With the Los Angeles Clippers provided a playoff seed, because of an Pacific Division, the Memphis Grizzlies and Denver Nuggets are headed for a furiously competitive two-team battle for the Western Conference's third seed. And it's one which the Grizzlies won't soon be conceding. A seed keeps several potential benefits for Memphis, not the least which is a first-round game with the Golden State Warriors. The Grizzlies grabbed their three-game series with the Warriors. And that only begins to touch at their normal game advantages in this possible playoff conference. While the Warriors have made severe steps on the defensive end this season (102.5 defensive rating, 12th in the NBA via ESPN), the Grizzlies have been an elite defensive club for the previous three seasons and have been better yet this season (98.2 defensive rating, minute in the category). Perhaps not coincidentally, Memphis' selection is significantly absent of the defensive debts scattered in Golden State's starting five. It's nearly impossible to crack Memphis instructor Lionel Hollins' turn without having to be a powerful defensive player. As for Jackson, his two most used players (Stephen Curry and David Lee) are staunch supporters of the "best defense is a great offense" mindset. The Warriors common 100.9 points per game this year (via ESPN). In their three conferences with the Grizzlies, the Warriors have managed a meager 91.3. The Grizzlies, on the other hand, average just 93.8 items on the season, but shredded the Warriors for 99.0 in the season series. Today it bears mentioning that the oft-injured, but healthier-of-late Warriors large man Andrew Bogut just played in one of those three games. And the Warriors were seen by that game, a 99-93 Memphis win, trailing by simply one entering the last quarter before falling apart later. But Bogut's reputation only helps the Warriors eliminate the effects of one-half of the Grizzlies two-headed interior monster. Bogut could force Marc Gasol in to an exhaustive series, which leaves Lee facing an overwhelming game with other All-Star Zach Randolph. And undoubtedly, Bogut is likewise tasked with directing the prodding Mike Conley on Curry's gaffes. The Grizzlies do not overwhelm opponents with extreme jabs, but alternatively pepper them with a number of human body blows. Bogut has made a lifetime career out of weathering these punchesa'the same can not be said of his Warriors teammates. Nevertheless the benefits of that third seed increase beyond a potential first-round ending up in the Warriors. It means preventing a Los Angeles Clippers group that's already defeated the Grizzlies twice in 2013 and delaying a game with their Southwest Division rivals have been twice defeated by the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs, who. The Grizzlies wouldn't have a simple moving in the 2nd round, regardless of their seeding, however they did win the three-game season sequence, 2-1, with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Now the Grizzlies still have work to accomplish merely to get that next seed. They maintain the same report with the Nuggets (50-24), but Denver contains the tiebreaker, thanks to a principal 3-1 edge in the teams' four-game year series. This is assuming that the Warriors can take onto that sixth seed, a task that grows increasingly difficult with each Houston Rockets' gain. However the Grizzlies can not concern yourself with that. They have to do something which every group will claim to be doing from here on outa'take things one game at any given time. Of course, with the Nuggets keeping their own winning record against the Warriors and dropping record against the Spurs, the Grizzlies won't function as the only staff gunning for that third seed. I can not inform you who will arise from these final weeks while the No. 3 staff out West, but I can safely predict who'll have the win from this frenetic race: the fans. It will be one heck of a drive for both groups down the stretch.
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