Can the Memphis Grizzlies be a top five team in the West?
The Memphis Grizzlies open the season with wins against the Pelicans, Golden Sate Warriors and Houston Rockets. So, why is everyone down on Memphis?
National Media Perception:
The Memphis Grizzlies entered the season losing the two cornerstones to “Grit N’ Grind,” so the team will step back. With Mike Conley and Marc Gasol now at the helm of the Grizzlies, of course the team will regress due to Chandler Parsons status off the bench. Vegas gave the Grizzlies 37 wins, and that’s nice. Also, Conley and Gasol will have to adapt to a fast pace that head coach Dave Fizdale wants them to implement to “wear down their opponent.” Not these Grizzlies, the Grizzlies that constantly slowed it down, and pounded it inside-they definitely are not pushing the pace.
Maybe we oughta tap brakes on talk of MEM playoff streak ending. Grizzlies 3-0 w/ wins over Warriors/Rockets. Next: back-to-back vs. Mavs.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) October 24, 2017
Three Games In:
The national media had the right to criticize the Grizzlies — just like they do every other team — but to count them out?
It’s something Memphis is used to, and it seems every season the national media picks everyone but them. Conley and Gasol have been excellent when asked to lead, both sharing the leadership duties well. I think these guys knew what it was going to take to get this team to where they are now. Conley and Gasol have led the Grizzlies to have a 97.94 pace rating, and the young Grizzlies are ranked sixth in the league in defensive rating (96.7 points per 100 possessions) and are allowing only 94 points per game.
Wins against the Warriors, Rockets and Pelicans have the league on notice. It’s time to pump the brakes on talking about how bad the Grizzlies were going to be, and realize what this team is about.
Interchangeable guys like Jarell Martin, who has stepped into injured JaMychal Green’s spot, and James Ennis have played outstanding. Guys like Tyreke Evans and Mario Chalmers, that only the Grizzlies would take a chance on, have played really well off the bench.
The Reason behind the success?
It’s simple, outside of Conley and Gasol, the Grizzlies bench has been fantastic. Chalmers, Evans, Brooks, Parsons and Wright is a good bench unit.
If it weren’t for the bench, the Grizzlies would be in trouble. The bench has outscored the opposing teams bench in all three games, and last night kept Grizzlies in a ‘mud’ war.
The Grizzlies have an upgraded starting five and the best bench in the NBA. To me that makes them a top five team in the West.
More from Grizzlies News
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- Jaren Jackson Jr. puts ex-Grizzlies teammate on notice
- 3 players Grizzlies would consider trading Ja Morant for
- Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. put on blast following FIBA elimination
- Ex-Grizzlies guard signs with title favorite, joins forces with 6-time All-Star
Looking ahead:
Three more matchups with Houston within the month, and that series will be over. The Grizzlies will be done with one of the top teams in the West for the season in less than a month. Then, they don’t play an Eastern Conference opponent until the seventh game of the season.
Big games coming up, but the Memphis Grizzlies are still showing that they are a top five team in the NBA.