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Can the Memphis Grizzlies keep the 8th seed in the Western Conference?

By Lachlan Everett

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies stands on the court during a Sacramento Kings free throw in the second half at Golden 1 Center on February 20, 2020 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 20: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies stands on the court during a Sacramento Kings free throw in the second half at Golden 1 Center on February 20, 2020 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images) /
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Memphis Grizzlies Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images
Memphis Grizzlies Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images /

When the season was suspended, the Memphis Grizzlies were the Western Conference’s eighth seed. Can they maintain that spot when the season resumes?

The Memphis Grizzlies are in a more peculiar spot than most teams going into the NBA Bubble, currently sitting in the eighth seed in a loaded Western Conference with the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs and Sacramento Kings nipping at their heels All these teams are playing for the Grizzlies spot, and Memphis has to win to keep the position they earnt during the regular season.

The Grizzlies had a grueling end of the season before the suspension, with nine of the 16 teams they would have faced with records over the .500 mark at the time of the suspension. They would only play one game against a non-bubble team which was the New York Knicks.

FiveThirtyEight’s Neil Paine suggested that the Memphis Grizzlies’ chances are actually better based on the Talent Rating metric, which estimates the current state of each team’s roster.

Paine said in this article:

"“Among teams not already eliminated, the next-biggest gains in talent rating were the Celtics (+26), Magic (+18) and Grizzlies (+16).”"

The Grizzlies entered the coronavirus-induced hiatus at 32-33, sitting three games above the ninth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers. The season saw the Grizzlies have one of the most fun teams to watch and was a top “League Pass team” for even neutral fans. This is largely because of rookie sensation and clear Rookie of the Year Ja Morant.

It’s not hard to see why Morant is a virtual lock for the award, averaging 17.6 points a game and 6.9 assists per game. The only rookies to ever do that are Oscar Robertson, Damon Stoudmire, Allen Iverson, Magic Johnson and Trae Young per Basketball Reference. Former NBA coach and current analyst Stan Van Gundy said in a recent podcast with Zach Lowe:

"“If you’re an NBA fan, Memphis as an eighth seed may not excite you, but watching Ja Morant should”"

With the Grizzlies fighting for the first playoff appearance since the ‘Grit and Grind’ era in the 2016-17 season, it’s time to look at each match up and see if they can hold onto their spot.

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