A three-game losing streak and a 7-10 record since returning from the All-Star break have the Memphis Grizzlies searching for answers as they slip in the Western Conference standings. On March 16th, they were tied for the two seed with the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets, but a little over a week later, they are firmly fifth in the standings.
After not having more than one day's rest between games since February 25th, the Grizzlies got a much-needed schedule break during their disappointing five-game road trip. They have three days rest between their loss at the Los Angeles Clippers and a matchup with the Utah Jazz on March 25th.
With 11 games remaining and the NBA's eighth-ranked remaining strength of schedule, the Grizzlies need to take advantage of their longest break since returning from the All-Star break. As they prepare to finish the season on a positive note, they slipped the furthest they have since the season began in the latest NBA Power Rankings.
The Grizzlies fell from top 10 to 13th
The Grizzlies' preseason power ranking heading into week 1 of the regular season was 17th before they jumped to 11th after the first week. 11th was their lowest ranking since the season began until this week when NBA writer John Schuhmann ranked the Grizzlies 13th.
This slip was expected after the Grizzlies' latest three-game losing streak and losses in four out of their last five games. Also, injuries to reserve big man Brandon Clarke for the remainder of the season and star guard Ja Morant with an unknown timeline didn't help matters.
Their lackadaisical defensive play lately has finally slid them outside of the top 10 defenses in the NBA since the first week of the regular season. When measuring the Grizzlies against their Western Conference counterparts, they are 12th in the West with their 7-10 record after the All-Star break.
While the Grizzlies gave themselves grace by playing well before the All-Star break, their recent slide has them in the same distance to making the play-in tournament as to make it in the playoffs as a two-seed. The good news is the Grizzlies will hold the tiebreaker over the Minnesota Timberwolves, who currently hold the seventh spot, so their 2.5-game lead is really 3.5 games.
The bad news is the 2.5-game gap between them and the two-seeded Houston Rockets is 3.5 games due to their tiebreaker loss to them. Also, their 0-9 record against teams with a .500 and above record since February 2nd lingers as seven of their last 11 games come against such teams.
They have critical matchups against the teams that are battling with seeds three through six with the Lakers and Golden State Warriors visiting Memphis this upcoming week. Their matchup at Denver against Nuggets on April 11th looms as they have lost five straight games there with their last win coming in January 2022.
The Grizzlies haven't announced anything concrete with Ja Morant's hamstring soreness that has kept him out the last four games, so he is expected back at some point. The team is hopeful that time is soon as the Western Conference's playoff race heats up.