The Memphis Grizzlies concluded the regular season with the second best record in the Western Conference only a year ago. While an early playoff departure in the first round to the Los Angeles Lakers overshadowed their regular season success, it provided a window into what this youthful Grizzlies core can achieve over the course of a season.

Ja Morant’s 25-game ban, as well as injuries to other important players, has clearly slowed the Grizzlies’ momentum from last season; nonetheless, they remain optimistic about their chances. This was Morant’s statement after the Grizzlies beat the Atlanta Hawks for the third time in a row to maintain undefeated since the star point guard returned from suspension.

“Nah, I’m not surprised at all,” Morant told the Memphis Commercial Appeal’s Damichael Cole. “I’ve been here for a while. I know what we’re capable of, what kind of squad we have, and how much noise we can create in this league.”

While the Grizzlies haven’t had much postseason success since selecting Morant, they’ve been working towards it for a while. It won’t be easy to make the playoffs this year, but this winning run since Morant’s return has given plenty of cause to believe that this squad can still be spectacular.