The Memphis Grizzlies went 2-1 last week after ranking 10th in the NBA.com power rankings and ninth in the ClutchPoints power rankings. They responded to another Emirates NBA Cup loss at home to the Denver Nuggets with back-to-back wins against Eastern Conference opponents, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Chicago Bulls.
The team has acclimated well to their various injuries but anticipates the return of Ja Morant and Marcus Smart for tonight's matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers. Marcus Smart missed all games last week due to food poisoning and Ja Morant missed the last three weeks with a hip injury.
As the team prepares to extend their winning streak with a four-game homestand this week, here's where they stand in the week 6 NBA power rankings.
NBA.com: 10th
The Grizzlies remained in the top 10 at number 10 for the second week in a row on the NBA.com power rankings. Ranking in the top 10 in offensive rating, defensive rating, net rating, and pace, the Grizzlies are considered one of the NBA's best with reinforcements on the way to ascend the team into elite status.
NBA.com's three takeaways highlighted how the team is scoring more efficiently without Ja Morant than they have with him, scoring more efficiently with Scotty Pippen Jr. off the court than they are with him on the court, and how they ended a five-game losing streak of games within five points in the last five minutes.
The Grizzlies have the NBA's fifth-best bench unit that will only get better when Scotty Pippen Jr. returns to it and one of Marcus Smart or Jaylen Wells joins him tonight. With the near-full arsenal back in tow, expect the Grizzlies to make a run to create some separation between them and the other Western Conference teams within their vicinity in the standings.
ClutchPoints: 9th
The Grizzlies remain steady in the ClutchPoints power rankings as expected coming off a 2-1 week after last week's rankings. ClutchPoints highlighted how the team has remained competitive on offense without Ja Morant in their last eight games, specifically in transition and on second-chance opportunities.
Their time without Morant created lanes for others to prove their worth and due to his time out, they have found rotation mainstays in Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jaylen Wells. They also pointed to how Scotty Pippen Jr. is being utilized similarly to how former backup and current starting point guard for the Phoenix Suns, Tyus Jones, was utilized in his time with the Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies is a team that is hungry and ready to take the NBA by storm again with Ja Morant and Marcus Smart's return tonight. A four-game homestand against sub-500 opponents with Zach Edey set to return at any moment has the Grizzlies in position to make their move up the Western Conference standings.