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

Memphis Grizzlies story No. 1: The playoff push

Nothing is more important to the Grizzlies than the final push towards the postseason. After last season’s quick bow out from the play-in tournament, Memphis is smarting to make more noise this spring.

Memphis hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2016-17 season and haven’t won a playoff series since 2015. They could be hard-pressed to change both of those statistics this season.

Following Friday’s win over the Magic, the Grizzlies are 32-30 this season. With ten games remaining in the regular season, Memphis is positioned in the eighth spot in the Western Conference, one game behind Portland in the loss column and one game ahead of the San Antonio Spurs.

The play-in tournament seems to be a certainty for this team. It is going to be hard to make up three games on the Dallas Mavericks for sixth place in the Western Conference, but there’s almost no chance they fall out of the play-in, with the New Orleans Pelicans trailing by five in the loss column.

Memphis actually has a fairly easy schedule from here on out. Outside of a home game against the Knicks and a home game against the Mavericks, they play no teams in the top six of their respective conferences. They also still have dates with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and two home games against the Sacramento Kings.

Still, nothing is guaranteed once the play-in tournament begins. If the Grizzlies want to feel safe, they’re going to have to make the miraculous push towards Dallas and the sixth spot in the Western Conference.