The Los Angeles Clippers head to Memphis to take on the struggling Grizzlies. After starting off the season slowly, the Clippers have really improved their overall play. Memphis meanwhile has really been struggling, especially on defense where they rank at the bottom of the league.
Let’s break this game down to see if we can find some value in the NBA odds.
Thursday, November 18, 2021 – 08:00 PM EST at FedExForum
When Kawhi Leonard and Paul George joined forces, it was always expected that the Clippers would become one of the best defensive teams in the league. Leonard is out for the entire regular season with a knee injury but his team has still been elite defensively. The Clippers are second in the NBA in defensive efficiency and is the main reason they’ve been able to turn things around. They’ve won eight of their last nine games and their defense has led the way on most nights
Tonight they will be in Memphis to take on a Grizzlies team that has been terrible on defense. They haven’t been great on offense either which is why it is a little surprising that the line for this game is only Clippers -1. In my opinion, that is a very cheap price for a Clippers team that is better in every way. One reason for this cheap price might be the fact that the Clippers have a ton of injuries.
The return of Dillon Brooks to the Grizzlies lineup can’t be overstated. All season long, it’s been a lot of Ja Morant, some Jarren Jackson Jr and not much else on offense. With Brooks back in the mix, the Grizzlies might finally have enough offensive firepower to turn things around. This is a team that has been on the fringes of the playoffs since Morant came into the league. They will be looking to build on last year’s success but they won’t do that if they keep falling behind in the standings.
It’s still very early in the season so there’s time to turn things around. That said, it has to start on the defensive end where they currently rank 29th in the league in terms of efficiency. They are simply not talented enough to make the playoffs defending like that. No team in the league is, realistically speaking.
The total for this game is 221.5 which is a big number for these two teams. While I do believe that the Clippers’ offense can do enough to get over this total, I don’t think they’ll have to. Their defense has carried them all season and in this matchup, it will be the key to victory. Everything the Grizzlies do well offensively, the Clippers have an answer for.
Few guards in the league can match up physically with Morant. If there’s any that can come close, it’s Eric Bledsoe. For all of his deficiencies as a scorer, he will take the challenge of guarding Morant personally and is equipped to at least make the talented young guard work. Paul George is having a great year as a scorer and we know he has what it takes to lock up Brooks on the other end.
I don’t see this game going over the 221.5 total regardless of who wins so take the under for your NBA picks.
NBA Pick: Under 221.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.