Why We Need to Take the Grizzlies Serious Again

Heading into action Wednesday night, the Grizzlies have found themselves right in the middle of the gauntlet that continues to be the Western Conference playoff race. This race, which is the ultimate marathon annually, has Memphis featured in 6th place with a record of 15-11 (two games ahead of their expected pace through 26 games). They've spent days at a time atop the conference standings as well as in stints in 2nd and 3rd place. They have cemented themselves as a formidable opponent yet again moving forward.

For the Grizzlies, there's a few personnel reasons that have contributed to their early season success.

1.) Availability of Services

Everyone hasn't been healthy (Green, Casspi, Parsons) but their best players have been available, and the results have been ever-present for the team.

Mike Conley, who played 12 games last season before suffering a heel injury that lingered and eventually kept him out for the season, has been healthy and has returned to his fleet-footed, true point guard play. One of the best guards in the league, and one of those yearly all-star snubs, is enjoying a very solid season. His numbers across the board are indicative of the role he has embraced with the franchise that, at the time, signed him to the richest contract in NBA history (5 yr/$153 million). He's currently averaging 20.3 ppg and 6.5 apg while leading this team vocally and coming up clutch as well. He is the engine that makes this team go.

At 34 years old, Marc Gasol is healthy and in great shape. He still cannot jump, but he has remained active as the anchor of this evolved version of the "Grit N' Grind." He is enjoying an efficient 16.7 ppg while also managing to grab rebounds at 8.8 per game while remaining dynamic and making plays from the high post and from the post as double teams come his way with 4.0 apg. While some match-ups are tougher for him as the league-wide pace of play has continued to rise and small-ball is taking a front seat, Gasol remains a factor dominating the block.

2.) The early emergence of their coveted draft pick

Selected 4th by the Grizzlies in the league's most recent draft, former Michigan State Spartan Jaren Jackson Jr. has been unbelievable to start his rookie campaign. Not only is he now in the starting line-up as the perfect stretch 4 paired with the aging yet productive Marc Gasol, but he is taking over games for stretches.

His lateral mobility, length, activity, and energy defensively would make any coach happy, and I am willing to bet that former head coach Tom Izzo proud. What would make any NBA coach happy is how he can combine that activity with extremely viable 3-pt shooting (even with the very interesting release), and a nose for scoring with skill. He is the team's third leading scorer at 13.3 ppg, but he is also garnering attention with his 4.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.9 bpg, and 1.0 spg. Having that production from your 6'11 bigman makes him a match-up problem as most teams deploy small ball-like line-ups from the jump. His continued growth will continue to up the ceiling for this team moving forward.

3. Depth

Not only has Mike Conley been great, but their other guards have been effective as well. Garrett Temple has been starting alongside Conley and has proven to be a great acquisition via trade in exchange for Ben McLemore. Temple, as a bigger combo guard, has quite simply held it down there for them and done all the little things needed from that off guard position. Shelvin Mack has also been surprisingly effective off the bench. Mack, who entered the league with the non-shooter stigma attached to his name, is enjoying a .411% shooting clip from deep. His growth and floor spacing is helping that second unit along with contributions from Marshon Brooks (out with an MCL sprain), Omri Casspi, and JaMychal Green. Newly acquired Joakim Noah has even become a relevant cog in their rotation in his four games. Often injured Chandler Parsons should be returning sometime soon, which will help them on the wing even though Kyle Anderson has been playing well.

In Conclusion

They've hit a rough spell and lost 3 of their last 5 games, but with main rotation guys returning soon, expect for them to remain in the middle of the Western Conference Playoff race. They are built well for the playoffs as they have a three-man front court rotation they can deploy that will crash the boards and wear down any opposition. Gasol, Jackson Jr., and Green will be a handful, combine that with the guard play of Mike Conley and their bench and you have a formidable team. Their weaknesses are however on the wing, and their team 3-pt shooting. Although they have improved in each area, they will need more to keep up with the likely opponents they'll face.

Expect for them to be active in the trade market, but as it stands they are a very solid team in a good position just over a quarter into the season. Do not be surprised if they end up with a middle seed and make it to the second round this season.

Head coach JB Bickerstaff has done a great job managing their rotations as well as with the sets they run, putting their players in great positions to be successful while highlighting the strengths of his two best players, who are very well-rounded.

What will continue to carry them is the dynamic combination of Conley and Gasol has yet another year of experience together and as the battle-tested leaders of this team, they will be sure to surprise many unsuspecting fans and teams moving forward.

*All stats and information are accurate entering play Wednesday, December 12th and come directly from https://www.basketball-reference.com/ *