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5 burning questions heading into the final stretch of the 2021-22 season

By Jacob Ellerbee

Feb 10, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) talks with center Steven Adams (4) just after the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) talks with center Steven Adams (4) just after the second quarter against the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – MARCH 11: Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the second half against the New York Knicks at FedExForum on March 11, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /

No 2. Who will the Grizzlies face in the first round of the 2022 NBA Playoffs?

The gap between teams has been widening for the last week or so, giving us a better idea of how the final standings may play out.

Memphis, if they keep the No. 2 seed in the West, would play the winner of the No. 7 vs No. 8 seed Play-In Tournament game.

Currently that match-up is Minnesota vs LA Clippers. My money to win that match-up would be the red-hot Timberwolves. They are an NBA-best 9-1 in their last 10 games.  Karl-Anthony Towns just dropped 60 & 17 the other day against the Spurs.

Anthony Edwards has been a bit inconsistent this season—some nights, he’ll go for 30 points, other nights he can barley muster 5 or 6 points. D’Angelo Russell has matured into a really good player and leader.

Quite frankly, a matchup of Memphis vs Minnesota is really scary. In a one game, win-or-go-home scenario that the Play-In Tournament provides, Minnesota may have a tough time with the very physical playoff-tested Clippers. But, I’m rolling with the Wolves in that one.

There’s currently a 5.5 game buffer between No. 8 LA Clippers and the ninth-place Lakers. But only a 1.5 game buffer between No. 6 Denver and No. 7 Minnesota. So, it’s possible Denver and Minnesota could swap places.

If Minnesota can leap-frog the Timberwolves, Memphis would play the winner of No. 7 Denver vs No. 8 Clippers.

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