Beale Street Bears
Fansided

Memphis Grizzlies: First half 2020-21 NBA schedule takeaways

By Josh Mullenix

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies lines up for a Sacramento Kings free throw during the second half at Golden 1 Center on February 20, 2020 in Sacramento, California. 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 Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies lines up for a Sacramento Kings free throw during the second half at Golden 1 Center on February 20, 2020 in Sacramento, California. 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 Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 03: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans is fouled on a drive to the basket by Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of an NBA basketball game at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 3, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, 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 Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 03: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans is fouled on a drive to the basket by Jaren Jackson Jr. #13 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of an NBA basketball game at HP Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 3, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, 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 Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images) /

1. There are a lot of games being played really quickly.

In the first month of the season (between Dec. 23 and  Jan. 22), the Grizzlies will play 16 games. Eight at home, eight on the road. That’s a lot of games quickly at the beginning of the season. For the most part, home games and road games are played in bunches. Very rarely will you see Memphis at home, then away the next game and then right back to the Forum after that. The longest home stand in the first half of the season is four games, but there are seven total instances when they will play multiple games at home in a row.

There’s also the overwhelming likelihood that the Grizzlies will encounter COVID-19 hurdles once the season begins. Yes, the NBA bubble was executed perfectly, but no one has been able to evade the impact of the global pandemic when teams are traveling all over the country. Memphis is probably going to miss a game or two whether it’s they have a positive test or a team they are playing does. The question is, how many will they miss? The NBA only released the first half of the schedule because they don’t know the answer to that question either and  want to have some flexibility if there needs to be a fundamental shift in the schedule.

For the most part, the Grizzlies play a game every two days, even when they are playing the same team in the same building. There are five back-to-backs in the first half of the season and  four of them are when the Grizzlies are at home for both games.

Home/Grizzlies News