Three teams have booked their playoff tickets so far. The race for post-season basketball is getting tighter with every game. Along with several teams, the Memphis Grizzlies are battling for a playoff berth. Memphis is the 4th seed in the Western Conference boasting a solid 43-25 record. So, getting a place in the playoff might be easy, correct? Well, it would’ve been until now. The Grizzlies have won five of their last six games and were looking like they would be among the next few teams qualifying for the playoff. However, a worrying update might just have halted their progress.

With everything else looking great, the Grizzlies faithful have been hit with a heartbreaking update on their superstar— Ja Morant. The Grizzlies are starting their five-game road trip tonight against an impressive Kings side. Unfortunately, they will not have their point guard Ja Morant to help them out. The 25-year-old is ruled out for Monday’s matchup due to soreness in his left hamstring. This comes as a surprise as Morant has been struggling with a shoulder injury this season. He missed Saturday’s game due to the same, however, this hamstring concern seems quite new. Tonight’s game will mark the 26th game Memphis will play without their superstar this season.

This makes you wonder, how have they done without Morant? Well, the results without him have been hits and misses. Memphis is 15-10 without Ja Morant on the court, of course, this isn’t great and they are much better with him on the court. Especially given Morant’s stellar form! The Memphis guard is averaging 22.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists. That’s something his team will miss hugely. More so, because they are already hard hit with injuries. Apart from Morant, power forward, Santi Aldama is going to miss his 4th consecutive game due to a calf injury. That’s not all! Scotty Pippen Jr. is also questionable due to a wrist injury.

Both of these players are key to the Grizzlies’ playing style and without them, the team is nowhere near their ceiling. Lastly, young guard Zyon Pullin is also out because of a knee injury. What makes Morant’s and the other injuries so much more worrying is the timing. The playoffs are right around the corner, and Memphis wouldn’t want to give their opponents any chance of securing their position on the table. The Grizzlies are facing stern competition from the Rockets, Nuggets, and the Lakers. Each of them wants to get over the line, with time running out. So, will Ja Morant’s injury hamper the Grizzlies’ postseason aspirations?

Will the Grizzlies manage to stay afloat without Ja Morant amid pressure from 3 teams?

The timing of Ja Morant’s injury couldn’t have been worse. The season is at a crucial stage, with every team looking to pounce on any given opportunity. The Grizzlies are also in a tough spot, despite their impressive recent form. Without Morant, they seem to struggle a bit, especially against quality opposition. So, with Houston, Denver, and Los Angeles in the mix, things could get tricky for Memphis really fast. This comes as a result of these four teams having almost similar records, in fact, all four have lost the exact same number of games, 25. Moreover, the Rockets, Nuggets, and Grizzlies are all on the same page with a 43-25 record.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are not far behind with a 41-25 record. So, this situation leaves the Grizzlies in a precarious position. That’s because they will be without Ja Morant and a few other key players, and their upcoming schedule might cause them a lot of problems. Memphis’ five-game road trip consists of some tough games against the Clippers and the Thunder. After this, things get even more tough. Their next hosts are Boston and Golden State. So, it’s clear that it’s a really tough stretch of games for Memphis. Meanwhile, they also have to worry about Houston, Denver, and LA, all of whom will see this as a great chance to grab wins and climb further up the rankings.

They might try to secure the playoff seat once it for all! This means the Grizzlies supporting crew will have to step up big time. Amid injuries to stars such as Morant and Aldama, backups Luke Kennard, GG Jackson, and Vince Williams Jr. will have to play with a chip on their shoulder. Also, starters such as Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane will have to carry much more responsibility with Morant out due to injury. So, it will be interesting to see how well Memphis handles the pressure of not only the injuries but the three teams as well while everyone watches them closely.