Memphis had already been the biggest surprise of the league in the previous season, so their expectations for last season were quite big. Even though they had the #2 best record in the West during the regular season, the Grizzlies were eliminated by the Lakers in the second round of the postseason. Ja Morant was a disciplinary problem for them all year and they also had to deal with Jaren Jackson and Steven Adams’ injuries in the first half and in the second half of the season respectively.
The Grizzlies were once again a great defensive team and scoring on the inside against them was a tough task for their opponents. This helped Jaren Jackson Jr. being named the DPOY at the end of the season. On the other hand, Memphis searched on offense for transition opportunities and they just dominated close to the basket by having a huge vol% of shots at the paint and being one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the league.
2023/24 OUTLOOK:
Ja Morant will be suspended for the first 25 games of the season and so, the Grizzlies decided to trade for Marcus Smart during the offseason. In the process, Memphis lost their usual backup PG Tyus Jones. That was the biggest move that they made during the offseason. With Steven Adams healthy to start the season, the addition of Smart will likely make the Grizzlies once again one of the best defensive teams in the league. However, Dillon Brooks has left the team and despite his antics, his defense against the best Small Forwards of the league could be missed this season.
The biggest challenge for Memphis this season will be on the offensive end. Morant’s ability to push the pace in transition and his dribble drives moves were maximized by the presence of Adams on the court. Smart just isn’t this kind of player and so, he won’t be able to replace Ja’s impact on the team’s offense. The Grizzlies will likely have a bigger 3pts vol% rate this season and they will need to convert these shots, especially while Morant is suspended. Luke Kennard and Desmond Bane are elite shooters and Memphis will badly need them during the first 25 games of the regular season.
