Memphis Grizzlies: Race for the eighth update
By Ethan Becker
No. 11: The New Orleans Pelicans, 3.5 Games Back
Previous Standing: 10
Current Record: 28-37
Most Recent Game: Loss vs. Jazz
While we’re not here for conspiracy theories (check out our Twitter profile for that), it is a little suspicious that the NBA didn’t use the first game in the bubble series to determine the tie between the Blazers and Jazz, and instead gave the Pelicans the Jazz. And while the Jazz were higher in the standings, they were coming off a 5-5 stretch for games, and had reportedly huge chemistry problems between their top two stars.
Still, at least the result of that game didn’t disappoint Grizzly fans.
The Pelicans were the mainstream sports media’s pick to overthrow Memphis and go into the playoffs in a series against the Los Angeles Lakers. While that is still possible, an opening loss against an opponent that they could’ve easily beaten isn’t a great start, and the fact that Zion Williamson will be on a minutes restriction for at least the next two games (the second one being against Memphis) will make it all the more difficult to do that.