For Grizzlies, it's all about survival now
The Grizzlies have their eyes set on the Clippers; but will they make the playoffs?
This team is on a horrible six-game losing streak with just five left (two home game and three away: vs. Chicago, at Dallas, vs. Golden State, at Los Angeles Clippers, at Golden State).
Miraculously, they are still in the fifth spot in the West, just a half game ahead of the Trail Blazers.
After the loss to the Magic on Sunday, Vince Carter couldn't have said it any better than this:
“Right now we just are trying to figure out how to get over the hump. Each game we feel like we can win and we should win. It hurts when you don’t so it is plain and simple. At this point there is nothing to talk about. We can sit here and rah-rah and motivate and say what we need to do, but until we get it done on the court all the motivational speeches don’t matter.”
“We just have to get over the hump. It is not an excuse now. We are playing for a playoff spot and to stay in the playoffs so we just have to figure it out. Guys have been around long enough to not use it as an excuse so we just have to stay the course. It sucks and there is a dark cloud over us right now but we can still see the light of day. It is still possible. We just have to win a couple of games and everything should feel a little better. We just have to stay the course and figure it out. It is just plain and simple at this point. We just have to force ourselves into wins right now.”
“I don’t know about the pressure. It is just personally speaking but I think we want to play well so bad we overdo it. We don’t come out settled or come out relaxed or just trying to do too much sometimes. We just have to find an even ground and just get it done. Right now I don’t have any magical saying but we just have to get it done and find a way.”
Carter hit the nail on the head -- they have to put up or shut up. They have lost plenty of games down the stretch that they could very well have won.
The four teams behind them are fighting for their playoffs lives as well. And to tell the truth, those teams seem hungrier. It is not like the Grizzlies aren't playing hard, but they don't have the talent right now to get over the hump, as Carter said.
Basically, they are heavily relying on D-Leaguers and reserves for their offense. Zach Randolph is not in the position to carry the team alone. Don't get me wrong, the bench is playing well and in some games has outplayed the starters.
Another problem they have is on the defensive end. The Grizzlies can't guard the 3-point line and are giving up too many points.
In the last six games, the opponent are scoring 107.5 points and shooting an average of 39.3 percent from the 3 point line while making 8.8 three-pointers per game. They can't win giving up that many points and also giving up that many threes.
In the past six games, the Grizzlies are scoring 99.7 points and shooting 34.2 percent from three while making just 6.3 per game.
They also are averaging 13.8 turnovers. Also, they aren't capitalizing with free throws. This team is only shooting 67.7 percent from the free throw line, well below their season average of 78.2 percent.
Mental mistakes will be costly in their last five games. If they don't get it together, they will lose all five games and possibly miss the playoffs.
It's do or die time for them. They are either going to grind to greatness or their season will be over. The time is now for them to truly believe in themselves and put it all out there on the court!! #BelieveMemphis
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