Spurs vs Grizzlies NBA Handicapping
All the pieces are falling into place in Memphis.
The long-suffering Grizzlies have emerged as one of the top teams in the Western Conference, and while it’s difficult to see the team (as presently constructed, anyway) getting past the Thunder or Clippers in a seven-game playoff series, the operating philosophy in Memphis these days is seize the moment.
San Antonio Spurs (28-10) at Memphis Grizzlies (23-10)
Friday, Jan. 11
FedEx Forum, Memphis
8 p.m. EST
Spread – Grizzlies -2
O/U – 188 from SportsBettingOnline.ag
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And the Grizz certainly are doing that. The team that will take the court tonight at home against San Antonio has won nearly 70 percent of its games, is enjoying the fruits of a three-game winning streak (all three on the road, no less) and will play seven of its next 10 at home, where they are 13-4 this year.
Life in good.
Many Grizzlies fans have even forgiven the team for the egg it laid at home in Game 7 in its first-round playoff series against the Clippers last May. After all, baby steps are better than no steps at all.
So Grizzlie backers who have supported the team through thick and (mostly) thin for years must have felt a little queasy the word got out that ownership is thinking if dealing away star forward Rudy Gay in a salary dump. Signings of Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Mike Conley Jr. over the last few years have kept the team strong but taken a heavy bite out of the bottom line.
Gay, for his part, hears the rumors: [ad-6571516]
“So what,” he says. “I’m playing today as a Grizzlie. It’s a business. People are going to talk and stuff will happen. It doesn’t make me any less of a player. What people say about me doesn’t change how I approach the game or how good I think I am or how good other people think I am.”
Dealing away one of the franchise’s building blocks in mid-season of a year when the Grizzlies are knocking on the door with a chance to make a deep playoff run would take big ones. Who the Grizz would get in return is obviously the key. Both Toronto and Boston reportedly are interested, though the Celtics’ improved play of late eases the pressure to deal away any key parts.
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Memphis is the top defensive team in the league (89.1 ppg allowed), explaining at least partially the Grizzlies’ 20-12-1 record ATS.
But the Grizzlies haven’t had much luck beating San Antonio over the last years, and Zach Randolph in particular seems to struggle against SA. Neither team played last night so both should have fresh legs.
Look for a play on the under here as this one should come down to the final few minutes with both teams digging in defensively.
