Ranking each month of Grizzlies 2024-25 NBA schedule on level of difficulty

6) November

Following up October both chronologically as well as from the perspective of their schedule's difficulty level is November.

Turkey month is when the Grizzlies finally start to see an uptick in oppositional challenges, as they start things with a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers's newly established big-three of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George out in the City of Brotherly Love.

They will then proceed to see multiple double-up matchups against several legitimate title hopefuls heading into the season including the Los Angeles Lakers (Nov. 6 & 13), Denver Nuggets (Nov. 17 & 19), and then against the Sixers once more on November 20.

Fortunately for Memphis, however, their low-level opponents during this stretch are actually rock-bottom squads in the Brooklyn Nets (Nov. 4), Washington Wizards (Nov. 8), and Portland Trail Blazers (Nov. 10 & 25), which should allow them to rattle off several stress-free victories along the way.

Add in the fact that they'll be seeing more home games than roadies (eight compared to six), and it's easy to see why November seems to stack up as being the second-easiest on the schedule.

5) February

Here's when things start to get a bit more prickly for the Grizzlies.

In February, 82 percent of their matchups will be against clubs that qualified for the playoffs and rattled off 47 or more wins on the year last season, while one of the two teams that failed to reach such qualifications in the San Antonio Spurs (Feb. 3) managed to get significantly better this summer what with the addition of future Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul and having him team with reigning rookie phenom, Victor Wembanyama.

Along with this, six of their matchups will be against teams that rank within the top 10 in 2024 NBA Championship odds, with two in the OKC Thunder (+700) and New York Knicks (+900) placing in the top five. Add more anty into the equation, seven of their outings will be played on the road.

If not for the much-needed relief that the All-Star break will provide them, this month likely would have found itself placed higher on this difficulty list. Of course, because the Grizzlies will only be playing 11 games, they reside at five, which is certainly not a position that can be taken lightly.