Are the best days of the Memphis Grizzlies behind them?
On this episode of lock on Grizzlies de Michael Cole and I are back together we’re going to try to preview whatever this basketball game against the Wizards is going to look like tonight we’re going to talk about Lottery odds for the Grizzlies and the difference between sixth and seventh but we’re going to
Lead off with a hot take po potential are the Memphis Grizzlies losing their space in the west to the Oklahoma City Thunder it’s a hot potato China Tuesday here on locked on Grizzlies let’s lock in you are locked on Grizzlies your daily Memphis Grizzlies podcast part of
The locked on podcast Network your team every Day it’s such a hot take I’m over here bumbling and stumbling it’s been a while so nice to be back here on locked on Grizzlies I am your host for this episode Joe molx again it’s been a minute and it’s been a while since demichel Cole has been by my side D
Michel’s flown solo the last couple of episodes I appreciate to Michael you know I got sick in my house and then my kids got sick it’s been a crazy few days in the Molen a household but the Michael’s been holding down the forth and hopefully fingers crossed uh we’ll
All stay healthy and get through this week of Grizzlies basketball together here on lock on Grizzlies this episode is brought to you by Nissan are you the kind of driver that likes to push things a little further ever wonder what Adventure could be around the next Corner take the Nissan Rogue Nissan
Pathfinder or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure check them all out today at nissanusa.com we are proud members of the locked on podcast Network your team each and every day free and available wherever you get your podcast we are so happy to be on YouTube Amazon Spotify
Apple literally anywhere you get shows you can find Dem Michael and I here on locked on Grizzlies like comment rate review subscribe hopefully at this point you are an everyday which of course means that every time an episode of lockdown Grizzlies drops you are with to Michel and myself dichael again thank
You so much for holding down the fort while I’ve been out the last couple of days I know you’ve been under the weather a little bit as well but we’re powering through unlike some people on the Memphis Grizzlies roster and we’ll talk about that injury report here momentarily but unlike them we’re trying
To fight through the things that a us and uh continue to finish this season but as I alluded to earlier in the show to Michael I’m coming in hot to start off this episode to bring my return Joe when you come in hot it’s it’s not a
Normal hot you you’re like the Cheetos guy with the flame the Flaming Hot Cheetos you come in hot I have some Chester Cheeto Tendencies uh I’m not thin like Chester Cheeto but I do enjoy Cheetos like Chester Cheeto do does um I talked about on locked on now I
Believe it was on Sunday when the Grizzlies played the Thunder and on our episode of Locked on now a YouTube short that I drop after every game that the Grizzlies play you’ll get another one tonight after the Wizards contest whatever that’s going to look like and we’ll talk more about that I talked
About how for me the takeaway from the Thunder beating this version of the Grizzlies wasn’t that Oklahoma City won they should win they’re currently one of the best teams in the NBA a the Thunder are the team that have benefited the most from the Memphis Grizzlies falling off this season the
Key words there hopefully being to Michael this season right we are operating under the assumption that the Memphis Grizzlies are going to ascend once again pick what but what if that doesn’t happen what if not necessarily the window closing I think most rational Minds would agree that the Grizzlies are
A top six team at the very least least in the Western Conference when healthy they’re not a playin team they are a playoff team out west so I’m not saying that they’re going to you know tumble out into the lottery and the window is closed but what are the chances that the
Thunder are not going to relinquish this spot because eventually the Grizzlies will be close to full strength if not entirely full strength and eventually these two teams will clash and Memphis then you know two years ago is what the Thunder are now they even do the fun interviews next to each other postgame
Where they’re dancing and staring each other down my my whole life is consistent right yeah they they are literally doing their best Memphis Grizzlies Circa 2022 impression so my question for you to Michael as somebody who covers the Grizzlies for the Commercial Appeal there in Memphis Tennessee is their beat
Writer for that publication you see them consistently just about as much as anybody where are you at in that thought in my mind because I battle and and go back and forth on it on one hand I know Memphis is more experienced on the other
Hand the Thunder have a hell of a lot of talent and a lot of assets at their disposal to add even more potentially it’s going to be a pretty impressive battle if we ever see it at full strength do you think that the Thunder have passed Memphis by permanently or is
It just for now the thing about the Thunder team is you you mentioned it it’s the essence like they have the pieces you know Shay gilges uh and the complimentary players you know like the Lou dorts of the world but the Jaylen Williams you know uh Chad
Hram they have those guys but they have first round picks on first round picks uh they just I mean they just made a trade for Gordon Haber just because they got the cap space to do so uh you know but to answer the question I’m gonna
Pause a little bit on the idea that they’ve passed the Grizzlies but I think it’s a conversation I I I I do think it is a conversation because Shay gilges is that guy now right he he has that flavor that that we remember 2022 J having that was
The year J one most improved you know even though we were like what most improved but you know he he won most improved is he was really that good he was he improved a lot from the pretty good player that he already was uh you know the Grizzlies won 56 games tied
Franchise record then it was the Swagger right it was the you know telling LeBron James you know uh those footsteps don’t scare nobody it was the telling the New York Knicks you know I mean at Madison Square Garden jiren Jackson Jr and John Mor saying you know we run up the
Chimney you know we ain’t ducking no smoke it was the whole Golden State series it was the comebacks against the Minnesota Timberwolves the Grizzlies established themselves you know as as they had a firm identity I think you know some people may say well why we’re not talking about Minnesota you know in
The same light like it’s okay see in the Grizzlies because Minnesota in my opinion they’re Anthony Edwards but identity wise some things got to be figured out and there’s also a difference in the money being spent right Thunder are gonna be a second apron team as you alluded to Gordon
Hayward they acquired just because they could cap wise the Grizzlies are not anywhere near as financially invested as Minnesota is I would argue if not this year next year the Timberwolves have to be Championship cont Enders to explain the amount of money that they’re spending exactly so the case in point is
It’s OKC in Memphis World probably for the next few years in terms of two young teams in quote unquote smaller markets you know that that whole thing but uh they they both got a lot of assets you got John Morant you got Shay gilges you know you got uh jayen Williams you got
Desmond bang you got jiren Z J you got Chad hram like they line up side by side where OKC has an advantage right now is the assets where the Grizzlies have the advantage right now is experience and because of that experience right now I’m not ready to say oh they’ve surpassed
The Grizzlies just yet I need to see him go up head to toe against the Grizzlies and beat up on them for that to be the case because guess what we saw it in just nine games when when John Morant played those nine games he was motivated
The Grizzles were six and three in that stretch you telling me John Mor’s not going to come back with that same fire next year you telling me Desmond Bane you know after he’s been high fiving all these guys come to the bench down 20 points he’s not gonna come back with
That fire uh jiren Jackson Jr think he doesn’t want to win playing through all these losses like I’m not ready to say they’ve passed the Grizzlies but like I did tell you it is a conversation because there are similarities in how these teams were built up and the simple
Fact of the cultural aspect of it you know the flavor that they play with the the offc court interviews that that we mentioned you know uh Shay gilges you know one of the best fashioned guys in the league J Jackson Jr one of the best fashioned guys in the league all these
Similarities it is a conversation but right now they ain’t pass Memphis yet I need to see them compete similarly to Memphis in the playoffs before I actually entertain this we can say that the Thunder are the one seed because technically I I guess they are as of
This recording it’s them in Minnesota at the top of the Western Conference I if I am a team that is at the bottom of the standings if I’m the Los Angeles Lakers if I’m the Phoenix Suns if I’m somebody that’s going to be a realistic seven or eight seed in these
Playoffs do I fear the Thunder maybe you could argue by statistical analysis you know the way that SGA is playing at an MV you pick Lakers right now would pick the Lakers in six I think that would be my prediction well I I just again it’s very possible the
Thunder come out and shellack them and I go oh my God the Grizzlies are in trouble I need to see it first I respect the skill of Chad hren but I just can’t imagine a world where Anthony Davis doesn’t eat him alive in the postseason
Right like it’s just hard for me to Enis not dominating that match it’s hard for me to look at a Williams or an sgaa and then look at LeBron James and what LeBron still is doing at 39 years old as a grown ass man and not say you know not
Not that you know 22 23 isn’t being grown but you get my point right yeah it’s kind of the same thing that people said about the Grizzlies a couple seasons ago what are they going to do in the postseason well Memphis won Playoff series Memphis was competitive in the second
I think that if they do something similar to what Memphis has already done it’s more of a conversation I think the Grizzlies are kind of Forgotten because of the small Market aspect johnar and all the issues he’s had kind of souring a lot of the national media on him in
Particular as a face of the league I do think there’s a lot of redemption story arcs that could play out in the weeks and months and you know potentially year ahead and one of those things stay tuned for a future episode of lockdown Grizzlies when these two teams face off
And both teams are at full strength it’s going to be must C TV right now it’s a 30-point win for Oklahoma City and that’s just the reality of the situation when we come back here on lockdown Grizzlies to Michel and I are going to take a look at tanapon once again we’re
Going to talk about Lottery odds the value of picking sixth over seventh in the lottery and that sort of stuff we’ll talk about that next here on lockdown Grizzlies but first this episode of lock on Grizzlies is brought to you by better help this season has been challenging
For everybody that covers the Memphis Grizzlies follows the Grizzlies as fans whatever the case might be and when you look at the injury list as we’re going to talk about later on in the show it gets even more challenging it can really make you have all sorts of feelings even though it’s a
Sport and it involves a team and things that don’t seem as big as life itself sometimes we still need an opportunity to get things off our chest whether they are big or small therapy can be helpful for everyone it can also be different for everyone most of us have bigger
Problems than what’s going on with the Memphis Grizzlies but it’s important to get things off your chest every once in a while regardless of the size if you’re thinking of starting therapy give better help a try it’s entirely online designed to be flexible and suited to your schedule visit betterhelp.com lockon MBA
To get 10% off your first month that’s betterhelp hp.com Lockton NBA when we come back here on lockon Grizzlies talking tanon Lottery odds stick with us welcome back to lockon Grizzlies I am Joe molx joined by my co-host Michael Cole of the Commercial Appeal there in Memphis Tennessee W it’s
Nice to say that again it’s been too long hopefully you’re enjoying the show so far we’ve been talking Grizzlies Thunder needing to see it from OKC before we really get too concerned about the thunder passing Memphis by but I thought it was an interesting conversation to have after watching that
Game on Sunday night and now after that loss that puts Memphis firmly in the conversation in the lottery and we’ve talked about this a little bit before partner we’ve updated the lottery odds and that sort of thing uh the Grizzlies currently slotted in the six spot they
Are solidly there right the only team that’s really gonna maybe change is one spot up one spot down that’s important to understand uh that the Grizzlies are not probably going to fall past seven past the Thunder or excuse me past the rap and that pick is going to San Antonio
More than likely and they’re also not going to probably go too far beyond Portland maybe Memphis really cools off Portland goes on a winning streak somehow maybe Memphis moves up to five but there’s not going to be much of a jump between those two positions there’s a major difference statistically and
Matt Hard Lia over on patreon wrote about this I highly recommend you subscribe to Matt’s page if you don’t already do so there’s a big difference in terms of the odds for getting into the top four between picking at six or being in the lottery slot of six and
Being in the lottery slot of seven with Toronto right there there’s a massive difference and that difference is roughly you know I I’ll leave it to Matt’s article to go check out for the calculations it’s roughly a 133% difference in terms of getting in to the
Top four and having a shot at a top pick in this draft and the way Matt explained it is is if you had a 133% chance to improve your odds at or if you had the ability to improve your odds by 133% at potentially winning the lottery and
Becoming a millionaire would you do it and Matt argued yes so what are we talking about in terms of Memphis trying to win these games and In fairness to Matt again we’ll talk about the injury list here later in the show maybe Memphis subscribes to Matt’s patreon and
They’re like oh yeah that that’s a great point or maybe they just already agree with hard Lia on this um where do you stand with that Lottery idea I think the more honest response in this particular instance it’s it’s a back-to-back coming up tonight and tomorrow for the
Grizzlies they’re not going to play especially in this season jiren’s not going to play backto backs the rest of the year I think that’s realistic to expect uh do you think that they are paying as much attention as some fans or writers like Matt are paying attention to these odds they’re pretty analytical
Front office they’re pretty numbers driven they probably know that the odds are better and whether you want to take a top talent in that top four or if you’re like Matt to be honest myself maybe you explore a trade using that asset you obviously want the better shot
At that pick being better as opposed to not being as good but what is it worth to you yeah at the end of the day no matter you know if you no matter what you do with the pick uh you want to have the optionality of having that pick be
As valued as possible to have those options you know if you want to go out and get a veteran player that’s proven in the NBA uh saying hey I have the number four p is much better than saying I have the number nine pick you know uh
There’s a difference but uh yeah I I do think that the difference again s to six to five it’s it’s substantial especially with the way that the draft is set up now uh you kind of touched on it there but uh a lot of people probably who the
Grizzlies haven’t been down this far since the lottery odds changed I think uh Joe is that that’s right right they haven’t they haven’t they were they moved up in the John Mor draft in and they were E I believe when they were when they were in the lottery for that
Exactly so now with the way that it’s set up you know the the the first pick second pick third pick the odds are all similar uh from what is it around 14% uh for each of those selections so there’s there’s no great advantage to being you know uh the team projected to
To be number one two three when the draft lottery comes so uh with that being said I I think yes it matters you know uh when you talk about yeah jiren Jackson Jr not playing on the first night of back toback second night of back toback whatever the case may be uh
The Grizzlies know I mean you you’re right they’re analytical front office uh they’ll never admit it probably publicly for competitive reasons and and whatnot but the end of the day like uh I think at the this is what I’ve gathered myself I feel like they have a pretty much a
General idea of which guys bring something to the table from the standpoint of you know Vince Williams we’ve seen enough week we got a good idea what he’s going to be GG Jackson we got a good idea what he’s going to be you know the offseason is really going
To unfold some other things around this team but uh right now you know Scotty Pippin Jr yeah I want to see a little bit more of him Lamar Stevens I want to see what what he’s capable of but at the end of the day uh that draft pick is the
Biggest asset that the Grizzlies currently have in my opinion so having a better draft spot is crucial than winning any regular season game going forward and you have to learn a lesson at least in my opinion to Michael you have to learn a lesson from the Golden
State Warriors going James wisman at the number two overall pick when they had their Gap year now you can make you know you know the lesson I learned from that Joe they should have picked go ahead know you’re the lesson that you should take from that as well Joe is best
Available over need that’s my lesson from it I might have walked into that one a little bit that’s fair I’m sticking with my Fifi faam agenda although I did just bring up an example of that not necessarily working accidentally um uh but again the warrior should have traded that selection is the
Point that I should have made maybe you argue they should have taken you know lamelo and had the the pretty phenomenal when you think about a guard combination of Steph with him but at the same time the Warriors said they were title contenders and instead of trying to have
It both ways have their cake and eat it too build for the future while still contending for a championship you’re either trying to contend for a title or you’re not right and we had that conversation recently I think that’s where the Grizzlies are at if you think
Your title window is open you don’t worry about trying to extend it you know in 2028 and 2029 you think you can do it now go get it now and if they pick fourth or third or second first is different okay if SAR is there at number
One overall I don’t know that I I don’t know that I would have the guts to trade that if SAR is sitting there because again he fulfills both things right you could easily argue he’s the number one guy in this draft class and he’s 7 foot
One so he fulfills my F5 fum um requirement so let me add something on him real quick absolutely it’s we’ll we’ll get deeper into it on another episode but I’ve been looking at some scouting reports on him and uh I saw there was a comp recently they compared
Him actually to jiren Jackson Jr and if you look at the strengths of his game based on yeah not even just that report but a lot of reports are basically talking about how he is you know a modern-day big man and from the standpoint of you know not really brute
With in forcefulness and things like that but skilled you know like a guard and things like that then you watch them you see a lot of that too and is that what the Grizzlies need you know it’s it’s it’s it’s worth talking about eventually Joe the fact that we will
Have that if he’s jiren Jackson Jr light you know he’s also at least tall maybe not bigger than jiren but he’s got a couple of inches on him I I think again if the Grizzlies are picking at seven or six sign me up for Donovan kingan man and we’ll continue to have
That conversation Fifi fum till uh till the draft but at the same time if you’re exploring trading the pick there’s no denying being at number four or number three is better than being at number seven or number eight there’s just no uh denying that it’s a better asset and
Memphis has set themselves up nicely to have lots of options regardless what happens it’ll be fascinating to watch that continue to play out when we come back here on lockdown Grizzlies we’re going to try to preview this basketball game the Grizzlies injury report is like
10 or 11 guys deep we’re gonna do our best uh you know I think tyus Jones is coming back maybe we’ll focus on that here on lockdown Grizzlies talk about that instead but first I do want to remind everyone that lockdown has launched the first ever National Sports
247 streaming Channel on YouTube it’s also now available on Amazon Fire TV and the free Fire TV channel app lockon sports today is here for you 24/7 covering the top sports stories of the day with the local Experts of locked on plus our national sports covering every
League find locked on sports today now available on the free Fire TV channels app this episode of lockon Grizzlies is brought to you by Nissan are you the kind of driver that likes to push things a little further ever wonder what Adventure could be around the next
Corner our friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUVs with the capabilities to take your adventure to the Next Level think about the 2024 Nissan Rogue it’s perfect for City drives as well as Great Escapes gon are the days of connecting your phone Google Assistant Google Maps
Google Play Store are built right into a beautiful 12.3 inch HD touchscreen infotainment system the Rogue is the perfect midsize crossover for your next adventure maybe you want a fulls side SUV instead the 2024 Nissan Armada has a rugged 4×4 frame that can seat up to eight In First Class luxury and style
Whatever Direction you go the Nissan Rogue the Armada or maybe the Nissan Pathfinder perhaps you can go and find your next adventure via shopping nissanusa.com when we come back here on lockdown Grizzlies closing out this show trying to preview a basketball game between two of the worst teams in the NBA if that
Doesn’t make you want to stick around I don’t know what will welcome back to lock on Grizzlies I am Joe molx the King of B lead insta ads and I’m joined by my co-host Michael Cole of the Commercial Appeal there in Memphis Tennessee make sure you’re following him on X at the
Michael C follow me on X at Joe Mullen X to Michael you’ve got a busy night ahead of you the next couple of nights one of those home and home back to backs and I don’t envy you partner I’m gonna be honest okay all we can be is honest with
Each other in our relationship you have one of the coolest jobs there are and when I lived in Memphis I would have loved to do something similar to what you are currently doing right when I was building myself up as a blogger podcaster all those sorts of things
Starting gbb live and you know trying to get that on the radio all that stuff literally 10 years ago now that’s how old I am um I don’t envy you tonight and tomorrow because you are gonna be working late working backto backs covering two of the worst teams in the
NBA coming to FedEx forum even in the current state of the Memphis Grizzlies and I know you’ll talk a little bit about the injury report here momentarily yeah they should win or at least be competitive against both the Wizards and the Hornets given the current state of
Things but with that injury report it’s going to be a challenge and then obviously the main story line as we mentioned earlier in the show you know tus Jones making his return to FedEx form after a pretty solid career in time here in Memphis Yeah uh you know before
We get to the injury report I’ll talk about tus a little bit on the standpoint of uh one of my favorite players that I’ve gotten the chance to cover in my short tenure here covering the Grizzlies from the standpoint of just he he’s a true professional uh he was great for a
Young journalist you know like myself I feel like you know uh being the beat writer you have to be the one uh you know who’s going to consistently you mean especially when I was traveling a little bit more sometimes you’re the only one on the trip and you got to ask
The questions that people want the answers to and sometimes that wasn’t always easy you know the Grizzlies especially the last couple years they they’ve been an emotional team and i’ I’ve talked about it here on times there were you know certain times where you know John Morant wouldn’t be happy after
A loss and he’ say I’m not talking today and Dylan Brooks you know with those Golden State games right in the Lakers games he’d say I’m not talking today and tyus Jones is just be over there like come over here like you know I got it uh
And that was that was easy because tus Jones was a voice and you you you could you know trust the things that he said and and he always gave great but he’s great Family Guy great basketball player uh you know he was great for Memphis in his time here and
He’s continuing to do a lot of great things over there in Washington from what I’ve heard uh you know the team is pretty bad overall and you know tyus Jones defense hasn’t been good which is really a surprise to us but at the same time go look at the assist to turnover
Ratio leaderboard Jo you know who’s at the top I don’t even got to get into it you know exactly who’s at the top of that well and Jones needs a very specific type of two guard to play alongside and I’m fairly confident that guy is not Jordan
P it’s not it’s not and Jordan P again they did you seen the defensive net ratings with those groups not great when Jordan P ties Jones and Kyle Kosar on the floor together like it’s it’s it’s easy pickings like it’s it’s like it’s like Grandma’s house on Sunday like
Everybody gets to eat like it’s easy picking but yeah uh that that’s stff of the tiers JN but yeah getting into again the the injuries so many guys are out right now and you mentioned jiren Jackson Jr uh that’s the big one but you know Vince Williams that’s another one
Then you got all the guys who we know you know have been out over the long period of time Desmond Bane Marcus Smart uh John Morant uh the list goes on but I think yeah uh nine guys are currently listed as out then uh doubtful is Scotty
Pippen Jr who I just wrote about uh today actually so uh he you know is getting close to being back I I would expect him if he’s not back on the second half of the backtack he should be back uh you know Saturday but probably
Going to be back on the second half of the back toback so that’s that’s a boost like that’s a guy that I want to see personally but as of right now uh tomorrow look enjoy the game and and we’ll see who plays because there’s three guys listed as questionable to
It’s pretty wild right and for the Wizards right you know Marvin bagley’s not playing I’m most interested in seeing Bala kulali think I’m pronouncing that correctly or at least close to correctly good job Joe one of one of the younger players in the league not as young as GG one of the more
Inexperienced guys Victor wean yama’s former teammate there in France if I remember correctly he has a frame that theoretically Jordan P probably shouldn’t play next to tyus Jones kulali could right and I think that that is something somebody that is defensively oriented that can all you know that true
Three and D type of player I think that makes tus after watching him with the Wizards because again outside of the Grizzlies for obvious reasons the Wizards are the team that’s closest to me so I watch the most Wizards basketball even though I have League Pass um I watch the most
Wizards when I’m not watching the Grizzlies from watching T you had a pain you had a painful basketball it’s been a rough year goodness gracious you’re not wrong Grizzlies and wizards well I’ve watched almost every Grizzlies game right like even if I don’t see it live I
Watch it I record it because I’m still uh an ient guy that has a cable connection um I think that for tus he has to be in kind of like how I make fun of John Kar he needs to be in a carefully curated situation where he maximizes that assist to turnover ratio
He’s shooting the three ball really well he’s a little bit streaky this year but he he’s doing a really strong job tus is of shooting the three I think that he has a role as a starter in the NBA but he has to be on a team almost like the
Boston Celtics and obviously Derrick White is their Drew holiday that’s not going to happen but a team like that that has so many Stout perimeter Defenders you know maybe the Orlando Magic to be honest kind of makes sense long term uh for somebody like tus yeah
I think the magic would make a lot of sense for tas’s skill set um and bringing that maturity that you mentioned earlier would be a big thing for the magic I I’m I’m curious to see how the Wizards compete with this version of the Grizzlies you know it’s
Going to look more like a g-league game at times than it is look like an NBA game but again whether it’s tonight against the Wizards whether it’s tomorrow against the Hornets these are two games that even in their current state of play the Grizzlies should compete and if they don’t compete if
They get blown out by the Wizards or the Hornets and we’ll talk more about that on tomorrow’s show whatever the case might be it’s caused for concern in terms of how the rest of the season’s going to go if you don’t care about winning or losing because of those
Lottery odds we talked about earlier cool I want to see them be competitive because you’re trying to figure out which of these guys are going to be a part of this Grizzlies roster when hopefully they’re knocking the Thunder back down a peg here in about six or
Seven months yeah and I’m big on caching Joe I know you are too yeah absolutely that that’s that’s important to me and that’s why from the jump you haven’t seen me kind of allude to the words like tanking and things like that like at the end of the day the players tanking
Shouldn’t even be in their heads that should be a coaches too yeah exactly exactly you know like major league that’s that’s I love that movie you know you like major league and and you see how in Major League the front office is trying to lose but the players are
Trying to win and you know for those who haven’t seen it spoiler alert they do but um and to the Memphis Grizzlies today I’m impressed by that pool I’m gonna be honest with you partner that that’s beyond your years that’s I’m very proud of you no thank you you know got a
Little wisdom here and there but uh the thing about it that is from a cultural standpoint you don’t want to build the wrong habit in certain guys who are going to be around here you don’t want gson next season going oh I had 27 today after the Grizzlies just lost against
The Lakers on national TV and dropped from the two seed to the fifth seed and you don’t want you know uh Vince Williams saying oh I almost had a triple double I’m still trying to because you know right now like it’s okay but you still want to keep that hunger like we
Was talking to Jake laravia the other day and I know he he wasn’t here for the the 56 win season but was on the team that won 51 games last season and Jake laravia was asked after the game like oh the defense you know you you help them
Under 100 points or one of the recent losses and they talked about him having a good night I think he had a double double in that game and he was like yeah we lost like I yeah sure defense cool whatever but we lost and you have to
Keep that mentality that is important to me uh this this game against the Wizards game against Hornets after that and throughout the rest of the season and that’s something maybe we talk about a little bit deeper going forward because that’s habits uh you want to keep that
Hunger because uh the the guys who have it Marcus smarts of the world someone who’s never missed a playoffs in his career John Morant I mean it probably feels like he hasn’t missed the playoffs in his career with the way it’s going uh you know that’s that’s where these guys
Have to be it’s it’s a cultural thing that I’m more focused on going forward you could say that johnar has never missed the postseason in his there we go because they did make the play in in the bubble right and technically that first playin game was a postseason game it was
An extra game between them and the Blazers so I think that there’s something to this idea that the the winning has been the expectation in Memphis obviously this year being that Gap year as we’ve decided to call it what comes next we can’t get we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves because
They’re still a month or so of the season but what comes next right that that’s what everybody wants to know and wants to see and that’ll continue to be a focus of our conversation here on lock on Grizzlies the next time we are on these locked on Grizzlies podcast waves
Al be flying solo after the grizzley’s game against the Wizards we’ll break down that contest as best we can I’ll take a look to the next game against the Hornets talking all the end and outs actual basketball to talk about we got to take advantage of that well we can
Partner because you know in six weeks when the season’s over you and I are going to be talking well what do we talk about today right like we’re going to be working through those things uh here on lockdown Grizzly so lots of basketball to discuss on our next episode and I’m
Excited for that and I’m excited to follow all of D Michel’s coverage at the Commercial Appeal of the next couple of games again D Michel’s gonna be doing his beat writer thing so you’ll have me solo the next couple of episodes of lockon Grizzlies thank you thank you
Thank you a thousand times for making us a part of your NBA content consumption each and every time an episode drops hope for your an everyday by now being a part of the lock on Grizzlies podcast family YouTube Amazon Spotify Apple wherever you get your podcasts make sure
You’re checking us Out Here There and Everywhere like comment rate review subscribe all those fun things remember that we now have locked on sports today 247 streaming Channel on YouTube it’s also on the free channels app par portion of Amazon Fire TV I’m a huge fan of everything that lockdown continues to
Do we’re building the network all over and over and over again as 2024 grinds along and Michael and I are proud pieces of that process my partner to Michael Cole I am Joe Molen X we will catch you next time here on lockon Grizzlies enjoy the basketball as much as you can
Because like we were talking about earlier before you know it it’ll be gone and you’ll miss these Grizzlies catch you next time
Getting beat badly by the Oklahoma City Thunder can make one think about where the Memphis Grizzlies will stand once the team is back to full strength. Is OKC’s place atop the Western Conference temporary? Or have Ja Morant and company been passed up for good? Hosts Joe Mullinax and Damichael Cole discuss that, plus Grizzlies/Wizards and updated NBA Draft Lottery odds, on this episode of Locked on Grizzlies!
This episode is brought to you by Nissan. Are you the kind of driver that likes to push things a little further? Ever wonder what adventure could be around the next corner? Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Check them all out today at NissanUSA.com.
Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOGrizzlies?sid=YouTube
Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA
#MemphisGrizzlies #JaMorant #Grizzlies #nba
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Stitch Fix
Style that makes you feel as good as you look—get started today at StitchFix.com/LOCKEDON
Nissan
Our friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUV’s with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level. Take the Nissan Rogue, Nissan Pathfinder, or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure. Shop NissanUSA.com.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the qualified candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/LOCKEDONNBA. Terms and conditions apply.
eBay Motors
For parts that fit, head to eBay Motors and look for the green check. Stay in the game with eBay Guaranteed Fit at eBayMotos.com. Let’s ride. eBay Guaranteed Fit only available to US customers. Eligible items only. Exclusions apply.
BetterHelp
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA today to get 10% off your first month.
PrizePicks
Go to PrizePicks.com/lockedonnba and use code lockedonnba for a first deposit match up to $100!
Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase.
FanDuel
Get buckets with your first bet on FanDuel, America’s Number One Sportsbook. Right now, NEW customers get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS with any winning FIVE DOLLAR BET! That’s A HUNDRED AND FIFTY BUCKS – if your bet wins! Visit FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON to get started.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
12 Comments
Clickbait. We know the best days are ahead‼️
I have to say, Shai is an MVP candidate, Chet is an excellent center, J Dub is fantastic, Have other great guys on their roster already, plus the Draft picks… Surely they could be a top dynasty OAT.
This team is hopeless. And forget the Thunder – I honestly can’t see the Grizzlies beating ANY of the top 10 teams in the West in a 7-game series even if healthy (huge “if”). Remember they’ve only won one playoff series, when the inexperienced Timberwolves basically beat themselves.
As usual, Insightful commentary with your positive focus on how to make the best lemonade from our current situation. Thanks guys!
Time to reduce the number of regular Season games down to 60. 82 is insane today with the current speed of the game and is disrespectful of players' health. Too many serious or horrible injuries
The Grizzlies are trending toward mediocrity. Hitting with a lottery pick, Vince and GG continuing to trend upward could stave off mediocrity, but they are always injured particularly at playoff time….and I think a large part of it has been giving large contracts and hoping the players play to that money rather than the other way around…..
The Thunder aren't better than the Grizzlies yet Shai Might, and I mean might be better than Ja if Ja still can't shoot the 3 when he come back. The others aren't better though for sure. Jaren and Bane are ELITE. Way better than their 3. 2nd best core 3 behind the Clippers maybe
That’s the dumbest question seeing how almost the whole team hasn’t been there. We are gaining two future stars with Vince and GG to add to them not to mention the draft. So if we won’t be good enough to beat the thunder we never was. But we are.
Hate to say it but OKC is in a PERFECT situation. They have a core with the assets to do so much. They went and got Gordan with a big contract to make even more moves. Imagine if they get somebody like Markenan(spell check). They’re making moves WHILE some of their core is still on their rookie contracts.
BUT…. If we get healthy, I think we’re neck and neck. They just have the assets to pass us.
We picking 4th
You have to put OKC ahead of the Grizzlies for the simple fact that Chet is a better/tougher center than Jaren is…simple as that. The only hope for the Grizzlies is Desmond Bane being a more consistent scorer than Jaylen Williams and Vince Williams being a better overall player when you throw in defense than Josh Giddey. Also next season GG could be a consistent 15 point scorer off the bench.
Chet is younger too