Trail Blazers vs Grizzlies NBA Betting Odds
The Portland Trail Blazers have started a crucial late-season road trip with two close losses to the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, and life isn’t about to get any easier with the Memphis Grizzlies up next. [ad-4468020]
Portland (42-21) @ Memphis (36-26)
Tuesday, March 11 8:00 PM ET
Spread: Memphis -3 / OU: 196.5
[dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
ATS Matchup Insight | CP Insider Gambling Preview
Memphis has won four of its last five outings and has looked like a completely different team since getting Marc Gasol back earlier this year.
Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s NBA Picks!
In this one, both teams have the playoffs on their minds. Portland is trying to get back into top-three status in order to earn home-court advantage in the first round, while the Grizzlies have their sights set on simply getting in.
Portland
The Trail Blazers haven’t looked like themselves the past few weeks, and the biggest problem of all has been closing out games. Against Dallas, the team bounced back in the second half after being down by 30 to claim a fourth-quarter lead. Unfortunately, it couldn’t hold on, and it went on to lose the next night in Houston after also having a fourth-quarter lead.
Portland needs to find a way to win close ball games, and that theme should hold true against the Memphis Grizzlies. Memphis is as stout a defense as it comes, but its lack of a consistent offense allows opponents to stay with it.
[ad-6571516]
The last time these two faced off, Memphis dominated the game from start to finish, winning by 18 points at the Moda Center. Portland must get out to a better start, and if its potent offensive attack can’t get going, it needs to pay extra attention to defense, which is not something it’s too familiar with.
Memphis
Everything about this game points to Memphis having the advantage. Aside from the Blazers having the better record, it’s a classic case of offense versus defense, and as we saw last time around, Portland’s offense struggles mightily against this imposing defense.
If the Grizzlies can come out and force LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard to shoot a low percentage, then it just becomes about scoring on one of the worst defenses in the league.
Wesley Matthews, Mo Williams and Nicolas Batum are always threats to score as well, but it’s been clear this season that when the two stars struggle, so do the Blazers.
Watch for Portland to try and push the tempo with easy transition buckets in mind, but watch for the Grizzlies to counter with a slower pace on offense.
The Blazers are struggling and the Grizzlies are rolling, creating the perfect storm for success in Memphis.
Predition: Memphis 95 – Portland 91
