NBA: Grading each team’s 2014-2015 season

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with forward Draymond Green (23) against the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates with forward Draymond Green (23) against the Indiana Pacers during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) and Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) during the game against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

B. <p>I’m in the tank for the Grizzlies.</p> <p>Memphis continues to buck the league-wide trend of “pace and space”, but they have executed their grinding system perfectly in another 50+ win season. To be honest, their current projection as the sixth seed in the West feels like an unjust fate, but injury issues for Mike Conley caused the Grizz to slow down wildly down the stretch and it cost them valuable positioning in the playoff picture.</p> <p>Dave Joerger and company deploy a top-5 defense, and the duo of Conley and Marc Gasol may be the best point guard-center combination in the NBA. Gasol is the most underrated superstar in the NBA (still), and even with a relative flop in the acquisition of Vince Carter (sorry, Vince), the Grizzlies have managed to stay afloat using their possession-by-possession approach to the game.</p> <p>As usual, the Grizzlies are a darkhorse factor in the title race, and they just continue to be what we come to expect. There is something to be said for that.</p>. 2nd. Southwest Division, Western Conference. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

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