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