NBA Power Rankings: Preparing For The Playoff Seeding Battles

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Feb 4, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) dribbles the ball as Utah Jazz guard Elijah Millsap (13) defends during the second half at EnergySolutions Arena. Memphis won 100-90. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Moral victories may not mean much in February or March, but you definitely want at least some kind of confidence entering a playoff series against any opponent. And 16-point losses is exactly how not to accomplish that.

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Memphis Grizzlies (39-14)

Last week: 1-1
Last rank: 2


Even though the Memphis Grizzlies are five games (in the loss column) behind the Warriors doesn’t mean that they can’t make up ground for that No. 1 seed. Their biggest concern though, should be their 16-point loss at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, which it suffered just before the NBA All-Star break.

That’s a bad taste to have in your mouth, especially if you’re considered by most to be one of the two, or three, overwhelming favorites to come out of the Western Conference.

Moral victories may not mean much in February or March, but you definitely want at least some kind of confidence entering a playoff series against any opponent. And 16-point losses is exactly how not to accomplish that.

Next: Golden State Warriors