This team greatly surpassed our initial expectations of them. While it is undeniable that they are an energetic, talented team, no one expected them to be a top 2 seed in the western conference. With the regular season coming to an end, now is the time to ask ourselves: Can the Memphis Grizzlies conquer the NBA by winning a ring this year?
ADVANTAGES.
CONSISTENCY AND VERSATILITY.
First and foremost, the Grizzlies are an extremely versatile team, especially when it comes to the offensive side. Consequently, it is becoming increasingly difficult for their opponents to have a clear idea of their strategy. Due to this, the team is now at the fourth spot in points scored, with 114 per game. On top of that, the Memphis team currently leads the league in several key aspects of the game. Blocks per game, with 6.3; Steals per game, with 9.9; And total rebounds per game, with 49.3. These stats are indicative of the consistent performance on both ends of the court.
ENERGY AND HUNGER.
Currently the youngest team in the NBA, with 24 years old on average, they perform as if they had nothing to lose, which drives them to push themselves to obtain the desired outcome. They are a very enthusiastic, strong-willed team, being up to the job in pretty much every situation, proving to themselves and the league that they are capable of competing at the highest level. Of course, even though Ja Morant is the one leading the Grizzlies to greatness, the rest of their roster consists of several key pieces that add tremendous value to the team.
DISADVANTAGES.
3-POINT SHOOTING.
Despite having decent offensive runs overall, the three-point shots are quite noticeably a challenging aspect for them to master. Not only are they not attempting enough shots, being sixth-worst in the league, but they also have low percentages when attempting, with 34.1%. As much as this may seem like a minor issue, it is preoccupying, as it can make the difference when it comes to winning games.
LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
While this can be something to play in their favor, it will go against them in some particular situations. For instance, playoff basketball is an entirely different game, with highly competitive games which can be decided in one possession. We witnessed this last season, as Memphis lost in the first round against the Jazz, 4-1. Therefore, careless decision making is likely to harm their playoff performance this year, especially when facing much more experienced teams.
Overall, the Memphis Grizzlies are a capable, promising team with the potential to have a great run in this playoffs! Nevertheless, in terms of the title contender conversation, they still are behind the more experienced, favorite teams. It will be interesting to see how the postseason plays out for them.
Sources: nba.com, espn.com, lineups.com, basketball-reference.com
