Thus, the previous iterations of the Grizzlies experienced success by constructing a roster that was composed of underdogs and relentless folks. Morant fits that billing as someone who was not highly recruited in high school and college but still managed to get selected second overall out of Murray State in the 2019 draft.
The methodical and mature approach to the game of basketball is one of the most tremendous strengths of Morant. For someone who possesses superb athleticism and leaping ability, Morant knows how to utilize it as an edge over his opponents, but that is not the only aspect that he would rely on. From his rookie campaign, any NBA fan can already notice his evolution as a more respectable outside shooter and fabulous playmaker as well.
Phenomenal defense leading to transition baskets
A youthful team with an average age of 24 years old could easily be susceptible to just focus offensively and rack up continuous buckets every night. That is not the case for the Grizzlies though as Jackson Jr. is developing to be one of the best rim protectors in the association who is able to switch to guards as well on certain and pick and roll situations. There is no doubt that he is the best defender on the roster, but the perimeter defense cannot be taken for granted as well.
Bane, De'Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson, and Ziaire Williams have been incredible three-and-D wings who alternate at those positions as Dillon Brooks has been missing for the majority of the year. Melton and Anderson could easily record three or four steals in any night, which are live-ball turnovers that would result to highlight-worthy dunks from Morant. The half-court offense of the Grizzlies still has holes to fill, but their ability to force turnovers is a major factor in their remarkable climb atop the West.
Collective unit with the same goal
It sounds like such a cliche for NBA franchises to have excellent chemistry in order to succeed at the highest level. However, there are a plethora of squads who fail to have the same exact goal from the beginning to the end and not let any external factors affect their sole objective of winning the championship. The best example would be the postgame interview of Bane after toppling the Brooklyn Nets last Wednesday as the whole team surrounded him and celebrated each teammate's success.
The leadership of veterans like Anderson and Steven Adams is exceptional, but coach Taylor Jenkins is one of the most underrated head coaches in the league. He is not very animated or a coach that would perform viral actions that would circulate on memes and social media, but Jenkins knows how to communicate and lead a young unit like the Grizzlies.
The challenge remains to be seen when the playoffs start in mid-April. In-series and in-game adjustments will be very integral in beating a talented seventh seed like the Minnesota Timberwolves or Denver Nuggets. Some of the organizations with an average age similar to the Grizzlies falter in the playoffs because the expectations and pressure heighten, but the camaraderie and bonding of this Memphis team is a rare sight to see in the NBA.
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