Trail Blazers vs. Grizzlies NBA Best Bets for February 16 (Archive)
The Portland Trail Blazers head to Tennessee to take on one of the hottest teams in the league, the Memphis Grizzlies. The Portland Trail Blazers have been playing better as of late. Can they continue their winning ways and be the winning NBA pick?
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Wednesday, February 16, 2022 – 8:00 PM EST at FedExForum
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers decided to move their team in a different direction when they traded fan-favorite CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans at the trade deadline. CJ McCollum had spent his whole career with the Trail Blazers and it was a tough decision for Blazers management to make. The development of Anfernee Simons made the decision easier, however.
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When Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum were both out with injuries, Simons took over the team and showed that he was ready for a bigger role on the Portland team. Anfernee Simons currently leads the team at 16 points per game. With Lillard out, Simons dominated the month of January for the Blazers, averaging 23 points and 7 assists.
With Simons showing more and more that he is ready to take over the team, the Blazers determined McCollum expendable and turned the reins over to the 23-year-old guard. Simons’ leadership on the offensive end has helped the team, but the Blazers still struggle playing defense.
They are 25th in the league at 112 points per game. The Blazers are going to have to defend better if they want to truly contend to be a playoff team this season. The Blazers traded two of their best defenders at the trade deadline, Robert Covington and Larry Nance Jr., the Blazers will need to have players step up and fill these roles in order to become a playoff team.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies were quiet at the trade deadline and why not? They're currently one of the hottest teams in the NBA. The Grizzlies are 8-2 over their last 10 games. The Grizzlies have a point differential of +4.9 on the season.
The emergence of Ja Morant as a true MVP candidate has led the Grizzlies this season. Ja Morant is averaging 26.4 points per game to go with 6.7 assists per game. Morant leads the league in points in the paint this season, which is an amazing statistic for a point guard.
The Grizzlies have been successful this season even with injuries hurting the team. Dillon Brooks is out till March 5th. Brooks provides excellent defense for the team, and the fact that the Grizzlies can still defend at a high level with Brooks out is a testament to the team's defensive identity.
The development of Jaren Jackson Jr. has also been crucial to the Grizzlies' success this season. Jaren Jackson Jr. is averaging 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game. Jackson Jr. is a versatile defender who can play on the perimeter as well as be a strong shot-blocking rim protector.
Jackson Jr. is definitely a dark-horse contender for defensive player of the year. If the Grizzlies continue to rack up wins, the voters will not be able to ignore his defensive prowess. Desmond Bane is another player who has improved by leaps and bounds this season. Bane is taking advantage of Dillon Brooks’ absence to average 18 points per game.
Desmond Bane is averaging an elite 41% from behind the three-point arc. Bane's ability to hit the three-point shot spaces the floor and makes it easier for Ja Morant to get to the rim.
Key Matchup
Jusuf Nurkic vs. Steven Adams
Although both teams feature flashy high-profile guards who can excite the crowd with electric moves, this game could come down to the battle in the post. Portland has become more and more reliant on Jusuf Nurkic to provide easy points in the paint in the half-court setting when things get tough.
He will be going against one of the strongest men and best defenders in the league in Memphis' Steven Adams tonight. If Adams is able to assert his will and keep Nurkic from having a big night down low, the Memphis Grizzlies will be in a great position to add another win in their win column. If Nurkic is able to have a big night against Adams, he can keep the Blazers close and lead them to cover the NBA odds, and maybe win the game outright.
Best Bet
I like the Trail Blazers to cover the large spread of NBA odds tonight. The Blazers have been playing better and are underrated by my model. The Blazers got rid of the veterans going through the motions, and now are a team of young players eager to prove they belong in the league.
Memphis played last night and could be tired down the stretch. Today's best bet is the Portland Trail Blazers +12 (-110).
NBA Pick: Trail Blazers +12 (-110) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
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