Memphis Grizzlies: Apocryphal playoff cockroaches

The Memphis Grizzlies are the apocryphal cockroach surviving a nuclear blast, slogging to the playoffs for the seventh straight year despite numerous hurdles. And many of these hurdles were self-imposed. They force fed a damaged Chandler Parsons 675 excruciating minutes. They juggled backup point guards at nearly the same rate as the previous injury-ravaged campaign. And they lost a combined three games to the tanking Lakers and last place Nets.

However, despite the obstacles, they’ve leaned on their age and experience grit to go 9-6 against the Warriors, Spurs, Rockets and Jazz. Mike Conley and Marc Gasol are both having career offensive seasons. Vince Carter, at age 40, has had yet another late career resurgence. The Grindfather himself, Tony Allen, leads the NBA in both deflections per 100 possessions and contested rebounds per 100 possessions among players under 6-foot-7 at the age of 35. But if the Grizzlies fizzle out against the Spurs in the first round, is the season a success?

To help answer that question, Matt Moore (@HPBasketball) from CBS Sports and the Eye on Basketball podcast joins the latest episode of Fastbreak Breakfast. Have the offensive improvements from Conley and Gasol hurt their defense? How has Coach Fizdale performed in his first season? And should the Grizzlies attempt a full rebuild at some point in the near future?

Also, Matt comments on the attitude around the Nuggets, as the Trail Blazers, aided by Jusuf Nurkic, passes them in the playoff race.

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