Grizzly Grades: Memphis Grizzlies’ 2019-20 NBA Season
By AJ Salah
On-Court Performance
Straight goods, Memphis was supposed to be really bad this year.
ESPN’s preseason Power Rankings slotted them 26th. Their season Over/Under for wins was 27.5. Perhaps most insulting, their odds to ship the NBA title (+100,000) were the same as those of the New York Knicks.
Obviously, the Grizz left expectations – and the Knicks – in the dust. Memphis outpaced their preseason Vegas total by a margin second only to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Along the way, the “in” crowd on League Pass congregated around them regularly.
Speaking realistically, Memphis’ stock as playoff contenders may have been a touch inflated. The West bracket essentially stepped on a land mine: The Warriors, Trail Blazers and Pelicans were decimated by injury. The Suns are clearly better than their early-season form suggested. The Kings and T-Wolves botched their respective come-ups (obviously). And the Spurs missed the playoffs for the first time since Biggie was killed.
Injuries and incompetence are part of the game, but the way this season’s Western Conference had the rug pulled out from underneath was an aberration. It will be a tougher scrap in 2021, but as they proved in the play-in game, Memphis has plenty of fight in them.
To even be in such a realm was a massive win for the Grizzlies, who should improve organically as their youngsters acclimate to the NBA and get more reps together.
It wasn’t perfect. There are glaring needs for improvement, from Jaren Jackson Jr’s fouling to Ja Morant’s streaky jumper. But overall, this season’s on-court product was about as damn good as anyone in the 901 could’ve asked for.