Grizzlies’ Western Showdown: 2 Must-Win Strategies to Outrun the Spurs
The Grizzlies are in a heated battle for Western Conference supremacy, and the Spurs are hot on their heels! To stay ahead, Memphis needs to nail down two crucial elements.
Can they execute the plan and hold off the Spurs’ surge? Find out the two key factors that will determine the Grizzlies’ Western standings fate!
The Grizzlies and Spurs’ regular season series has always been heavy in favour of one team. The Spurs have won 76 of the last 42 games, including 56 of the last 39 since the Grizzlies moved from Vancouver to Memphis.
However, the Grizzlies have been on fire lately, winning 16 of their last 18 games since the start of 2021.
However, it looks like things are going to even out again, since many sportsbooks think the Spurs will have more wins than the Grizzlies next season.
The Grizzlies beat the Spurs in the last game of their four-game season series, but they still finished 14 games ahead of them in the West.
Their final game last season was marred by injuries to both teams, but it might have signaled a changing of the guard as newly acquired De’Aaron Fox hit the game-winning shot.
He was Just Signed to an extension to begin the Spurs’ transition to an era surrounded by him, Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper.
The Grizzlies are expected to take a step back after trading Desmond Bane, but being an underdog is where they are excellent at the most. To hold off the Spurs, the Grizzlies must do a little more than play the underdog card.
Ensure Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. remain healthy
There is nothing they can definitively do to help keep their stars healthy for the majority of the season, but that is crucial to their success overall, not just against the Spurs. Ja Morant hasn’t played the minimum 65 games mee to be eligible for postseason awards since his rookie season.
Last season, he only played 50 games, which could prove detrimental to the Grizzlies if that happens again, especially if Wembanyama and Fox get rolling in their first full season together.
Jaren Jackson Jr. has been the Grizzlies’ most reliable player for availability the last two seasons, so the team will have to bank on that remaining the case.
Continuous development for the young core
After Wembanyama and Fox, the Spurs have the reigning Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle, and the number two overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, Dylan Harper.
After Morant and Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies have the reigning Rookie of the Year finalist, Jaylen Wells, All-Rookie first team member, Zach Edey, and the 11th overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, Cedric Coward.
Both teams have well-known stars and young, skilled cores. To stop the Spurs and their young core from becoming the best team in the league, the Grizzlies will need Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey to have great second seasons and either GG Jackson or Cedric Coward to show that they are the future at the wing spot.
Leave a Reply