For a while, it looked like the Memphis Grizzlies were as much of a title contender as anyone in the league. They lagged just behind the Golden State Warriors, but had a head-to-head win, more playoff experience with their core and a style of play many felt would be more successful in the postseason.
That could still be true in the end, but it'd require a form of play that Memphis hasn't displayed in a while. The Grizzlies were 41-14 on Feb. 23, just three games behind the Warriors and 3½ games ahead of the Houston Rockets for second place. Marc Gasol was having an MVP year, Zach Randolph had adjusted to a secondary role and newcomer Jeff Green appeared to be fitting in.
The last two months, though, have been confusing. Instead of charging to the finish line, Memphis went into a weird malaise. The offense, a longtime bugaboo that was finally catching up to the stifling defense, fell apart again. Randolph tired, Mike Conley dealt with nagging injuries, Courtney Lee stopped hitting shots and Green kept getting confused by his role. A 14-13 finish dropped Memphis out of the 2 spot and pushed it to the No. 5 seed. Teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston are now seen as the top threats to the Warriors.
But dismissing Memphis' chances would be foolish. The Grizzlies are battle-tested when it matters and just need a clean bill of health and some of their perimeter players to rediscover their shooting touch. It was only four years ago that a longtime West power without a title raced toward the top of the league, only to be forgotten because of a second-half drop. If Dallas can win the title in 2010-11, so too can Memphis in 2014-15.
