Season Predictions 2016
Current seeding: 5th
Projected seeding: 5th
Wow, talk about taking some hits and staying on your feet. Star C Marc Gasol’s suffered a season-ending injury, PG Mike Conley and PF Zach Randolph missed significant time as well, and the other two members of their starting five -- SG Courtney Lee and SF Jeff Green -- got traded away for mere future assets because the front office thought the team was essentially done after all the injuries. Yeah, about that…
Behind the excellent play of guys like PF JaMychal Green (exactly) and newcomer SG/SF Lance Stephenson (yes, that Lance Stephenson. Yes, I'm serious. No, really), Memphis has actually kept their 5-spot out West over teams led by Damian Lillard (PG, POR) and James Harden (SG, HOU). How's that for impressive?
First round: Los Angeles Clippers (4)
Unfortunately for them, however, it is hard to imagine a team led by role-players triumphing over the mighty Clipper-machine. Randolph will likely be healthy by this point, but c’mon. Can you imagine Briante Weber, literally the starting point guard for Memphis, doing anything against LA superstar PG Chris Paul? Up front, even if PF Blake Griffin isn't healthy yet, it is very hard to imagine the Grizzlies getting much anything going against C DeAndre Jordan. On the wing, SF Jeff Green is now wearing the opposite uniform after being traded for Memphis, and looks to light it up on his former team. Great Cinderella story of role players stepping up, but a tough reality of superstars clamping down.
Prediction: Los Angeles wins, 4-0
Current seeding: 5th
Projected seeding: 5th
Wow, talk about taking some hits and staying on your feet. Star C Marc Gasol’s suffered a season-ending injury, PG Mike Conley and PF Zach Randolph missed significant time as well, and the other two members of their starting five -- SG Courtney Lee and SF Jeff Green -- got traded away for mere future assets because the front office thought the team was essentially done after all the injuries. Yeah, about that…
Behind the excellent play of guys like PF JaMychal Green (exactly) and newcomer SG/SF Lance Stephenson (yes, that Lance Stephenson. Yes, I'm serious. No, really), Memphis has actually kept their 5-spot out West over teams led by Damian Lillard (PG, POR) and James Harden (SG, HOU). How's that for impressive?
First round: Los Angeles Clippers (4)
Unfortunately for them, however, it is hard to imagine a team led by role-players triumphing over the mighty Clipper-machine. Randolph will likely be healthy by this point, but c’mon. Can you imagine Briante Weber, literally the starting point guard for Memphis, doing anything against LA superstar PG Chris Paul? Up front, even if PF Blake Griffin isn't healthy yet, it is very hard to imagine the Grizzlies getting much anything going against C DeAndre Jordan. On the wing, SF Jeff Green is now wearing the opposite uniform after being traded for Memphis, and looks to light it up on his former team. Great Cinderella story of role players stepping up, but a tough reality of superstars clamping down.
Prediction: Los Angeles wins, 4-0