With just over two weeks remaining in the regular season, there has been a significant upheaval in the Western Conference. The rest of the league was rocked by the Grizzlies’ announcement on Friday that they had opted to fire head coach Taylor Jenkins.
The Denver Nuggets are a game and a half ahead of the Grizzlies in the standings, with the Lakers sandwiched in between. Denver would play the Clippers in the first round if the season ended today, but there’s a chance they could face Memphis in the first round in a No. 4 versus No. 5 matchup (if the Grizzlies don’t slip down the standings).
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Nuggets catch unexpected break as West contender makes shocking move
Nobody saw this coming.
By
Jordanna Clark
1 minute ago
Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies
There has been a major shakeup in the Western Conference with a little over two weeks left in the regular season. The Grizzlies announced on Friday that they had decided to part ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins, sending shockwaves throughout the rest of the league.
The Denver Nuggets are a game and a half ahead of the Grizzlies in the standings, with the Lakers sandwiched in between. Denver would play the Clippers in the first round if the season ended today, but there’s a chance they could face Memphis in the first round in a No. 4 versus No. 5 matchup (if the Grizzlies don’t slip down the standings).
The Nuggets have a 1-1 record against the Grizzlies this season, with both games being played in November. Denver will host Memphis in its last home game of the regular season on April 11. It’s impossible to predict what position the Grizzlies will be in then, not only because of this major shakeup, but because of the strength of their remaining schedule.
Grizzlies shockingly fire head coach Taylor Jenkins
Memphis has lost four of its last five games, with the lone win coming against the tanking Jazz. Ja Morant has been out the past two weeks with a hamstring strain. Jenkins said on Wednesday that the star guard is considered day-to-day and making good progress.
An already difficult time for the Grizzlies was made worse by the Jenkins firing, which further soured their season. The specifics of Memphis’ decision to let Jenkins go are unknown, but given that the playoffs are quickly approaching and the team is among the top six in the Western Conference, the timing is questionable. Memphis will have a difficult time overcoming this type of change at the end of the regular season, but it’s too early for the Nuggets to rule out the Grizzlies as a possible playoff opponent. They don’t appear to be pursuing Denver any longer, but you never know.
