The Memphis Grizzlies find themselves sitting at sixth in the Western Conference standings after 10 games with a 6-4 record. Considering the availability of the roster as a whole and comparing it to how they started last season with a 2-8 record amid similar concerns with the injuries, this is a win for the team.
After beginning the season with a 2-3 record and coming off back-to-back "bad" home losses to the Chicago Bulls (blown 20-point lead) and the Brooklyn Nets (lackadaisical effort), the Grizzlies won four of their last five games to reach the same start they had to begin the 2021-22 season (56-win team). Three things stood out that the team looked to as a positive development for how the rest of the season could play out.
The Depth
The team's depth was a question mark coming into the season when it came down to determining who could be major players on the back of the bench. After having the team's young players in the back of the bench not play up to par to begin last season, the prospects of the young players on this team seemed up but still remained a question.
Scotty Pippen Jr. looked good in the second half of last season and Summer League as a starter but hadn't competed with the regular rotation of guys as a backup. The same can be said for GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. (who haven't played yet). Jake LaRavia had a late-season resurgence after a not-so-steady start to his career but he had the same question.
Jaylen Wells had a successful Summer League campaign but still didn't know what to expect from a second-round rookie. Jay Huff was a late off-season addition as a journeyman fifth big man with shooting range but wasn't sure how his fit would mesh and the opportunity hadn't presented itself to him throughout his career up to that point.
Well, the team is arguably one of the deepest teams in the league to this point as the bench is third in the NBA, averaging 45 points per game. Also when presented the chance to start, Jaylen Huff has averaged double-digit points, Santi Aldama has been a steady hand, and Scotty Pippen Jr. just notched his first career triple-double in his first start of the season against the Washington Wizards.
If and when the team is back to full strength, the Grizzlies have a great problem as all 15 guys can make the case to crack the rotation in some form or fashion.
The New Offense
After being a team more known for its defense and struggling in its halfcourt offensive sets, the Grizzlies brought in assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo from Paris to add a different dimension to head coach Taylor Jenkins' offensive philosophy. The new system allows the team to play faster and more fluidly in the halfcourt with constant movements.
Despite the inconsistency with the team's rotations due to injuries, the Grizzlies rank fifth in the NBA in points per game (119.6), third in field goal percentage (48.8%), first in points in the paint per game (60.8), and fourth in pace (103.02) through their first 10 games.
Imagining those numbers with a close to healthy team means the Grizzlies will be legit title contenders as their defensive identity is trending back up after struggling to start the season. The early indication is their new offensive style is one of the league's best and can only get better as they get core pieces back.