Memphis Grizzlies: 5 keys to making the playoffs in 2017-18

5. Continuing to defend

The Grizzlies may have lost one of the game’s best perimeter defenders in Tony Allen, but if they want to remain competitive, they’ll need to maintain the type of elite defensive efficiency they’ve grown accustomed to while he was around. Memphis doesn’t have a ton of offensive firepower beyond Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, and even with an increased emphasis on a more modern style of play, the likelihood of them outscoring teams is low.

If they can limit opponents enough to keep things close, the Grizzlies can rely on their two crafty stars to help them pile up some wins with late-game buckets. They’ve got the tools to do so. JaMychal Green and James Ennis are particularly long, versatile defenders. Neither Gasol nor Conley is quite as good on that end as they once were, but both are still extremely smart and capable, and the bench is full of players willing to scrap.

Memphis was a good defense team almost regardless of who was on the court last year. That means they’ve either got a lot of good defenders, a great defensive coach or an institutional commitment to working hard on that end of the floor. In reality, they’ve got all three of those boxes checked to some degree.

The Grizzlies might take a slight dip without Allen around to fly all over the court, force turnovers, and lock up opponents’ best perimeter players, but the defense should still be sturdy.