The list of what is going right for the Grizzlies is much longer than the “things to-do” column. So it should come as no surprise that coach Lionel Hollins quickly and methodically broke down the attributes that have his squad strutting near the top of the Western Conference nearly a quarter of the way through the NBA regular season.

“I’ve been saying that we’ve been an improved team camaraderie-wise and commitment-wise,” Hollins said. “As far as basketball play, I think that with the commitment to each other that has elevated us in a lot of areas. Our assists numbers are up. Our three-point shooting is up. Our defensive numbers are way up. We’ve just got to keep doing that.”

“The West is still the West. It’s tough,” Hollins said. “And it’s starting to shape up a little bit.”

The Griz navigated a schedule with an above-average degree of difficulty even if the season remains in its infancy stage. Their versatility, balanced attack and quality victories have stolen headlines a little more than six weeks into the season.

via Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal