It has been an action-packed NBA season so far with plenty of twists and turns. It is now the time that fans begin to look at the NBA finals odds and place their bets, some may wish to take their chances on an underdog team.

Could the Memphis Grizzlies be the ones to defy the odds this season? Looking at their previous performances and current situation should give us some insight into the possibility of this.

It is not completely unheard of for a lower seeded or previously low performing franchise to make it through the playoffs and win the championship. For example, remember in 2016 when Eastern Conference team the Cleveland Cavaliers dominated the competition, defeating the Golden State Warriors in the final?

While the bookmakers are not currently giving the Memphis Grizzlies outstanding odds for the playoffs or finals in 2023, they have shown some promising performances over the last few games and have the potential to go far.

Performance in previous seasons

Something that the Grizzlies NBA record from the last few years is growing talent and potential. There has been a steady increase in the number of game wins each season, from just 22 wins in the 2017 – 2018 to a healthy 56 wins in 2021 – 2022.

The team made it all the way to the Conference semi finals last year where they were defeated by the Golden State Warriors. The season before that, they lost 1 – 4 to the Utah Jazz in the first round.

Prior to this the team did not qualify to participate in the playoffs. This record highlights just how far the Grizzlies have come over the past five seasons.

Where are they now?

At this point in time the Grizzlies are 2nd in the Western Conference, they have already achieved a season franchise record for home wins. Their game on March 30 against the LA Clippers ended a seven game winning streak and 12 game winning streak for home games.

Part of this was due to the unusually high number of players out on injury, including Steven Adams, Desmond Bane, Tyus Jones and Jaren Jackson Jr.

This season, Memphis has played better offensively in home games compared to away games. The team has increased their production over their last few games. Defensively, they have also fared better at home. 

Stand out players for the Memphis Grizzlies this season

Desmond Bane

When not out on injury, Desmond Bane continues to be a reliable scorer for the team this season. He has scored six consecutive 20-point outings, his personal best for 2022 – 2023. The 24-year-old shooting guard was first signed to the Grizzlies in 2020 and has proven to be a valuable asset ever since.

Ja Morant

Another player to watch is Ja Morant who currently has an average of 26.5 points per game. 23 year old Ja Morant is one of the top point guards in the NBA. Morant has been with the Memphis Grizzlies since 2019, the same year he was awarded Rookie of the Year.  Recently surprised following a controversial incident, the player is back. He began April by scoring an impressive triple against the Chicago Bulls.

Jaren Jackson Jr.

He has been with the Grizzlies since 2018 and signed a four year contract extension with the team in 2021.

Jaren missed the first 14 games of the season due to needing surgery on a stress fracture in his right foot. However, he soon returned and scored a season-high 31 points in January which resulted in a 123–115 win against Orlando Magic.

The following month, Jaren was selected to play in the NBA All-star game as a reserve forward. The player has also surpassed the record for blocks in a single season for the team for a second consecutive year.

Will the Memphis Grizzlies win the NBA championship?

Never say never. The Memphis Grizzlies are an often-overlooked team that are on a trajectory for NBA success. While they may have broken their winning streak, the team has not let this deter them from making the playoffs.

Currently ahead of them in the odds for winning the championship are Bucks, Celtics, Suns,

Nuggets, 76ers and the Warriors. However this still puts them ahead of teams such as the Clippers, Lakers and the Cavaliers. Given their performance this season, there is still a fair chance they could defy these odds.