^^The Question says it all will they go to the playoffs at all? Will they be big conttenders if they goto the playoffs? Post your thoughts.
Despite the slow start, they have a better record than they did at this time last year. This leads me to believe that they'll again win 50 games, and again be eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Tough to decide at this point with them rolling, but I don't see them making the playoffs. Right now you have a few locks for the Playoffs: Spurs Suns Mavs Minnesota Sacramento That leaves 3 spots. Sonics, Rockets, Lakers, Nuggets, Clippers, Warriors, Blazers and Grizz fighting for the playoffs. I can't see the Grizzlies have a better record den 3 of those teams.
Phoenix, Sacramento, and San Antonio are the only locks, in my mind, as of right now. Seattle too, maybe. That leaves Minny, Portland, Denver, Utah, the LA teams, the Warriors, Dallas, Memphis, Houston and New Orleans four spots to share. Minnesota's playing like ass of late, and are slumping (just like the rest of the Northwest). They'll probably turn it around though - and I'll give them the benefit of any doubt, considering that they do have the best player in the world on their team, and were the 1 seed and conference finalists last year. That leaves three spots. The Clippers will not be a playoff team, you can count on that. Because, you have to remember, they're the Clippers. Neither will the Warriors - suggesting that they might be is a joke. New Orleans is out, too. So is, with in all probability, Utah. Without Kirilenko playing they're garbo, and it looks like he probably won't be back in time to salvage the season. That leaves Portland, Denver, Dallas, Memphis, the Lakers, and Houston to share the last three spots. Dallas will likely make the playoffs. They're always a good regular season team, and have a good record right now. Why not? Two spots remain, and 5 teams. The Rockets have shown nothing except that the hype was not to be bought into, and that they can beat terrible teams, ie. GS, Toronto, Milwaukee, Utah... They've beaten a total of three good teams: Sac and Memphis, who started the season terribly, which is when the Rockets beat them; and San Antonio, which was one in a billion, with TMac getting 13 in the last 30 seconds of the game. Wow. They've also had the easiest schedule of any team in the league. That's hardly impressive, and won't get them into the playoffs. The Blazers are fakers, too. While their record right now isn't all that impressive, it reflects even worse on the team when you note that they've lost to the Clippers, Sixers, and Bulls in their last ten. And, again, have only bettered the teams that don't belong in the NBA, with few exceptions. GS, Milwaukee, Atlanta, and the slumping Pistons, are their only victories in the last 10... not playoff material, especially considering that they're 5-10 against the west, where they'll end up playing more games as the season progresses. That leaves the Grizz, Nuggs, and Lakeshow for the last two. The Nuggets are slumping like mad, and shown no signs of turning it around any time soon; any team, especially those out west, who have a 14 game span where they lose 12 games is as good as done in my mind. While beating some good teams, they've also lost to some terrible teams, and haven't lived up to their preseason billing. They also have a terrible conference record. With only the Lakers and Grizzlies left as possible playoff teams, the Grizz are in. (Though I have my doubts about the Lakers, I'll spare you for brevity's sake, and one of these teams have to make the playoffs.) Yep, the Grizzlies are definitely in.
You're what I call a very optimisitic fan. The Grizzlies overacheived last year. This year their are 5 locks which I already named. Here are the teams which I think are better than the Grizzlies that will get into the playoffs. Nuggets: As poor as they have played this season, they haven't been totally healthy, since the first game of the season when they lost Voshon. Camby, K-Mart, Anthony all went down, but they should start making a good run in the 2nd half of the season. With this core group together along with Nene, Miller and Boykins, there's no reason why they cannot make the playoffs. Lakers: An up and down team, but they're a team that can pull things off and make it into the playoffs. They haven't gotten Odom the ball enough. Recently, he has, and they've been playing very good ball. When George is back, it will cut back minutes for Kobe, who will be less tired, given them a more solid and healthy rotation. They'll hit their bumps, but they'll make it with their talent and team, who can beat contenders, as they showed against the Heat. Houston: Biggest dissapointment of this year IMO, but how can you leave them out? With T-Mac and Yao, they're bound to be winning a long string of games later this season, which would put them in the playoffs. They're better right now with the additions of OUtside shooters, Jon Barry and David Wesley, which will free up the court more for Yao and T-Mac. They've already played well so far since the trades, and they're only going to get better once the players get use to eachother. We'll just have to wait and see.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">The Grizzlies overacheived last year.</div> Probably, but that doesn't change the fact that they're doing better than last year, when they 'overachieved.' They must really be overachieving this year. 60? 2nd Round? Finals? At very least the playoffs.
i see a slim chance that the memphis will be in the playoffs becuz there too many good teams in the western conference this year
While that may very well be true ... They're still top 8, and 8 teams will make the playoffs, so it doesn't matter; they're in.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ezra:</div><div class="quote_post">Probably, but that doesn't change the fact that they're doing better than last year, when they 'overachieved.'</div> I was just stating that they overachieved last year. Expectations were too high coming into this season. Just because you don't think their are 8 teams in the West better than the Grizzlies, doesn't make them a lock.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Minnesota</div> Minnesota is a lock? That's news to me. Minnesota is 17-14. Memphis is 18-17. What the hell are you talking about? Here's something to think about - If the Clippers lose today (which they are playing the SUNS, almost a guaranteed loss), then the Grizzlies will move into the #8 seed position. Their winning percentage under coach Fratello is almost .700 and they have won six straight. I think they're not only going to the playoffs but will be a #6 or #7 seed this year. Did anyone see PTI the other day? They talked about the Grizzlies, and both Wilbon and Tony K predicted that they'd make the playoffs, and Kornheiser predicted that they'd be a #6-7 seed as well. Things are looking good for the Grizzlies.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Banks:</div><div class="quote_post">I was just stating that they overachieved last year. Expectations were too high coming into this season. Just because you don't think their are 8 teams in the West better than the Grizzlies, doesn't make them a lock.</div> I never said they were a lock. But at the same time, honestly, I'm going to say that I put as much rational thought on this subject as any person that isn't employed by Mike Heisley. With the normal assumptions one makes when making predictions are all given* I'd say that the Grizzlies have a better chance than most are giving them, and that it's near certain, though not guaranteed, that they'll be in the playoffs. I explained (in part) why I think that they'll do so in a previous post. *Safe things; like I'd say that it's reasonable to assume the team plane won't crash, and kill everybody aboard; Pau Gasol won't suffer a knee injury, and never play again; The Czar won't find religion, and quit the team; and the like.
They will get the 8th seed! I believe that as long as they dont play the Spurs agian they will get to the 2nd round. But even if they get the Spurs agian, they can still take the Spurs to atleast game 6. I may be optimistic but I have faith in my boy Pau and the rest of the Grizzlies! Go Grizzlies!!!
I think they can go really far if they put Bonzi back into the starting lineup hes one of the better players when it comes to performing. Hes improved alot since hes been on this team.
