The Memphis Grizzlies are not a contender quite yet, but they are in a position to be included in the NBA’s 2021 Play-In Tournament.
There was a play-in tournament last year, but the concept is still new to many NBA fans. In a normal year, the top eight teams in the NBA are in; it’s that simple.
This year, the NBA is going with a play-in tournament to make up for the fact that this is a shortened season. This will also help teams who have had games canceled, leading to an even shorter season.
But how does a play-in tournament work and how does it affect the Memphis Grizzlies?
For starters, the word “tournament” is being used slightly hyperbolically. The tournament will consist of three games. The 7th and 8th seeded teams will face off and the winner of that game will have a spot in the NBA Playoffs. The loser will still have an opportunity to earn a spot but will have to win the next game in the tournament.
The 9th and 10th seeds will then face off, but the winner of this game won’t automatically be in either. The winner of this game will play the loser of the game between 7th and 8th seeds, and whoever takes home the victory there will be in the playoffs.
Essentially, the 7th and 8th seeded teams will have two opportunities to win a game, while the lower seeded 9th and 10th place teams will be facing a single-game elimination.
So which teams are most likely to be in this play-in tournament?
The Memphis Grizzlies are in, but not comfortably
If the season ended today, the Western Conference play-in tournament matchups would look like this:
- (1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (2) Dallas Mavericks
- (3) Golden State Warriors vs. (4) Memphis Grizzlies
There is still a long way to go before this tournament, but it’s worth seeing where teams stand at the moment. If this were to be the final standings, the Grizzlies would have to face the Golden State Warriors, a team that all play-in candidates will be hoping to see in a locked-in playoff spot.
Other teams that are trying to earn a position in the play-in tournament this year include the New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Sacramento Kings. That being said, the Pelicans are the team out of this group with the best shot.
The Houston Rockets looked like they’d be competing for a spot for the first portion of the season, but quickly left the conversation with a 16-game losing streak. Yes, you read that right. They have lost 16 games in a row and the streak is still going.
The Memphis Grizzlies would have an advantage in the play-in tournament
The play-in tournament was created to promote fairness. That being said, the Grizzlies would be playing with an advantage over the other teams competing.
This is a Memphis team that will have earned their spot in the tournament without their second-best player in Jaren Jackson Jr. in the lineup. When Jackson Jr. returns, Ja Morant will have his partner back and the team will be significantly better, at least after JJJ shakes off the rust.
That being said, you’re essentially adding an up-and-coming star to a team that earned a play-in tournament big without him. In a competitive Western Conference, this could be huge for a team that got knocked in last year’s tournament.
If the Grizzlies end up in one of these spots, they should perform well. Barring any injuries, they’ll be the most talented team competing by a pretty wide margin.
Hopefully this team can stay alive a bit longer without JJJ and stay in position for one of the higher seeds of the tournament.