Grizzlies vs Thunder NBA Handicapping
Getting several mediocre players in a deal for one good one is never a good idea, but sending Rudy Gay to Canada was a deal engineered not by the Memphis Grizzlies’ front office.
Memphis Grizzlies (29-15) at Oklahoma City Thunder (34-11)
Thursday, Jan. 31
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City
8 p.m. EST
Spread – Thunder -8 at Bovada
O/U – 191.5
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No, the bean counters didn’t much like Gay’s big salary, so he had to be sacrificed for the greater good – namely, so everyone else could continue to get their checks the first and 15th of every month, and the team would not wind up paying luxury tax money.
The question now is whether Gay’s removal from the starting lineup will have an effect on the Grizzlies, who are enjoying their second straight solid season and figuring out what they need to do to make life uncomfortable for the likes of the Spurs, Thunder and Clippers come playoff time.
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It was not known early today whether the three players (Tayshawn Prince, Austin Daye and Ed Davis) the Grizz got in return for Gay will be in uniform when Memphis tests its mettle tonight against the Thunder in Oklahoma City.
But all three are decent defensively, which fits in well with the Grizzlies’ emphasis on controlling tempo, keeping things close for 40 minutes and then winning ugly in the late going.
That formula has enabled Memphis to establish itself as the fourth-best team in the Western Conference, and the Grizz will need to keep the ball rolling without Gay in order to hold off Denver and Golden State for the No. 4 playoff seed and home-court advantage in the first round. [ad-6571516]
In OKC, meanwhile, no one is panicking, but the Thunder are in re-trench mode after losing two of their last three and three of the last five. In their last two defeats (Warriors and Lakers), the Thunder have fallen down on the job in the fourth period of both games. Russell Westbrook has made only 9 of his last 38 shots, and that has to improve because we all know that he is not going to stop shooting.
Because it all happened on the road, no one is too concerned. Except maybe OKC coach Scott Brooks, who doesn’t much like what he sees on the defensive end, where the Thunder gave up an average of 106 points during six games away from home.
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Eight points is a bit high, the number no doubt inflated by the uncertainty created by the Gay trade and the Thunder’s tendency to win big at home. In its last three home games OKC has won by 24 (Philadelphia), 22 (Minnesota) and 20 (Denver).
No reason to believe this one will be any different, especially since Memphis will still be sorting things out without Gay and with several newcomers.
OKC to cover the 8.
