Memphis Grizzlies: 3 storylines that will come to an apex in final stretch

Time is ticking on the 2020-21 NBA season, and for the Memphis Grizzlies, that means time is ticking on several notable storylines as well.

This season has been a wild one for the Grizzlies. There were hopes that the team would take a big leap forward during Ja Moran’t second season, but the team has mostly hung around the fringes of the Western Conference playoff discussion.

In a crucial season, these 3 storylines will come to an apex for the Memphis Grizzlies

Part of the reason for the middle-of-the-pack performance of the Grizzlies has been the injury to Jaren Jackson Jr. He only recently made his season debut and has since shown flashes of the great player the franchise thinks he will ultimately be.

Morant also hasn’t taken the giant leap forward that was expected of him. One can argue that the expectations were too high after his sensational rookie season. But Morant may have to do more to show that he’s going to be the star of this team for the next decade.

Then there’s the playoff push, of course. While the Grizzlies didn’t ascend into the next Western Conference tier, they’re still hanging around the postseason, aided by the advent of the play-in tournament. The team will almost surely be playing at least one meaningful game after the regular season ends, if not more.

Last year, the Grizzlies were one of the teams to be invited to the bubble in Orlando. Their playoff dream was quickly dashed in a play-in game by the Portland Trail Blazers, though.

What should Grizzlies fans be looking out for down the homestretch? Here are three storylines to keep an eye on.