Memphis is not at full strength, and that is the point. Ja Morant, Brandon Clarke, and Ty Jerome are all working back from injuries, which has kept the ceiling a little out of reach so far. Even so, the identity is intact with Jaren Jackson Jr. setting the tone and a hungry locker room buying into the work.
What should worry the West is what the young core is showing right now. Zach Edey is owning the paint, Cedric Coward keeps adding defensive juice and downhill energy, and Jaylen Wells looks more comfortable every week as a scorer and mover without the ball. Their recent production has been real in wins, not just flashes on a reel.
Blend that growth with steady vets and role players who fit the scheme, including Santi Aldama, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Vince Williams Jr., Cam Spencer, and Jock Landale, and you can see the outline of a deep, two way rotation forming right as the stars get healthy. When Ja is back driving the pace and Clarke restores the second unit’s punch, this team will not be a surprise. It will be a problem.
