NBA: 3 February takeaways and 3 March predictions

March Prediction: Zion vs. Ja for the 8th seed

This prediction isn’t at all related to rookie of the year but stop it with the Zion for ROY buzz. He’s been even better than expected but a guy who will have played less than half the season can’t win it over a guy who’s played almost every night and done what Morant has done.

Right, the 8th seed. There are six teams that still have a shot at the final playoff spot in the Western Conference standings but I see it coming down to a race between the two most talented rookies from last year’s draft.

The Grizzlies, of course, have a cushion and if the season ended today they’d go to the playoffs, but Zion and the Pelicans are closing fast while the Grizzlies have stumbled lately.

Despite their deficit in the standings, the Pelicans might have the inside track to getting that final playoff spot. Now that Zion is back, they have the best roster of any team gunning for the 8 spot and it really isn’t close. Between Zion, Jrue Holiday, and Brandon Ingram, they have three guys who are probably the top 50 players in the league. Add in some really nice pieces like Lonzo Ball and J.J. Redick and it’s a head-scratcher that they are having to fight for the last spot, to begin with.

The Pelicans also have scheduled on their side for the rest of the season. Per Tankathon, they have the second-easiest remaining schedule in the NBA while the Grizzlies will have to navigate the second toughest.

All signs point to the Pelicans making a run at this thing, but I don’t expect the Grizzlies to go out quietly. They’ve been overachievers this whole season and I’d be surprised if these two aren’t neck and neck when we head into April for the final stretch of the regular season.