Jay Morant recently sat down with him Malika Andrews ESPN to discuss the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference standings.
Memphis (19-11) is second in the West behind the Nuggets, who have the same record. Morant is averaging 27.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 7.8 assists on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 34.6 percent from beyond the arc. Morant has done a lot of heavy lifting, while Desmond Bane is still missing in action because of a sprained big toe he suffered in November.
That said, Morant is confident in Memphis’ place in the NBA hierarchy. The 2022 All-Star told Andrews that the Boston Celtics (22-9) are the team to beat and that he believes the Grizzlies should make a run for a championship. “I’m fine in the West,” Morant said when asked by the NBA Today host about the Western Conference.
The tough words came after the Grizzlies finished second in the Western Conference and lost a six-game second-round series to the eventual champion Warriors. The Southwest Division champions would have given the Warriors a run for their money, but Morant’s knee injury and the Warriors’ championship DNA was too much for the Grizzlies.
Through it all, this 22nd playoff run has featured plenty of jaw-jacking, stout defense and an impressive Grizzlies team trying to break into the championship scene. Memphis will be looking to exorcise those demons this season and make it to the conference finals and possibly beyond.
