Grizzlies’ On The Brink! Playoff Hopes Fading Fast as Conference Rivals Surge

Grizzlies’ Playoff Hopes Fading as Western Conference Rivals Surge

The Grizzlies lingered in the top three for a good portion of this season, with many fans believing that once fully healthy, the team could explode as a unit entering the playoffs. However, that has not been the case. Instead, the opposite has occurred. The Grizzlies continue to suffer injuries, and they are dropping like flies in the Western Conference standings.

Realistically, the Grizzlies sit fifth among Western Conference contenders, tied with the Minnesota Timberwolves, while four other teams are clearly ahead of them.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are undoubtedly the best team in the Western Conference. They are dominating the conference in ways that many teams have not been able to. The Thunder sit 12.5 games ahead of any team in the Western Conference and 14.5 games ahead of the Grizzlies.

While there has been significant discussion surrounding the injuries Memphis has faced this season, the Thunder have also had to manage injuries to key players, including Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Alex Caruso. Despite these setbacks, they continue to dominate. It would be shocking if the Thunder do not reach the NBA Finals.

2. Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets have the pedigree. Although they have not had the best regular season by their standards and endured a slow start, they have begun to find their form. They have suffered some losses recently but were missing key players who are expected to return soon.

For the Nuggets, everything revolves around the greatness of Nikola Jokić, paired with the clutch ability of Jamal Murray in the playoffs. Defensively, they must rediscover their identity, particularly in transition. However, with Jokić and Murray back in the lineup, they always have a chance due to their championship pedigree. The Nuggets’ proven track record makes them a more trustworthy playoff team than the Grizzlies.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have risen from a team expected to make the playoffs to one with a realistic chance to reach the NBA Finals. They may have the best chance to knock off the Oklahoma City Thunder. This is due to the star power of LeBron James and Luka Dončić.

JJ Redick has been an absolute revelation for the Lakers. His ability to navigate various situations and storylines while keeping the Lakers competitive day in and day out has been impressive. The Lakers have struggled with inconsistency in past seasons, but Redick has brought stability, even before the Doncic trade.

Now, with Doncic on the roster, LeBron can play more off the ball, creating opportunities to score without focusing solely on facilitating. This Lakers team is dangerous, making them a more significant threat than the Grizzlies.

4. Golden State Warriors

The Warriors looked like a team dead in the water for much of the season — until one trade changed everything. Acquiring Jimmy Butler has revitalized the Warriors.

The Warriors are 16-2 since Butler’s arrival when he is in the lineup. He provides a secondary star to alleviate the pressure on Steph Curry while bringing a proven playoff closer into the fold. With Butler in the mix, the Warriors finally have someone besides Curry who can take the last shot.

Butler has carried teams to the NBA Finals before. Now, alongside Curry and Draymond Green, and under Steve Kerr’s system, the Warriors look reborn. If Kerr can continue managing the potential spacing issues between Butler and Green, this team will remain a force. Their experience and championship pedigree make them more reliable than the Grizzlies, who lack that level of postseason experience.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves present a tricky situation. They are currently neck and neck with the Grizzlies, but they are trending upward while the Grizzlies are on the decline. Anthony Edwards is a star performer in playoff situations, and if the Wolves build momentum heading into the postseason, they could build on last year’s deep Western Conference run.

Can the Grizzlies Turn It Around?

Overall, the Memphis Grizzlies are in a worse position than expected earlier this season. Clinging to fifth place with the Warriors only two games behind and surging with momentum, the Grizzlies face a critical stretch.

The Grizzlies must get fully healthy and stay that way for the rest of the season to enter the playoffs with momentum. They possess too many versatile defenders for their defense to continue slipping as it has over the past few weeks. Despite the presence of Jaren Jackson Jr. and Zach Edey, their rebounding numbers have been subpar, and they have struggled to keep opponents off the glass.

This upcoming stretch of games is crucial. The Grizzlies must fight their way back up the Western Conference standings. They will either prove they are legitimate contenders in the West or reveal that they are merely another team with a feel-good story — but no substance.

The clock is ticking for Memphis. The next few weeks will determine whether this team is built for a playoff run. Or, they could be destined to be another “what could have been” story.