Predicting the final records of each NBA team
By Brad Rowland
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies keep rolling along, and in retrospect, it is absolutely amazing that Memphis was able to win 50 games last season when considering the injury issues for both Marc Gasol and Tony Allen combined with the overuse of Tayshaun Prince. Now, Memphis is healthy again, and Prince should cede playing time to the newly-acquired Vince Carter and the now-healthy Quincy Pondexter.
This should be a fun year in Memphis.
Marc Gasol is one of the best centers in the NBA, and when he was on the court last season, the Grizzlies were exceptional, with a 40-19 record against just an 11-12 mark without him. The 29-year-old Gasol will never be an offensive force, simply because he doesn’t want to be, but he is extremely skilled offensively in combination with a profile as an exceptional defensive player.
The rest of the core remains in tact, with the perpetually underrated Mike Conley and the always entertaining Zach Randolph anchoring the festivities. Neither player will blow you away at this point in their career, but Randolph’s game ages well based on his “tricky” assortment offensively, and Conley is one of the best defensive point guards alive while averaging north of 17 points per game.
Wing production is the biggest question mark for Memphis, but the Vince Carter addition is a huge one. Carter is a long way from his prime as a legitimate superstar, but at 36, he averaged 11.9 points per game on 39.4% shooting from 3-point land in Dallas, and he is an excellent supporting piece. It would frankly be a mistake to deploy Tayshaun Prince for any meaningful minutes, but with Courtney Lee and Tony Allen back, that shouldn’t be an issue for Dave Joerger and company.
Everyone sleeps on the Grizzlies, but they are healthy and Memphis will always defend as long as this core remains together. Pencil them in for 50-plus wins on a yearly basis until otherwise noted.
Projected Record: 52-30, 5th in West