The Memphis Grizzlies are the number four team in the Western Conference and first in the Southwest Division.
They currently have a record of 26-14 and have just won their seventh straight game.
Some of the defeated in that long line of victories include the Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Earlier in the season, they beat the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers (twice).
The Grizzlies are playing premium, non-stop basketball and have suddenly become part of the conversation about Finals contenders.
But do they have what it takes to climb to the top and push through the Western Conference Finals?
MVP Morant
You can’t talk about the success of Memphis without mentioning Ja Morant.
There is just no other way to say it: Morant is on fire lately.
In the last five games, he’s made 31 points, 7.2 rebounds, and six assists.
12 IS LIKE THAT 🥷@JaMorant x #NBAAllStar https://t.co/roq1ms6YMf pic.twitter.com/EIAhwyKQRd
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 4, 2022
Additionally, he’s been shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 61.1 percent from the three-point line.
But it’s about more than numbers – Morant has been playing lights-out basketball and has produced numerous highlight-worthy plays.
Morant created 22 points, nine rebounds, and six assists on Thursday night against the Detroit Pistons – all in just 25 minutes.
Those 25 minutes were a season-low for Morant but he still led the team in points.
Can They Maul The Competition?
Morant, Dillon Brooks, Desmond Bane, Jaren Jackson, Jr. – there are just a few of the stars who are making the Grizzlies into the Western Conference powerhouse they are.
gang gang. 7 of em. goodnight. pic.twitter.com/ZB3Tov209H
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) January 7, 2022
But can they really take out the teams at the top to make it to the NBA Finals?
The two best teams in the West are the Phoenix Suns and the Golden State Warriors.
So far, the Grizz have stayed competitive with both of them – winning and losing one game each.
The reason the Grizzlies have a chance against the Suns and Warriors when so many teams in the Western Conference don’t is their speed and size.
Memphis is a ridiculously fast team, just like Phoenix and Golden State.
Other competitors in the West, such as the Lakers and Mavericks and Jazz, just can’t keep up with the Suns and Warriors.
That isn’t the case with the Grizzlies.
In fact, some would say that Memphis is actually faster than those teams and can at times out-play them, even with Chris Paul and Stephen Curry.
And with the season Morant is having, many are saying he’s a better MVP candidate than both Paul and Curry.
They have speed, they have youth, they have a star point guard, and they even have powerful defense too.
This isn’t a fluke, the Grizzlies really are incredible this season.
It’ll be difficult for them to surpass both the Suns and Warriors to claim the West because both of those teams have much more postseason experience and a squad that has been there before.
But no one should count this team out.
With the way they’ve been playing, it’s not outlandish to imagine the Grizzlies winning the Western Conference Finals – or even the NBA Finals too.
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