The Memphis Grizzlies are a championship-caliber team again
The Memphis Grizzlies have a chance to make history
Im trying my best not to be too excited about the Memphis Grizzlies even though that's my hometown team simply for the fact that I don't want to get my hopes up. It's hard to hold the excitement in especially with the playoffs right around the corner and we haven't been considered a playoff contender since the legends Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol, Tony Allen, and Mike Conley and of course the most underrated coach at that time lionel Hollins. Grit and Grind was the theme and it fit exactly with the type of players we had at that time. Before we talk about the new era we gotta talk about the era that paved the way for where we are today.
Zach Randolph was the one who would bang with the best of them in the post and in the paint to get the buckets. His Post Game footwork was fascinating to watch because it made up for the fact that he was not the most athletic player but with his size and determination he was always able to get his shot up over any defender. Zach was also the team's protector and nobody wanted to mess with him, just go ask Blake Griffin.
Marc Gasol was a shot blocker on defense and also was able to put the ball on the floor. He would also find a way to make these spectacular rainbow fadeaway jumpers as a 7-foot big man. He can also make passes from anywhere on the court and his mid-range jumper was basically automatic and surprised me if he missed.
Tony Allen is probably the most important piece of the Grit and Grind era and he defined it with defensive play. Tony was the hustler and the defensive anchor that could guard the likes of Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Lebron James, and also the GOAT Kobe Bryant and would give them hell all night and they had to respect him.
Mike Conley was our all-around scorer and shot creator. Mike Conley was slithery off pick and rolls and can get that floater in the paint whenever he wanted to. He was also the one that would hit big shots from three whenever we needed one. He controlled the pace of the game and made sure he always got everyone involved in the game.
The departure of Lionel Hollins still hurts to this day because it was basically the end of the Grit and Grind era. He crafted this team exactly the way he wanted and had them running like a well-oiled machine with the offense centered around going in the paint first and then back out to the perimeter. At the height of this Era, they were able to make the Western Conference Finals in his last year but got swept by the spurs in 2013 which would ultimately be his last year as the head coach, and the Grit and Grind era was gone in the wind and left Memphis fans yearning for that feeling again.
As we Fast Foward almost 10 years later and we have finally found that feeling again. The city is looking for a championship and this year could very well be that. This team is exciting to watch and With young players like Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr, Desmond Bane, Dillion Brooks, and Brandon Clark they should be poised to make a run. They can shoot, play defense, and get out and run with any team in the league right now. They are only getting better as the season goes.
Taylor Jenkins is our coach and in his third year, he has them locked at the number two seed in the western conference and has won his first division title also he should win NBA coach of the year. As a Memphis fan, I had my gripes about who we picked as a coach just because i was looking for a big name to coach us but no that is now how we work in Memphis, we build from the ground and he is a great representation of that. He has brought that winning feeling back to the city and he has my support. I believe he will coach the grizzlies for years to come and lead this team deep in the playoffs each year.
Let's discuss why we are really here and that's because of a player by the name of Ja Morant. He was the second overall pick in the 2019 draft and from that first year, he gave us that winning feeling again. He was on a mission to be the best and also make his teammates better. From his flashy passes and his willingness to try and dunk on anybody who is in the way, he let it be known that he will be around for a long time.
Now that he is in his third year, he is looking like a seasoned vet but in this case, he is just getting started. I honestly believe he should get the MVP because in the majority of the games he has played he was always the best player on the floor and could not be stopped. He has the ability to take over a game whenever he feels like it. After all the years of wanting a big free agent to sign with Memphis, we finally drafted one and we instantly made him feel at home.
In the end, Memphis has already shown that they are a championship-caliber team this season but now it's time for Memphis to show that they can also win the championship.
