Ja Morant Laments The Unfairness Of NBA Play-In Rule

Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies are fighting for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

BYAlexander Cole
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Heading into the NBA bubble, one of the most interesting teams to watch are the Memphis Grizzlies who are currently eighth place in the Western Conference. If they are able to hold this position, they would end up in the NBA playoffs. However, there is a twist this year. If the ninth-place team is four games back or less, they get to play a winner-takes-all play-in game against the eighth seed. This puts the Grizzlies at a disadvantage that could come back and bite them near the end of the seeding round.

Ja Morant recently spoke to ESPN about this disadvantage and as he described, the new rule is pretty unfair, although he is more than happy to prove his team's worth.

Ja Morant Laments The Unfairness Of NBA Play-In Rule
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“I just feel like it’s an extra chip,” Morant said. “You know — more fuel to the fire, more motivation for us. Coming into the season, I think we were projected to be 29th, and look at us now. So we just use that as fuel, continue to work. We’re all very hungry. We know what we’re capable of. Just go out and play.”

Morant will be going up against some stiff competition for that playoff spot, including the New Orleans Pelicans who boast the talents of Zion Williamson.

[Via]


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About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.