You Should Absolutely Start Paying Attention To What Is Currently Going On With The Memphis Grizzlies

Michael Reaves. Getty Images.

When Ja Morant when out after playing just 9 minutes on 11/26, the Grizzlies ended up losing that game to the Hawks to fall to 9-10 and the 10 seed in the West. Seeing as how he's their best player, you could understand the thought that maybe the Grizzlies would begin to slide. What sucked about that injury was guys like Dillon Brooks had just come back and was starting to look pretty damn good, and in a loaded Western Conference you never want to try and survive without your franchise player.

Now I can understand if not a ton of people outside of Memphis are watching the Grizzlies, but that's why I'm here. Small markets deserve love too, especially when they are currently doing what the Grizzlies have been able to accomplish since Morant went out. This is not a blog about how the Grizzlies are actually better without Morant and they need to trade him. I fucking hate when the internet does that shit whenever a team finds a way to win without their best player. It's so lazy, but it seems to happen every single time. Instead, this is a blog about how the Grizzlies should have your respect and a look at how they've been able to overcome this hurdle.

Since 11/26, the Grizzlies are tied for the most wins in the NBA. They haven't lost a game since that Hawks loss when Morant went out. Over the last week or so, this team has the 7th best offense, the 1st ranked defense, and the 1st overall net rating in the entire league. It's not just that they are winning, they are never even trailing!

Over this run they've played SAC/TOR/OKC/DAL/MIA, now sit at 14-10 and in the 4 spot in the West with a 1.5 game lead over the Clippers. I don't care what you say, that's impressive and something I don't think anyone saw coming. So what's happened? Well all you have to look at is the solid roster construction and drafting the Grizzlies have had over these last few seasons. They aren't a top free agent destination, so their path to contention is to make sure they hit on the draft. Look at how some of their homegrown talent has stepped up with Morant out

Jaren Jackson Jr - 19.2/5.2/1.0 on 52/48% shooting with 3 3PM

Desmond Bane - 18.6/6.6/2.2 on 50/50% shooting with 3.2 3PM

Dillon Brooks - 16.2/3.4/3.2 on 40/20% splits with 1.4 3PM

Shit, in total they have 7 players averaging at least 8.8 points and 6 of them are in double figures. What you love to see as a Grizzlies fan I imagine is not only JJJ stepping up, but also Desmond Bane backing up his rock solid rookie year with a very apparent Year 2 jump. What a pick that ended up being. Tyus Jones has also stepped up in the point guard spot averaging over 7 assists to just 1.2 TOs. 

The Grizzlies were at their best during the Grit & Grind era when they were locking teams down. Well, they've held opponents to 101, 91, 79, 90, and 90 over those 5 straight wins. Sure, the Mavs didn't have Porzingis or Luka, and the Heat were without Bam but in the year 2021 to hold teams to basically 90 or under that many times in a row is nearly impossible. You have to think the goal of the Grizzlies was to simply tread water until Morant got back. Play .500 basketball and stay in the play-in/low seed conversation. If he comes back and they were jumbled with everyone else, you chalk that up as a win.

Instead, they've moved up the standings and have big head to head wins against potential seeding foes like SAC/DAL. Morant is talking like his return could be on the horizon

Who knows how long this lasts, but it's not like we're watching unsustainable basketball. OK, scoring 150 and beating someone by 73 points probably won't happen again, but everything else? Why can't that be real? I just wanted to make sure that the Grizzlies were given their proper love for what they're currently doing. Them being a small market team shouldn't mean shit when they are playing at a high level. If you can't respect a team that drafted well, has been even better at developing that young talent and now is doing some historic shit, well then I don't know what else to say. 

The Grizzlies have the second longest active winning streak in the league and are doing it without their best player. That's pretty cool.