NBA 2018-19: 3 Talking Points - Memphis Grizzlies (107) vs New Orleans Pelicans (103)

#1 These Grizzlies are here to stay

Memphis Grizzlies v Indiana Pacers

Casual viewers may not like the Grizzlies all that much. The freewheeling Warriors, for all the All-Stars on their team, are probably the best team to watch. Maybe it's the pacy Lakeshow in Los Angeles.

Houston's isolation-heavy, free throwing, lob-feeding-to-Capela scheme is pretty aesthetic as well (less aesthetic is the blatant flopping and foul baiting). The Kings, Pacers (headlined by lightning-quick Victor Oladipo), Thunder and Raptors are teams that blow out the opposition by running and transition defenses. It's a good strategy for one reason: it works.

But what happens when a team goes against the grain? The Grizzlies are dead last in pace, play with a half-court defense, use long wingspans to clog passing lanes and generally make lives much harder for opponents.

Jaren Jackson Jr is a criminally underrated rookie who will carry Memphis into the future. Memphis has stars who embody the grit and grind spirit - Gasol and Conley. Noah gives them added support and sheer energy from the bench. Memphis has beat some very good teams, and by now it doesn't look like a fluke.

Teams face Memphis with the knowledge that the game will probably be a low scoring, high energy, frustrating affair. But the Grizzlies win. Like it or not, these Grizz are in the playoff race till the end of the season.