After falling 122-107 to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, the Memphis Grizzlies, in effect, have a play-in game on Thursday to get into the play-in game.
“It’s simple. I told the guys we have one game left, we need to find a way to play our best game up to this point,” said Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins. “We have to put it on the line. What has been in the past is in the past.”
The situation is simple for Memphis. If they win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, then they are in the play-in series. If they lose? They need to have the watch on scoreboards, both Phoenix and San Antonio need to lose.
One of the surprises of the season, the young Grizzlies looked to be in a solid position for the post season before the shutdown in March. And even in the bubble, it was unthinkable that they might not even make the play-in series. But with a 1-6 record, in part due to a major injury to Jaren Jackson Jr., it has slipped away.
“For us, we need to be motivated by the fact that we haven’t played to how well we can play,” Jenkins said. “We had our moments, we had close games to win. Today is a clear day that we are not playing our best. We play hard, we get the look we want. We just have to play better.
“What motivates us is that record 1-6, which is not good enough for us,” he continued. “We have a chance on Thursday against the best team in the league, and whatever we can throw at the world, we have to throw it all on the line and see what happens next.”
The Grizzlies re-emerged in the Orlando launch as the 8th seed of the West – holding that place since Jan. 24. – with a 3.5-point lead over the Portland Trail Blazers who were ninth. But after the Blazers beat the Mavs on Tuesday, the Grizzlies dropped out of eighth.
“I feel like every game we’ve played as the underdog,” Ja Ja Morant said. “We were projected to be 27 this year, and we’re here. That’s how we attack every game, so I feel our next game will not be any different.”
Morant was electric against the Celtics, finishing with 26 points (7-of-13 shots) and 13 assists, but with inconsistent shots around him and the Celtics’ fireworks (Jayson Tatum had 29 at 10-of-13 -shot), it was too much for the Grizzlies to overcome. They trapped through double figures for much of the match, allowing them to run to cut into the lead, but could never make one last push.
If the Blazers win their last game on Thursday (against the Brooklyn Nets), they will secure the 8-seed, meaning the 9-seed would win two games to qualify for the playoffs and a series against the Los Angeles Lakers. If the Grizzlies defeated the Bucks and the Blazers lost, they would take the 8-seed and have the upper hand for the play-in.
The Bucks are locked up as the top seed of the East and can rest important players for the winning game final. Khris Middleton was the replacement. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the replacement.
For the Grizzlies, however, who plays and who does not care. They try to focus on themselves and win the game that is ahead of them.
“One game left. Attack that game like any other game,” Morant said. “Don’t put pressure on ourselves and go out and try to do what we do every game, try to get a win.”
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