Memphis Grizzlies: Who’s close to challenging for that eighth seed?
By Ethan Becker
The Memphis Grizzlies went into the break up four games for the eighth seed in the Western Conference, but after a string of recent losses, who’s close to catching up?
When the Memphis Grizzlies went into the All-Star break, things were looking good. They had gone 16-4 over their final 20 games leading up to the break, the only event that the Grizzlies were represented in happened on the first day, so the squad would be well rested, and Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks had been firing on all cylinders.
Since the break, Memphis has floundered.
They have yet to win a game, Jaren Jackson Jr is injured, and Brooks has seen a drop off in production.
It was almost ludicrous to ask before the break, but consider where the Grizzlies are now, it’s time to ask: how close Memphis is to losing that coveted eighth seed?
Slowly, that lead that Memphis had over the bottom of the West has diminished. First it was four games, then it was 3.5 games, and now it sits just a three game lead over the ninth seed team. With the Grizzlies coming into the post All-Star break stretch with the toughest remaining schedule in the West, it’s time to take a look at the closest teams to them.