Perhaps the two biggest surprises of the Western Conference have been the Sacramento Kings and the Memphis Grizzlies. Sacramento’s success has been a complete shock to many, but Memphis probably shouldn’t have been. After all, they still have Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, two very good players that are finally healthy after a couple of years of injuries.
The Grizzlies also continue to employ the same Grit-N-Grind style that has seen them to so much success over the last decade, and as a result have the 6th best defense in the NBA.