The Memphis Grizzlies are currently tied for first place in the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets, boasting a record of 26-13. Ja Morant has been leading the squad through and through despite sitting out a multitude of games, including their most recent one against the Utah Jazz.
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With teams like the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors middling during this first half of the season, it’s been the Grizzlies who have consistently shown flashes of title contention. They would be 2 games away from the Western Conference Finals last season but lost to the eventual champion, Warriors.
The philosophy which Taylor Jenkins seems to have imbued within this Memphis squad is one from past iterations of the team, particularly the ‘Grit and Grind’ Grizz. As the team is made up mostly of players who haven’t even reached their late 20s yet, their energy for all 48 minutes of the game looks to be unmatched by all 29 other teams.
Xavier Tillman on the Jordan Clarkson ejection
Jordan Clarkson seems to love squaring up during games. He did earlier in the season and did so again tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies. Towards the end of the 3rd quarter with the Jazz down, Clarkson looked to swipe at the ball as Desmond Bane drove to the rim.
Instead, JC got a solid chunk of Bane’s head, leading to an immediate whistle. This was deemed unnecessary contact and as expected, he was ejected from the game. Before getting ejected however, he squared up with what looked like the enter Memphis squad, ready to throw down.
Following the game, Xavier Tillman took to his postgame availability to say that if Steven Adams was there, Clarkson would’ve been in much more trouble than he already was.
Would it have been nice to have *Grizzlies security* Steven Adams tonight?
“Maybe not for Clarkson,” Xavier Tillman said. “Because if he would have saw that, Steve-O would have gotten hot. He don’t play that s— about us. Maybe he’s fortunate that Steve-O wasn’t there.”
— Drew Hill (@DrewHill_DM) January 9, 2023
Memphis Grizzlies could realistically compete for a title
Culture is the least of the Grizz’s issues. It’s clear that with guys like Morant, Brooks, Bane, Adams, and the rest, there is a specific hard-nosed type style of play that they are going to be playing with night in and night out.
Their main issue right now is perhaps the best one to have as a team looking to contend and that’s that your best players haven’t taken to the floor at the same time all too much.
The lineup of Ja, Desmond, Dillion, JJJ, and Adams has played a total of 6 games together in 39 games played in the season. On paper, this is their best team as it offers a perfect blend of switchability, defense, spacing, and rim pressure.
