At 49-23, the Memphis Grizzlies have been the biggest surprise of the season so far. Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, Dillon Brooks, and Steven Adams have led a crusade in the West that has many convinced they are a real threat in the playoffs.
On ESPN’s First Take Wednesday morning, Stephen A. Smith did not hold back his praise for the organization.
“These brothers are young, they are athletic, they’ve got length, they go after it, they can hit perimeter shots, they block shots, they pass the ball, they are unselfish, they don’t turn the ball over much, there’s a lot of components that come to their game that justify the level of hype that they are particularly receiving at this moment in time. They are 49-23. They are the number two seed in the entire Western Conference, which we have acknowledged is loaded. They win games on the road, but they gonna have home-court advantage for the most part. All I’m saying is that this is a team to be reckoned with. And although I’m a believer in the Suns, and in the Golden State Warriors, the bottom line is the second-best looking in all of the NBA this year, are the Memphis Grizzlies.”
.@stephenasmith is in Memphis and isn't holding back praise for the @memgrizz.
“The second-best looking team in ALL of the NBA this year are the Memphis Grizzlies!" pic.twitter.com/IhUumq4mUI
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 23, 2022
The Grizzlies have been discounted for their age and inexperience. Truth be told, we’ve seen this sort of thing before, and it’s no wonder why some around the NBA are hesitant to give Memphis much faith.
Still, they are a team that has everything, and their consistency all season long could be proof that their record is no fluke.
“You want my first prediction?” Williams said on the latest episode of Get Up. “I think the Memphis Grizzlies are going to the NBA Finals. … CP3 being out this year for six to eight weeks with the hand injury. I know the Golden State Warriors are absolutely stacked, but I’m gonna tell you Ja Morant’s team is 18-10 vs. teams that are .500 or better. I think the Memphis Grizzlies are going to be there when it counts, mark it down, I’m saying it right now.”
Only time will tell how things end for the Grizz this campaign. With potential matchups against the Suns, Warriors, and Jazz, the road to the Finals will not be easy.
But with Ja Morant leading the way, it’s fair to say they have a chance against anyone, and nobody should be counting them out in the war for the 2022 Championship.
