The Grizzlies finished the regular season 38–34 as the ninth seed in the West and will battle the 10th-seeded San Antonio Spurs – who finished the season at 33-39 – in Game 1 of the Western Conference NBA Play-in Tournament.
Memphis went 2-1 against San Antonio in the 2020-21 season series with the road team winning each game.
In the regular season finale, Memphis fell in a heartbreaker on the road against the Golden State Warriors, 113-101 on Sunday afternoon.
The Grizzlies had won five consecutive games including four at home. However, the Spurs are on a four-game losing streak to end the regular season and have won just two of their last 12 games.
The winner of this matchup will take on the loser of Game 2 of the Western Conference NBA Play-in Tournament later tonight between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors.
So Memphis or San Antonio will have a chance to battle for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs by taking on the Lakers or the Warriors.
Keys to move forward in the play-in tournament
Ja Morant simply has to play better
The Grizzlies can’t win many games when Morant goes 7-for-21 from the field. After the loss against the Warriors, he called his performance unacceptable.
Morant must be aggressive from the start by attacking the basket and finishing at the rim. He must pick the Spurs defense apart.
This season, teams have found ways to limit him, but he must fight his way through it and be the best version of himself. The team can only go as far as he’s willing to take them. That’s a lot on his young shoulders, but I believe he will be up for the challenge in this do-or-die game.
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Use Jonas Valanciunas as an advantage when the threes are not falling.
Valanciunas has been one of the Grizzlies best players this season, averaging career-highs of 17.1 points and 12.5 rebounds. His presence has allowed Memphis to lead the league in points in the paint at 55.8 per game.
In the season finale, Valanciunas finished with 29 points and 16 rebounds. He has to be the catalyst on offense, especially when shots aren’t falling.
The real Grizzlies bench has to show up
The bench has to play better, without question. The second unit performance against the Warriors probably was one of the worst of the season.
The secondaries scored a combined 14 points and couldn’t take advantage while Stephen Curry was on the bench. The Warriors’ Jordan Poole alone outscored the Grizzlies bench with 15 points. The Grizzlies bench averages 39.1 points for the season.
Tyus Jones and company must show up in this elimination game or the Grizzlies will be going fishing with a disappointing end to the season.
The game is set for tip-off inside the FedExForum at 6:30 pm CT and can be viewed exclusively on ESPN.
