When the Memphis Grizzlies visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, they will have a chance to match their longest winning run in team history.
The Grizzlies’ winning streak currently stands at 10, and after Monday’s 30-point drubbing of the Phoenix Suns, they are just one victory away from matching the 11-game streak from the 2014–15 season, which featured Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph and was matched last season.
The Grizzlies have been dominant during their last ten games, dominating on both sides of the floor with the highest defensive rating in the NBA (allowing only 106.5 points per 100 possessions) and third-best offensive rating of 119.9 points per 100 possessions.
Meanwhile, the team the Grizzlies overtook to snatch top spot in the defensive rankings was the Cavaliers, who still sit second for the season.
Another key indicator for the true contenders is net rating – which measures how much better a team’s offensive rating is compared to their defense – and both of these sides have excelled through the first half of the season. The Grizzlies sit second overall with a net rating of 5.8, while the Cavaliers are third at 4.7.
Two very similar teams, both the Cavaliers and the Grizzlies utilise two defensive anchors in their starting line-up, leaning away from the more prevalent “small ball” roster constructions seen around the league.
For the Grizzlies, Steven Adams is arguably the strongest rebounder in the league while Jaren Jackson Jr leads the NBA in blocks per game at 3.3. On the Cavaliers’ side, All-Star Jarrett Allen and defensive prodigy Evan Mobley roam the interior.
While these sides are almost identical defensively, the way they attack on offense, particularly through their star players, could decide their fate.
EVERY ANGLE OF JA MORANT'S UNBELIEVABLE DUNK OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE 😱📽️ pic.twitter.com/8u1j6ZNH3F
— NBA (@NBA) January 15, 2023
Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant is, without a doubt, one of the best guards in league history when it comes to finishing at the rim. He is averaging five makes per game within five feet of the basket – the only guard in the league to do so – while converting at a terrific 61 per cent clip.
The problem with that is how well both of these teams protect the basket, as it creates the question of what happens when an unstoppable force – Morant – meets an immovable object – the rim protection of Allen and Mobley.
On the other hand, the combination of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell for the Cavaliers are far more malleable with the way they create their offense.