The Grizzlies have once again demonstrated the blueprint for winning without Ja Morant.

[{"selector":"#anim-c7922ed1-248c-4ace-b322-aaf392cd95e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-31e2268c-6d7f-4232-b10c-309610add1d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 314.20540%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Despite Ja Morant's incredible talent, the Grizzlies' team strength had little to do with him.

[{"selector":"#anim-12a73080-e5e9-433d-9e88-7d0d1476fab2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2abd898e-885b-463a-98e8-70782f08f417","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 319.26869%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Memphis was one of the NBA's top defensive teams for 82 games during the regular season.

[{"selector":"#anim-7c9b6c6f-d87e-4baa-b8f0-244dd98cfa53","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3558b7a3-20db-498a-b628-a9eff5938db1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 234.17197%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] In terms of defensive field goal percentage, they are first. Second in terms of defensive rating. In terms of defensive rebounds, h e ranks fourth.

[{"selector":"#anim-ade9d075-3eae-41e8-ad28-fdb401d82421","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d2ee2594-db32-41b6-9756-cc644855e5b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 234.17197%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Several times, Kevin Durant brought up this issue, but no one listened.Going 8-0 with him in the starting lineup during the regular

[{"selector":"#anim-d466ea2e-14c8-4189-88e1-780141d9def6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23f63206-6c99-4602-834e-cc4ec95c0377","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 189.48263%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] With Morant sidelined for Game 2 of the Grizzlies' first-round series against the Lakers due to a hand injury, Memphis relied on it s strengths.

[{"selector":"#anim-099765bf-d73f-4465-b408-1278368a06db","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fabf6d6-b6dc-4d9e-8ff1-e1f4451c5c69","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 234.17197%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Grizzlies defeated the Lakers 103-93 on Wednesday to even the series. Memphis limited Los Angeles to 41.2% shooting.

[{"selector":"#anim-e5352b30-34ae-43a3-aab0-1a97596ef438","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e496cbd-eb7d-4f40-be7c-522b05533f0e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 189.48263%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Lakers made only 26.9% of their three-point attempts. The Grizzlies' switching defense forced Los Angeles to shoot shots late i n the shot clock on multiple occasions.

[{"selector":"#anim-50fc8e41-524f-4bc8-a1fd-d1bea6a98ccc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4261c39d-00fa-4749-b5f5-012fdc742a79","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 234.17197%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Memphis forced 12 turnovers and, after being outrebounded by the Lakers in Game 1, outrebounded them 49-47 in Game 2.

[{"selector":"#anim-33355fdc-c582-4ef5-9533-5701a7d0ea46","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15a79869-2423-4807-b978-45765f843161","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 405.40933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b35285b8-5e7d-44d1-819a-c3f0c8b713f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c44175df-634c-4f9f-83da-ec07682f45a8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 186.22225%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] THANK YOU FOR VISITING TRENDING STORIES Learn more