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Clippers vs Grizzlies Preview: A Massive Game for Playoff Standings
The Clippers continue their homestand with a visit from the Memphis Grizzlies in a game that could have major implications on postseason seeding.
Game
Information
Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA
When: 7:30 PM PT
How to Watch: NBA TV FanDuel Sports SoCal, AM 570
Projected
Starting Lineups
Grizzlies: Luke Kennard – Desmond Bane – Jaylen Wells – Jaren Jackson Jr. – Zach Edey
Clippers: James Harden – Norm Powell – Kris Dunn – Kawhi Leonard – Ivica Zubac
Injuries
Grizzlies: Ja Morant Out (Hamstring), Brandon Clarke Out (Knee), Lamar Stevens Out (Shoulder)
Clippers: Jordan Miller Out (Hamstring), Cam Christie Out (G-League), Trentyn Flowers Out (G-League), Seth Lundy Out (G-League), Patrick Baldwin Out (G-League)
The Big
Picture
The Clippers have inched their way up the standings, and are now sitting in 7th place with a real shot at staying there, or even getting into the top six. Their push has been buoyed by a resurgent Kawhi Leonard, but the base of the team, as it has been all year, has been the James Harden-Ivica Zubac combo + defense. That foundation, when juiced up with a healthy-looking Kawhi and a hot-shooting Bogdan Bogdanovic, has had some really promising moments, with their win over the Cavs on Tuesday being one of their best victories of the season. The question is whether the Clippers can stay healthy and continue building on what they’re developing here as we head into late March. If Kawhi’s defense continues to come around as well, a team that was already excellent on defense should get even better. And if Bogi can continue to shoot like he has been, the Clippers will get some much-needed spacing and scoring.
The
Antagonist
The Grizzlies have been the 2nd or 3rd seed in the West for much of the regular season, but a middle post All Star Break stretch has seen them drop all the way to 5th. They are only two games back of the 2nd seeded Rockets – but also only 2.5 up on the Warriors in 6th, and just 3.5 up on the Clippers and Wolves in 7th and 8th. It’s been an odd season for the Grizzlies, who have received terrific contributions from rookies Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey, and a monster season from Jaren Jackson Jr., but also seen disappointing campaigns by star Ja Morant as well as youngsters GG Jackson and Vince Williams. This split is borne out in the advanced numbers as well – the Grizzlies are still 4th in the entire NBA in net rating, but rank just 16th in net rating since the All Star Break. Are the Grizz a dangerous team that could make a real playoff run or dead men walking? Or somewhere in the middle? They are one of the hardest teams to place in the league right now, but they do still have talent and are desperate for wins.
Notes
Another Big
Game: We’ve said “biggest
game of the season” so far about five times, but this one has an argument to be
up there. The Grizzlies have been way ahead of the Clippers for most of the
year, but are just 3.5 ahead now – meaning a Clippers’ win would get them to
just 2.5 back. Additionally, the Clippers have the tiebreaker, so they would
really be within striking distance of the Grizzlies as a possibility to climb
up to the 6 seed. Obviously that 6 seed is huge, as it means getting out of the
play-in tournament and a sure spot in the playoffs proper. The surging Warriors
seem unlikely to slow down, making the Grizzlies probably the best bet to drop –
especially with the Rockets also on a massive winning streak now. If the
Clippers lose this game, however, they’d fall to 4.5 back, putting the
Grizzlies out of reach. Both teams really need this game, and I’d imagine we
see a playoff type intensity in this one.
Clippers vs Grizzlies Preview: A Massive Game for Playoff Standings
Robert Flom