The Memphis Grizzlies are not ready for the play-in tournament

The Memphis Grizzlies just lost to the Detroit Pistons. They didn’t just lose, either. They were completely dominated by a Pistons team that stands in last place in the Eastern Conference. In a close late-game situation, the Grizzlies couldn’t get a win against the Pistons, who have the worst clutch winning percentage in the league. It was an inexcusable loss.

As per usual, a unanimously average NBA player tore apart the Memphis Grizzlies. On Thursday night, that player was… well, take your pick. Even if the Pistons had players that could be considered stars, none of them were healthy. The starting lineup was comprised of guys who wouldn’t be starters anywhere else.

Specifically, Cory Joseph looked like an All-Star point guard and Wayne Ellington looked like Klay Thompson, draining 3-pointers all night long.

The Memphis Grizzlies are not ready for the play-in tournament at this point

If the Memphis Grizzlies were thrown into the play-in tournament right now, would you have confidence in them? My answer is no.

Going into this late-game stretch, there wasn’t a question as to whether or not they could produce a winning record. Rather, it was generally believed that this Memphis team could go on a huge late-season win streak. The schedule was a cakewalk.

In the Grizzlies’ final 11 games, they only had to face three teams with a .500 record or better. If you don’t know specifics about the NBA, this is remarkably easy. Almost impossibly easy.

Somehow, they’ve begun that stretch with a 2-3 record, with losses against a decimated Orlando Magic team, injury-riddled Detroit Pistons team, and a Portland Trail Blazers team that they dominated earlier in the year.

The loss against the Magic is easily one of the worst in franchise history. A fully healthy Memphis Grizzlies team that was fighting for a 6-seed got outplayed by a team full of G-League players. This loss against the Detroit Pistons wasn’t much better.

What happened that made this Grizzlies team so much worse since Jaren Jackson Jr.’s return? It’s almost like Taylor Jenkins completely ditched whatever was working before, even though there was no reason to do so.

There is no excuse to be dropping games like this. This team is too good for it and even if they closed out this game, it would be a shameful performance by Taylor Jenkins as a head coach.

Right now, this team is not even close to being ready for the play-in tournament. In a matter of a couple of weeks, this team went from an easy favorite in the play-in to a team that