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Ja Morant: Pros and Cons of the COVID Layoff

By AJ Salah

MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies warms up prior to the game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on October 23, 2019 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies warms up prior to the game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on October 23, 2019 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Con: Possibly No Playoffs

This variable remains largely in question. We’ll try not to lean on speculation too much, but there’s a chance that the Memphis Grizzlies – currently the West’s 8-seed – may not actually play in the NBA postseason.

There are two plausible scenarios in which Memphis is shut out. The first obviously being that the COVID outbreak proves impossible for the NBA to navigate, and the remainder of the season is vacated. It would be a bummer, but very little about the last two months hasn’t been.

The second is that the NBA elects to shorten the postseason schedule by shaving some of the bottom seeds from the bracket. The league would preserve the traditional seven-game series, while giving more focus to the its best teams and biggest stars. This scenario would also make it easier for the NBA to manage a re-boot, with fewer players and personnel to regulate, isolate and regularly test for COVID.

Either case would be highly unfair to Morant and the Grizzlies, but again, such is life these days.

Memphis would be deprived of the chance to compete on a bigger stage, and Morant would miss a valuable checkpoint in his rookie climb. While the Lakers, in all likelihood, would clean the Grizzlies’ clocks, it would be an invaluable learning experience. Going up against the NBA’s best in the national limelight helps indicate where the Grizzlies truly stand. It also allows them to perform in a more competitive environment, with higher stakes and more rigorous game-planning.

If it does fall out that the Grizzlies get a DNP-CD (Commissioner’s Decision) for the playoffs, they’ll miss out on more than just closure after a great season.

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