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Yesterday, I took a look at the first 41 games of the Grizzlies schedule. Today, we’ll look at the second half of the season, including the Grizzlies match-ups down the stretch as they will (hopefully) be attempting to make a playoff push.
January/February
| Date | Opponent | Time (CT) |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Time (CT) |
| Mon, Jan 15 | vs LA Lakers | 4:30 PM |
| Wed, Jan 17 | vs NY Knicks | 7:00 PM |
| Fri, Jan 19 | vs Sacramento | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Jan 20 | @ New Orleans | 6:00 PM |
| Mon, Jan 22 | vs Philadelphia | 7:00 PM |
| Wed, Jan 24 | vs San Antonio | 7:00 PM |
| Fri, Jan 26 | vs LA Clippers | 7:00 PM |
| Mon, Jan 29 | vs Phoenix | 7:00 PM |
| Wed, Jan 31 | @ Indiana | 6:00 PM |
| Thu, Feb 1 | @ Detroit | 6:00 PM |
| Sun, Feb 4 | @ Toronto | 11:00 AM |
| Tue, Feb 6 | @ Atlanta | 6:30 PM |
| Wed, Feb 7 | vs Utah | 7:00 PM |
| Sun, Feb 11 | @ Oklahoma City | 6:00 PM |
| Wed, Feb 14 | vs Oklahoma City | 7:00 PM |
| ALL STAR BREAK | ||
| Fri, Feb 23 | vs Cleveland | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Feb 24 | @ Miami | 6:30 PM |
| Mon, Feb 26 | @ Boston | 6:30 PM |
| Wed, Feb 28 | vs Phoenix | 7:00 PM |
Back-to-backs: 4 (1 in January; 3 in February)
Other notables: Z-Bo’s return (Jan 19th); Eastern Conference road trip (Jan 31st to Feb 6th); All Star break (Feb 15th to Feb 22nd); OKC home and home (Feb 11th, 14th)
The Grizzlies’ opening to 2018 will be much more manageable than their close to 2017. 11 of their 19 games are against opponents that made the playoffs last year, but that includes games against teams who’ve lost major talent this offseason: the Clippers (Chris Paul), Indiana (Paul George), Atlanta (rebuilding), and Utah (Gordon Hayward). The Eastern Conference road trip provides an opportunity to build wins and recover from a rough December.
It also remains to be seen whether LeBron will play in Memphis this season after famously missing last year’s game. The game will be Memphis’ first back from the All Star break, but Cleveland will once again be on the second night of a back-to back.
March
| Date | Opponent | Time (CT) |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Time (CT) |
| Fri, Mar 2 | vs Denver | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Mar 3 | @ Orlando | 6:00 PM |
| Mon, Mar 5 | @ San Antonio | 7:30 PM |
| Wed, Mar 7 | @ Chicago | 7:00 PM |
| Fri, Mar 9 | vs Utah | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Mar 10 | @ Dallas | 7:30 PM |
| Mon, Mar 12 | vs Milwaukee | 7:00 PM |
| Thu, Mar 15 | vs Chicago | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Mar 17 | vs Denver | 7:00 PM |
| Mon, Mar 19 | @ Brooklyn | 6:30 PM |
| Wed, Mar 21 | @ Philadelphia | 6:00 PM |
| Thu, Mar 22 | @ Charlotte | 6:00 PM |
| Sat, Mar 24 | vs LA Lakers | 7:00 PM |
| Mon, Mar 26 | @ Minnesota | 7:00 PM |
| Wed, Mar 28 | vs Portland | 7:00 PM |
| Fri, Mar 30 | @ Utah | 8:00 PM |
Back-to-backs: 3
Other notables: Nine of sixteen on the road, including two three-game road trips; Eastern Conference games!
While Memphis’ close to the season isn’t particularly Grizz-friendly (13 of their final 22 games are away from FedExForum), they’ll at least be helped by some competition against the dregs of the East. In March alone, the Grizzlies play Orlando, Chicago (twice), Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Charlotte. Outside of San Antonio, Memphis also manages to avoid the West’s most elite teams as well.
April
| Date | Opponent | Time (CT) |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Time (CT) |
| Sun, Apr 1 | @ Portland | 8:00 PM |
| Wed, Apr 4 | @ New Orleans | 8:30 PM |
| Fri, Apr 6 | vs Sacramento | 7:00 PM |
| Sun, Apr 8 | vs Detroit | 2:30 PM |
| Mon, Apr 9 | @ Minnesota | 7:00 PM |
| Wed, Apr 11 | @ Oklahoma City | 7:00 PM |
Back-to-backs: 1
Other notables: Four out of last six on the road; Z-Bo back (again) on April 6th
The last 11 days of the season just continue the brutal streak that began in March. Memphis will close the season on the road, including a trip that goes from Utah, to Portland, then to New Orleans. They’ve also got a back-to-back where they’ll play a Sunday afternoon game at home against Detroit, then fly up to Minnesota to play the Timberwolves the following night. Not great, Bob.
You’re also looking at some tough match-ups in at least four of those games. Portland’s a tough place to play; plus you’ll be facing Boogie and the Brow, Butler and KAT in Minnesota, and the Westbrook/Paul George combo in OKC. Barring rest from their opponents, Memphis will be in some dog fights down the stretch, making those games in March against the East all the more important.