6 in a row for the Grizzlies

[hatfieldms]

Morant has turned into must watch tv. For a team that was supposed to be a pretty bad team this year the Grizzlies seem to be catching on much quicker than many thought they would

 

[DoomSlayer]

Certainly better than my Hawks although Trae has been hurt and Collins was suspended for 25 games.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

The Grizzlies had more highlights last night in one quarter than they did in a whole season in years past. Ja is a game changer for this franchise and the rest of the team is feeding off of him.

 

[Seinfeld]

It’s been nuts. Ja is playing like a future perennial all-star, JJJ continues to expand his game at a ridiculously young age, JV’s contract is looking like a complete steal, and the roster is loaded with valuable trade assets(expiring contracts).

It’s remarkable as to how well this group is already playing, but the franchise as a whole has a legit chance to be a dominant force for years to come. I read that they could feasibly be something like $80M under the cap this offseason, so they just need to cautiously keep building around the group that they already have

 

[seshomoru]

I had written this season off before it started as a year to let Ja and JJJ learn how to play together, learn what it takes to win, and for management to figure out how to piece a team together around them. But damn, here they are sitting at 8th in the West and are on a roll. This might get real fun.

 

[Seinfeld]

I’ve been listening to local radio shows talk for years about how the Grizzlies’ organization valued analytics more than any other front office in the league.

Granted, some of their current success can be attributed to a bit of luck, but a lot of their moves last year around the trade deadline really did feel like NBA moneyball. They were wheeling and dealing faster than I could keep up with, and by the time they were done, it was like... ok, what the heck are they gonna do with this group of guys?

Well, 6 months later, it at least appears that they knew exactly what they were doing

 

[Lowdog]

Not a real NBA fan. More of a college basketball fan. Basketball only sport i played growing up. But my son’s that lives in Memphis, his brother-n-law had courtside seats for years at the FedEx forum for the Grizzlies. His brother-n-law would invite me to a couple of games a season. He gave me a autographed game jersey by Marc Gasol.

I mean courtside side I mean courtside. One game I was at the official was running down the side court following the play and he stepped on my foot. During the next time out the official came over. I thought he was going to go off on me for having my foot/shoe too close to the court. Rather the official came over and apologized for stepping on my foot/shoe. I told him it was all good and it was my bad.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Courtside is really fun. I got to sit there a couple of years ago when they played the Rockets. The back and forth between Marc Gasol and James Harden was great. Harden NEVER. SHUTS. UP.

 

[Drebin]

I sat courtside, right next to the Spurs bench when the Grizzlies played the Spurs the night before the tornado hit. It was a lot of fun hearing pop cuss at his players.

The Grizz are very fun to watch right now. They're probably about to stockpile some draft picks with in-demand trade-able parts at the deadline (Andre Iguadala, Solomon Hill, Jae Crowder). Really their only miss personnel-wise was Marco Gudiric, who is clearly not ready for the NBA. They got lucky to get the #2 pick, but Ja Morant is a bona fide superstar. Brilliant trades have netted them De'Anthony Melton and Grayson Allen (who is much better than I expected). Tyus Jones was a great FA signing. And the earned a draft pick via trade that turned into Brandon Clarke, who might end up being the steal of the entire draft last year. JV is better than expected, JJJ is developing nicely, and they even have a former top five pick in Josh Jackson down in the G-League finding his game.

The biggest question mark for me is Dillon Brooks. He can really score the ball but he's very inconsistent and he dominates the basketball on the offensive end (that's the nice way of saying he's a ball hog).

The Grizzlies have a legitimate chance to be an elite-level team in the West over the next decade if they can keep most of this roster together and healthy. it's exciting.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I get frustrated with Brooks because he can be a black hole at times but to be an elite team, you’ve got to have a third scorer and right now he fits that. They are I think 21-0 when he scores 20+.

Melton is going to be a great role player and is still so young. He fits the mold of a great sixth man.


They did all that last night without Crowder. He’s definitely trade bait.

 

[seshomoru]

My only court side experience is second hand through my Pops who was courtside in Charlotte once when Garnett was with the Celtics and playing there.

His comments:

Not kid friendly when the arena is empty and you can hear what they said to each other.

Garnett could not possibly be a human.

 

[hatfieldms]

I have gotten to sit court side once before and it gives you a whole new respect on how athletic these guys are. It was back when Chris Paul was with the hornets. As small as he looks on tv seeing that guy standing a few feet away from you you realize how damn big he is. And they beat the hell out of each other while out there

 

[TrueMaroonGrind]

One of the most exciting times to be a Grizz fan. It's hard to tell what the new normal is, but this is really fun. Ja and JJJ are unbelievable. Can't wait to watch the rest of this year and the next.

 

[Meridian Dawg]

I go to a Pelicans game every year and always try to sit courtside. It is a totally different ballgame down there, and has really spoiled me. I got to see Rodney Hood with the Jazz, which was awesome. I've seen Harden play during his MVP season and he is just so much better on the offensive side than everyone else. Hopefully I'll get to see Zion this year

 

[Drebin]

One of the most exciting times to be a Grizz fan. It's hard to tell what the new normal is, but this is really fun. Ja and JJJ are unbelievable. Can't wait to watch the rest of this year and the next.

One rule that should always be followed, especially in baseball and basketball, is that you're never as bad as it looks when things are going bad, and you're never as good as you look when you're on a hot streak.

Even though the Grizz are in the #8 spot and competitive, it's still a bit unrealistic to me to expect them to stay there. They will go through another rough stretch or two. But what we are seeing is a foundation of something that can be elite in the next two or three years. It's going to be even better as they continue to stockpile talent and draft picks.

One thing not mentioned in this thread is the rookie coach - Taylor Jenkins. This guy is doing a great job with this group.

 

[KingBarkus]

I go to a Pelicans game every year and always try to sit courtside. It is a totally different ballgame down there, and has really spoiled me. I got to see Rodney Hood with the Jazz, which was awesome. I've seen Harden play during his MVP season and he is just so much better on the offensive side than everyone else. Hopefully I'll get to see Zion this year

I was fortunate to attend a Pelicans game courtside a couple of times. Once, behind the bench with the assistant coaches. That was a blind date and I could see her discreetly texting her friends rubbing it in. The courtside side was fun. Pelicans played the Sac Kings and Kosta Koufos kept a running dialogue with us. A guy 2 seats down started in on Koufos and Koufos thought it was me heckling him. I told Kosta to shut up and guard AD. Fascinating experience. The players would make their case to the ref in a respectful manner. The biggest crier was Zach Randolph. My God. Koufos shook our hands after the game. Cool guy. A tip. Don't be close to those things that shoot fire at the intros. The heat, man. Felt like a pork butt on the green egg. The athleticism of these guys is unreal. I hate AD for what he did to New Orleans, but it is almost inhuman to see a guy (up close) that size have the skills he does.

 

[Seinfeld]

Without a doubt, but one thing I’ve noticed lately about Dillon is that he is an absolutely ferocious defender as well. He did an amazing job on Harden the other night, and I think he probably only got that assignment due to Crowder being out, but there’s no chance that Crowder would’ve possibly done better.

It will be interesting to see what kind of money he commands this offseason because I’d love to keep him, but it’d have to be for the right price

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

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