Memphis Grizzlies: Race for the eighth update

The NBA is back, and the race to the playoffs have begun. Now, The Memphis Grizzlies are fighting tooth and nail to hold on to the coveted eighth seed.

The NBA, and Memphis Grizzlies basketball, is back. And before we go any further, can we just stop to appreciate how good the games have been so far? Every single game has seen both teams crack 100+ points, and four of the eight games played have been decided by five points or less. The Grizzlies-Blazers and Rockets-Mavs games even went into overtime, and were filled with suspense right to the end. Needless to say, the NBA is back, players are ready, the playoff race is in full swing, and every game counts.

But on the topic of playoff races, the eighth seed in the Western Conference is still very much up for grabs, with five teams–the Grizzlies, the Sacramento Kings, the San Antonio Spurs, the Portland Trailblazers, and the New Orleans Pelicans–in contention for that final playoff spot. As of writing this, the Grizzlies do still hold a lead for that spot, but there’s still plenty of games left on the schedule for any of the four to make a major move.

As of now though, every team has played their first game, and the standings have been updated for the time being. Which teams have made major moves? And who is in need of a win to stay relevant?

Note: The numbers before each entry indicate where they are seeded in the Western Conference, however the games back number indicates how many games away from the eighth seed they are.