Expectations
The entirety of Grizzlies fandom has been jubilant this year, and why wouldn’t they be? A team most experts predicted to finish dead last in the West was the first to surpass their expected season win total, currently sits in the playoff picture, has the front-runner for Rookie of the Year, and is an absolute joy to watch on a nightly basis.
This season has already been a massive success. Memphis’ front office has built an incredible foundation of young-talent and unselfish veterans. While making the playoffs would be an absolute triumph and is something the entire organization would love, that front office is still playing chess compared to the checkers going on throughout the rest of the league.
Their long-term goals can be perfectly summarized with the Justise Winslow trade. Sending two veterans who produced for the team and displayed tremendous leadership in return for a player who may, or may not, help the team this year, but almost certainly will in the future, encapsulates their emphasis on building something special for the long-run.
This is certainly not a referendum to punt on this season or lose hope on making the playoffs (I think the first four points can back that up). But if Memphis were to, unfortunately, lose that “Race for the 8th,” Grizzlies fans can leave this season knowing they accomplished everything they set out to do this year, and exponentially more.
Embrace what you’ve already accomplished this season, Grizzlies fans, take solace that there is still a direct path to the playoffs, ignore the media hyping up Zion’s ROY potential, and please…stay away from that panic button.