The NBA schedule release is exciting to NBA fans for a number of reasons. One is because they can begin prioritizing when and what games they can or can't make to cheer on their favorite teams. Another is they get to see how many consecutive games their team will be at home vs on the road at different pockets of the regular season.
The Grizzlies' schedule broke right for a team that is looking to get off to a fast start in the tough Western Conference with a new look squad. The team will be heavily dependent on their star duo of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., after trading away their third core member this summer in Desmond Bane.
While learning how to win without a clear third option was already an adjustment for the team, figuring out how to navigate through offseason injuries was another wrench thrown in the plans of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Grizzlies can ease Jackson Jr. and Edey back in the lineup
The first 10 games of the NBA season are always used as a barometer for how the team will transition into what the rest of their season will look like. The Grizzlies will be home cooking as their schedule has them playing their first three games at home, and it extends to eight of their first 11 games of the season being at home.
Roughly about two weeks after the Grizzlies' season ended last year, Zach Edey suffered another ankle injury and had surgery, which could keep him out to start next season. He is expected to be reevaluated in early October, but the ease to begin the season with a heavy home stretch helps if he is ultimately not able to play to begin the season.
Additionally, Jaren Jackson Jr. suffered a turf toe injury that required surgery and will keep him out until at least the end of September, which is when he is scheduled to be reevaluated. The possibility of playing without their starting frontcourt of Jackson Jr. and Edey is a frightening scenario for the Grizzlies, who can't afford to lose any ground in the tough Western Conference.
However, neither player is expected to miss much time, if any at all, and the early-season home slate helps to offset any potential missed time from them. Also, the team added quite a few new faces in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Ty Jerome, Cedric Coward, and Jock Landale, who all will need to get acclimated to the team.
The team as a whole will all be acclimating to new head coach Tuomas Iisalo, who will be able to install his full system after only having nine games last season to install anything. The Grizzlies received a gift from the schedule makers; now it is up to them to take advantage of it to stake their claim as one of the best teams in the Western Conference.