NBA Handicapping Predictions – Grizzlies vs Suns
Memphis has quietly been one of the hottest teams in the NBA over the last few weeks.
NBA Basketball Matchup: Memphis Grizzlies vs. Phoenix Suns
9:00 PM EST
NBA Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
NBA Betting Favorite: Grizzlies -2
Over/Under: 193
While most analysts haven’t been talking about them, the Grizzlies have won nine of their last ten games overall.
Phoenix has won six of their last eight games as well. These are two teams that have some positive momentum going.
Who will have the edge in this matchup?
The Grizzlies started the season slowly, but they are really playing well right now. All five of the Grizzlies starters average double figures in scoring. Mike Conley is one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA. He averages 13.2 points and 7.1 assists per game. Rudy Gay is the team’s leading scorer at 19.1 points per contest.
He appears to be back to 100% after looking like he was still hobbled at the beginning of the season. Marc Gasol is having a career year in the middle, and that is really helping the team have a paint presence even though Zach Randolph is out with an injury. Gasol averages 15.4 points and ten boards per game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Grizzlies are only giving up 91.9 points per game.
Phoenix isn’t the same team they were a few years ago. Steve Nash is still a tremendous player, but he isn’t quite as quick and he doesn’t play as many minutes. Overall, the Suns are an older team.
They don’t push the tempo the way they used to; rather they run a half court offense that goes through Marcin Gortat. Gortat is having a tremendous season at the center spot.
He averages 16.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. Nash is shooting an amazing 54% from the floor, and he averages 11 assists per game. Channing Frye, Jared Dudley, and Michael Redd are all struggling from long range. The Suns need to start getting better production from those three-point shooters.
Phoenix has improved some defensively, but they struggle on the defensive glass.
The Grizzlies have been dominating of late, and I see them as the more complete team. Look for Phoenix to hang around for a while, but I think Memphis wins this one.
Prediction: Memphis 97 Phoenix 92
