The Memphis Grizzlies will look to avoid repeat of 2019-20 finish
In the 2019-20 season, the Memphis Grizzlies were ahead of schedule in their rebuild. Heading into the final stretch of the season, the Grizzlies were 28-25, looking to grab ahold of an NBA Playoff spot for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Things were looking great for Memphis, who had a tough schedule ahead but looked like a relatively dominant team in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, their youth would show late in the year.
The Grizzlies would stumble to a 6-14 finish to close out the year. The cherry on top would be Jaren Jackson Jr.’s meniscus injury, which came just before the team’s play-in game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
They would eventually be knocked out of playoff contention, as they simply couldn’t match the talent of a veteran Portland team.
The Memphis Grizzlies will try to avoid the same fate in 2021
Fast forward to 2021 and the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves in a similar position as they did a year ago. In fact, just over a week ago, this team found itself with a very similar record as they had in 2020, with a 29-26 record as the final stretch of the season approached.
Fast forward to present day and they find themselves in the 8th position in the Western Conference standings at 31-30. During a normal season, this would have them in a position to make the NBA Playoffs, but in a year that will feature a play-in tournament, the Grizzlies will have their sights on the 6-seed.
That said, they haven’t forgotten their unfortunate fate from last season, as this was a team that saw a complete and utter collapse at the end of the year.
Right now, the Grizzlies’ cushion between themselves and the first team out of the play-in conversation is 4.5 games. Obviously, they’ll have their sights set forward, but a finish to the season that mirrors last year would see them walk straight out of the tournament. This season is different though.
Next. 3 potential outcomes for the remainder of the 2021 season. dark
Rather than losing Jaren Jackson Jr. at the end of the year, the Grizzlies will be adding him to the rotation in an increasingly larger role. You have to like their odds if they were able to reach the point that they’re at without their second-best player.