NBA Insider Believes Grizzlies Can Dethrone NBA Champions

Farbod Esnaashari

Aug 22, 2023

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21Members·975Posts

Farbod Esnaashari

Aug 22, 2023

Partner

Ramona Shelburne still believes in the Memphis Grizzlies.

After losing in the first round against the Los Angeles Lakers, many in the NBA have forgotten about the Memphis Grizzlies. They may have shaken the team up, but they've been written off by many - except one analyst.

NBA insider Ramona Shelburne went on ESPN where she spoke about how she's picking the Memphis Grizzlies as the greatest threat to the Denver Nuggets in the western conference.

"I made the mistake of picking the Memphis Grizzlies last year to break trhough, and I'm going to do it again," Shelburne said. "I love what they did! I love what they did in getting Marcus Smart, Derrick Rose to be the veterans in that locker room. Marcus Smart is going to be a good player for them."

Even though the Grizzlies finished last season in an incredibly dark place, and are currently in one right now, Ramona believes those times won't last. Ja Morant will inevitably come back, the team will be back on the up, and she has a ton of faith in Marcus Smart and Derrick Rose as leaders.

"I know we all talk about how all the headlines in Memphis are bad lately with Ja Morant and the suspension and all that - he's going to be back," Shelburne said. "This team was on the verge of a breakthrough two years ago. Last year, obviously, they had some growing pains, Ja Morant situation, and injuries. They listened to what everyone said which is you need some leadership, and they went out and got two great leaders. The idea of Derrick Rose coming back to Memphis where he played his college ball, and Marcus Smart now in that backcourt, I love what the Grizzlies did."

The Memphis Grizzlies will definitely be one of the X-Factor teams this season. No one truly knows how well Marcus Smart is going to fit in, and how big of a loss Tyus Jones is going to be, but they still have a fantastic young core.