Ja Morant has had a terrific rookie season for the Grizzlies. Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Ja Morant seemingly welcomes Grizzlies' challenging new schedule

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Darryn Albert | Last updated 6/26/20

The Memphis Grizzlies will not have a cakewalk to officially clinch a playoff spot, but Ja Morant appears to be ready for the challenge.

In a tweet on Friday, the Grizzlies guard seems to indicate his approval of Memphis' new schedule, which was released earlier in the day.

i love it

— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) June 27, 2020

The NBA will hold eight regular season seeding games to begin July’s planned restart of play in Orlando. The Grizzlies, who were No. 8 in the West when the season was suspended, will have to finish over four games ahead of the No. 9 seed in the conference to clinch a playoff berth outright. Otherwise, the two teams will go to a play-in tournament to determine who gets the final spot.

Memphis actually got one of the hardest draws in the league, including games against the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks and the defending champion Toronto Raptors. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans, a likely challenger for the West’s final playoff seed, received one of the easiest schedules.

Strength of schedule for the NBA restart: pic.twitter.com/uha6fDWNF4

— Jacob Goldstein (@JacobEGoldstein) June 26, 2020

There are some indications that the league wants Zion Williamson and the Pelicans to make the postseason, but Morant and the Grizzlies definitely seem to be intent on disrupting those plans.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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