The Future is Bright for the Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies were ousted out of the playoffs last night. Their season is now over. Let’s talk about it.

The Grizzlies took a game from Utah, game one, but then Donovan Mitchell came back and the more talented team won. The Grizzlies, with last night’s game being the lone exception, kept all the games close. They didn’t get run off the court. They stayed in the games until the very end. Ja looked every bit the star I hoped he would become when they drafted him. Dillon Brooks proved he should get a big payday. And Taylor Jenkins looks to be the right coach for this team. I was a little down on this Grizzlies team going into the season because they played so over their expectations last year. They earned their trip to the bubble. They were very close to getting the eighth seed last year. Ja was the rightful rookie of the year. Then they fizzled in the bubble. I assumed that would spill over to this year. And it looked that way at the start. They dealt with COVID, injuries and poor play. They got off to a bad start. Then Ja hurt his ankle. I was ready to give up then and there. But this team put together a run, won the games they were supposed to, some they maybe had no business winning, Ja came back and they firmly put themselves in the play in picture. With a pretty much full roster, that’s when Jaren Jackson Jr finally came back. The team was full. They had the players they needed, and they played very well. They finished the regular season six games over .500 in the West. They had the nine spot in the play in. They went on to hold on and beat the Spurs, she then they went to Golden State, stifled Steph enough, and won to secure the 8 seed. Then off that high, they beat Utah in game one.

I’m never going to claim a “moral victory”. I don’t care for that term. But I will say this season was a successful one for Memphis, and I’m more excited for the future today than I was when they got bounced from the bubble last season. This team has the look and feel and talent to be a perennial playoff team in the West. They’re shrewdly better than Golden State, San Antonio and the lower tier Western Conference teams. I think, depending on what they do this off-season, they’re better than Portland. I think they’re as good as the Mavericks. If CP3 leaves Phoenix, I’d take the Grizzlies over the Suns. This season has me believing in them. It has me feeling like they’re, at the lowest, a perennial 4 or 5 seed as long as this core stays together. Ja is an absolute star. I am fully on board with my decision two years ago to rank him ahead of Zion Williamson as the best prospect. He was awesome in the playoffs, and when he hones his jumper, watch out. He’s going to be great for a long time. They need to re sign Dillon Brooks. He is a great defender, he’s a great shooter and he’s the perfect menace to have on your favorite team. If JJJ can stay healthy, he adds outside shooting from the front court, and he’s a strong rebounder. Xavier Tillman proved to be a great second round pick. He’s such a strong rebounder and defender, and he can hit the outside shot. Desmond Bane was well worth trading into the first round. He was a delight to watch this season. Jonas Valenciunas is an old school big man, but I like the way he plays rough, and he’s a good low post scorer and rebounder. And guys like Grayson Allen and DeAnthony Melton are great bench guys that know their role. Hell, they can keep Justice Winslow and Brandon Clarke and turn them into defensive specialist. I’d love that. I think this team is going to be good for a good, long time. They will lose some guys, every team does. But if they can surround Ja with JJJ and Dillon Brooks, this team will continue to play hard and win. They also have Tillman and Bane on rookie deals. Some of these other guys seem to genuinely like Memphis too. Maybe they’ll just stay knowing that they’ll be in contention every year.

Today I’m pleased to be a Grizzlies fan. I’m also hopeful. I love this team, I love Ja and they now have a fan for life. Now let’s hope they continue to trend up. I feel like they’re more than capable.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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