Now Introducing… My Pointless (and Weird) Ex-Grizzlies in the Playoff Awards

Memphis made it.

After seeing their roster ravaged with injuries it most likely came with a sigh of relief I imagine…. But the Grizzlies can rest easy now… Their season is over.

Now, does that mean hoops wrapped? Not even close. The NBA Playoffs are in full swing, with most series already having two games in the books.

And there are some good series to be had this postseason make no mistake. As well as plenty of guys who once wore Beale St. Blue to root for. In fact… There are more than a handful of ex-Grizzlies still out there competing for a title.

So why not acknowledge these guys? There’s a few who stand a strong chance of walking away with a title. And those who don’t.

Either way—now’s as good a time as ever—let’s hand out hardware to those still hooping. To the guys who once called Memphis home.

Most Likely To Contribute To Winning

• Tie – Mike Conley Jr., Kyle Anderson

As of this writing, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a 2-0 lead over the Phoenix Suns. With the third game of the series coming tonight… A large part the T-wolves could move to 3-0—one game away from a sweep?

Mike Conley Jr.

He’s provided both a steady hand for Minnesota’s offense… As well as been that veteran presence a guy like Anthony Edwards needs. In two games against the Suns here are his numbers so far this season…

11.5 PTS, 3.5 REB, 5.5 AST, and 1.0 STL in 29.5 minutes per game. He’s doing a little bit of everything for this squad and—as mentioned—it’s resulting in wins.

Shout here to Kyle Anderson as well. Though limited because of a hip injury in this series… ‘Slo-Mo’ was another glue-guy for this Minnesota team throughout the regular season.

And that’s how you win series in the postseason. With the help of your role-players—dudes who can do a little bit of everything with minimal mistakes. I expect both former Grizzlies’ to continue contributing to the Wolves’ title trek.

They may not be the game’s leading scorer… But each will help this team win in the long haul.

Most Likely To Win A Title

• Xavier Tillman Sr.

Now when it comes to the ex-Grizz most likely to be in a parade this Spring? X going to give it to you right? What I mean by that is…

Xavier Tillman Sr. has very big shot of being on a title team this year.

More so than any other player that used to wear Beale St. Blue. Why’s that? Because he happens to be on the regular season behemoth that is the Boston Celtics.

Did that juggernaut stumble a bit a couple night’s ago? Sure. But I don’t see that continuing. What I do see continuing?

X’s lack of playing time. Look it’s most likely to win a title right? Not most likely to play during that title run.

And that’s the rub. Because X is not playing. Or at least he hasn’t played yet. Through two games of Celts/Heats? He’s not played—plain and simple.

It won’t matter though. Like I said, the chances X gets a ring? It’s high.

Most Likely To Be Grateful For The Invite

• David Roddy

The recipient of this award though? He’s happy to be here, I imagine. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Whereas Tillman isn’t playing for the squad on a collision course it seems to the Finals… David Roddy is in fact playing… But hardly

Because he’s playing in garbage time. For a team that appears to be in a bad way in the the Phoenix Suns. Through two games this postseason Roddy has appeared in one for the Suns resulting in…

Nothing. Nada. No points. No shot attempts. Not a damn thing.

Only two minutes for the Suns in Game 2. Which—you know—was decided about mid-way through the third. And you know what?

I bet he’s pretty pleased to be here.

Now, do I expect anything to change as the series continues? I do not. But that’s not the point of this award. The point is it’s for folks that are grateful for the invite. As I imagine Roddy is.

Most Likely To Swing A Series

• Grayson Allen

Man. It seems weird to be typing out ‘Grayson Allen could swing a playoff series’ and yet… That’s where we find ourselves. And how is that?

Well… As mentioned above, the way the Suns have been playing? They could use all the help they can get.

And when that help is Grayson Allen? It could go a long way towards helping Phoenix win this series. Because the type of players Allen became this year was not one I saw coming.

Grayson shattered his personal bests in damn near everything this past season… 13.5 PTS, 3.9 REB, 3.0 AST per game all career highs. But—man oh man—where he exploded was beyond the arc.

He led the entire league in 3PT% this past season with 46.1%. That’s with at least with 82 threes attempted. That’s pretty damn good.

And definitely a skillset of worth in this league. As showed by the recent signing of a 4 year, $70,000,000 contract with the Suns. The entire $70 million guaranteed. Not too shabby.

Yet, it’s a skill that may not actually see the floor the rest of the series. Because Allen sprained his ankle in the series opener. And aggravated said ankle in game two.

Make no mistake Phoenix needs him. And if they hope to stand any chance at beating the Timberwolves? They’re going to need him in a bad way. If he comes back and is able to play to the level he did throughout the regular season?

Allen very well may help swing this series back the Suns direction.

Most Likely No-Show

• De’Anthony Melton

Something you can count on being a constant variable in the Grizzlies calculus? Someone, somewhere still complaining about the De’Anthony Melton trade. Let me assure you I’m not intending for my guy to catch any strays here…

But “Mr. Do Something” hasn’t done much of anything this calendar year.

Now, I’m aware he’s been dealing with a back injury. I get it. Those are no joke.

But so far in 2024 he’s only appeared in 7 games. And in those game? Well here’s what he’s contributed…

6.7 PTS, 2.3 REB, 2.0 AST, and 1.0 STL in 15.8 minutes per game. Those numbers are… Fine. They’re fine. Are they enough to help this Sixers team against the Knicks?

If you ask me I’m not so sure. Especially in a postseason scenario. Melton was never able to stand out for the Grizzlies in any of their recent playoff appearances. It’s unfortunate but that’s how it’s been.

In 15 playoff games with Memphis here’s what he averaged… 5.8 PTS, 3.1 REB, and 1.4 AST in 16.9 minutes per game. That’s on 33.3/26.6/66.7% shooting splits. Not what I’d consider great.

And that’s always been the rub with De’Anthony. Great regular season player—a relative no-show in postseason play. Will this year prove any different? Like I said earlier… I’m not so sure.

Most Likely To Grit-N-Grind

• The New York Knickerbockers

Alright so is this cheating? One hundred percent it is. None of these Knicks have been on the Grizzlies before.

Have several of them been the target of trade rumors for what feels like years? Also one hundred percent. And since these are my awards… And since they’re meant to be pointless as hell…

I’m throwing the rules out the door because it doesn’t matter. Either way? This New York Knicks team is the closest I’ve seen in while…

Closest I’ve seen to the Grit-n-Grind Grizzlies of old.

And it’s been a joy to watch. Josh Hart. Donte DeVincenzo. Isaiah Hartenstein. OG Anunoby. Miles McBride. Each of these dude is a blue-chip hooper, a true grinder. And that’s before even getting to the captain of the ship—Tom Thibodeau.

My point is… Each would feel right at home in Memphis. On any of those Grit-n-Grind teams from back in the day. And that’s worth honoring.

Photo Credit: (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)