Tony Allen comments on Ja Morant leading Memphis Grizzlies to NBA Finals, his mind is made up
Ja Morant has the potential to be one of the best players in the NBA, but he needs to shine on the brightest stage first.
In 2019, Ja Morant put the Memphis Grizzlies on his back and announced his arrival as the face of the once-proud franchise.
Since then, he has made two All-Star Games, received All-NBA honors, and broken out as one of the most exciting players in the NBA.
Hes only 25 years old, and the Grizzlies roster around him is rather young and inexperienced, but hes already received two labels that will be hard for him to shed.
First, his gun-related suspensions and injury history have called his availability into question.
He hasnt played 65 games since his rookie season and has already missed 26 contests this season.
Second, he has twice won 50 games in a season and has made the playoffs three times, but he has only led Memphis past the first round once.
If he proves unable to shine when the lights are brightest in the playoffs, his long-standing role as the face of the franchise will be questioned.
However, one franchise legend and NBA champion thinks Morant has what it takes.
Tony Allen believes the Grizzlies can be champions with Morant Tony Allen won the NBA Finals as a role player for the 2008 Boston Celtics and then signed with the Grizzlies in 2010.
As a key member of the GritnGrind era, he made six All-Defensive Teams in a row, although he was never able to make it back to the Finals.
Memphis has long been a staple of the Western Conference playoffs, but behind the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and Golden State Warriors they never broke through to play for a championship.
Allen seems to believe the Grizzlies are close to breaking through.
I believe so, said Tony Allen about Ja Morants chances of winning a title as the first option.
This guy is a must-see TV, box office if you ask me, he continued.
I think this year hes been hit with a few injuries, knick-knack injuries, nothing too major.
He just went on ESPN not too long ago and said something about how he got some help with his shoulder, he came back and had a 44-point game.
Allen admits the clock is ticking in Memphis Key players like Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane are all under contract at least through next season, and rookies Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey should give the Grizzlies hope for the next several years, but with other Western Conference teams gearing up for years of dominance, the Grizzlies need to make their mark early.
This is the time they want to win some games so they dont have to play in the Play-In, make things a little harder, because you gotta figure they were number two at one point, behind OKC, and theyve been playing well as a unit, Allen finished.
They just got to be healthy at this time now.
Ja Morant is the spearhead of this organization, we go where he goes, and he just needs to be Ja, I dont need him to be thinking about too much.
With Morant having the keys to the offense and the franchise, Memphis needs to address his weaknesses.
He is an underrated passer and is one of the best finishers in the league, second to only Anthony Edwards, but his outside shooting needs some work.
This season, he is shooting 29.1% from deep, pretty much in line with his career average.
Memphis has tried pairing him with Marcus Smart , who isnt much of a shooting threat, and failed to find any success.
In the modern NBA, having a point guard who isnt a shooting threat is a hard obstacle to overcome, but its not impossible.
Through smart roster construction, Memphis should be able to remain a top team in the West, but they need to prove that they can be major postseason players.
This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission..
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