NBA Power Rankings: Last Year’s Poor Season Helping the Memphis Grizzlies

There is only so much good that can come from a losing season, but the Memphis Grizzlies are capitalizing on it.

Are the Memphis Grizzlies placed within a growing market in the NBA today? Many people would strongly disagree at any statement that has Memphis being a big deal in the association.

Though they have been a competitive team over the years, and most notably is this current decade. Their “newness” in today’s basketball market has made them an overlooked team up until this year.

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With the addition of a successful fourth overall NBA Draft pick in Jaren Jackson Jr. and the two-way addition of the second Japanese player in NBA history — Yuta Watanabe — the Memphis Grizzlies’ social ranking is increasing almost as much as their team ranking. Through the first few weeks of the new 2018-19 season, all of it is seemingly increasing by the game.

Per the most recent  NBA power rankings, the Memphis Grizzlies sit just inside the top-10, beating the formerly 8-1 (now 8-2) Denver Nuggets, to improve to 4-0 at home. By the completion of Saturday evening’s games, Memphis earned an overtime victory over the Philadelphia 76ers to move to 5-0 at home (7-4 overall).

On the rise, as well, in the NBA as a whole, Garrett Temple has become a standout player nationally. This breakthrough success from Temple is something that has helped Memphis in the eye of the NBA and its fans. He has made a significant contribution to their league-best team defense (100.6 points per game allowed) and fifth-best three-point shooting (37.3%).

Memphis fans can notice this increase in social media following by simply staying up to date on Twitter and Instagram. There are more fans involved as well as more national attention from other outlets.

This is all due to the Memphis Grizzlies standout mixture of veteran leadership and young muscle mixed with a franchise history of being the underdog. This is nothing new to us; it is all a sign that the 2017-18 season was a fluke and these new-look Grizzlies are officially back.