The Grizzlies: the Toughest (and Most Underrated) Team in the NBA
The Memphis Grizzlies had won six straight games before dropping one in Denver last night, but the loss to the Nuggest does little to stain their resume so far this year; they’re the best defensive team in the league, allowing only 89.4 points per game, and they’re 12th in rebounding.
On Wednesday, the Grizzlies showed why they’re going to be such a challenge to the Western Conference come playoff time; they beat the Clippers 96-85 in Los Angeles, a game in which they were six point underdogs.
“We don’t get caught up in the gravity of the situation too much,” point guard Mike Conley said. “We just go out there as a hardworking team every night. This is a huge win, obviously, second game of a back-to-back against a good team. We just did a good job defensively, and playing at our pace.”
Here were a few of the other betting trends for both teams heading into the game, courtesy of OddsShark.com:
Memphis Grizzlies Trends:
When playing on Wednesday are 4-6
Before playing Denver are 4-6
After playing Portland are 5-5
After a win are 9-1
Los Angeles Clippers Trends:
When playing on Wednesday are 3-7
Before playing New York are 1-9
After playing Detroit are 3-7
After a win are 6-4
A few Grizzlies at Clippers trends to consider:
Memphis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Memphis is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Memphis’s last 5 games when playing LA Clippers
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Memphis’s last 5 games on the road
LA Clippers are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games when playing at home against Memphis
LA Clippers are 20-4 SU in their last 24 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Clippers last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the LA Clippers last 5 games when playing Memphis
“They’re pretty physical,” Chris Paul said of the Grizzlies. “We obviously saw that in seven games last year and we were able to adjust to it, but we’ve got to figure some things out. … I could care less what (playoff) seed we are. We just need to be playing the right way when the time comes, and we’re not there yet.”
Last night, the Grizzlies were 7.5-point underdogs to the Denver Nuggets, a team that has been virtually unstoppable on their home court. That trend continued, as the Nuggets won 87-80, their 11th straight victory. Still, the Grizzlies covered the spread, and played the Nuggets tough for the duration of the game before slipping near the end.
Here were some betting trends for both teams heading into last night’s match, courtesy of OddsShark.com:
Memphis Grizzlies Trends:
When playing on Friday are 7-3
Before playing Utah are 5-5
After playing LA Clippers are 6-4
After a win are 9-1
Denver Nuggets Trends:
When playing on Friday are 3-7
Before playing Chicago are 6-4
After playing New York are 5-5
After a win are 9-1
A few Grizzlies at Nuggets trends to consider:
Memphis is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Memphis is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Memphis’s last 6 games when playing Denver
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Memphis’s last 5 games on the road
Denver is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Denver is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Denver is 23-2 SU in its last 25 games when playing at home against Memphis
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Denver’s last 6 games when playing Memphis
