The Memphis Grizzlies know all about being in the news for the wrong reasons and have suffered consequences for it. Whether it was Ja Morant's off-court incidents in 2023, Dillon Brooks' "poking the bear" in their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2023, or their coaching change with nine games remaining last season, they have learned their lesson.
The Los Angeles Clippers have been the team with the off-court drama this offseason, stemming from an investigation into possible circumvention of the salary cap when they signed Kawhi Leonard in 2019. While that investigation can go a multitude of ways with numerous scenarios to play out from it, the Grizzlies know how they can rise above the Clippers in the Western Conference standings.