NBA 2022/23, on Wednesday, 12/21/2022
The Denver Nuggets may have won a few games here and there in recent days, but that streak will be put to the test tonight. That’s because in town are the Memphis Grizzlies, who, as we all know, are not easy to play against at the moment.
The visitors are missing Desmond Bane, but even so, the Western Conference leaders should come out on top in the end.
My Nuggets Grizzlies tip makes it clear to the reader why the home side’s lax defensive work will be their undoing against this opponent …
These Grizzlies are by far the best the NBA has to offer right now. This is evidenced by so many facts and impressions that I would need an additional Nuggets Grizzlies tip to list them all.
Let’s roughly sum it up: The Grizzlies lead the Western Conference with a record of 19-10, even though the franchise’s Big Three – Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane – have yet to play a single minute on the floor together.
Fortunately, Bucks fans will be thinking at this point. Because, of all things, the Eastern Conference’s top franchise was subjected to a thrashing of biblical proportions just last Friday that could have been even higher with Desmond Bane.
Milwaukee got completely lost in the Ja Morant tsunami last Friday, running up and down the Green and White’s half court as it pleased with 41 points alone. After the MIP award, might the shooting star pick up the MVP award this year?
A look at the data proves that I am by no means exaggerating at this point. Because the success over the Bucks was something almost unique.
It was the first time in the history of the NBA that a team won by more than 40 points against an opponent with a win rate of 70 %.
The Grizzlies’ flight of fancy has not gone unnoticed by the NBA. According to the official Power Rankings – which, by the way, I analyse daily – Memphis is now also number one in the league in terms of game data.
Now, at this point, it’s hard to believe that the Grizzlies lost to the Thunder, of all teams, after initially winning seven straight. But the 109-115 loss should be no cause for concern for Grizz fans heading into tonight’s matchup against the Nuggets.
Memphis would have easily won this game, too, if Ja Morant had not been ejected before halftime due to a highly questionable refereeing decision.
Apparently, Ja Morant was sent off for a simple conversation with a fan. The incident and subsequent protests caused so much turmoil in the Grizzlies’ game that the loss to OKC somehow became inevitable.
Nevertheless, Ja Morant will be back on the court tonight and the cards will be reshuffled. If this incident in Oklahoma has not left any lasting marks on the team, season win “20” should be bagged.
Denver has a defensive rating of a subterranean 114.8 and is ranked 27th out of 32. Although they have recently won against the Wizards, Hornets and Jazz, the loss to the Lakers helps to put these successes in perspective.
Against a reasonably good team like the Californians, even the massive offensive output of Nikola Jokic could not keep the Nuggets afloat. Against the offensive power from Memphis, this can therefore come to a debacle tonight …
The Grizzlies have won three of the past four head-to-head meetings, but in the very last meeting in April this year, the Nuggets were able to hold their own for once.
Still, this 122-109 Denver win can’t and shouldn’t be taken too seriously – and for several reasons!
For one, because Nikola Jokic had an outstanding night, as he was more than twice as productive as the Griz’s best player (Bane with 14 points) with 35 points. However, it is no wonder as Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr were also missing on the opposite side.
The Nuggets Grizzlies odds of the leading sports betting providers, on the other hand, have been adjusted to the new reality.
With odds of around 1.77, the bookies now also seem to realise that the visitors are almost doomed to win in their current line-up!
Conclusion: One reason why I will bet my money on the visitors tonight might just have to do with the fact that the Grizz, who feel unfairly treated, will come out with a healthy pinch of anger in their belly.
Without the loss to OKC and the dismissal of Ja Morant, the Grizzlies would not be so motivated to get back at their opponents and the NBA on the floor. The offensive potential alone should be enough to win.
For Denver may have won four of its last five games of the season, but most of the time the opponent was not good enough to expose its own defensive weaknesses and put a stop to Nikola Jokic …
My Nuggets Grizzlies tip: Yes Morant will be unstoppable.
