The Grizzlies’ ‘Grit and Grind’ identity is in itself a tale of adversity. Without struggle, there is nothing to grind against. Without grief and woe and Chandler Parsons’ knees, what good is grit?
Even after moving on from former coach Dave Joerger and their more physical, inside-out style, pluck remains a big part of the Memphis DNA. It hangs somewhere in the ether, allowing the Grizz to be postseason mainstays regardless of whether injuries completely ravage their roster (like in 2016) or merely cripple it (like this year).
This time around, it’s the losses of Parsons and Tony Allen that temper Memphis’ postseason outlook.