Golden State Warriors: 3 Pivotal games for NBA Playoff race
By Tony Pesta
April 28 – Memphis Grizzlies versus Portland Trail Blazers
This one doesn’t involve the Golden State Warriors but could have a direct impact on where the Dubs finish in the standings.
The Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers both stand slightly above the Warriors as of now. Fittingly, they face off a total of three times over the next few weeks. With the Blazers slipping in the standings and Memphis roughly even with the Warriors (more on this later) the results of their three meetings will be crucial.
Portland has dropped six-of-eight games recently and faces the fifth most difficult remaining schedule in the NBA. A few blows from the Grizzlies could send the Blazers tumbling down the standings.
Meanwhile, Memphis is right in the mix with Golden State and Dallas for the seven-through-nine seeds. It’s a bit complicated — but a bit of luck could see the Grizzlies knocking down the Blazers while simultaneously losing enough games for the Warriors to leapfrog both of them in the standings.
This highlighted game is the final game in their stretch against each other. Things to watch for? The ever explosive Damian Lillard taking on a young, hungry Grizzlies’ core who narrowly missed the playoffs last year and will be looking to make the leap. Of course, it all could come down to the final game of the season — which we’ll cover next.