The Memphis Grizzlies took the next step this season, along with their young star, Ja Morant. Morant won the Most Improved Player award after the giant step he took into superstardom during the regular season. Memphis finished 2nd in the Western Conference in terms of record and won a series against the Minnesota Timberwolves too, before succumbing to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals.
And the 4-2 loss in the series came with a spectacular blowout against Golden State in Game 5, a game that had many questioning what Memphis might have achieved with their stars all healthy. Dillon Brooks missed time thanks to his suspension while Ja Morant was hurt during the series and missed the end of it as well. And whatever others may think about it, Ja thinks the answer is a championship:
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) May 23, 2022
GrizzHooping: “What watching this Warriors Mavericks series has taught me, is that if the Grizzlies were healthy we could’ve won it all.”
Ja Morant: *100 emoji*
The Warriors have beaten the Dallas Mavericks quite comfortably in the first 3 games of the Western Conference Finals, and it is increasingly starting to look like a sweep is on the cards. Their intense battle against the Phoenix Suns seems to have drained the Mavericks, and they even managed to lose a 19-point lead in Game 2 to end up in this position.
Speculation about what might have been aside, Morant would have been a factor towards the end of the series, and the Grizzlies had a chance to win the series with their play.
Whether they also would have had such a dominant performance against Dallas is debatable, after all, the Warriors core has more championship experience than any other team left in the playoffs. Ja’s confidence bodes well for Grizzlies fans though, and he can go a long way in making what he said come true next season.
