The Memphis Grizzlies are one game away from securing a playoff spot. On Friday, the Grizzlies will take on the Dallas Mavericks to fight for the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings. It will be the final game of the Play-In Tournament to determine which team will take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in a seven-game series in the first round of the postseason.
While the Grizzlies have not secured a spot among the eight teams that will be in the playoffs, former NBA player Patrick Beverley already thinks they’re part of the group. On Friday’s episode of his show,”The Pat Bev Podcast,” the former Milwaukee Bucks guard named five players who he thinks will have a breakout playoff run this year.
According to Beverley, Morant tops his list and expects the athletic guard to perform his best.
“Top five players that I think is going to have a breakout playoffs,” Beverley said. “I think it’s important. Number one is Ja Morant. Number one should be Ja Morant.”
Top 5 players to have a breakout playoffs! Presented by @NewAmsterdam pic.twitter.com/rwa2KDuDbb
— Pat Bev Pod (@PatBevPod) April 18, 2025
At the No. 2 spot, Beverley named Jimmy Butler of the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors beat the Grizzlies earlier this week and secured the seventh spot in the conference. His third choice is Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers are scheduled to meet the Denver Nuggets in the first round as the fifth seed.
Sticking to the L.A. team, Beverley believes James Harden will have a breakout year in the postseason. Harden finished his second season with the Clippers on a high note, averaging 22.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 8.7 assists.
To complete Beverley’s list, the current podcaster named Doc Rivers, head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. The former guard who played for Rivers believes the coach can take the Bucks to the next level in his year’s playoffs.
The Memphis Grizzlies revealed an important update about Ja Morant
Ja Morant remains an important piece to the Memphis Grizzlies. However, during their Play-In game against the Warriors, Morant suffered an ankle injury. The star guard was out of the game for some time but was able to return to the court. However, the lost time he had didn’t help Memphis as they suffered a tough 121-116 loss.
Ahead of their game on Friday, the team revealed an update on their franchise star. Head coach Tuomas Iisalo revealed the update after the team’s practice.
“Ja Morant did not practice today,” Damichael Cole, Memphis Grizzlies insider, posted on X. “Gametime decision, per Tuomas Iisalo.”
Ja Morant did not practice today. Gametime decision, per Tuomas Iisalo
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) April 17, 2025
“My feel with him is he’ll do absolutely everything in order to play,” Iisalo said. “If he’s physically able to do it, he will do it. It’s a legitimate gametime decision.”
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
