Memphis Grizzlies: Jaren Jackson Jr.’s return will break the Western Conference
The door is open in the West for the Memphis Grizzlies to capitalize
The Memphis Grizzlies have a rare opportunity here. While they clearly don’t have the talent to compete with some Western Conference teams without Jaren Jackson Jr. in the lineup, they have shown that this doesn’t matter.
All season long, this team has been punching above its weight class. They have proved this in big wins, including a dominating victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, one of the best teams in the league.
The Grizzlies have a tough schedule ahead of them, but if they can reach Jaren Jackson Jr.’s return with a winning record, they’ll be within striking distance of a locked-in playoff spot. That’s right, they have a chance to earn a guaranteed playoff seed instead of a play-in spot.
It’s not as far-fetched as it seems. The Mavericks are only a game and a half ahead of the Grizz, while the Lakers and Nuggets are five and six games ahead, respectively. But they don’t have to do that well.
Even if the Grizzlies don’t perform well up to that point, if they’re in a play-in spot, this team could do a lot of damage in the playoffs. Think about it — a winning team that is getting a bonus of having a top NBA big man back in their lineup.
If you’re a team in the play-in tournament, you’ll be hoping that you don’t have to come up against a Memphis Grizzlies team with Jaren Jackson Jr. If you’re a high-seeded team in the NBA Playoffs, there won’t be a more menacing low-seeded team than the Grizzlies.
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No matter where Memphis ends up, they are poised to make some noise in the Wild West this year.