Memphis Grizzlies revive Grit and Grind mentality amid hot run
The Memphis Grizzlies have been off to a hot run lately, which has allowed them to climb to the top of the Western Conference standings with a 19-10 record.
The Grizzlies have won seven of their last eight games and eight of their last 10, playing great basketball on both ends.
They now have six of their next nine games on the road, starting with Tuesday's game vs. a fellow title contender in the Denver Nuggets (18-11).
The current Memphis edition has already shown its title potential and has revived the Grit and Grind mentality that made the Grizzlies a powerhouse in the 2010s.
Memphis is ninth in offensive rating (114.1 points per 100 possessions), fifth in defensive rating (109.5) and fifth in net rating (4.6).
Only three teams (Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, New Orleans Pelicans) are in the Top-10 in all three categories.
Since Thanksgiving, the Grizzlies have lost only twice in 11 games (9-2) and were on a seven-game winning streak prior to Saturday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder (109-115).
"We’re going to battle": Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant reveals plans for this season
Memphis' 23-year-old point guard, Ja Morant, believes the team can "go out and win a championship."
“I ain’t that young,” Ja Morant told NBA.com about the Grit and Grind era. “I know basketball. Just a group of guys pretty much with the same mindset we’re trying to keep here, going out and fighting, pretty much don’t care who we face. We’re going to battle, play really physical, get out and run, very exciting.
"It’s just something we want to take on. Obviously, we’re a whole different team. Way younger. But the way they impacted this city and the game of basketball, we want to do the same. And go out and win a championship," the All-Star guard added.
With Mike Conley, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol leading the way, Memphis played 11 series in seven postseasons from 2010 to 2017.
During this stretch, the franchise reached the Western Conference semifinals twice and the Conference Finals once (2013).
Fast forward to 2022, the Memphis Grizzlies have re-emerged as powerhouses in the West with playoff appearances in 2021 (vs. the Utah Jazz) and 2022 (vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors) and are hungry for more.
This Memphis team, the Next Gen as they call themselves, has a deep and talented roster that can defeat any opponent and go all the way for the first time in franchise history.
The Grizzlies have been playing through injuries and adversity during their first 29 games, but they have stepped up and are now leading the way in the West.
“Everybody’s in good shape, a good rhythm,” Morant said. “As a team, we’ve all been feeling pretty much the same vibe. We’ve been saying it to each other. This is when we’ve got to take off and go on that stride that had us playing so well last year.”
Jaren Jackson Jr. missed the first 14 games with an injury, while Desmond Bane has been sidelined for five weeks with a sprained big toe.
Despite not having their preferred starting lineup on the floor for even a minute, the Grizzlies rely on team basketball and ball movement to cover their absences and win games.
“When you’re passing the ball and everybody’s involved everybody’s happy, playing with confidence, you see the team out there playing with such a joy,” Ja Morant said. “And it’s contagious, the ball moving around. I feel like that’s what the great teams do.”
"When teams face us, they've got to be ready to come out and play," Morant said before the Nuggets game. "We've got multiple guys who can go out and score the ball. If you scout us, you've got to name everybody on the list," the No.2 pick of the 2020 NBA Draft added.
Ja Morant leads Memphis in scoring (26.7 points) and assists (7.7) and has a great supporting cast around him, headlined by Tyus Jones, Dillon Brooks, Jackson Jr. and Banes.
Hence, the Memphis Grizzlies have their sights set on a championship run and are confident they can exceed expectations this year. With the Grit and Grind mentality and Desmond Bane set to return to the floor soon, who can bet against them?
