The Memphis Grizzlies are a team that is capable of both winning big and losing ugly. Unlike most teams, we don’t know who we’ll see when Taylor Jenkins’ squad marches out on the floor.
A lot of this can be attributed to the fact that this team hasn’t been fully healthy all year. With missed time from just about every rostered player, it’s been near-impossible for the team on Beale Street to find some consistency.
But they’ve overperformed. Hovering around .500 for most of the year, they’ve picked off some superior teams and taken care of business against inferior teams. When he’s been healthy, Ja Morant has been huge, playing at an All-Star level despite being snubbed from the game itself.
The Memphis Grizzlies have played some strong teams, but still have a tough road ahead
Memphis has already had some experience playing NBA Playoff-caliber teams, but their toughest opponents lie ahead. As they make a push for the playoffs, they’ll look to find a stride with their full roster intact.
In Friday night’s game, this plan was set back a step with the injury of Grayson Allen. In the 3rd quarter, the former Duke basketball star was concussed, knocking him out of Sunday’s game against the Houston Rockets. After concussion protocol, we’ll discover his true return time, but hopefully it’s soon for a team that has been struggling from 3-point land.
After the All-Star break, everybody should be back for the Grizzlies, giving them the opportunity to capitalize on a promising young team. They’ve got a long way to go, but hopefully things can come together for Memphis.
Here are the 5 toughest remaining opponents on the Grizzlies’ schedule.
Memphis Grizzlies opponent No. 5: Portland Trail Blazers
The least threatening opponent on this list is coming in at number 5. That being said, this is an extremely scary team with one of the biggest stars in the NBA on its roster.
Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers will host the Memphis Grizzlies in back-to-back games late in April. After this, the Grizz will come home to face this team on their home turf.
Ja Morant vs. Damian Lillard was a matchup that we were supposed to see at the beginning of the season, but was postponed due to COVID-19. Both of these squads will be extremely eager to take a shot at each other, making this out to be a great matchup.
The Trail Blazers currently sit at 6th in the Western Conference, just a few spots ahead of Memphis. They’re a strong scoring team, landing themselves in the top ten of the league in points per game and 3-point shooting percentage. The winner of this series will have an increased chance at making the playoffs in an extremely competitive conference.
Memphis Grizzlies opponent No. 4: Dallas Mavericks
On paper, the Dallas Mavericks do not look like a particularly scary team. Much like the Memphis Grizzlies, Rick Carlisle’s team has had its fair share of struggles with injury.
The Grizzlies came up against the Mavs already this year and struggled badly. The final score didn’t look bad, but Dallas manhandled Memphis in their home arena and they did it without Kristaps Porzingis in the lineup.
The Grizzlies will get two more shots against these guys, both in FedEx Forum. They haven’t shown that they can beat Dallas, but with Porzingis and Jaren Jackson Jr. back in action, this will be an entirely different game.
Of all of the games listed, Memphis probably has the best chance of coming home with wins against this team. If Luka Doncic has an off shooting night, the Grizzlies could control the game down low and establish themselves as the better team.
Memphis Grizzlies opponent No. 3: New Orleans Pelicans
Speaking of teams that the Memphis Grizzlies have struggled against, they’ll have to face the New Orleans Pelicans again this year. This is a team that the Grizz have already faced twice this year, losing both games while allowing over 130 points per game.
If the Grizzlies want any chance of a win here, they’ll have to figure things out on the defensive end. It looks like Memphis will be fighting for a NBA Playoff or play-in spot, so this will be a must-win game near the end of the year.
Much like Taylor Jenkins’ team, Stan Van Gundy’s squad is one of the better young rosters in the league, highlighted by Zion Williamson. This will be a clash between stars that we’ll be watching for at least the next decade, so sit back and enjoy it.
The return of Jackson Jr. should help the Grizzlies’ cause defensively, but they’ve got a long way to go before this May 10th matchup in Memphis.
Memphis Grizzlies opponent No. 2: Golden State Warriors
It was nearly impossible not to give the Golden State Warriors the top spot, but the actual number one has earned it this year. The Warriors are an extremely powerful team though, and one of the greatest franchises the NBA has ever seen.
Klay Thompson will still be out, but that hardly makes Steve Kerr’s team any less scary. Stephen Curry will still be hitting 3-pointers, Draymond Green will still be playing elite defense and Kerr will still be out-coaching anybody you throw against him.
It’s also worth noting that the Grizzlies have struggled at defending the 3-pointer lately, something that the Warriors are the best in the game at. This matchup is less than a month from now, so Memphis will look to bolster their defense by then.
Hopefully Jaren Jackson Jr. will return for their two home matchups in a few weeks. If they don’t win these games, they’ll have another shot at the Warriors the finish out the season in San Francisco.
Memphis Grizzlies opponent No. 1: Utah Jazz
It still seems weird that the Jazz have the best record in the NBA. Utah’s team will look to win their team’s first NBA Championship since the team’s inception in 1974.
We’ll get a great matchup in these games, with two of the best athletes going at each other in Ja Morant and Donovan Mitchell. It’s hard to see any possibility of a game without highlight plays, dunks, and physicality.
The Grizzlies will see the Jazz three times in a week, reuniting them with former point guard Mike Conley for an extended period of time. There isn’t much hate between Conley and the Grizz, but he’ll look to play his best game against the team that traded him less than two years ago.
The Jazz look unbeatable right now, so Memphis would have to feel great about stealing one game against the best team in the NBA. By the time these games come around, both of these teams will be looking to earn a top playoff seed or the opportunity to fight for a championship in general.
The Jazz are the hardest opponent left on the schedule, but this Grizzlies team has shown that they can play with the best.