We have reached the first team that could win a ring this season without fully shocking the populace: the Memphis Grizzlies.
Rest guaranteed a championship for the Grizzlies, who barely made it to the postseason last year with a record of 50-32 (your 17th reminder that the West is loaded), would be a surprise. Zach Randolph is 33, and Mike Miller, a key floor-spacing shooter in the past year’s underwhelming crime, followed LeBron James into the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Scoring, as always, will be an issue for the Grizz.
But this team is going to defend like crazy, especially with a slimmed-down Marc Gasol patrolling the midst forward of the 2015 free agency. Toss in Tony Allen, the NBA’s scariest perimeter stopper, and you have got the key components to get a league-best defense.
Vince Carter remains a precious wing defender who can conduct a pick-and-roll and hit the occasional three, and Mike Conley is a playoff-tested fighter who just keeps getting better.
And remember, we have seen this Grizzlies core knock off the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder in playoff series within the last four decades. Nobody scares Memphis from the postseason.
If the Grizzlies can stay healthy and Gasol puts a significant year, they are a dark-horse contender.

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