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5 burning questions heading into the final stretch of the 2021-22 season

By Jacob Ellerbee

Feb 10, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) talks with center Steven Adams (4) just after the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) talks with center Steven Adams (4) just after the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Memphis Grizzlies Head Coach Taylor Jenkins
Feb 16, 2022; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzles head coach Taylor Jenkins (left) talks with Memphis Grizzles guard Desmond Bane (22) during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports /

No 1. Will the Memphis Grizzlies win any end-of season awards?

It’s a longshot, but Ja Morant is in the conversation for league MVP. In the weekly NBA.com MVP ladder rankings, he currently sits in the number four position for the NBA player most likely to win the MVP trophy this season.

Morant trails Denver’s Nikola Jokic (the favorite and last year’s winner), Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Ja is more likely to take home the NBA’s Most Improved Player award for making such a massive leap in his game from year two to year three.

Ja Morant in 2020-21: 19.1 ppg, 7.4 apg, 4.0 rpg on 44.9 FG%

Ja Morant in 2021-22:  27.5 ppg, 6.7 apg, 5.8 rpg on 49.3 FG%

Not only are Ja’s stats way up, he’s got a chance to get the Grizzlies to finish with the franchise’s all-time record for wins in a single regular season.

The other possibility for an end-of-season award could go to Head Coach Taylor Jenkins. Jenkins has been in the conversation for NBA Coach of the Year for a couple of months now, especially with the team having the second-best record in the NBA and a massive leap forward from last season (and a massive leap from the season before that).

Jenkins, however, is unlikely to win out against Phoenix Suns Head Coach Monty Williams. He lost last year to New York’s Tom Thibodeau, in what many thought was a massive snub. Look for voters to rectify that mistake with this year’s voting.

Hot. This best game every current Memphis Grizzlies player had during March Madness. light

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