Welcome to Grind City Views, a roundup of all news Memphis Grizzlies from the web. Let’s see where the Grizz fall in this week’s national power rankings.
In this week’s power rankings, the Memphis Grizzlies didn’t make any moves upward. Right now, as their play is mediocre and key players are hurt, they’re stuck in the middle. With the playoffs coming up, could they surge past their slump to get back to their best basketball?
Let’s see what the national power rankings have to say:
ESPN (#17)
"If the Grizzlies weren’t already getting used to the idea of another playoff encounter with their old friends from San Antonio, Sunday’s scores have to lead them in that direction, after Memphis failed to capitalize on an unexpected Thunder loss at home to Charlotte by falling at Staples Center to the Lakers … The Grizz won the first of the three previous encounters in six games, but the Spurs have swept the past two series, including a meeting in the 2013 Western Conference finals. (A quick Mike Conley update: Conley averaged 28.8 PPG and 7.0 APG in the first four games Gasol missed before Sunday’s woes at Staples.)"
The Grizz losing to a mediocre team? What a surprise! At the moment, the Grizzlies would be matching up with the San Antonio Spurs. This would be their fourth playoff series against each other. If they want to have a shot at outlasting the mighty Spurs, Mike Conley must continue his stellar, MVP-level play.
Must Read: MVP of March for the Grizz
CBS Sports (#12)
"The frustrating thing about Memphis is that they are really no better or worse than the Jazz, Clipppers, or Thunder. They just lost to more crap teams, and cost themselves homecourt and now will have to face San Antonio in the first round … Spoiler alert: facing the Spurs in the first round is the very definition of “not breaking exactly right.”"
The Grizzlies can beat the superior but lose to the inferior. It’s the oddest thing. If they could’ve capitalized on those games, they’d be sitting pretty with homecourt advantage. Instead, they have a first-round date with Kawhi Leonard and Greg Popavich. What a joy!
NBA.com (#17)
"The Grizzlies are looking a little like they did at this point last year, with three projected starters – Chandler Parsons, JaMychal Green and Marc Gasol – out all or most of last week. … They’re almost certainly looking at a first round matchup with the Spurs, who they’ve beat twice at home and who they’ll visit on Tuesday."
NO, PLEASE STOP TALKING ABOUT LAST YEAR! DON’T YOU DARE BRING UP THOSE HORRIFYING MEMORIES!
Thank you for tuning into this week’s edition of “Grind City Views.”