GRIZ KEEP ON STRIVING FOR FIFTH SEED
Grizzlies still pursuing fifth seed and playoff matchup vs. Clippers, but it won’t be easy
We’ve been battling with (the Clippers) for years. We’ve got a rivalry going on with them. It’s been good competition and good games.”
Zach Randolph, Griz forward
They would need the next two days to go perfectly, and that’s asking for a lot given the hardship of this Grizzlies season.
Still, coach Dave Joerger and his players sounded as undeterred as ever when talking about their final regular-season goal. Memphis boarded a flight Monday afternoon and headed to the West Coast for its final two regular-season games, beginning tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers.
If the Griz have their way, they will see the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs, too.
“We’re trying to get five. We want to play the Clippers,” Joerger said Monday, referring to the fifth seed and a matchup with the fourth-seeded Clippers. “If not, we go play whoever they tell us we’ve got to play.” The math is simple. Memphis (42-38) sits in sixth place, a half-game behind the fifth-place Portland Trail Blazers (43-38). The Griz must win their final two games, including the season finale against the 72-9 Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, and hope the Blazers lose their last game at home against the Denver Nuggets.
That scenario would put the Griz at 44 wins, one more than the Blazers. Portland owns the tiebreaker with a better conference record in the event it ends up with the same record as Memphis.
“We’ve been battling with (the Clippers) for years. We’ve got a rivalry going on with them,” Griz forward Zach Randolph said. “It’s been good competition and good games. We’d definitely like to see them in the first round.”
The matchup would seem to be a long shot for one big-time reason: The Warriors are playing for the chance to earn their 73rd victory and break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls record for wins in a season.
Another harsh reality is that the Griz could drop to seventh depending on whether they lose their final two games.
Dallas (42-39) is just a halfgame behind Memphis in seventh after defeating Utah (40-41) on Monday.
The Griz don’t own the tiebreaker against Dallas because the Mavericks won the regular-season series.
“We’re still playing to win. That’s what we said before the last game (last Saturday against Golden State). Let’s get on the court and see what the outcome is going to be,” Griz swingman Vince Carter said. “Guys have a lot of pride here. We have veteran guys who have been around for a long time and understand the process. I don’t expect one player to lay down. The great thing about it is seeing our young guys follow suit.”
The Clippers intend to play at full strength against the Grizzlies and rest key players during their regular-season finale at Phoenix, according to media who cover the team.
While Joerger expressed concern about Tony Allen’s hamstring injury, he said no other veteran is a candidate for rest.
“Guys are going out and giving everything they have,” Joerger said. “I don’t see a way your seed is cemented after Tuesday night’s game going into Wednesday. These are the fun games to play for veteran guys. Every game has a playoff-like atmosphere.”
That means the Griz will have that famous chant in their heads: “Beat L.A.!”
“We’re going there to compete and try to win these last two games,” Randolph said. “That’s how we’re made up. We’re fighting hard. It’s great to be where we’re at with all of the adversity we’ve been through.”
Tip-in: The Griz signed guard Bryce Cotton for the rest of the regular season, meaning he will be available for the final two games against the Clippers and Warriors. Cotton will not be on the playoff roster because the Griz will lose hardship exceptions once the regular season ends.