Under coach Mike Fratello, the 2006 Memphis Grizzlies won 49 games in the regular season and positioned themselves as the second-best defense in all the NBA. They ended the season with a 101.6 defensive rating while allowing a league-best 88.5 points to their opponents.

With a nERD of 62.6, the Grizz made their third straight playoffs on the back of a balanced team. Pau Gasol, Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Eddie Jones, Damon Jones, Chucky Atkins and Bobby Jackson all averaged at least 10.1 points with a 25-year-old Gasol putting up a team-high 20.4 points per contest.