The most arrogant team in the NBA
Yes Morant (left) and the Memphis Grizzlies like to get under their opponents’ skin © Imago
Sebastian Mühlenhof
The Memphis Grizzlies are going through a rough patch in the NBA. In this way, they promote prophecies of doom from those who do not like the performance of the young team at all.
Actually, things are going really well for the Memphis Grizzlies this season.
After a strong previous year, they’ve upped the ante again this NBA season. They are currently second in the Western Conference behind the Denver Nuggets. (DATA: All tables of the NBA)
But the road to success has recently stalled a bit. From the last nine games they could only win a meager game – not enough for their own claims. (DATA: NBA results and schedule)
However, this confirms many critics in their opinion of the team, because the Grizzlies are considered the most arrogant franchise in the league.
Sharpe engages in an argument with the Grizzlies
Just about two and a half weeks ago, one of the NBA experts had a heated argument with superstar Ja Morant and his teammates during the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Grizzlies.
Former NFL pro Shannon Sharpe, part of the duo on the TV show Undisputed Fox Sports reacted to poison darts from Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks and promptly poisoned back.
However, he turned the entire team against him, because Steven Adams, Ja Morant and his father Tee immediately got involved – and caused a pack formation on the sidelines in the Lakers hall.
“It started with Dillon Brooks. I said he’s too short to defend LeBron. He said ‘f*ck you’, I said ‘f*k you’. Then he came to me and I told him he didn’t want any problems with me,” Sharpe explained after the game ESPN and added: “They talk too much and act up all the time. I do not like it.”
Brooks also commented afterwards. While he didn’t want to talk about Sharpe, who he considers “a blogger or whatever,” he said, regarding the proportionality of the interaction, “For a regular viewer like him? He should never have stayed on the sidelines. But that’s just LA”
Despite Apology: Grizzlies Stagger After Sharpe Conflict
However, the emotions cooled down quickly. Sharpe and Tee Morant embraced again late in the third quarter.
The former tight end even publicly apologized for his behavior afterwards: “I take full responsibility for what happened. It doesn’t matter what Dillon Brooks said or how many times he said it. I am the person in charge, I have the platform that I have and so many people look up to me, I was wrong. I should have lowered the temperature in the arena. Instead, I cranked up the temperature and let it get out of hand.”
And yet, since this incident, things have not been going well for Memphis at all. They conceded a series of defeats against fellow competitors such as the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns, only the Indiana Pacers could defeat them.
But even the win against the Pacers was not without incident. So reported The Athleticthat Ja Morant was involved in an incident after the January 29 game.
Accordingly, the athlete was traveling with acquaintances in an off-road vehicle, from which a laser was directed at Pacers players, coaches and other people outside the arena. It is not known who pointed the laser at the group – but some of the people concerned were probably afraid that it could be attached to a weapon.
Morant takes on the entire NBA
In view of the last eight bankruptcies, it hails malice and ridicule for the young team on the Internet.
One statement by Morant in particular is brought out again and again. “I’m doing well in the West,” he said confidently ahead of the current season ESPN and said that he is not afraid of the big competition in the conference. (NEWS: All current information about the NBA)
This quote fits the image of the young superstar. Despite his 23 years, he is just bursting with self-confidence and makes this very clear in public.
He delivers numerous highlights on the field, but off the field he is particularly noticeable with big words. “I feel like some people don’t like me just because I’m me and say what I want and what I’m feeling right now. That’s why I rip their ass off,” he once explained.
Brooks and Jackson shoot at the Warriors
It’s phrases like these that make the Grizzlies one of the least popular teams in the league. After all, the guard isn’t the only player who acts on the verge of arrogance.
With Brooks, the team has one of the biggest trash talkers in the league. He regularly takes on superstars like LeBron James and Steph Curry and blasts them one spell after another.
However, he likes to overshoot the mark. After last season’s playoff duel with Curry, which the Grizzlies lost 4-2, the Warriors player said, “He was already calling it a dynasty.”
A shit storm also followed for the Grizzlies on social, who, despite their strong performances during the regular season in the playoffs, have so far been able to shine relatively little.
There is also a tweet from Jaren Jackson Jr., who tweeted after beating the Warriors shortly before the start of the playoffs: “Strength in numbers.”
Strong headwind for the Grizzlies
This behavior amazes not only experts, but also gamers. “You spoke of a dynasty. You can’t speak of a dynasty if you’ve never won,” Klay Thompson reprimanded the Grizzlies at Christmas.
He added: “I don’t think people realize how hard it is, how much effort and sacrifice it takes. You have to sacrifice your body and I thought it was premature even to mention that word.”
An anonymous manager of an NBA team criticized the Grizzlies in an article last year The Athletic: “They talk the most s**t in the league!”
Grizzlies wants to silence critics
These words are likely to fall on deaf ears with the youngsters. After all, they are in their own cosmos and use criticism much more as an incentive.
Desmond Bane, for example, wants to prove it to all teams that didn’t get him in the draft. “I feel like the teams had their chance to get me and knew who I was. It wasn’t like I was one of those one-off guys. You had four years to find out more about me,” said the 30th pick of the 2020 draft.
Accordingly, it cannot be assumed that the Grizzlies will change their self-confident, bordering on arrogant manner. After all, they had won eleven games in a row before the negative series and almost broke their own franchise record.
However, it is questionable whether the relatively young team with an average age of 24.5 years can live up to its own claim to the title. In any case, the Grizzlies will have to show in the playoffs whether they can follow up on big words with action.
