The Memphis Grizzlies Are A Western Conference Threat

The Memphis Grizzlies are coming off of one of their worst seasons record wise for the first time in over a decade. So why is Memphis such a threat?

The whole theory that this Memphis Grizzlies team just being an eighth seed in the Western Conference is hilarious to me. Have we forgotten who this Memphis Grizzlies team is? Seven straight playoff runs, including several deep runs into the playoffs during those years.

In a season when so many teams in the tough Western Conference have gone on the offensive, this Grizzlies team is going in the opposite direction with defense. It creates friction throughout an NBA game, and throughout a season. Those seven years were a huge credit to guys that came through the Grizzlies system and bought in defensively.

Look back at all of those rowdy moments inside the Grindhouse during the playoffs, or even the regular season for that matter. Momentum is swung when the Grizzlies defense is on a string, and all five guys are making it hard on the opposing five guys to do anything. You add in the atmosphere at FedEx Forum either regular season or playoffs, and you have exactly what Grizzlies Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff wants this team to be.

Then, you add in the guys to fit that mold for 82 plus NBA games throughout a regular season. Most analyst will tell you that this Grizzlies team cannot score, and outside of Mike Conley and Marc Gasol there is no scoring, but I find that to be way wrong.

Let us dive into the roster as a whole excluding Gasol and Conley. Memphis added some good names through the NBA Draft, and then in free agency when money was thin for them. Adding Garrett Temple was huge for their veteran experience and depth behind second year guard Dillon Brooks.

Of course the addition of Jaren Jackson Jr., with the fourth overall pick in the draft was key to last season being a success. Adding a future cornerstone player while he is still at the age of 18 is unheard of. Letting him learn from the Grizzlies current cornerstone guy in Gasol will be huge.

Getting a gritty dog in Jevon Carter out of the University of West Virginia who locks perimeter guys down, and is quickly showing his offensive upside in the NBA with a great Summer League. Carter forced several guards who went before him in the draft to miss a game or two of Summer League with the “Jevon Flu.” His offense flourished to close out Summer League, and looked like he was finding his way, but way quicker than many thought. 

Outside of a thumb injury, I think Carter will force Memphis into a good tough decision on who gets time at backup point guard during training camp between he and Harrison.

What about Dillon Brooks? He had a great year for this team last season, and I, personally think Brooks needed last season to happen. Brooks is a born winner, and he needed to have the weight on his shoulders at the highest level to push him over the top.

Did Memphis win a lot of games last season? No, but a lot of those games Brooks played a huge role in keeping the team in reaching distance of their opponent.

When you watch these highlights, look at the scores, and also add in the difficulty of the shots that he was making. Brooks is a legit scorer in this league, and he just adds more fire to this Grizzlies ‘defensive’ roster.

JaMychal Green is another guy that will add some great scoring, not every night, but will be there when this team needs him. A lot of us did not know if Green would be traded or not this offseason, but are happy to have him back for the final year of his contract in Memphis.

Green has evolved his offensive game every season as a Grizzly, and that is good for someone who shares the court with Gasol.

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

If you way attention to Greens offensive numbers in the table above, you will see a consistent increase, and balance to Greens offensive game. Green balances his field goal percentage in the last three seasons, while adding almost three, three point attempts per game to his arsenal as well. Making those three point attempts about 35 percent of the time.

It helps this starting five become more versatile offensively, and for Green it will help him get payed next offseason if this season goes as planned for him.

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

Lastly you add in what Chandler Parsons could bring. I know, I know, you are laughing at this right now but hear me out.

Fans and journalist should know by know that Parsons will never be at his peak again. However, Memphis can utilize Parsons if their smart, and I think they will.

Parsons will play around 20 to 25 minutes a night off the bench, but will provide a stable role defensively for the bench unit. Like it or not, Parsons can still contribute to this team, but it is no where near what his contract says. At the end of the day it is about success, and how much of a role that player had played during his run.

I think Parsons still has a role in the NBA, but just not in a starting five. However, providing defensive consistency for a bench unit would be huge for this team.

Like it or not, Memphis is coming back this season to reclaim the ‘underdog’ role in the NBA’s toughest conference. Not only do I think they reclaim that role, I think they welcome the role, and have quiet success throughout 2018/2019 and shock a lot of people. Memphis will be back in the playoffs next season, but not just as an “eighth seed.”