The NBA season is set to restart on July 30th and the race for the 8th seed will be in its final stretch. 8 regular season games to decide the 8th seed, with potentially play-in games for that final spot. Today, we look at the Grizzlies’ case to make it.
It’s very hard to judge how good the Grizzlies have been. Yes, they currently sit in 8th, 3.5 games ahead of their main contenders for that last spot, but they’ve had an easy schedule thus far and they are still under .500. With the weaker teams out of the league, they get a huge boost, as their contenders don’t get easy games.
For Memphis’ games, this doesn’t change a lot. The only team that won’t be in Orlando that they were scheduled to play are the Knicks. 15 games out of the last 16 were scheduled to be against teams who will be returning, so good teams. This while the Pelicans and the Blazers will have a way harder remaining schedule than what would be under normal circumstances.
But this season won’t be normal, so let’s break down Memphis’ team ahead of the 8 regular season games and probably the 2 elimination games.
The team is obviously led by their rookie of the year: Ja Morant. He’s made a huge impact on the team already and is currently sitting in a playoff seed while the Grizzlies were expected to be amongst the worst teams in the league. Morant is putting up 18 and 7 on 49% shooting and 37% from deep. Once again: He’s a rookie.
And youth is the trend for the Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr., Justice Winslow, Dillon Brooks, Tyus Jones, Brandon Clarke and De’Anthony Melton are all 24 or younger. No player over 30 has gotten real minutes for the Grizzlies this season, and that is a blessing and a disadvantage.
Because the Blazers have real experience. Last year they made the Western Conference Finals and they have a superstar in Damian Lillard. However, their youth means less wear and tear and a more rejuvenated team with a lot of energy.
Because energy is one thing the Grizzlies don’t lack. They play with the 7th fastest pace in the league, led by one of the fastest players in Ja Morant. His lob threats, JJJ and Clarke, are scoring at high averages with Ja’s distribution. Even Jonas Valanciunas is producing career-highs in points, rebounds, assists field goal % since coming to Memphis.
Valanciunas, at 27 years old the oldest real rotation player, doesn’t back away from defending the young and hungry pups. A strong, underrated big man who gives this team the experience and guidance where they need it. He might not have been part of the squad that went on to win the Finals with Toronto, but he was there for a big chunk of the season, and even before, the Raptors were a strong team.
The biggest advantage for the Grizzlies lies in the fact that they are already 3.5 games ahead with only 8 games left. If they hold on to that 8th seed, they’ll only have to win 1 out of the 2 elimination games. Unless they outplay everyone and end up more than 4 games ahead on 9th, then they go immediately into the playoffs. But the Blazers, Pelicans and Kings are breathing down their necks.
Also, shout out to Memphis for having the best jerseys in the league. Now put them up for sale!
Courtside 