The chatter of the NBA playoffs isn’t just incessant talk — for some it is a full-blown obsession. Students have been debating matchups, advocating for their favorite teams and overall having fun watching matches.
A variety of students from all different backgrounds have shown exactly how much the NBA impacts them. Now that it is playoff time, people in general are more eager to discuss their ideas about the NBA or basketball in general. For some, basketball can become a source of inspiration, shape identities, influence many goals or even create a sense of community. For example, many students have posted Instagram stories of them attending games and going to the FedExForum in dedication of the playoffs.
“[Basketball] doesn’t really impact my personal life much, but I know that with the Grizzlies being good it kind of lifts up the spirit of our community so it has an effect on the people around me,” Logan Thompson (12) said.
Among the many engaging in discussions about the ongoing NBA playoffs are individuals who not only analyze team performances but also support their favorite teams, which may bring emotional investment and bias into these conversations.
“Of course [I’m rooting for] the Grizzlies. [However], we have just lost our best player of the year, Jaylen Wells. He just got injured last night, so I do not know how far we are going to go without him, but I still have hope,” Grace Amgalan (12) said.
With the first round passed and key storylines still emerging, students believe it is worth looking at what each team still needs to sharpen as the pressure mounts. The Memphis Grizzlies have lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder; students have addressed many changes that the Grizzlies need to implement or factors to get rid of to have a better overall game in the future.
“I think [every team should focus on] developing a three-point game and then a three-point defense,” Charlie Russell (10) said. “That is kind of the future of the league. I know the Celtics are putting up like 50 something threes a game and they are winning games like that.”
The Memphis Grizzlies have appointed Tuomas Iisalo as their new head coach, replacing former coach Taylor Jenkins. This coaching change comes ahead of the next season and marks a leadership transition within the organization, potentially affecting the team’s strategies and performance moving forward. Many students have their own beliefs about how this leadership change may impact the Grizzlies for better or worse.
“I don’t necessarily agree with firing Jenkins with 12 games left before the season, especially because we weren’t doing well like you should have waited,” Russell said. “[However], it was bound to happen; [Jenkins] lost the locker room. I know [the new coach] was the France national coach and France did well so I think he knows what he is doing, but maybe not ready for the NBA level yet.”
As discussions around team performance continue, attention has also turned to individual talent. Many students have begun to share their thoughts on which players show the most potential moving forward in the playoffs. A lot of this potential concerns an individual’s capability of making a deep playoff run and clinching the championship or their overall development throughout their NBA careers.
“I think Yuki Kawamura has a lot of potential,” Thompson said. “He doesn’t really score a lot of points yet, but the crowd is really excited about him every time he comes out, so I think that with their encouragement he can improve. I also think Scottie Pipen Jr [has potential] because I know his father was pretty good at the game, so I am excited to see what he can do.”
As the NBA Playoffs continue to unfold, many students have become more engaged with the matchups, often discussing outcomes and thoroughly watching players’ performances. This has led to a growing interest in predicting which teams are most likely to advance, often betting and putting in parlays, with some informally sharing their picks and tracking game results as the postseason progresses.
“I think the Thunder are going to win [the playoffs],” Russell said. “I can also see the Celtics winning, unfortunately, and Cleveland, so for me I think either the Thunder, Celtics or Cleveland [are going to win in the playoffs.]”
