The NBA Trade Deadline has passed, and the All-Star Weekend has also come to a close. This indicates that we are more than halfway through the season, which also shows that the action is just beginning to ramp up at this point. The teams in contention to make the playoffs are preparing for it, while the teams not in conflict are working to avoid participating in the play-in round.
The regular season will begin tomorrow with an intense schedule of nine games. The game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Philadelphia Sixers will start airing on NBA League Pass at 8:30 a.m. local time and is one of the contests that fans should keep an eye on.
The Memphis Grizzlies are currently in second place in the Western Conference with a record of 35-22, and the Philadelphia 76ers are in third place in the Eastern Conference with a history of 38-19. These teams are competing at a high level within their respective conferences.
When the trade deadline had passed, the Grizzlies were one of the several teams who chose to keep their core group of players together. They are confident they have the resources to make a deep run in the playoffs, so they decided not to make any significant roster adjustments. Why would you want to make things more difficult for everyone? You have a mercurial star in Ja Morant who will keep growing, and his stock will only continue to rise. Morant undoubtedly has a significant skill, the primary factor in deciding league standings. Every every night, you are guaranteed to have a stat line consisting of at least 27 points, six assists, and eight rebounds.
On the other hand, the remaining games of the regular season and the postseason will reveal whether the Grizzlies possess sufficient firepower throughout the season. They had just emerged from a terrible spell in which they won just four of their previous 13 games, bringing their overall win percentage down to only 4%. During their winning run of 11 games, they were on top of the world, but things have been challenging since then. The fact that Steven Adams has been sidelined because of a knee ailment has not been of any assistance. Nevertheless, even considering all, does the fact that they have lost Adams raise a warning flag that indicates they need additional size? It will be fascinating to see them try to defend Joel Embiid, a contender for MVP since he is one of the best players on the team.
Joel Embiid and the rest of the Sixers have been doing quite well as of late. They have won four games in a row, including excellent performances against their Eastern Division rivals, the New York Knicks, the Brooklyn Nets, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. They have a remarkable record of 23-8 while playing on their court, making them one of the best teams in the world. This all indicates that the combination of Joel Embiid and James Harden is reaching its stride at the exact moment. Embiid is averaging 33.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game in addition to his other stats. On the other hand, Harden is not putting up mind-blowing statistics as of late, but he has been consistent, averaging a double-double consisting of 21.4 points scored and 10.8 assists handed out.
The Sixers, just like the Grizzlies, have a lot to demonstrate as we approach the last stretch of the regular season and into the postseason. Both organizations will not tolerate being eliminated from playoff play at an unacceptable early stage. Each squad has a plethora of different weaponry, but in addition to this, there are a lot of expectations placed upon them because of the impressive skill level on their rosters.
It is essential to watch several teams as the new season gets underway, and the Grizzlies and Sixers are two of those clubs.
