The Grizzlies and Warriors are set for a do-or-die game for the eighth seed out West. How should we handicap this game and what play can we make to earn a spot of profit heading into the first real day of the playoffs.
Friday, May 21, 2021 – 09:00 PM EDT at Chase Center
Considering the nature of this game and considering the motivation for both teams, by all accounts this should be a great game. On one hand, the Grizzlies almost blew their chances of playing here on Wednesday when they went up big and let the Spurs claw back into the game. Memphis won’t have that same luxury here against Stephen Curry and the Warriors. Memphis will have to be locked in defensively from the opening tip.
Similarly, just Curry going off for 40 or 50 points by himself won’t be enough to get the win here. They will need to bring their best defensive effort as well. Golden State’s team defense is close to being their second overall player. That’s not a knock on Andrew Wiggins or Draymond Green by any means. All I’m saying is that when Golden State brings their best team defense, that and a big game from Curry is enough to get a win.
Just after watching their game against the Lakers, a game they should have probably won, the Warriors played some stifling defense on the defending champions. Memphis is a tough guard, but that aren’t as tough to guard as the Lakers. Granted, the Grizzlies present some different issues and also a more diverse group that creates their offense, but by no means are they tougher to guard than LeBron James and the Lakers. With this in mind, the winning team for this game is not going to score many points, and that is where I’m looking for my NBA Pick.
Defense is nothing new for these two clubs and whomever plays the best defense is going to win this game. 110 points is going to be all it takes to win this game on offense, but holding your opponent to under 105 also almost guarantees victory. Either way it goes here, the under is the play. Golden State and Memphis ranked 5th and 7th respectfully in defensive rating this season and here in this playoff-style game, that defense should get leveled up to 100.
These two teams have cashed the under in every game against each other dating back to the beginning of 2020 and in their last two meetings this season, the loser scored less than 105 points.
NBA Pick: UNDER 221 at Heritage Sports