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Bold prediction sees Grizzlies get ‘worse’ in 2023-24

By Mark Nilon

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: Head coach Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies talks with Ja Morant #12 during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: Head coach Taylor Jenkins of the Memphis Grizzlies talks with Ja Morant #12 during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Three of the Western Conference First Round Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Despite making significant shakeups to their talent pool for what many have tabbed as being for the better this summer, Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale seems to be a bit hesitant to believe that the Memphis Grizzlies will surpass their successes from last season.

In fact, he went as far as to make the bold prediction that the club will wind up getting ‘worse’ in 2023-24.

"“Ja Morant will serve a 25-game suspension at the beginning of the season for conduct detrimental to the league. That extended absence shapes the Memphis Grizzlies’ better-or-worse outlook more than anything else.This team has navigated non-star time before, including last season. Memphis was a plus-2.3 points per 100 possessions without Morant on the floor. But this idea that the Grizzlies are #builtforthis has mushroomed to mythic proportions.They went 11-10 last year in games Morant didn’t play. That’s solar systems from elite. Hovering around .500 for more than one-quarter of the schedule would threaten to submarine their place in the West,” Favale wrote."

Now, though there could be argued as being a few short-sighted takes in Favale’s argument, most notably the mentioning of their 11-10 record from last year sans Ja Morant when they’ve also gone 31-15 over the last two seasons and now have Marcus Smart serving as a replacement option at the one, but, to his credit, a large emphasis was made on the fact that the western conference has simply gotten stronger around them.

Last season, Memphis finished as the second-best team in the west with a record of 51-31. Simply put, anything short of such a finish would constitute as being a “worse” finish and, as noted in the piece, claiming a top seed in the conference could become a lot more difficult than it was last season.

"“The path to a top-four spot will be brutal if a handful of teams enjoy better availability (Minnesota, New Orleans, L.A. Clippers), up-and-comers stay the course (Oklahoma City, Sacramento) and the Phoenix Suns are who they’re built to be,” Favale wrote."

Despite this prediction, however, whether it be as the No. 2 seed for the third year in a row or somewhere in the top six, fans should still expect the Grizzlies to be a highly competitive team in 2023-24.

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