Ja Morant has Grizzlies thinking deep postseason run

A rested and rehabbed Ja Morant will back in the Memphis lineup for the NBA playoffs, and the All-Star guard has the young, talented Grizzlies believing they're ready to make a deep postseason run.

Morant sat out the regular season finale on Sunday, but returned the night before after missing nine games with a sore right knee.

"I felt like I needed a game or two to get my legs back under me, to get the game-type feel," Morant said.

It appears he has his legs back under him.

Morant scored 21 points in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans that tied Memphis' franchise record for victories in a season at 56. Then along with the other Grizzlies' starters, he sat out the regular season finale.

It has been a steady ascension for Morant, who uplifts the Grizzlies with each step he takes.

The overall No. 2 pick in the 2019 NBA draft and 2020 rookie of the year, Morant helped end Memphis' playoff drought in 2021 as the Grizzlies played their way to the No. 8 seed.

Now with resume worthy of MVP consideration, he has led Memphis to its highest seed ever at No. 2 in the West with the NBA's second-best record of 5626. The Grizzlies believe they are ready to take the next step, reaching the playoffs is no longer good enough for this team.

Memphis starts its quest Saturday hosting either Minnesota or the Los Angeles Clippers, not that the opponent matters to Morant.

"I'm focused on us," the third-year guard out of Murray State said. "Getting better during that week stretch and just being ready to go out there and play the first two games here at home. No matter who it is, we go into the game's the same way. It's going to be different coverages, depending on the team, but our play style never changes."

This franchise was swept in the 2013 Western Conference finals, which was the only time it got past the second round.

Morant's value to the Grizzlies goes beyond mere stats.

Head cheerleader when on the bench, he brings everyone to their feet by dunking over 7footers, throwing down lobs or dishing the ball off to a teammate for an easy basket.