3 reasons why the Memphis Grizzlies are an elite NBA team in 2021-22

Reason No. 2: The Memphis Grizzlies have had the biggest defensive turnaround that I’ve ever seen

I could bring you any number of specific statistics from the Grizzlies’ unbelievable ten-game stretch, but the broadest stat is the most impressive — defense.

The Grizzlies’ defensive rating in their first 19 games of the season (before Morant’s injury) was dead last in the NBA at 115.1. It wasn’t even close, either — the next closest team during that stretch was at 111.6, an astronomically large gap.

Shifting the focus to the last ten games, the Grizzlies didn’t just improve upon their defensive rating — they now sit at the number one spot in the league for that ten-game stretch with a defensive rating of 99.8. They’re the only team under 100 in that period of time.

The Grizzlies were already among league leaders in steals and blocks in that early stretch of basketball, but now they sit at the No. 1 spot in the league in both categories. In steals, Memphis leads the league by a large gap.

Even just beyond the numbers, Memphis has been playing much more sound defense. Rather than seeing a player run free to the basket or dish the ball out to a wide-open shooter, opposing teams have been working for every bucket.