We’ve reached the first team that will win a ring this year without fully shocking the people: 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), could be a surprise. Zach Randolph is 33, and Mike Miller, a key floor-spacing shot in the past year’s underwhelming offense, followed LeBron James to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Scoring, as always, will be an issue for the Grizz.
However, this team will defend like mad, particularly with some 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 valuable wing defender who will run a pick-and-roll and hit the 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 within the last four decades. Nobody scares Memphis in the postseason.
If the Grizzlies can remain healthy and Gasol puts a significant year, they’re a dark-horse contender.
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