We could use at least one win tonight between the Magic and Grizzlies both stuck at 12 wins now 1 behind the Lakers. Funny both of them started off hot to start the season. The Magic are on the road against the Bucks, and the Grizzlies at home against the Pelicans. Of course it would be nice if the Hawks win tonight too.
I’m overall not worried about the Grizzlies. I do expect Conley to return at some point this season, probably the end of this month. They’re a good team with him (#10 in net rating in games with him), so they’ll pull out of the cellar soon. No one’s running away with the 8 seed — they’ll challenge for it, and you can bet Golden State is hopeful they don’t get.
It’d be nice if they win their easier games until Conley gets back (and they’ve got some winnable ones coming up, hosting Lakers, Kings, and Knicks in their next 5 games,) which increases the likelihood they won’t tank, but I’ll be surprised if they don’t win at least 30 games, and 35-40 isn’t impossible if they get Conley back in two more weeks.