NBA 2022/23, on Thursday, 12.01.2023
The NBA season is nearing the halfway point and in the second part of the doubleheader between the unstoppable Memphis Grizzlies and the San Antonio Spurs, I have spotted the game to keep an eye on.
Because according to my Grizzlies Spurs tip, the home side will defeat the Texans again. While Ja Morant could be out again due to injury, The Grizz has become more than just a one-man show!
Ja Morant has been out for a few days, nothing serious, but still impressive is that his Grizzlies seem to be able to do without him! Because they just managed two back-to-back wins against Jazz and Spurs.
They have to play San Antonio again tonight, but first things first: In the win over the Jazz, the fact that Memphis won despite Utah boasting a remarkable 51% shooting from the field was impressive.
At this point, of course, it can be argued that The Grizz need to improve their own defensive play, but if their own offense continues to deliver like that, at least no one can question the success itself.
And there is no denying the “success”! Because what I consider the best offence in the NBA is also pretty high up in the overall rankings. In fact, they share first place in the Western Conference with the Nuggets.
Memphis has simply developed a lot compared to last year. Players like Dillon Brooks, Tyus Jones and Desmond Bane provide the points, while Steven Adams clears everything that is not nailed down.
Just last night, for example, the centre was able to secure a full 15 free balls, laying the foundation for a key rebounding advantage over the Spurs that made the road to victory much easier.
The Spurs are on the decline and are now without Vassell and Keldon Johnson, who suffered an injury in last Friday’s win over the evenly-matched Pistons that will keep him busy for weeks.
One problem for the Texans is that, once again, it only takes a strong period of pressure from the Grizzlies to rattle them for good. There is a lack of leadership as well as the necessary self-confidence to fight their way back into a game they thought they had lost.
Antonio, for example, have lost each of their last 25 NBA games in which they have trailed by ten points or more at any point in the game. So a start-to-finish win for the Grizzlies already seems to be taking clear shape.
Memphis is a young team that needs the support of their own fans in order to go one step further. They feel right at home in the FedExForum.
They have lost only one of their last twelve NBA games here – and that only against the Suns. Admittedly, the aforementioned defence is a small problem for the home side, which will keep me from betting a high handicap.
Rather, I’m again banking on a rather close affair where the Grizzlies will hold off the Spurs by seven to ten points in a high-scoring game, thus ruling out a dismantling of the Texans.
The impressions from the first game of the doubleheader are still fresh and even though the Texans put up a valiant fight, it should come as no surprise to anyone that sports bettors are favouring the Grizzlies again this evening.
So the sensational basketball squad that is currently turning the Western Conference on its head enters the race with win odds of about 1.08.
The Nuggets, by the way, play the strong Suns on the same night, so if Denver loses, Memphis could claim the league lead all to themselves if they win.
However, if the Spurs can put a spanner in the works – for which there would be betting odds of around 8.75 on the markets – they would still have to share first place with Nikola Jokic and Co.
Conclusion: If Ja Morant were to make a surprise appearance tonight, that would of course be the non-plus-ultra for my Grizzlies Spurs.
But even so, I expect the home side, who are well-stocked at all positions – especially because they seem to be unbeatable at FedExForum – to celebrate a victory in style.
The Spurs currently have some important key players out and should they fall behind again – which seems inevitable – the Conference penultimate lacks the necessary quality and partly also the will to fight back.
My Grizzlies Spurs tip: Grizz win at HC -11.5.
