The NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, as has the All-Star Weekend. This means that we are more than halfway through the season, and the action is starting now. The teams in contention for the playoffs are preparing for it, while the clubs who are not are striving to avoid the play-in round.
The regular season kicks off tomorrow with a grueling nine-game schedule. One of the games that fans should keep an eye on is the game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Philadelphia Sixers, which will begin streaming on NBA League Pass at 8:30 a.m. local time.
The Memphis Grizzlies are now second in the Western Conference with a 35-22 record, while the Philadelphia 76ers are third in the Eastern Conference with a 38-19 record. Throughout their respective leagues, these teams compete at a high level.
The Grizzlies were among the few teams who elected to retain their core players intact after the trade deadline passed. They are confident in making a long run in the playoffs.
Therefore they have opted to avoid making any substantial personnel changes. Why would you want to complicate things for everyone? You have a mercurial star in Ja Morant whose value will only climb. Morant has tremendous talent, a critical criterion in determining league rankings. You are assured of having a stat line of at least 27 points, six assists, and eight rebounds every night.
On the other hand, the remaining regular season and playoff games will indicate if the Grizzlies have enough firepower throughout the season. They had just come off a losing streak in which they had only won four of their previous 13 games, putting their total win percentage down to 4%. They were on top of the world for 11 games during their winning streak, but things have been difficult since then.
The fact that Steven Adams has been out due to a knee injury hasn’t helped matters. Yet, even considering everything, does the fact that they have lost Adams raise a red signal that they need more size? It will be exciting to watch how they defend Joel Embiid, a possible MVP candidate, since he is one of the greatest players on the squad.
Joel Embiid and the rest of the Sixers have been doing well recently. They have won four straight games, including impressive wins against their Eastern Division rivals, the New York Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. They have a stunning 23-8 record on their home floor, making them one of the top teams in the world. All of this suggests that the Joel Embiid-James Harden combo is hitting its stride just now. In addition to his other numbers, Embiid averages 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks a game. On the other hand, Harden has not been putting up mind-blowing numbers of late, but he has been steady, averaging a double-double of 21.4 points scored and 10.8 assists given out.
The Sixers, like the Grizzlies, have a lot to prove as we near the end of the regular season and the playoffs. Both organizations will not accept being removed from postseason contention at such an early stage. Each team has a variety of weapons, but there are also a lot of expectations put on them due to the remarkable skill level on their rosters.
Before the new season begins, it is critical to watch numerous teams, including the Grizzlies and Sixers.