Marc Gasol and Mike Conley Defends
Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash loses a handle on the ball, guarded by Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) of Spain and guard Mike Conley (11), during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Memphis, Tennessee January 23, 2013. Reuters

Year-in and year-out, the Memphis Grizzlies have been considered as dark horse teams in the tough Western Conference— and as always, they also come up short against the powerhouse squads be it the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder. With some players already ageing (Zach Randolph, Tayshaun Prince) and others hitting their respective primes (Marc Gasol, Mike Conley) this could be the final year that the Grizzlies will have a shot at making it all the way to the NBA Finals.

Memphis Grizzlies Roster/Depth Chart

Point Guards: Mike Conley/Beno Udrih/Nick Calathes/Kalin Lucas

Shooting Guards: Tony Allen/Courtney Lee/Jordan Adams

Small Forwards: Tayshaun Prince/Vince Carter/Quincy Pondexter

Power Forwards: Zach Randolph/Jon Leuer/Jarnell Stokes

Centers: Marc Gasol/Kosta Koufos

Key Losses (new team): Ed Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)

Key Additions (previous team): Vince Carter (Dallas Mavericks)

Season Outlook: The reality in the National Basketball Association (NBA) is that few teams can win the NBA title unless that team has star power or top-notch defensive rating. The Grizzlies has been consistently one of the best defensive squads in the league but has no go-to-superstar when the going gets tough in the postseason. However, what Memphis has are players who know to play their roles to the hilt— and players who are part of the their 8-to-9 man rotation.

Two-way players— those who can effectively guard and have timely contributions on offence—like Allen, Lee and Prince are invaluable in Memphis system, which features the trio of Conley (17.2 PPG, 6.0 RPG and 1.5 SPG), Gasol (14.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 1.29) and Randolph (17.4 PPG and 10.1 RPG) who have above average to elite capabilities in scoring. Memphis’ back-up PGs are also a plus with the international pair of Udrih (Slovenia) and Calathes (Greece).

The 2014 offseason has been relatively quiet for the Grizzlies with one major acquisition: getting Carter off one of the West rivals, Dallas Mavericks to add some scoring punch from the wing position.

Randolph is still a beast down low but at 33 years old he may be playing on his last legs. Meanwhile, Conley and Gasol will continue to improve and if either or both takes it to another level, the Grizzlies could very well develop their own superstar in this line-up.

The Grizzlies are one of the better teams in the Western Conference— not clear cut in the level of the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder but perhaps better or equal to the likes of the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.

Here's the Grizzlies' Top 10 plays in 2013:

(YouTube/NBA)

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