When the Memphis Grizzlies visit the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena tonight, there will be a lot more at stake than what’s on display on the surface. The Warriors have already clinched the best record in the NBA, but the Grizzlies are still stuck in a dogfight for playoff seeding in the West.
More from Warriors News
- 3x champion may come to regret forgoing Golden State Warriors reunion
- Golden State Warriors: History shows USA may need Stephen Curry for more than the Olympics
- Golden State Warriors villain pours on more pain to end USA’s World Cup
- Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry continues philanthropic efforts off the court
- The Dream starting 5 for the Warriors 5 years from now
As it stands, only half a game separates the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs from the sixth-seeded Houston Rockets. The Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies and the Rockets all have the exact same win-loss records, and it seems highly likely that the playoff seeding will go down to the final game day before being decided.
Interestingly, neither of those teams hold their destiny in their hands. All four teams could win all of their remaining games, but still require other results to go their way in order for them to win the second seed in the West.
The race for playoff seeding in the West is one that the Warriors will keep a close eye on, especially since their second-round opponents will be the winner of the fourth-fifth bracket. Despite what the Warriors might say, there are definitely teams that they would rather avoid if at all possible.
Apr 10, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs players celebrate after defeating the Houston Rockets 104-103 at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Warriors have only lost one regular season series so far this season, and that was 2-1 to the Spurs. They’ve comfortably defeated the Clippers 3-1 and the Rockets 4-0. If they win tonight against the Grizzlies, they will wrap up the series at 2-1.
Among those four teams, the two that give the Warriors the most trouble are the Spurs and the Grizzlies. The Spurs have been one of the league’s hottest teams since the All-Star break, and simply have an air of supremacy to their style of play. They will be extremely hard to beat in the playoffs, and it will be hard to predict who will have the upper hand in a series between the two teams. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies’ size and rebounding are difficult for the Warriors to match up against, especially when they decide to go small-ball. The slower pace in the playoffs could suit the Grizzlies in a head-to-head battle, and we haven’t seen how the Warriors will react to a slower pace.
More from Blue Man Hoop
- 3x champion may come to regret forgoing Golden State Warriors reunion
- Golden State Warriors: History shows USA may need Stephen Curry for more than the Olympics
- 7 players Golden State Warriors might replace Klay Thompson with by the trade deadline
- Golden State Warriors villain pours on more pain to end USA’s World Cup
- Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry continues philanthropic efforts off the court
The predictions are hard to make, considering there are so many teams in the race, which leads to countless permutations. But, the Warriors could have a big impact on the playoff seeding when they take on the Grizzlies tonight. A loss to the Grizzlies would all but end their chances of winning the second seed, and subsequently improve the chances of the Spurs finishing second in the West.
With the regular season ending in two days, more than half of the playoff seedings in the West are still up for grabs in what is guaranteed to be a tight race to the finish line.