Parity evident in NBA

The proof of NBA parity is evident in the list of champions over the last eight seasons. A different team has ascended the throne since Toronto started the streak in 2019. After the Raptors’ reign came the LA Lakers then Milwaukee, Golden State, Denver, Boston, Oklahoma City and New York. Further proof of parity is the even championship split among Eastern and Western Conference teams. Toronto, Milwaukee, Boston and New York represent the East while the Lakers, Golden State, Denver and OKC are from the West.

This season, an unlikely team is on top of the standings. Memphis is the only remaining unbeaten club with a 5-0 record. The Grizzlies gun for their sixth straight win against Sacramento today.

Preseason headlines revolved around marquee players changing addresses. Giannis Antetokounmpo landed in Miami. Jaylen Brown and LeBron James went to Philadelphia. Ja Morant transferred to Portland. Kawhi Leonard returned to Toronto. LaMelo Ball relocated to Minnesota. But they’re not making news as resounding as the Grizzlies in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference. Not surprisingly, Memphis wasn’t chosen by Lindy’s to win the crown this season – the pick was San Antonio. Not a single player from Memphis was named to Lindy’s prospective mythical first, second and third teams to show how underrated the Grizzlies are. Athlon Sports predicted OKC to beat the Spurs in the Finals, making no mention of Memphis as a serious contender.

Is Memphis for real or is it just off to a hot start and destined to sputter in the homestretch? Another team that sizzled with a 5-0 start before losing to Dallas yesterday is Houston. The Rockets made it up to the first round of the playoffs last season after failing to advance the last four years. Seven Rockets are averaging in double figure points and the team is No. 2 in offense, No. 1 in three-point percentage and No. 4 in assists. Turkish 6-11 center Alpy Senguin, 24 and 18-year vet Kevin Durant, 38, are averaging a combined 46.9 points. Amen Thompson, Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith, Tari Eason and Reed Sheppard are also norming in double figure points. Reserves include vets Marcus Smart, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Steven Adams. Coach Ime Udoka’s staff includes noted shooting doctor Chip Engelland who was recruited from OKC.

Memphis’ Tuomas Iisalo is Finnish and the fourth NBA head coach born, raised and trained outside of North America. In his first full season at the helm last campaign, Iisalo piloted the Grizzlies to a lowly 25-57 record. With Morant gone, 6-5 seven-year vet Ty Jerome has assumed the role of team leader, averaging 28.8 points. He’s surrounded by young kids on the block – 6-8 rookie Cameron Boozer, 19, 6-5 Cedric Coward, 23, 6-7 Jaylen Wells, 23 and 7-4 Zach Edey, 24. Off the bench comes 6-1 Scotty Pippen Jr., son of you know who. Memphis is No. 2 in rebounding and No. 4 in defense, encouraging stats for a team not tipped to make an impact down the road this season. Houston has experience on its side while Memphis is rolling the dice with youth. Will they go far or is their early surge a flash in the pan?