Golden State Warriors: 3 Pivotal games for NBA Playoff race

May 16 – Golden State Warriors versus Memphis Grizzlies

The basketball gods may have blessed us with this schedule as the Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies could take fate into their own hands May 16 as they face off against each other in the final game of the season.

It’s hard to tell exactly what will be on the line during this game – but a few different things are possible:

1. This game could decide if the Warriors/Grizzlies are in the 7v8 Game or the 9v10 Game
2. This game could decide if the Warriors/Grizzlies drop to 11th in the standings (Missing the Play-In)
3. This game could decide if the Warriors/Grizzlies rise to 6th in the standings (Avoiding the Play-In)

Depending on how the final weeks of the season play out, any of those things could happen. Most likely, the stakes of this game will be determining if the Dubs/Grizzlies are granted an advantage in the Play-In or if they’ll be facing tougher odds.

The value of being the eighth or ninth seed is the difference between needing to win consecutive games or just one-of-two in the Play-In. With the Dubs and Grizzlies within a game of each other currently, their final meeting could determine this outcome.

Of course, if the Warriors continue the hot-streak they’ve been on they could also use this win as a final pole vault to clear the Play-In and rise to sixth in the standings. It all depends on how they respond to the final weeks of the season but this game is sure to be meaningful.