Categories
NBA

San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies Game 3 NBA Preview & Free Pick

San Antonio vs Memphis Handicapping

If the Memphis Grizzlies proved anything in their Game 2 loss to the San Antonio Spurs, it’s that despite what many of us may have thought, they Grizz indeed are capable of coming from behind despite their deliberate pound-the-ball-in-low offense.

Western Conference finals
Memphis Grizzlies (0-2) at San Antonio Spurs (2-0)
Saturday, May 25
FedExForum, Memphis
9 p.m. EST
Spread – Grizzlies -5.5
O/U – 177.5

[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]

ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight!

Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s NBA Picks Today!

Now the trick is playing well enough early in Game 3 tonight so they don’t have to do it.

The Grizzlies are facing the NBA’s version of Armageddon tonight. Everyone on the planet is painfully aware that if they spit the bit tonight and go down 3-0 in the series, it will be game and set, with match knocking hard on the door.

CLICK GRAB OUR BEST Expert NBA Picks for 2013 HOOPS GAMBLING season!

“We’re down 0-2,” Memphis coach Lionel Hollins said after Game 3, explaining things to everyone who already knew them. “We’ve got to go home and take care of business at home. It’s not going to be easy, but that’s where we are.”

Pararphrasing Hyman Roth said in “Godfather II,” this is the business the Grizzlies have chosen.

The mid-season trade of scorer Rudy Gay meant that the Grizz would go full-bore defense, and while it’s gotten them to the NBA’s version of the Final Four, there are questions whether Memphis has enough offense to make this a series against a fundamentally sound Spurs team.

In 9 periods of play so far (including one 5-minute overtime), San Antonio has dominated five periods, Memphis one (fourth period of Game 2) and three have pretty much been played to a draw. [ad-6571516]

Memphis is hoping that guard Tony Allen will step up his game a bit. Things can get real ugly real quick when Allen is on the court, which is one reason the Celtics let him go as a free agent a few years ago.

The Spurs decided to let Allen get some open looks in Game 2 and the result was a 2-for-11 shooting performance that reminded absolutely no one of Craig Hodges.

In fact, in the 52 total minutes Allen has been on the court in the two games, the Grizzlies have been outscored by a total of 32 points. Ouch. It’s doubtful that Allen will be seeing any double-teams, but he can figure on getting some good looks early.

If he doesn’t knock down a few in the first quarter, the Spurs might be seeing a lot more of Jerryd Barless and a lot less of Allen.

FREE NBA PICK

The teams haven’t played for four days, which is like catnip for the Spurs’ veterans. San Antonio has played four playoff games this season in which it has had more than one day between games, and the Spurs are 3-1 overall and 3-1 ATS in those games.

We like Gregg Popovich to figure out what went wrong during the Grizz 4th-quarter run in Game 2, and straighten it out.

SA to cover the 5.5, with an opportunity to make a few extra bucks on a money line play.

By Lawrence Paul

Lawrence Paul is back in the saddle as a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. He's got an AMAZING knack for predicting when a team will have a letdown! Stick with our resident gambling experts sports betting tips all season long!