Under normal circumstances, a mid-November bout between the Utah Jazz and a rebuilding Memphis Grizzlies squad wouldn’t really move the needle much. For obvious reasons, Friday’s game between the Western Conference foes is different, though.
Mike Conley is coming home.
After 12 years at the head of the Grit n’ Grind movement, Conley made the move to the 801 this summer and, almost instantaneously, the Jazz took on the look of a legitimate title contender. And while bringing the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to Salt Lake City is his primary goal now, there’s no doubting that Conley’s first return to Memphis is a big deal.