While Memphis is sitting pretty in the top half of the Western Conference standings, the gap between them and the teams behind them is not big. Right now, the Grizzlies are ranked second, three games behind the first-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, but they are only a 1/2 game up on the third and fourth-seeded Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks, respectively.
Creating distance will be a challenge in the tightly contested Western Conference, so the Grizzlies have to maintain their high level of play, which includes winning 10 out of their last 12 games. There are some additional challenges the team will have to overcome to remain one of the top teams in the Western Conference gauntlet.
Rotation when healthy
The Grizzlies have arguably the deepest team in the NBA, as evidenced by their league-leading 48.2 points per game bench scoring. They also have seven players that average double figures in scoring and are second in the league in assists per game (30.2) along with ranking high in many other offensive metrics.
However, rotations will get tighter as the season continues and the games get closer against higher-level competition. GG Jackson and Vince Williams Jr. are the last of the rotation members remaining to return on an already 12-man deep team.
Coach Taylor Jenkins will be tasked with managing the egos and play of the current guys producing when decision time comes to choose who will play the most when the games matter more in the second half of the season.
Health of stars
After missing the first two games of the season, Jaren Jackson Jr. has played every game since after leading the team in games played last season. Meanwhile, Ja Morant has missed 11 games after only playing nine games all last season. Desmond Bane has also missed eight games after only playing 42 games last season.
Simply put, the Grizzlies need their big three healthy and ready to produce as the games get tighter. If all else fails with the remainder of the roster staying relatively healthy, keeping their big three healthy can offset that, and if the majority of their roster is healthy, their chances to win increase significantly.
Close games
The Grizzlies' sour end to the 2022-23 season was marred with late-game execution that was severely lacking. Ja Morant being healthy and out of trouble helps but an alternate option needs to appear from the other two of their big three.
Jaren Jackson Jr. had a moment in their win against the Celtics this season in the fourth quarter that provided a positive outcome for the team to look for in clutch moments. Also, Desmond Bane hit some clutch baskets in both of their back-to-back victories over the Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics earlier this month.
The big three will have to be just that for the team in clutch situations to help the Grizzlies reverse their 4-6 record in single-digit games this season.