The NBA Schedule Makers Really Missed the Mark With Blazers vs. Grizzlies

The Portland Trail Blazers find themselves in a situation where they will have to wait until early February to visit the FedEx Forum to take on the Memphis Grizzlies, after acquiring Ja Morant from the Grizzlies in a blockbuster trade back in June. Morant and the Blazers will have to wait until early February to visit the FedEx Forum to take on the Grizzlies, but that won't be the first time the two teams meet up. In late October, the Grizzlies will visit the Blazers in what will be Morant's first game against his former team.

Blazers vs. Grizzlies Series Should Start in Memphis, Not Portland

There is a lot of intrigue in the Blazers vs. Grizzlies matchup, as the first game in their two-game series in early February at the FedEx Forum is televised on Amazon Prime Video. There is a lot of risk in having this game in the middle of the season. The NBA trade deadline is coming up in early February, and that could throw both rosters into complete disarray going into the matchup. Given Morant's recent injury history, appearing in just 79 games across the last three seasons, making his only trip to FedEx Forum after the first half of the season is a massive risk for the league's schedule makers.

What Comes Next?

The Blazers have two games on the road before heading back home to face Memphis in Sacramento and against the Los Angeles Lakers. After their game against the Grizzlies, they will head out on a four-game road trip against the Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, and Lakers. It is hard for the NBA to ask teams to go on a seven-game road trip, so there is that to consider, but the intrigue in this game is Morant going back to Memphis, not Grant going to Portland, which is why having the first matchup in this series at the Moda Center is a bit of a missed opportunity.

Grizzlies, which is a strange choice. There are no national TV games on the night of the 29th, but it is the only game going on at that time. Basketball fans will be able to give their full attention to the matchup.

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