Any time the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies face off it's a must-watch game. The two sides don't like each other after a heated playoff series in 2012 and Blake Griffin and Zach Randolph essentially engage in a wrestling match under the basket whenever these two teams play, which is always fun. Saturday's matchup is even more exciting than usual because it has serious seeding implications for various West teams.
Clippers vs. Grizzlies could determine the West’s seeding
The clash between Memphis and Los Angeles has serious seeding implications for four teams.
Mike Conley will likely miss the game with a foot injury, which puts the Grizzlies in a precarious position against one of the league’s best point guards in Chris Paul. Tony Allen is also out with a hamstring injury. To overcome that huge disadvantage, Memphis will need Marc Gasol to continue his string of great performances against the Clippers after averaging 18 points in 58 percent shooting in the past three matchups.
With only three games to go for each team and the West race tight as ever, neither team can afford to lose if they want to secure a high seed. So let’s go over the possible scenarios.
The Clippers win
The Clippers currently occupy the fifth spot in the West standings, a game behind the second-place Grizzlies. With a win, they would tie Memphis' record and also the season series. Because the Clippers have a better record against Western conference teams than the Grizzlies, Los Angeles would have the tiebreaker and move to second in the West. With games against the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns remaining, the Clippers would have a good shot at finishing with the second-best record and facing the Dallas Mavericks -- already locked into the seventh seed -- in the first round.
With a win on Saturday, the Clippers would control their destiny going forward instead of having to rely on other teams. Facing the Mavericks -- a team they beat two times out of three in the season -- and avoiding the Golden State Warriors until the conference finals is the best case scenario for Los Angeles.
What it means for the other teams in the race
A Clippers win would have them leapfrog three teams all the way into the second seed while the Grizzlies slide to third. The San Antonio Spurs would drop from third to fifth, since the Portland Trail Blazers are locked in to the four spot by virtue of being division champions. The Houston Rockets could move from sixth to fifth if they win out and the Grizzlies lose to the Warriors on Monday.
The Grizzlies win
The Grizzlies are currently half a game up from the Spurs for second place in the West. A win would not only increase their lead to one full game over their immediate pursuers with two to go, but also ensure them the tiebreaker over all three of the Spurs, Rockets and Clippers. Simply put, if the Grizzlies win on Saturday, the second spot in the West is theirs to lose.
If they can’t beat the Clippers there’s a chance they could finish sixth, half a game behind the Rockets. One of the Grizzlies’ final two games would pit them against the Warriors while the Rockets have an easier schedule. This is the Grizzlies’ most important game of the season if they want to avoid the Warriors until the conference finals.
What it means for the other teams in the race
A Grizzlies win would have the Clippers falling to sixth in the West, with the Rockets gaining a spot and the Spurs remaining in third place. That means Los Angeles would get the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs if every team wins out. Houston would immediately climb a spot with a Grizzlies win.
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So there you have it. The fate of four teams will be heavily influenced by one game. If you didn’t have enough reasons to tune in for Clippers vs. Grizzlies, you do now.
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