Joe Mullinax here, the host of the daily Locked On Grizzlies podcast, with your daily Locked On Grizzlies newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Grizzlies and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
The Memphis Grizzlies are NBA Finals Contenders
Nov 20, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins reacts during a time out during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas/Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
It is hard to say that a team currently in the play-in conversation in the NBA’s Western Conference is a true contender for the league’s championship round. It defies logic - no, a team that would barley make the old version of the postseason if the season ended today should not be considered a real title threat.
But here we are on this Friday, prepared to make that argument. The Memphis Grizzlies - the 9-7 Memphis Grizzlies - should be in the conversation among the league’s best.
Why? For starters, the numbers suggest it. Memphis’ +6.8 efficiency differential is 8th best in the entire NBA per Cleaning the Glass - the best mark of the Taylor Jenkins era so far. Perhaps more importantly, their production is consistent on both the offensive and defensive end. Their offensive efficiency is 7th in the league, and their defensive efficiency is 5th through 16 games.
The Dallas Mavericks (5th in offensive efficiency, 7th in defensive efficiency).
That’s it. That’s the list. Some squads are close (Cleveland and Houston, specifically). And of course the Oklahoma City and Boston rosters are stout. But none of those four teams - nor the New York Knicks, nor the Golden State Warriors - boast a top-7 offense AND defense in terms of efficiency.
The Mavericks do. As do the Memphis Grizzlies.
The difference, though? The Memphis Grizzlies have played a whopping 13 players at least 120 minutes so far this season. In fairness, the Golden State Warriors have as well (by design). But at 11-3, the Warriors are widely accepted as a bounce back candidate this year. They’re seen as the best in the Western Conference!
Are the Memphis Grizzlies? No...not yet. But they should be.
For the team will eventually see Ja Morant return. And Zach Edey. And Vince Williams Jr. Hell, the 13 player criteria doesn’t even include GG Jackson, the young star who figures to be in the Memphis rotation full-time once back.
Their 13 man battalion has been more out of necessity than choice. But it’s been a true measure and signal of their depth. The team is playing faster than ever before (2nd in the NBA in pace). And yet they have not sacrificed their calling card in the Jenkins Era of defense while scoring at an impressive clip.
And that’s with Ja Morant missing multiple games. And Marcus Smart missing multiple games. And Desmond Bane mi....you get the picture.
The fun thing for Grizzlies fans - and the terrifying thing for the rest of the NBA - is we have no idea how good Memphis can be. Other teams will improve, sure - both internally and externally. But between the injuries and the mix of contract value and draft capital, no team is better set up to get better as the season grinds forth than the Grizzlies.
Anything can happen. After all that has transpired the last 20 months - an NBA Finals appearance?
They’ve had close wins, technical wins, nail-biters and blow-outs; they’ve (reportedly) turned down superstars and and currently sit third in the west with a record of 11-5 — In a Western Conference finally coming alive, can the Houston Rockets keep this up?
The Rockets are on pace to tie or surpass the franchise’s win record of 64, set by a team led by James Harden in 2017-2018. It was Harden’s — and all the failed years of being in the running for title contention — ghost that still hung over the franchise as recently as last season, no matter that Harden himself has been part of three different rosters since he sulked his way out of Houston. Everything from the Rockets brand of basketball to the team’s waylaid trajectory back into competition had been set and then upended by him.
It was something of an exorcism then, that Houston handily beat Harden’s current team, the Clippers, in back-to-back games this week.
What feels especially lasting about the winning pace the Rockets have set is that there’s plenty room for the team to improve. Houston’s sitting at 25th overall in field goal percentage, 27th in three-point percentage, and is still claiming the ninth overall offensive ranking in the league. Their starters have all been shooting well below their career bests, and yet, nothing about the Rockets’ wins have looked harried.
For a team that has an average of just four years NBA experience between them, there’s a wealth of patience. When the Rockets have been pressed this season, or teams like the Pacers and Bulls have tried to rush them with pace, they fall back on snapping passes and sinking into ball movement. There are still sequences of ISO ball and flubbed defensive rotations, but Houston has leaned into their transitions as opportunities to reset. No doubt in part to having the always unflappable Fred VanVleet driving this thing, plus the veteran offensive ballasts of Jeff Green and Dillon Brooks.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Analysis The Grizzlies exhibit remarkable resilience in back-to-back games, attributed to strategic rotations and a tenacious playing style. This analysis dives deep into the factors that make them formidable in such scenarios.
Injury The Grizzlies’ coach has provided an injury update on Zach Edey, highlighting the player’s status and potential impact on the team.(Sports Illustrated)
Legacy Will NBA expansion bring the SuperSonics back to Seattle? Find out. (The Athletic)
Biz Amid their early-season tank, the Sixers expected to scour the trade market for power forwards. (Real GM)
Shopping
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Franz Wagner A First Round Fantasy Basketball Player?
Nov 21, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) celebrates with guard Jalen Suggs (4) after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers with a 3-point basket with 2.5 seconds left in the game at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
The Orlando Magic edged out the LA Lakers with a 119-118 victory. The game was a showcase of talent and strategy, with the Magic overcoming a deficit to secure the win. Franz Wagner was the standout performer, continuing his impressive form with a stellar 37 points, six rebounds, and 11 assists. His all-around game, including four steals and four threes, solidified his status as a top fantasy asset. Wagner’s recent performances have elevated him to first-round value in fantasy leagues, making him a potential sell-high candidate, though his current form might make holding onto him equally appealing.
Dalton Knecht’s Role and Performance
Dalton Knecht played a significant role for the Lakers, logging the most minutes on the team. While his 17 points, four rebounds, and one assist were solid, they highlighted the limitations in his fantasy profile. Knecht’s reliance on scoring and shooting efficiency means that while he’s a valuable asset, his contributions in other categories remain limited. Fantasy managers should monitor his role closely, especially as the Lakers adjust their rotations.
Anthony Black’s Consistency Concerns
Anthony Black’s performance was less consistent, with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists on 25% shooting. While his recent games have shown flashes of potential, this outing underscores the volatility in his production. Fantasy managers who picked up Black for his upside should consider holding him through the Magic’s favourable schedule but remain cautious about his long-term consistency.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Grizzlies podcasts.
Desmond Bane responds, Taylor Jenkins becomes all-time Grizzlies coaching wins leader After a bad performance vs Denver, Desmond Bane had one of his best games of the season against the Denver Nuggets. In this episode, host Damichael Cole discusses Bane’s performance, Taylor Jenkins making history and Jaren Jackson Jr.'s continued evolution.
Memphis misses shots, opportunity to secure first NBA Cup win The Grizzlies were ice cold from beyond the arc Tuesday night in their loss to the Denver Nuggets. Their best shooter, Desmond Bane, was the biggest culprit. How does Memphis get right ahead of a game against a desperate Philadelphia 76ers squad? Host Joe Mullinax discusses that and more on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
Is Taylor Jenkins the greatest Memphis Grizzlies coach in franchise history? Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins is one win away from becoming the all-time winningest coach in franchise history. In this episode, co-hosts Damichael Cole and Joe Mullinax discuss where Jenkins ranks amongst all-time Grizzlies coaches, plus injury updates on Ja Morant, Zach Edey and Cam Spencer.
