Say what you will about the new Play-In format, there is no denying it has increased the importance of each regular-season game. So much so, that the Golden State Warriors will have to sprint through the finish line to secure a favorable position in the tournament.
The gap between the eighth and ninth seed is minuscule. Writing this before Friday’s slate of games, the Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies hold an identical 37-33 record with both squads playing tonight.
Fittingly, these two teams will play each other on the final night of the regular season to decide who holds the eighth seed and an advantage in the Play-In. As a refresher, the seven/eight seeds have the benefit of double-elimination in the tournament whereas the nine/ten seeds are in sudden-death mode.
The Golden State Warriors are headed for a much-anticipated clash with the Memphis Grizzlies to cap off the regular season with a bang.
In previous seasons, the battle for the eighth seed could mean missing the playoffs entirely. This means the Dubs would have been fighting for the postseason life altogether on Sunday. Thankfully, even if they lose and drop to ninth in the standings, they’ll still have a chance to reach the playoffs by winning the Play-In.
Heading into this matchup, the Dubs are one of the league’s hottest teams while the Grizzlies rank somewhere in the middle. This gives the Warriors a clear advantage in terms of momentum, placing ahead of the Grizzlies in wins, points and 3-pointers made over the last 15 games.
Nevertheless, the Grizzlies are no pushovers. They’ve embodied the grit-and-grind mentality that goes hand-in-hand with Memphis basketball and will fight to the end in each game. The Warriors’ lack of size in the frontcourt will be tested against the fourth-best rebounding team in the NBA this season.
The Warriors and Grizzlies have split their two meetings against one another this season, both coming in a back-to-back in March. Notably, Andrew Wiggins scored 40 points in a 13-point win for the Dubs while Jordan Poole had 29 points in their loss the next day. It is also important to mention that Stephen Curry did not play in either game.
A key to this matchup will be slowing down Ja Morant. The reigning Rookie of the Year has increased his scoring and playmaking while elevating the Grizzlies to more wins than last season. The Grizzlies are also buffed by defensive-oriented wings like Dillon Brooks, Justise Winslow and Grayson Allen and a secret weapon from the 3-point line in Desmond Bane, who has been one of the league’s most surprising rookies.
The Warriors have plenty of guys hitting their stride, as well. Juan Toscano-Anderson is riding the high of earning an official NBA contract while Jordan Poole and Kent Bazemore are on a hot streak in terms of scoring. Plus, Andrew Wiggins is finally comfortable in his role as the team’s silent enforcer.
While this game doesn’t have extreme implications, either way, it is important the Dubs secure the eighth seed and give themselves a cushion in the Play-In. Although they’ve been much more consistent as of late, the Warriors don’t want to risk missing the playoffs in a single-elimination format.