While closing the season with a 12-16 record and firing their head coach with nine games remaining was disappointing for the Memphis Grizzlies, the postseason presents new life for the team. This team still began the season with a 36-18 record that was the second-best in the conference.
Even after their less-than-stellar finish to the regular season, the Grizzlies only finished two games away from the fourth seed and homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Instead, they have to settle for a play-in road game for a chance to get the seventh seed.
The solace, if any, they can take is that they live to fight another day with their top three players healthy and playing well. Due to the reality of their top-end talent and experience in the postseason, the Grizzlies have an opportunity to make a postseason run.
A Western Conference Finals appearance isn't out of the question
Memphis spent the vast majority of the season battling for a top-four seed, with their best player missing 32 games. Despite their finish, Memphis can be a dangerous team as a lower seed.
Many within the fanbase wouldn't be shocked if the Grizzlies' season ended this week with two play-in losses or if they won their first play-in game and upset the second-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs.
ESPN writer Kevin Pelton took it a step further, noting the Grizzlies' best case scenario is making the Western Conference Finals. Upsetting the Warriors, Rockets, and the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Minnesota Timberwolves series is possible for a team that was ahead of all of those teams in the standings for a large chunk of the season.
The coaching change from Taylor Jenkins to Tuomas Isalo has unlocked the version of Ja Morant that led the Grizzlies to back-to-back number-two seeds from the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Adding more pick-and-roll back into the offense has Morant on a streak of 20+ points for 17 consecutive games.
With the expected minutes increasing for the Grizzlies star trio of Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane, the ability to at least compete with the potential opponents makes sense.
However, the Oklahoma City Thunder are likely the Grizzlies' kryptonite (as is the case with most teams in the West), so losing their play-in game to the Warriors and falling to playing for the eighth seed could spell doom for the Grizzlies season.