4. Memphis Grizzlies
As the surprise team in the Western Conference this season, the Memphis Grizzlies made huge strides in their rebuilding process. In fact, this team has arrived and will now factor into the West’s hierarchy at the start of the season.
There’s no more sleeping on Ja Morant or the Grizzlies. It’s unfortunate that Morant missed a good portion of their playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, which the Grizzlies eventually lost. I’m not sure if the outcome would’ve been different if Morant was healthy, but you never know.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Grizzlies handle the attention this season. They will be playing with expectations for the first time in a long time. Can they handle it?