Memphis

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

Everybody better enjoy their wins over Memphis right now, because when this squad is healthy, it’s over. The Grizzlies with their full core? That’s a different animal. The pace, the pressure, the defense, it all hits another level. When Ja is flying, Jaren is anchoring, and the rest of the crew is feeding off that energy, the whole league feels it. This team was built for chaos. Fast breaks, traps,

Jaylen Wells is not all the way there yet, but you can see it coming. Every game there is a play, a smooth jumper, a confident drive, a poised finish, that reminds you why Memphis took the chance. The tools are real. The touch, the size, the patience with the ball. He looks like a young player still figuring out when to go and when to trust the rhythm, but

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope isn’t worried about titles or starting spots. He’s worried about winning. When Memphis asked him to come off the bench, he didn’t blink. He adjusted, adapted, and immediately started making the second unit better. That’s what pros do. KCP brings a veteran calm that you can feel the moment he checks in. He talks on defense, settles the offense, and hits big shots when the game needs a

Jock Landale isn’t here for headlines. He’s here to make winning plays, the kind that don’t trend but always matter. Since joining the Grizzlies, he’s quietly become the heartbeat of the second unit, setting hard screens, crashing the glass, contesting shots, and keeping the offense organized when things get sloppy. Every team needs a guy like Jock. He’s not chasing stats or touches; he’s chasing impact. You can feel his

Why it matters: Spencer has quietly carved out a real rotation role as a rookie, giving Memphis efficient shooting, steady decision-making, and the kind of low-mistake basketball the team badly needs during a turbulent season. State of play: The Grizzlies’ guard rotation has been in flux with injuries and lineup experimentation, and Spencer’s reliability has helped stabilize second-unit minutes. Dig in: Spencer’s value comes from how simple he keeps the