THE Memphis Grizzlies are preparing for the 2024-25 NBA season with high hopes of bouncing back from a difficult stretch marked by injuries and suspensions. With the return of key players (Yes MorantMarcus Smart) and big new additions (Zach Edey) on the roster, fans have every reason to expect another NBA playoff appearance.
Manufacturing Grizzlies Predictions are tough, but their path to relevance in the Western Conference is now clear. Ja Morant’s Fashion ChoicesMemphis is in the toughest group in the NBA Cup, but this locker room is one lucky shot away from an NBA Finals appearance.
Grizzlies off to a good start
Memphis has 20 matches on the program Before the calendar flips to December, the Grizzlies start the season with a favorable schedule, playing four of their six games at home. Coach Taylor Jenkins should be able to capitalize on that home-court advantage with a strong start. Starting the season with road games against the Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets is one of the easiest starts in the Western Conference (2-0).
The Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks at home (5-1) will allow Morant to get acquainted with the new rotations. The November schedule is set for the Grizzlies to feast, starting with a short road trip to see the Philadelphia 76ers and the Nets (6-2). LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers and the rebuilding Washington Wizards await them back on Beale Street (8-2).
A three-game, five-day trip to the West Coast will be the toughest test yet. Not watching the Portland Trail Blazers before two ESPN games against the Lakers and Golden State Warriors could lead to an 0-3 (9-4) humiliation. Two home games against Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets before the 76ers travel to FedEx Forum will be a test for life (11-5).
Two days off before facing the Chicago Bulls (12-5) is a blessing. So is having played five of the next six games at home, without having to settle for back-to-backs. The Trail Blazers, Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Pelicans are the last three with a November date (15-5). Memphis is well positioned to be in contention for the best record in the NBA heading into the holiday season.
Ja Morant Turns Up the Heat This Holiday Season
December will test the Grizzlies’ depth with a packed schedule. The Indiana Pacers close out their home series before Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks host the Grizzlies. Then they return home to face the Sacramento Kings (16-7). A rematch on the road against the Boston Celtics and Wizards could be worse (17-8).
To that end, let’s consider two good performances in the NBA Cup that we’ll talk about later (19-8). Hosting the Warriors at home after the break should be a good TV experience, even if Steph Curry steals the show. Getting the better of the Atlanta Hawks away, regardless of the result of the previous game, is expected of real title contenders (20-9).
Christmas week brings the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors to Memphis (22-9). The following lump of coal, a five-game West Coast road trip, will be a welcome boost to any unfocused team (24-12). The Mavericks and Houston Rockets will be looking for road wins while the Grizzlies will be looking to regroup and prepare for a four-game road trip. The Minnesota Timberwolves and Rockets precede a pair of games against Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs (26-16).
The Timberwolves, Charlotte Hornets, Pelicans and Jazz at home in five days will test the team’s depth (28-18). The trip to Madison Square Garden will test its resilience. Memphis then returns for a TNT game (Rockets), which will be around the time Zach Edey starts to reach his career high for games played in a season (29-19).
The midseason will be a challenge for the Grizzlies, but they should be able to stay well above .500 with solid performances against division opponents. Staying on track for a top-four finish will help ease the pressure on Morant as the All-Star and NBA MVP conversations start to get serious.
Grizzlies wake up for NBA playoffs
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February’s lighter schedule offers a chance to recharge after the NBA All-Star break. March Madness and seven games in April close out the regular season. It all starts in Milwaukee on ESPN with the Spurs at home less than 24 hours later. Finding passports for a trip to play the Toronto Raptors is always a source of anxiety, even though the Grizzlies are expected to exit Canada with a victory. They’ll have two days to battle through customs before a heavyweight matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder (31-21).
The Grizzlies will have a lot of miles to cover on their upcoming five-game road trip. Cross-country trips from Phoenix, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, Cleveland and Orlando would be tough on a fighter pilot. The next five games are at home, but four of them won’t be easy. The Suns, New York Knicks, Spurs, Hawks and Thunder will play right after the NBA All-Star break (35-27).
ESPN commentators will get back-to-back previews of the Grizzlies in Dallas and New Orleans as the battle for playoff positioning resumes (36-28). Fortunately, a four-game home series against NBA Play-In Tournament teams is on the cards at the right time (40-28). Unfortunately, the upcoming five-game road trip to face the Kings, Trail Blazers, Clippers, Jazz and Thunder will slow Memphis’ momentum slightly (42-30).
Memphis will host the Lakers and Celtics to close out March, with the Warriors waiting until April 1. Four of the next six games will be on hostile territory, but Miami, Detroit and Charlotte will be halfway through their vacations by then. Still, finishing with the Timberwolves (home), Nuggets (away) and Mavericks (home) is perhaps the toughest matchup among the 30 NBA teams.
Final score prediction: 47-35
Memphis fans will have plenty to look forward to in this bounce-back season. With a healthy team and key contributions from star players like Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., the Grizzlies are in a good position to make a good run in the playoffs. They won’t reach the 50-win mark, but they will still secure a spot in the top six of a very competitive Western Conference.
