Herrington: For Grizzlies, NBA Finals offer hope for next season
Memphis Grizzlies teammates Ja Morant, left, and Desmond Bane play against the Toronto Raptors Jan. 3. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)
Chris Herrington
Chris Herrington has covered the Memphis Grizzlies, in one way or another, since the franchise’s second season in Memphis, while also writing about music, movies, food and civic life. As far as he knows, he’s the only member of the Professional Basketball Writers Association who is also a member of a film critics group and has also voted in national music critic polls for Rolling Stone and the Village Voice (RIP). He and his wife have two kids and, for reasons that sometimes elude him, three dogs.
The NBA Finals tip off Thursday night, and the Dallas Mavericks, a fifth seed from the Memphis Grizzlies’ own Southwest Division with only one player on this season’s All-NBA team, will represent the Western Conference against the end-to-end East favorite Boston Celtics.
How should the Grizzlies, watching from the couch, feel about that?
Two ways: They’re bitter at what was definitely a good opportunity lost but also hopeful the circumstances allowed the Mavericks’ breakthrough seem likely to repeat next season.
What makes an NBA title team?
The parameters have expanded of late. Have they expanded enough for a team built like the Memphis Grizzlies to squeak through?
As has been widely noted, the Dallas-Boston winner will mark the sixth-straight season the NBA will crown a different champion with no prior champ cycling back to win another in this stretch.
Topics
Subscriber Only Memphis Grizzlies Chris HerringtonAre you enjoying your subscription?
Your subscription gives you unlimited access to all of The Daily Memphian’s news, written by nearly 40 local journalists and more than 20 regular freelancers. We work around the clock to cover the issues that impact your life and our community.
You can help us reach more Memphians.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we provide free news access at K-12 schools, public libraries and many community organizations. We also reach tens of thousands of people through our podcasts, and through our radio and television partnerships – all completely free to everyone who cares about Memphis.
When you subscribe, you get full access to our news. But when you donate, you help us reach all Memphians.
Pay it forward. Make a fully tax-deductible donation to The Daily Memphian today.
Thank you for reading the local news. Thank you for investing in our community.
Chris Herrington on demand
Never miss an article. Sign up to receive Chris Herrington's stories as they’re published.
Enter your e-mail address
Related stories
GG Jackson, Grizzlies ‘Raise the Rim’ for elementary students
The Memphis Grizzlies debuted its “Raise the Rim” celebration with a gift to Fox Meadows Elementary. Plus coach Taylor Jenkins donated $20,000 to Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Grizzlies could make changes this offseason as new assistants enterRelated story:
Grizzlies podcast: Top draft prospects for pick No. 9
Drew Hill and Chris Herrington share their top prospects for the Grizzlies in the upcoming NBA draft. Will Donovan Clingan slide to No. 9?
Herrington: Hot seat label for Grizzlies’ Taylor Jenkins hard to avoid
The Memphis Grizzlies’ Taylor Jenkins won’t show up to training camp wearing a “Hot Seat” cap, but the label is applied frequently to NBA head coaches.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.