No 4. Could the Grizzlies set a franchise record for most wins in a single season?
This was a long-shot a couple of weeks ago when the team dropped two out of three games, one being a very bad road loss to a rebuilding Houston Rockets squad that will be in contention for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
However, Memphis has bounced back nicely, winning four consecutive games since the loss to Houston March 6.
The franchise record for most wins in the regular season is 56, which was set during the 2012-13 season. That record is looking more attainable by the day, with the Grizzlies currently sitting at 48 wins.
The Grizzlies will need to go 9-3 the rest of the way (or better) to set the record. Winning nine out of 12 games would give Memphis a record of 57-25 for the 2021-22 season and the new title of most regular season wins in a single season in team history.
One key to that is keeping their opponents to 110 points or fewer— that’s the Grizzlies’ line of demarcation.
Memphis is 11-18 this season when they allow opposing teams to score 111 points or more in a game, per Stat Muse. Alternatively, Memphis is 34-4 when they allow 110 points or fewer in a game this season, also per Stat Muse.
The Grizzlies will have a tough time with games remaining against: Atlanta, Brooklyn, Milwaukee, Golden State, Phoenix, Utah, Denver, New Orleans and Boston— all teams slated to be in the NBA Playoffs or the Play-In Tournament. The other three games are against Houston, Indiana and San Antonio.
I think the Grizzlies will go 7-5 the rest of the way, finishing 55-27 and coming up just short of the franchise record.
Head Coach Taylor Jenkins may even opt to rest some players in the final game or two if the games have no significance.