Season Predictions
Regular Season: The Grizzlies, though overlooked, have the third-best record in the league and that doesn’t figure to change anytime soon. The “Grit ‘n Grind” as they’ve been called has been exactly that, with excellent defensive play lead by star PG Mike Conley and Defensive Player of the Year-frontrunner superstar C Marc Gasol, as well as others. Forwards Jeff Green and Zach Randolph carry a large portion of the scoring load on offense, though Gasol and Conley are still the team’s leading scorers, with a lot of Randolph’s contributions coming from his rebounding. Also boasting a flurry of defenders and three-point shooters on the wing, this team is legit. Don’t overlook them, especially if they’re able to pull through with a record like this in a stacked division in a stacked conference.
Projected Record: 57-25
Playoffs Round One
Memphis Grizzlies (#2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (#7)
Hey look! It’s the battle of the overlooked teams that nobody thinks will succeed or likes watching, yet always gets proved wrong by! This is more true for the Spurs, but still applies both ways. San Antonio has been a consistently dominant team for quite a few years now, despite always getting written off and never really boasting a true superstar. Memphis has one in Gasol, however, and still has a second-unit that’s almost as good as San Antonio’s, while also having team chemistry that’s almost as good as the defending champion’s. The Grizzlies’ starting five is significantly better, and I know I’m sounding like every sports writer from the past decade, but the Spurs are looking a step slow this year, star PG Tony Parker in particular. It’s not just stuff that genius Head Coach Gregg Popovich can cure. These are legitimate problems, and against a legitimate team.
Series Prediction: Memphis wins 4-3
Playoffs Round Two
Memphis Grizzlies (#2) vs. Houston Rockets (#3)
This is an exciting matchup, and as the entire lower half of the Western Conference bracket were teams from the Southwest Division, we get some sort of division rivalry here. Gasol vs. superstar C Dwight Howard is sure to be a thrilling matchup down low, as is whoever the Rockets throw out at power forward, likely Josh Smith, vs. Randolph. Rockets PG Patrick Beverley should be able to hold his own guarding against Conley, SF Trevor Ariza can guard pretty much anybody and stretch the floor, and this all leaves the door open for my MVP vote superstar SG James Harden to take over this series. If the defensive stalwarts surrounding him -- Beverley, Ariza, Smith, Howard and other off the bench in a fantastic second-unit-- can contain the Grizzlies offense, then this is just Harden’s series. SG Tony Allen should be able to do a lot to contain him for Memphis, but there’s just no stopping Harden, who is the league’s leading scorer this season. If the Grizzlies can’t get things going on offense and can’t contain Harden, since they’re second-unit is at most equal, they’re going to have a tough time winning this series despite their “Grit ‘n Grind” style of excellent defense and rebounding.
Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-3
Regular Season: The Grizzlies, though overlooked, have the third-best record in the league and that doesn’t figure to change anytime soon. The “Grit ‘n Grind” as they’ve been called has been exactly that, with excellent defensive play lead by star PG Mike Conley and Defensive Player of the Year-frontrunner superstar C Marc Gasol, as well as others. Forwards Jeff Green and Zach Randolph carry a large portion of the scoring load on offense, though Gasol and Conley are still the team’s leading scorers, with a lot of Randolph’s contributions coming from his rebounding. Also boasting a flurry of defenders and three-point shooters on the wing, this team is legit. Don’t overlook them, especially if they’re able to pull through with a record like this in a stacked division in a stacked conference.
Projected Record: 57-25
Playoffs Round One
Memphis Grizzlies (#2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (#7)
Hey look! It’s the battle of the overlooked teams that nobody thinks will succeed or likes watching, yet always gets proved wrong by! This is more true for the Spurs, but still applies both ways. San Antonio has been a consistently dominant team for quite a few years now, despite always getting written off and never really boasting a true superstar. Memphis has one in Gasol, however, and still has a second-unit that’s almost as good as San Antonio’s, while also having team chemistry that’s almost as good as the defending champion’s. The Grizzlies’ starting five is significantly better, and I know I’m sounding like every sports writer from the past decade, but the Spurs are looking a step slow this year, star PG Tony Parker in particular. It’s not just stuff that genius Head Coach Gregg Popovich can cure. These are legitimate problems, and against a legitimate team.
Series Prediction: Memphis wins 4-3
Playoffs Round Two
Memphis Grizzlies (#2) vs. Houston Rockets (#3)
This is an exciting matchup, and as the entire lower half of the Western Conference bracket were teams from the Southwest Division, we get some sort of division rivalry here. Gasol vs. superstar C Dwight Howard is sure to be a thrilling matchup down low, as is whoever the Rockets throw out at power forward, likely Josh Smith, vs. Randolph. Rockets PG Patrick Beverley should be able to hold his own guarding against Conley, SF Trevor Ariza can guard pretty much anybody and stretch the floor, and this all leaves the door open for my MVP vote superstar SG James Harden to take over this series. If the defensive stalwarts surrounding him -- Beverley, Ariza, Smith, Howard and other off the bench in a fantastic second-unit-- can contain the Grizzlies offense, then this is just Harden’s series. SG Tony Allen should be able to do a lot to contain him for Memphis, but there’s just no stopping Harden, who is the league’s leading scorer this season. If the Grizzlies can’t get things going on offense and can’t contain Harden, since they’re second-unit is at most equal, they’re going to have a tough time winning this series despite their “Grit ‘n Grind” style of excellent defense and rebounding.
Series Prediction: Houston wins 4-3