Memphis Grizzlies: 3 storylines for the Pelicans game
By Ethan Becker
No. 3: The Pelicans playoff hopes
This season is going to look different from last season in a number of ways, but one of those will be the play-in game to determine the number eight seed in the Western Conference. While it’s not a guarantee (if the current eighth seed is more than four games ahead of the ninth seed no play-in will take place), it’s very likely that Memphis will have to fight in one more game to get to the postseason.
However, if New Orleans drops this game, odds are that they won’t be able to beat the Trail Blazers for the ninth seed in the West. That would sting for the Pelicans, especially because coming into the season restart they were the favorites to win the ninth seed, and possibly to even take the eighth seed.
And while winning one game might seem easy enough for New Orleans, there are already a lot of obstacles in their way. Mainly, their play up to this point has been dreadful, and Zion Williamson will still be on a minutes restriction during this game. If Memphis can beat NOLA, then the Grizzlies may have just eliminated one more opponent from postseason contention.