Don't write off preseason performance

Many claim the preseason can't predict future success, but the Grizzlies could prove them wrong. Joe Murphy/Getty Images

Preseason NBA coverage nearly always comes packaged with a disclaimer: It's just the preseason. The implication being that we can't learn anything from preseason basketball performance because teams treat the exhibitions as a regular-season lay-up line and not real competition. If the players don't treat the games like they mean something, then why should we?

Because they do mean something.