“The game slows down in the playoffs.” It’s an old NBA adage that has persisted into many modern circles. With focus and energy levels so much higher possession by possession, the thinking goes, playoff basketball becomes more of a grind. Teams that thrive on pace and athleticism don’t hold the same edges they would over […]
It didn’t take long for Ja Morant to prove he had the talent to be special in the NBA. As a rookie, it was evident that he could be a franchise cornerstone, and he played well enough for the Memphis Grizzlies to take on a new identity that revolved around his play style. Then, Morant […]
Though the Memphis Grizzlies finished five games below .500 last season, they still exceeded expectations in Year One of the Ja Morant experience. In a season-long illustration of the team’s budding identity, the Grizzlies learned early lessons on how far Morant’s drive can take them. At only 21 years old, the second-year guard out of […]
In a season full of surprises, perhaps nothing is more shocking than the Memphis Grizzlies having control of a Western Conference playoff spot nearly 65 percent of the way through the year. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook set Memphis’s over/under for the 2019-20 season at just 27.5 wins; even though FiveThirtyEight’s RAPTOR-based forecast was slightly […]
Every NBA season has its moments. Some will dominate the “SportsCenter” conversation on a given night, like the Lakers’ hot start with Anthony Davis and LeBron James, and some will create longer-term ripple effects, like Steph Curry’s injury, and how abruptly the Warriors’ playoff hopes were tossed aside. But the best moments of a season […]