Beale Street Bears
Fansided

4 Christmas Day games Grizzlies fans have been robbed of heading into 2023-24

By Mark Nilon

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 22: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket on LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers during 111-101 Lakers win 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: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket on LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers during 111-101 Lakers win 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets drives past Steven Adams of the Memphis Grizzlies. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets drives past Steven Adams of the Memphis Grizzlies. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /

2. Memphis Grizzlies vs Denver Nuggets

This Memphis Grizzlies team has taken part in quite a bit of shakeups this offseason thanks to the wheeling and dealing ways of GM Zach Kleiman and company.

Outside of the addition of Marcus Smart, they also opted to sign veteran guard Derrick Rose in free agency and part ways with polarizing wing Dillon Brooks by means of sign-and-trade with the Houston Rockets.

Such decisions have been lauded by both fans and media pundits, with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne going as far as to predict that the club should now be considered a direct threat to the reigning champion Denver Nuggets’ quest for a repeat in 2023-24.

"“I made the mistake of picking the Memphis Grizzlies last year to break through, and I’m going to do it again,” Ramona Shelburne said. “I love what they did in getting Marcus Smart [and] Derrick Rose to be the veterans in that locker room. Marcus Smart is going to be a good player for them.”"

Though such a prediction obviously can not be proven one way or another until the 2024 postseason comes underway, an early test to see just how worthy the Grizzlies are of receiving such praise could have, in theory, been in the form of a Christmas Day matchup.

Home/Grizzlies News