We’ve reached the first team that could win a ring this year without fully shocking the populace: the Memphis Grizzlies.
Rest guaranteed a championship for the Grizzlies, who barely made it into the postseason last season with a list of 50-32 (your 17th reminder the West is loaded), would be a surprise. Zach Randolph is 33, and Mike Miller, a key floor-spacing shooter in last year’s underwhelming offense, followed LeBron James into the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Scoring, as always, will probably be a problem for the Grizz.
But this team is going to defend like crazy, especially with a slimmed-down Marc Gasol patrolling the midst ahead of his 2015 free agency. Toss in Tony Allen, the NBA’s funniest perimeter stopper, and you have got the crucial components to get a league-best defense.
Vince Carter remains a valuable wing defender who can run a pick-and-roll and hit the occasional three, and Mike Conley is a playoff-tested fighter who just keeps getting better.
And keep in mind, we’ve noticed this Grizzlies core knock off the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder in playoff series over the last four years. Nobody scares Memphis from the postseason.
If the Grizzlies can remain healthy and Gasol puts a big year, they’re a dark-horse contender.
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