Two of the four lead guards remaining in the NBA Playoffs are one game away from making a trip to the NBA Finals. This season's MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, scored a playoff career-high 40 points and was one rebound away from a triple-double to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder in a pivotal Game 4 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves to take a 3-1 series lead in the West.
Out East, Tyrese Haliburton became the first player in NBA history to post a 30/15/10/0 statline after finishing the Indiana Pacers' Game 4 victory over the New York Knicks with 32 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds, and 0 turnovers. That game also gave the Pacers a 3-1 advantage over the Knicks, with Game 5 heading back to New York.
All of the teams remaining have something the Memphis Grizzlies haven't been able to overcome the last couple of seasons, and it is something that they have no control over.
Health from their top players
Ja Morant's descent down the point guard ranks is largely due to injuries, despite his impressive performances in the playoffs, similar to those above. His 47-point, 8-assist, 8-rebound, and 3-steal performance in Game 2 of the Grizzlies' second-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors to tie the series in 2022 was his version of what Haliburton and Gilgeous-Alexander just accomplished.
However, after scoring 34 points in a Game 3 loss to the Warriors, Morant left the game late with a knee injury and missed the final three games of that series, which the Grizzlies lost 4-2. This season, Morant left Game 3 of their first-round series loss to the Thunder in the second quarter and didn't return for the rest of their 4-0 series loss.
Meanwhile, Haliburton and Gilgeous-Alexander haven't missed a playoff game during their team's runs to the conference finals this season. To take it a step further, there aren't any notable players who are missing due to injury from any of the four remaining teams.
However, Grizzlies' top reserve big man, Brandon Clarke, has missed their last two playoff appearances due to a late-season injury. This season also included starting rookie small forward Jaylen Wells missing all of the Grizzlies' playoff games due to a late-season injury.
Injuries are part of the game, but a common theme of title contenders and teams that make a long run is health, and the Grizzlies haven't received that since becoming a perennial playoff team. With all the rumors and think pieces about players they need to acquire, maybe just a little bit of injury luck could propel the team, as they haven't had that, especially from their best player.