Power ranking roundup: Where do the Memphis Grizzlies stand?

Last and certainly not least is The Athletic. Zach Harper placed the Grizzlies in the sixth spot, right behind the reigning Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics. What’s most notable about these rankings is there are also tiers. Instead of placing Memphis in the “Brink of Contention” tier, they are in the “Playoff Teams” section.

Similar to NBA.com’s rankings, Harper cites their struggles on defense as a reason for a lower spot:

"The Grizzlies have been atrocious on defense so far, and that has to change quickly… They’re giving up too much at the rim, but they’re also getting torched from the corners. The Grizzlies aren’t recovering well when they sink in, and that’s not like them."

It’s clear why everyone is bullish on Memphis to start the year, but they still sit among the NBA’s top teams. Once JJJ and Dillon Brooks are back for good and the defense tightens up, they should be a regular in the top ten.