With less than 20 games left in the year, the Memphis Grizzlies are far from the playoffs but still have some short-term goals to set them up for next year.
At the beginning of the season, Memphis Grizzlies fans were constantly checking the top of the standings. Their 12-5 record was not going to keep them first in the Western Conference, but such a hot start would surely propel the team to a playoff spot.
Since losing to the Los Angeles Clippers in overtime on Nov. 23, the team has won just 14 games since then, falling to second-to-last in the Western Conference.
Now fans are looking at the lottery standings, wondering whether or not the team is going to be in a position to convey their pick, as seems to be the team’s and fan’s preference. It’s a weak draft this year, and a pick in the 6-8 range is highly unlikely to yield a great return. In addition, the team would still be prisoner to the pick protections through at least the 2019-20 season.
Even with this forgettable season drawing to a close, the Grizzlies still have some things in mind they’ll want to examine or accomplish before we reach mid-April. It’s hard to stay positive, but the Grizz can take small steps to ensure a somewhat solid ground for their future.