3 big reasons behind the Grizzlies’ 6-0 start

The Memphis Grizzlies, like the Houston Rocket and the Golden State Warriors, are undefeated. The Rockets and the Warriors keep winning emphatically. The Grizz, on the other hand, keep squeaking by, winning ugly, low-scoring affairs. But 6-0 is 6-0.

The Grizzlies are playing unremarkable basketball, but that’s just the way they like it. This is a defensive-minded team that grinds away at opponents. So far, they’ve played to the level of their opponents, but they always have an answer. Against Oklahoma City Friday they gave up the lead for the first time all night with 53 seconds left. Mike Conley hit a three to take the lead back 15 seconds later and they never gave it back. Memphis keeps making the right plays at the right time, and they keep on winning.

Here’s why the Grizzlies are undefeated:

Memphis is second in the league with a 91.6 defensive rating this year, according to NBA.com’s stats page, and have kept teams under 90 points in four of their six games. They outlasted Charlotte (the No. 6-ranked defense) in a 71-69 slugfest earlier this year. The have the sixth-slowest pace and allow just eight fast break points per game, second lowest in the league.

In other words, they’re the same ol’ Grizzlies.

Last year, head coach Dave Joerger had to sacrifice wing defense by throwing Mike Miller out there to space the floor. Miller’s gone now, and Vince Carter should provide similar shooting with much more respectable coverage on the other end. Phase out Tayshaun Prince, who provides very little on either end these days, and Memphis’ offense may be respectable while keeping the defensive roots they’ve become so known for these past few years.

The teams they’ve played are a combined 12-21 so far this season. Beating the Suns in Phoenix 102-91 was a solid victory, even if they caught them on the tail end of a back-to-back, but the Grizzlies have had a pretty easy early season slate.

With 11 more games in November and only four of them playoff teams, Memphis has a real chance to stockpile some wins for the grueling Western Conference winter that’s quickly approaching. They may need a few wins to spare when they hit December, where they’re scheduled to face San Antonio three times, Houston twice, Cleveland, Dallas, Chicago and Golden State.

We forgot about them a little last year because Marc Gasol was hurt early in the year. Just 10-13 without him, the Grizzlies played at a 56-win pace once he returned to the lineup to knock the Suns out of last year’s playoffs and sneak into the No. 7 seed. The year before, in 2012-13, Gasol played 80 games and the Grizzlies reached the Conference Finals after a 56-win season.

Gasol’s off to a torrid start this year, averaging 19.3 points a game on 52 percent shooting. His stats will likely fall off a little, but as long as he’s healthy, the Grizzlies will be just fine.