MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) 鈥� Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies have more experience now along with some painful postseason heartbreak.
What matters most for these still very young Grizzlies? What's next. And they want it all.
"It's no pressure for us,鈥� Morant said. 鈥淲e didn't win the . So for us, it鈥檚 pretty much going to the next level, continuing to improve and go win a championship.鈥�
Sounds simple enough for a team that got every point last season from players not yet 30 and still posted the NBA's second-best record. The for their first playoff series win since 2016.
They the by an injured knee. The Grizzlies took that loss as an eye-opening look at just what it takes to play deep into the NBA postseason.
鈥淲e understand the habits and the foundation and things we have to develop in order to make that run and make it happen,鈥� guard Desmond Bane said.
Memphis set a high bar. The Grizzlies won a franchise-record 56 wins and their first division title while also locking up the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
MORANT'S CLIMB
The point guard has gone from to an All Star and in his third season. He wants much more, though Morant will only say stay tuned for opening night Oct. 19 against the New York Knicks to see exactly what he spent this offseason working to improve.
Morant has talked about trying to build up his body to better survive driving to the bucket. Coach Taylor Jenkins said Morant came to the the staff at season's end with a list of areas he had targeted, including 3-point shooting.
The All-Star also has seen the player rankings and made very clear he's not satisfied.
鈥淚 got eight more spots to go,鈥� Morant said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 another one of my motivation coming in at nine. I鈥檓 trying to be No. 1.鈥�
PACK OF GRIZZLIES
General manager Zach Kleiman said would pay to keep the team's core group together. Kleiman and John Konchar got an extension this offseason.
Center Steven Adams got a in training camp. Dillon Brooks and Brandon Clarke are in the final years of their contracts. Kleiman said the team feels strongly about those players.
鈥淲e view them as as potential long term pieces of this group, and we鈥檒l see how things play out,鈥� Kleiman said.
FILL-IN FOR JJJ
With Jaren Jackson Jr. , the Grizzlies will need a fill-in for the power forward coming off his best season yet. Options include Santi Aldama, Brandon Clarke or possibly rookie David Roddy.
Jenkins mentioned top draft pick Jake LaRavia as an option when Memphis goes with a smaller lineup. When Jackson returns, he has a big goal for himself: Being voted Defensive Player of the Year after being named to the .
BANE'S SHOOTING
The 30th pick out of TCU in the 2020 draft finished fifth in the voting for Most Improved Player in his second season. Bane leads the NBA shooting 46.4% outside the arc with a minimum of 600 attempts since he entered the league.
Bane also set the franchise record making 228 3s last season, and he also ranks third in NBA playoff history making seven or more 3s in consecutive games. That puts him in the company of Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
New Grizzlies teammate Danny Green said he's been a fan since Bane entered the league.
鈥淭he way he鈥檚 built it doesn鈥檛 look like he should be a basketball player,鈥� Green said. 鈥淏ut he鈥檚 very effective. It鈥檚 crazy to see that he shoots shoot the ball very well with, you know, how strong he is and how compact he is.鈥�
STAT LEADERS
Memphis led the NBA in rebounds, steals and blocks, the league's first team to do that in each category since steals and blocks became official stats in 1973-74. The Grizzlies also led the NBA in points scored in the paint, second-chance points, fast-break points and offensive rebounds.
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Teresa M. Walker, The Associated Press
