The start of the 2014-15 NBA season couldn’t come any faster. A “same-old, same-old” season for some (I’m looking at you San Antonio Spurs) and a chance at redemption for everybody else. If you’re the Memphis Grizzlies, you can’t wait to get started.
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As one of the most dominant defensive teams of the past five years, the Grizzlies have fallen short of their goal, an NBA championship, in the past four season. However, the team has proved themselves worthy of any opponent and battle as they’ve traded punches and went down fighting with the Western Conference
élite
for the past four seasons.
- 2010 – 11: Lost West Semis vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (4-3).
- 2011 – 12: Lost First Round vs. Los Angeles Clippers (4-3).
- 2012 – 13: Lost West Finals vs. San Antonio Spurs (4-0).
- 2013 – 14: Lost First Round vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (4-3).
Redemption is in order for the “grit-n-grind” Grizzlies.
In an attempt to figure/predict the Grizzlies’ outcome for the 2014-15 season, we look at their worst stretch, schedule-wise, of the 2014-15 season:
ESPN Summer Forecast Predictions:
(Note: We’re using ESPN’s Summer Forecast Predictions to decide which teams should the Grizzlies worry about. Obviously, we’re using predictions of the future which tend to change during the course of a season, specially a season as long and tolling as the NBA’s, so there’s no need to panic… still.)
December:
- Dec. 3 @ Houston Rockets
- Dec. 5 vs. San Antonio Spurs
- Dec. 7 vs. Miami Heat
- Dec. 9 vs. Dallas Mavericks
- Dec. 12 vs. Charlotte Hornets
- Dec. 13 @ Philadelphia 76ers
- Dec. 16 vs. Golden State Warriors
- Dec. 17 @ San Antonio Spurs
- Dec. 19 vs. Chicago Bulls
- Dec. 21 @ Cleveland Cavaliers
- Dec. 22 vs. Utah Jazz
- Dec. 26 vs. Houston Rockets
- Dec. 27 @ Miami Heat
- Dec. 30 vs. San Antonio Spurs
Oh my…
The Grizzlies play 12 out of 14 games (85 percent of their games!) against playoff-bound teams. Here’s how they did against those playoff-bound teams in 2013-14:
| Rk | Team | ATL | BRK | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | GSW | HOU | LAC | MIA | OKC | POR | SAS | TOR | WAS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Memphis Grizzlies | 2-0 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 1-3 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 2-1 | 1-1 | 1-3 | 2-1 | 0-4 | 0-2 | 2-0 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/12/2014.
I’d be surprised if ANY team in the league would be able to come out of this bloodbath with a .500 record. I doubt it.
January:
“Phew. December’s over. Thank God!… Oh, wait…” – Grizzlies
- Jan. 2 @ Los Angeles Lakers
- Jan. 3 @ Denver Nuggets
- Jan. 5 vs. New York Knicks
- Jan. 7 @ Atlanta Hawks
- Jan. 9 @ New Orleans Pelicans
- Jan. 11 vs. Phoenix Suns
- Jan. 14 @ Brooklyn Nets
- Jan. 16 @ Orlando Magic
- Jan. 17 vs. Portland Trail Blazers
- Jan. 19 vs. Dallas Mavericks
- Jan. 21 vs. Toronto Raptors
- Jan. 24 vs. Philadelphia 76ers
- Jan 26. vs. Orlando Magic
- Jan. 27 @ Dallas Mavericks
- Jan. 29 vs. Denver Nuggets
- Jan. 31 vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Straight out of their worst month of the year, the Grizzlies hit the wall in January, again. The Grizzlies have, although mostly at home, seven games, out of 16, against playoff-bound teams.
For perspective’s sake, this is how they, the Grizzlies, did against said teams in 2013-14:
| Rk | Team | ATL | BRK | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | GSW | HOU | LAC | MIA | OKC | POR | SAS | TOR | WAS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Memphis Grizzlies | 2-0 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 1-3 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 2-1 | 1-1 | 1-3 | 2-1 | 0-4 | 0-2 | 2-0 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/12/2014.
Although clearly nowhere near December’s degree of difficulty, January won’t be fun for the Grizzlies either.
Brace yourselves Grizzlies, winter is coming.