With the La Clippers afforded a playoff seed, thanks to an Pacific Division, the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets are headed for a furiously competitive two-team race for the Western Conference's third seed. And it's one which the Grizzlies will not soon be conceding. A third seed contains numerous possible gains for Memphis, maybe not the least of which is really a first-round matchup with the Golden State Warriors. The Grizzlies grabbed their three-game series with the Warriors. And that just begins to hint at their natural game benefits in this possible playoff conference. While the Warriors have made extreme advances on the defensive end this season (102.5 defensive rating, 12th in the NBA via ESPN), the Grizzlies have been an elite defensive team for the previous three seasons and have been better still this season (98.2 defensive rating, minute in the group). Perhaps not coincidentally, Memphis' array is significantly absent of the defensive debts sprinkled in Golden State's starting five. It is extremely hard to break Memphis instructor Lionel Hollins' turn without being a powerful defensive player. In terms of Jackson, his two most utilized people (Stephen Curry and David Lee) are staunch supporters of the "best protection is a good offense" mind-set. The Warriors typical 100.9 points per game this year (via ESPN). But in their three meetings with the Grizzlies, the Warriors have managed a meager 91.3. The Grizzlies, on the other hand, average just 93.8 things on the season, but shredded the Warriors for 99.0 in the season series. Now it bears mentioning that the oft-injured, but healthier-of-late Warriors major person Andrew Bogut only played in just one of those three games. And the Warriors were seen by that game, a 99-93 Memphis win, walking by just one entering the final quarter before falling apart later. But Bogut's reputation only helps the Warriors negate the effects of one-half of the Grizzlies two-headed inside monster. Bogut could drive Marc Gasol into an exhaustive collection, which leaves Lee facing a challenging game with other All-Star Zach Randolph. Not forgetting, Bogut may also be assigned with directing the prodding Mike Conley on Curry's gaffes. Opponents were not overwhelmed by the Grizzlies with extreme injections, but instead pepper them with a number of body blows. Bogut has made a career out of weathering these punchesa'the same can't be said of his Warriors teammates. Nevertheless the great things about that third seed extend beyond a potential first-round ending up in the Warriors. It indicates preventing a Los Angeles Clippers staff that has already defeated the Grizzlies twice this year and delaying a game with the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, who have twice defeated their Southwest Division competitors. The Grizzlies wouldn't have a straightforward moving in the 2nd round, no matter their seeding, but they did win the three-game season collection, 2-1, with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Today the Grizzlies still have work to do merely to get that next seed. They maintain an identical history with the Nuggets (50-24), but Denver contains the tiebreaker, thanks to a prominent 3-1 side in the teams' four-game year series. And also this is assuming that the Warriors holds onto that sixth seed, a job that grows increasingly difficult with each Houston Rockets' get. But the Grizzlies can't concern yourself with that. They've to complete something which every group will declare to be doing from here on outa'take issues one game at a time. Obviously, with the Nuggets keeping their particular winning record against the Warriors and losing record against the Spurs, the Grizzlies will not function as only team gunning for that next seed. I can't tell you who will arise from these final months because the No. 3 team out West, but I can safely predict who'll have the gain using this frenetic race: the fans. It will be one heck of a journey for both teams down the stretch.
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