Duke Sizemore here, and today we are putting Memphis under the microscope, because SIX straight losses and a 58.4-point Elo plunge will get my attention every single time! Here’s what we’ve got: the Grizzlies’ brutal closing slide, the single game that did nearly half the damage, and a roster move that points straight toward Philadelphia.
Okay, okay, okay, get into these numbers with me. Memphis finished 25 and 58, sitting 28th at a 1274 Elo. Now trace the final six listed games: Toronto, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Denver, Utah, Houston. Six games. Six losses. Elo goes from 1333 before Toronto all the way down to 1274 after Houston. That is a 58.4-point recent swing in the WRONG direction!
And Utah delivered the hammer. April 11, Jazz 147, Grizzlies 101. Memphis lost 24.6 Elo points from that game alone! Then the season closed with Houston beating Memphis 132 to 101. No late bounce. No statistical rescue mission.
Now THIS is the part that has me fired up about the preseason picture: the model isn’t treating that collapse like ancient history. Memphis carries a preseason Elo of 1305.2, ranks 29th in that context after previously ranking 28th, and owns a minus-48 hype reading. The market Elo is even lower at 1257.1. Those are some chilly numbers in Memphis!
Roster-wise, there is movement even though the broader futures board gave us nothing new today. ESPN sources report Kentavious Caldwell-Pope agreed to a buyout with Memphis and plans to join the Philadelphia 76ers on a one-year deal after clearing waivers. Philly, by the way, carries the top-riser hype reading in this snapshot at plus-91.5. Keep an eye on that connection.
And I’m not going to sell you recycled Summer League standings or unchanged title odds. Summer League has no new games here, and the title race is stale. The next confirmed NBA game on this board is Miami at Toronto on October 3.
So today’s number is 58.4. That’s the Memphis Elo drop they carry into this preseason snapshot, and that is a hole worth watching when basketball comes back. This is COURT VISION: The Daily Brief. Duke Sizemore signing off, and I’ll catch you tomorrow!