Portland Trail Blazers: Memphis Grizzlies are fading in push for playoffs

The Memphis Grizzlies currently sit in the eight-seed, just two wins ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers, how likely are they to stay in playoff contention?

The Memphis Grizzlies have struggled in the last few weeks to hold onto the eighth-seed. After a brilliant run through January they are now only two wins, and four games ahead of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Since the All-star break, the Grizzlies have lost four straight games. Though these were against three playoff teams and then the Sacramento Kings, they have lost a lot of the momentum that they carried through March.

The trades that they made at the deadline seem to have impacted them as well. Though they brought in Miami Heat wing Justise Winslow, he is injured and is a future piece for this team. By moving Solomon Hill and and Jae Crowder at the trade deadline they lost two vets that were a big part of why this team was so good. By bringing back Dion Waiters and Gorgui Dieng they traded out of the cap space they had this coming summer, but then moved some of the guys that helped this team win so many games in January.

Maybe it’s just a case of fitting the new parts in and seeing what Winslow’s injury status is for the run to the playoffs. Waiters was waived so they now have another roster spot to use on a buyout guy. Regardless of who they bring in, the injury to Jaren Jackson Jr and their future schedule are where you need to look to help predict the run home for the playoffs.

JJJ is out with a knee injury and will be re-evaluated on the 8th March. He is obviously key to their playoff hopes, they probably can’t make the postseason if he is shutdown or out for the rest of the season.

In regards to their schedule, a statistic is used called future strength of schedule, to analyse a teams remaining games. The improving New Orleans Pelicans, and the Blazers have the 1st and 3rd easiest remaining schedules. Whereas the Grizzlies, have the 13th easiest schedule. The Blazers though, haven’t been able to take advantage of some of the games against non-playoff teams or weaker East playoff teams.

Whether the Grizzlies can keep the four game / two win advantage over the Blazers will depend largely on JJJ’s health. But for both teams, playing each other in mid-March in Portland will be a massive game. If the Blazers beat the Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, and split the two games with the Phoenix Suns, then they will probably only be a game back from the Grizzlies when they play them.

The Grizzlies will have the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks in their run though, they will probably need to get an upset or two in these matchups to keep their eighth seed in intact.

Though we only briefly mentioned the Pelicans above, their easy run home may mean they fly past both teams. For the meantime though, the Grizzlies are in the box seat and will wait anxiously on JJJ’s injury re-evaluation.

The Blazers do have an easier schedule but as fans have seen all season, they still have to beat the weaker teams. This will start with the Hawks on Saturday.