NBA: Top-Rated Rookie Rues 'Unfair' Play-In Format In Orlando Bubble

NBA Rookie of the Year frontrunner Ja Morant has lamented on what he believes are unfair changes made at the expense of the Memphis Grizzlies inside the Orlando bubble. As the league resumes the 2020 season on Thursday, the 20-year-old rising star pointed out how the revised format could waste the momentum the Grizzlies have established prior to the hiatus.

When the games were suspended in March, the Grizzlies were sitting at the eighth spot of the Western Conference while having a three and a half-game advantage over the Portland Trail Blazers and the Sacramento Kings. Under the modified format, however, Memphis will be placed at a tougher situation with a task to extend the buffer to four and a half games over the lower-seeded teams to save the squad from a play-in tourney that will determine the last spot for the Playoffs.

Aware that the tournament conditions are beyond their discretion, Morant said the Grizzlies will just utilize the added load as a drive to their bid in making a deep run in the postseason joust.

"But, you know, we can't control that," Morant on ESPN's The Jump. “Only thing we can control is how, you know, we go out and attack each of these games before that decision is made."

"I just feel like it's an extra chip," Morant continued. "You know -- more fuel to the fire, more motivation for us."

The regretful tone was emphatic, but the former second overall draft pick vowed to stay upbeat regardless of how their season is destined to end for Memphis. Morant was beaming with pride as he underlined how the Grizzlies defied the odds and overachieved this season.

"Coming into the season, I think we were projected to be 29th, and look at us now," Morant added. "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."

Memphis will begin their push for the final ticket to the Playoffs when they face the Blazers on Friday. They will then play against two other playoff berth-seeking squads next: the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday and the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.