Memphis Grizzlies: 4 rival teams to keep an eye on in 2021-22

A seemingly annual event for the Memphis Grizzlies, the road to the playoffs goes through the Spurs

As long as Gregg Popovich is the head coach for the San Antonio, the Spurs will be a threat to make the playoffs. The franchise enjoyed 22 straight seasons of going to the playoffs, a streak that began in 1998 and ended after their 2019 playoff appearance.

The Spurs, much like the Memphis Grizzlies, have a lot of new faces on their roster. The team lost DeMar DeRozan and Patty Mills but added some decent role players this offseason. San Antonio has an incredible knack for identifying prospects and developing those prospects to their fullest and greatest potential — they should always be treated as a credible threat.

Doug McDermott, Bryn Forbes, and Zach Collins were the team’s biggest additions in free agency. The team turned some heads with their 2021 draft picks, selecting Joshua Primo (freshman, Alabama) early in the first round and Joe Wieskamp (junior, Iowa) in the second round.

Some returning players for the Spurs to keep an eye on will be Keldon Johnson (fresh off winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games), Dejounte Murray, and Derrick White.

The Memphis Grizzlies will have their hands full when they face their division rival four times next season. The Grizzlies will take on the Popovich-led team on Dec. 31, Jan. 26, Feb. 28, and March 30.