There is still a path for the Memphis Grizzlies to make the playoffs in Las Vegas Summer League.
Making the Las Vegas Summer League playoffs is no easy task.
With all 30 NBA teams competing for just four spots in the semifinals each summer, there is very little margin for error.
The Memphis Grizzlies learned that earlier this week when they suffered a loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Despite opening in Las Vegas with a win over the Chicago Bulls and beating the Golden State Warriors in their most recent appearance, the Grizzlies, at 2-1, are currently on the wrong side of the playoff picture due to their lone loss to Dallas.
The good news for Memphis is that there is still a chance for the team to sneak in. But in order for that possibility to remain intact, a win over the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday -- ideally in convincing fashion -- is going to be essential.
Each team in Las Vegas plays four games in pool play to determine who advances to the semifinals. The Hawks (3-0) and Los Angeles Lakers (3-0) are both sitting pretty as the only unbeaten teams. But behind them is a long list of one-loss teams who are hoping to make the playoffs. Memphis is part of that crowd.
It's unclear how many undefeated teams will be left by the end of the day on Thursday. If the Grizzlies take care of business, the Hawks will no longer be unbeaten, and the Lakers are also putting their 3-0 record on the line against the Chicago Bulls.
But no matter what, it's a guarantee that there will be more 3-1 teams than playoff spots available, which means point differential is going to come into play as a tiebreaker.
That's why Memphis could use a comfortable win over the Hawks. As it stands now, the Grizzlies (with an average point differential of +4.7) rank ahead of many one-loss teams but behind a few others.
The Hawks and Lakers are not only undefeated but also have exceptional point differentials. Assuming Atlanta and L.A. are in no matter what, here are the one-loss teams that currently rank ahead of the Grizzlies in terms of average point differential:
- Brooklyn Nets (2-1, +17.0)
- Houston Rockets (2-1, +8.0)
- Golden State Warriors (2-1, +5.0)
That's it, and what helps is that the Nets and Rockets will play each other on Thursday, meaning one of them will suffer a second loss and fall out of the picture.
As such, the best hope for the Grizzlies may be to pass the Warriors, either by record or point differential. They also have to hope that no teams who are currently behind them in point differential overtake them while finishing 3-1.
There is a lot to sort out, but all Memphis can do is take care of business on Thursday.
