Memphis Grizzlies Improve To 19-2 Without Ja Morant, Clinch Division Title, And Officially Transcend The Mundane
Michael Gonzales. Getty Images.
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Imagine my surprise to see the lack of discussion about the Memphis Grizzlies in this blogosphere. Sudden superstar Ja Morant is nursing a knee injury, and missed his 21st game of the season tonight. We're talking about a guy who's a shoo-in for the Most Improved Player award, and would've had a decent chance for MVP had he stayed fully healthy…
Except for the fact that…yeah…you can see the headline. THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES ARE 19-2 WITHOUT JA MORANT. And can you NAME more than three other players on their squad other than Morant? Well, guess what? They just won the Southwest Division crown tonight, and clinched the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference in a 112-111 victory in San Antonio.
Tyus Jones, once a star at Duke who's been relegated to NBA bench duty, started in Morant's place at point guard and put up a game-high 25 points, with five boards, six dimes and zero turnovers. Talk about running the fuckin' show.
This Grizzlies team doesn't even understand the gravity of its achievements. While the Warriors have flailed without Stephen Curry of late, and other would-be contenders in the West have fallen by the wayside, Memphis has shown the grit, hustle, and have seriously played like the most complete team in basketball outside of the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns.
Do you realize that entering Wednesday, Memphis boasted the No. 1 offense in the NBA with 115.4 points per game, and led the league in defensive rating since the All-Star break? Once Morant comes back and the Grizzlies have a legitimate go-to guy in crunch time for the postseason, there's no telling just how far this team can run.
It's time to give the Grizz some love. Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr., DeAnthony Melton, Brandon Clarke, Steven Adams you big, beautiful man — the list goes on!! Shout it from the rooftops!!! BEAR HUGS ALL AROUND!!! Congrats on the division crown, Memphis!