Less than a week remains until the official start of the NBA season, and the Memphis Grizzlies look like a work in progress. However, the team has yet to play a preseason game with Ja Morant in the lineup, has gotten Jaren Jackson Jr. back earlier than expected, and has played without various other rotational players.
While the Grizzlies figure out how they will begin the regular season on a high note, their Western Conference counterparts on the West Coast are looking to rebuild. The Phoenix Suns' offseason consisted of trading Kevin Durant for Jalen Green and former Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks to trigger their new era.
With the depth of teams in the Western Conference getting stronger by the season, the Grizzlies shouldn't have much trouble holding off a team like the Phoenix Suns in the standings.
The Grizzlies need play to the level of their talent
The over/under win total for the Grizzlies is 39.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook, but a primary reason for that is the uncertainty of their injuries. Ja Morant has missed a lot of time in the last three seasons and is currently nursing an ankle injury. Also, Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke are both out to begin the season due to offseason lower leg injuries, which limits their center rotation.
However, the Phoenix Suns already have low expectations with a 30.5 over/under win total on FanDuel Sportsbook, and that's before factoring in Jalen Green's expected absence to begin the season with a hamstring injury. They already put more pressure than ever on Devin Booker to produce for the team, and that only got more apparent with Green's injury.
The Grizzlies are expected to be competing for a playoff spot, while the Suns are expected to be a lottery team. The problem for them is that the Memphis Grizzlies own the rights to their first-round draft pick next year. Memphis just has to live up to its expectations to hold off the Suns from catching them in the West standings.