So you want to become a Memphis Grizzlies fan...

[Grizz]

Let's face it. Things are not going well in Nashville. The Titans are rebuilding, and the Predators are a depressing disaster. Hope might be coming after the draft. The Predators might find a way out of their funk next season (can you fix slow and old?). I'm not expecting either of these teams to win anytime soon. 

 

So why not turn our attention west? The Grizzlies are currently 3rd in the Western Conference and play an awesome style of basketball. The ethos of this team is two parts Steve McNair one part CJ2K with a sprinkle of Pacman Jones. Read on to learn about the chances for a title in Memphis and the team itself. 

 

If you don't care or don't want to wade through this post, I would just recommend checking them out. The Grizzlies are broadcasting five games for free in Nashville and Knoxville (and Memphis). Also, there is a seismic game this Wednesday on ESPN--Grizzlies vs Thunder

 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The Memphis Grizzlies, Gray Media, and FanDuel Sports Network will simulcast five upcoming Grizzlies games this season that will be broadcast in Tennessee’s three largest media markets, Memphis, Nashville, and Knoxville. This partnership will provide fans with a variety of options to watch and cheer on Tennessee’s only NBA franchise, the Memphis Grizzlies, including free, over-the-air broadcast television.

 

The broadcast schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, March 12th at 7:00 p.m. CT/8:00 p.m. ET | Grizzlies vs Utah Jazz 

Saturday, March 15th at 7:00 p.m. CT/8:00 p.m. ET | Grizzlies vs Miami Heat 

Thursday, March 27th at 7:00 p.m. CT/8:00 p.m. ET | Grizzlies at Oklahoma City Thunder 

Tuesday, April 1st at 7:00 p.m. CT/8:00 p.m. ET | Grizzlies vs Golden State Warriors 

Sunday April 13th at 2:30 p.m. CT/3:30 p.m. ET | Grizzlies vs Dallas Mavericks 

In Memphis, Gray will broadcast the games free, over-the air on WMC-TV, Action News 5 channel 5.1. and simulcast on WMC-TV Plus, channel 5.3.

 

 

If you do end up becoming interested, NBA league pass is a lot cheaper than Sunday ticket (and NBA streams are pretty easy to find). 

 

The NBA is in the middle of an incredible season. I'd rate four teams as tier A contenders: Cleveland, OKC, Boston, and Denver. In the East, Cleveland is the clear front runner. Last night was an absolute statement game that made that clear--they went into Boston and beat the Celtics after Boston started on a 25-3 run and Tatum yelled "get the fuck out of here". The Cavs did get the fuck out of there with a W. 

 

In the West, OKC looks like the best team in the league with an embarrassment of depth and SGA--the likely MVP and the closest thing from a stylistic standpoint to MJ in the league right now. Denver is also heating up and has the other guy who is deserving of the MVP every season--an all-time great in his peak--the Joker. 

 

The Grizzlies are in the 2nd tier of teams, legitimate contenders. The teams I put in this category are the Knicks and Bucks in the East and the Lakers and Grizzlies in the West. You can make an argument for other teams, including Golden State (I am a hater) and teams like the Pacers, Pistons, Clippers, Rockets, and Mavericks but I don't believe in any of those teams. 

 

So what makes the Grizzlies worth following? 

 

This team is exciting, has a unique style, a unique star, and is counter to the things I think people dislike about the NBA right now. 

 

First of all, the talent is young and homegrown. There is arguably some asset mismanagement and some trade moves that did not pan out, but Memphis just had to salary cut because they have a wealth of talent that will need to get paid. If you are traumatized about the Titans drafting poorly and trading away the talent they do draft, or the Predators trading away a generational prospect in net, the Grizzlies will offer you a safe haven of good drafting and are committed to keeping young talent. 

 

The core of the team--Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson, and Desmond Bane all bring something different to the table. If you haven't watched a Ja Morant highlight reel spend some time on youtube. He does something spectacular every single game, multiple times. His passing is improving, but watch a game late in the fourth quarter when he wills the team to a basket offer and offer and navigates the paint with wizardry that defies his size. 

 

This is not even mentioning the dunks. Go watch a highlight reel of those. Or watch him posterize Wemby. 

 

Ja is not even the best player on the team. That falls on Jaren Jackson's shoulders, who is having yet another massive season. A defensive player of the year, his offensive game has also greatly improved. These two are able to bully and score inside. 

 

The Grizz also shoot the three well, rebound well, and run a fun system. Bane as the third top guy is an excellent secondary scorer and an antagonist that can defend across positions. 

 

The staring five is rounded out by two rookies--Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells. Edey was a college mega star that no one believed in---so far he's been a fantastic addition to the rotation. Wells was a massive hit in the second round, and is the steal of the draft.

 

Other young homegrown talent is fun to watch: Vince Williams, Santi Aldama, and GG Jackson have incredible upside and already play a key role. Guys like Luke Kennard, Brandon Clarke, Scottie Pippen Jr., and Jay Huff add a lot to the roster and are solid depth.  

 

We also have Yuki Kawamura, who doesn't really play but brings the Japanese fanbase to Memphis. 

 

Hopefully this thread will be a start of some converts to Memphis fandom and you will consider giving the Grizzlies a chance--and be a place to discuss all things Grizzlies. 

 

[headhunter]

They're always a tough and gritty team that is more of an inside game than outside. JJ is definitely the franchise you build around its crazy how efficient he is, he just needs to rebound better. But after watching them in person Ja is the most physically talented on the court and that's the case whoever they face. I do wonder if that blurb of him possibly getting traded has some merit. He does miss games.

I do like that they draft well and keep their young talent. I think some fans are tired of Jenkins though, his defense calls are not good. After watching them in person and how fun the arena is I'm a big fan. 

Edited March 2 by headhunter

[headhunter]

Following the NBA takes some adjustment from a fan standpoint. Can't always go by the stat sheet and it requires way more patience. It takes years and years for big guys to develop it's almost like a mix between baseball and football. And the NBA salary, cap space, expiring is such a huge difference the NFL. I do like that the grizz are able to keep their core 3 and they do draft well so they hopefully should be a playoff team for years 

[headhunter]

@Grizz besides resisting their 6rh man forgot his name and extending JJ the supermax do you think they'll be able to sign Myles Turner or are they just sticking with what they have?

[Grizz]

1 hour ago, headhunter said:

@Grizz besides resisting their 6rh man forgot his name and extending JJ the supermax do you think they'll be able to sign Myles Turner or are they just sticking with what they have?

 

I think they are staying home grown for sure, but will always be in on wing players. They tried hard to get OG Anunoby, Miles Bridges, and were interested and in on Jimmy Butler. So I think Kleinman would look for that kind of player. 

 

When KD becomes available, he'll be an intriguing wild card but I don't see us going after him. Even in these deals, Memphis has proven to be reticent to dealing young players. 

 

So I think the team is mostly settled. Jaren, Ja, and Bane will consume most of our cap. They see Edey as the answer to the center problem. 

 

That said, with Kennard and Bagley expiring and Clarke expendable we could swing another move. We will need to resign Scottie Pippen Jr (he's also expendable I guess, but I like him). We'll still have a couple of season of Vince Williams and GG cheap and Edey and Wells on rookie deals is huge. 

 

From my perspective, they will be open but don't have a super glaring position of need as much it feels like C might be that. 

[headhunter]

@Grizz

What a worse time to become a new Grizzlies fan. They've lost 3 buzzer beaters in a row since I saw them in person, clearly my fault. What's going on?

[Grizz]

2 minutes ago, headhunter said:

@Grizz

What a worse time to become a new Grizzlies fan. They've lost 3 buzzer beaters in a row since I saw them in person, clearly my fault. What's going on?

 

Well, the game against Cleveland was incredible--toe to toe with the best team in the NBA--and Ja had a great look at the basket. Especially on the road, you should feel good about that one. Same against the Knicks--not as good as the Cavs, but a strong team. 

 

Spurs and Hawks are games without Ja and playing down a bit. The Spurs game saw Ja sit too and the team coming off a marathon with the Suns. That happens. 

 

The Hawks game saw Jaren go down with injury early on. 

 

So in each of those, they were missing two out of their best three. I also think the team was gearing up for OKC and maybe (wrongfully) overlooked those teams. I think it's alright to drop close games without your best players--I am only really annoyed that Jaren is injured (not sure how bad yet) and that the dumb Knicks beat us. 

 

The Thunder game is seismic. We will see what they're able to do, especially if Jaren is out. A lot of pressure on Ja. 

[headhunter]

19 minutes ago, Grizz said:

 

Well, the game against Cleveland was incredible--toe to toe with the best team in the NBA--and Ja had a great look at the basket. Especially on the road, you should feel good about that one. Same against the Knicks--not as good as the Cavs, but a strong team. 

 

Spurs and Hawks are games without Ja and playing down a bit. The Spurs game saw Ja sit too and the team coming off a marathon with the Suns. That happens. 

 

The Hawks game saw Jaren go down with injury early on. 

 

So in each of those, they were missing two out of their best three. I also think the team was gearing up for OKC and maybe (wrongfully) overlooked those teams. I think it's alright to drop close games without your best players--I am only really annoyed that Jaren is injured (not sure how bad yet) and that the dumb Knicks beat us. 

 

The Thunder game is seismic. We will see what they're able to do, especially if Jaren is out. A lot of pressure on Ja. 

Is Ja even gonna play?

[Grizz]

10 hours ago, headhunter said:

Is Ja even gonna play?

 

I think so. It would be pretty demoralizing if he didn't, even for a kool-aid drinker like me. 

[headhunter]

Just glad Ja played. Do you think the grizz will go after Myles Turner? @Grizz

[Grizz]

8 hours ago, headhunter said:

Just glad Ja played. Do you think the grizz will go after Myles Turner? @Grizz

 

Haha dammit headhunter, I am kicking you off the bandwagon! Just kidding. 

 

I don't think they go after Turner. I think Edey is more of a natural fit alongside Jackson. Someone like Nic Claxton is a bit of a better fit IMO, but I think the investment would be in more of a natural bruiser. I think they will be in the market for a wing truthfully. 

[Grizz]

Massive game on Friday. 

 

The Cavaliers are the hottest team in the NBA and are winning with a core four reminiscent of the Detroit Pistons team that owned the Kobe and Shaq Lakers. 

 

A win against them at home after an insanely close loss on the road (without Trip) would be massive. The past two games against Cleveland (at least the ones in Cleveland, because I was there) were incredibly testy and had bad blood. 

 

 

[Grizz]

Recent trends have revealed what this team is--I think we are a move or step up away, but truly are that close. The BC injury hurts, and it feels like such a missed opportunity that we couldn't swing him or Smart for something more. 

 

But we've never truly seen consistent ball from our top three over the course of a season. I don't buy into slumps one way or another, but the tiers that I have had these teams in all season really seem accurate to me--Boston, OKC, and Cleveland above the rest, with Nuggets right behind and then right behind them we now have Lakers, Knicks, and Grizzlies. I don't really see any outside of the top four as stepping up without everything going right and the back half of the NBA playoffs will be NASTY in the West. 

 

We've also seen a really hard blow with the Lillard injury affecting the Bucks chances. I knock them down a peg and place them with the Pacers (who I don't believe in). 

 

On the other hand, if Curry is healthy, the Warriors are looking like a team again with Butler. A team like Houston could draw them and what a nightmare that would be. 

 

Houston is currently #2 in the West--I will be honest, I just don't see it. Good and rising team, but primed for an upset. It would suck if they drew Warriors in round one.