The Memphis Grizzlies are currently on a six-game winning streak, their longest since March of the 2022-23 season. Their current streak doesn't include a win over a team with a winning record but they won each game by double digits except one game against the Philadelphia 76ers, which started the streak.
The new NBA power rankings seemed to value teams with a tougher schedule over the Grizzlies despite their dominance and injury management. As the Grizzlies prepare to put their winning streak on the line against a team ahead of them in the new power rankings, here is where they're ranked this week.
NBA.com: 9th
After ranking 10th in last week's NBA.com power rankings, they only rose up one spot after going 4-0 last week. Currently sitting third in the Western Conference standings, the Grizzlies remained behind teams they have surpassed like the Golden State Warriors (8th), Los Angeles Clippers (6th), and Dallas Mavericks (5th).
One of NBA.com's takeaways was the Grizzlies' strength of schedule and their time spent at home as 13 of their 21 games have been at the FedExForum. Also, each of their six wins in their current win streak has come against opponents that are at least three games under .500 as it stands today.
Other notes included the return of Ja Morant and Marcus Smart and how their effectiveness has taken the team to new heights in their recent play. Smart has been great in a bench role and the big three of Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. have been as good as advertised in their limited time playing together this season (63 total minutes).
ClutchPoints: 6th
The Grizzlies got a little more love in the ClutchPoints NBA power rankings as they only ranked behind the teams that are ahead of them in the Western Conference standings in the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. The other three teams ranked ahead are Eastern Conference foes the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics, whom the Grizzlies play later this week.
Ranking three spots ahead of last week's curve meant that ClutchPoints respects the Grizzlies' six-game win streak and much was said about it in their verbiage. The Grizzlies are the only team in the NBA to have a top-six offensive and defensive rating while eight players are averaging at least 10 points per game.
With Ja Morant back healthy, the Grizzlies are poised to make some noise in the Western Conference and have made the push to the top three in the West with only a 1.5 cushion between them and the first-place Thunder. Their matchups against the Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings, and Boston Celtics this week will give them a better test against good competition that will help their standing among the NBA's elite.