San Antonio Spurs: Three key games in new schedule
By Ethan Becker
No. 2: Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs (Dec. 23)
The Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies are two of the most promising young teams in the league, and they’ve gone back-and-forth over the last season.
During the 2019-2020 season, the Spurs went 2-2 against the Grizzlies, picking up two losses during their “regular” season series and won their only game when the two teams faced off in the Orlando bubble.
However, the Grizzlies ended up with the last laugh as their play before the bubble ensured a spot in the play-in game, and an undefeated run by the Phoenix Suns in the bubble gave the Spurs an 11th place finish in the Western Conference.
The Grizzlies are arguably going to be the toughest team for the Spurs to beat this year, as the young squad is once again fueled by a feeling of not living up to their potential and led by one of the most promising young stars in the league: Ja Morant. However, if the Spurs can pull together and beat the Grizzlies during their regular-season series, it would put San Antonio in good position to make the postseason.
Since the Grizzlies and Spurs occupy the same division, not only will these two teams see each other multiple times, but placing higher in their division helps to solidify a playoff berth.
In addition to being division rivals, the Grizzlies and Spurs will also have a bit of a special feeling when the two teams play due to the family connection. Last summer, the Grizzlies picked up Tyus Jones during free agency. This year, the Spurs took Tyus’ brother Tre Jones in the second round of the draft. It’s always special when brothers can face each other in the league (just look at the Lopez brothers), and it’s just going to add another element to a meeting between the two teams.