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NBA Schedule 2018-19: Ranking MLK Day games by watchability

By Dylan Hughes

PHILADELPHIA,PA - JANUARY 27: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets have a conversation during the game at Wells Fargo Center on January 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA - JANUARY 27: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets have a conversation during the game at Wells Fargo Center on January 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 20: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans steals the ball from Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of a NBA game at the Smoothie King Center on January 20, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 20: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans steals the ball from Marc Gasol #33 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of a NBA game at the Smoothie King Center on January 20, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

3. Pelicans vs. Grizzlies

Because of starpower, this matchup has the least upside, but it should be far from a snooze-fest.

New Orleans is coming off its best season in the Anthony Davis era, finishing the regular season with 48 wins and the Western Conference’s sixth seed. The Pelicans then went onto sweep the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, only to fall mercifully to the Warriors in five games.

The Pelicans lost DeMarcus Cousins in the offseason to those Warriors, but they may end up being better for it. Thanks to the midseason addition of Nikola Mirotic, New Orleans was not only able to stay afloat after Cousins went down to injury — it got better.

New Orleans led the league in pace, which is part of what allowed them to get past Portland so quickly in the playoffs. Rajon Rondo played a big part in that, and the Pelicans lost him to the Lakers in free agency this summer. The Pelicans took one of LA’s free agents, as well, inking Julius Randle to a two-year deal (with a player option).

They may look different from the team we saw in the playoffs, but New Orleans should still be a force in the West.

Memphis, on the other hand, did not have a good 2017-18 campaign — finishing with just 22 wins. Injuries, specifically to Mike Conley, were the main cause for their struggle.

Now, with Conley back and new additions in Jaren Jackson Jr., Kyle Anderson, and Garrett Temple, the Grizzlies may be looking to get back into the playoff race.

Assuming they stay healthy, the Grizzlies should be competitive by the time MLK Day comes around on Jan. 21, 2019. There will be some intriguing matchups, with Jrue Holliday and Mike Conley likely to be matched up, alongside Anthony Davis and Marc Gasol. Jackson, the rookie, will get some different looks with Mirotic and Randle as well.

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