NBA Betting Preview: The Memphis Grizzlies experienced an up-and-down season last winter and spring. Can they find firm footing and make a steadier climb up the hill in the tough and demanding Western Conference?
What Went Wrong Last Season?
When the Grizzlies started off their season in November and December under a new head coach, Dave Joerger – who replaced former coach Lionel Hollins – it seemed that they would have to undergo a necessary period of adjustment in order to get back to the Western Conference Finals, which they reached in 2013 before losing to the San Antonio Spurs. However, a major setback emerged in the form of an injury to key big man Marc Gasol, a player the Grizzlies have to have on the court. Gasol teams up with fellow big man Zach Randolph to give Memphis the most powerful frontcourt in the NBA. Gasol has a lot more length and size than Randolph, making it easier for Memphis to play over the top and engage in a kind of pinball on the glass. Randolph isn’t as tall or as long as Gasol, but he is so thick and chiseled that it’s extremely hard for opposing players to get past him as ballhandlers, or to prevent him from getting his preferred shot when “Z-Bo” tries to post up.
Memphis plummeted in the standings with Gasol out, and that is what prevented the Grizzlies from getting a higher seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Memphis fought back in January, February, March, and April to get into the playoffs. Nothing was guaranteed for the Grizzlies in terms of even making the postseason. However, when the Grizzlies did get to the playoffs, they drew the Oklahoma City Thunder, always a tough team to beat. Memphis actually led the series, 3-2, but then came out completely flat at home in Game 6 with a chance to close the series down. What then killed Memphis was that Randolph punched Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams, getting himself suspended for Game 7 on the road in Oklahoma City. Without a core player, Memphis really had no chance, and it got blown out by the Thunder to lose the series, 4-3. Memphis still has to find more offense and more perimeter shooting in particular. That’s always going to be a need as long as Randolph and Gasol are on the team, anchoring it in the paint.
Offseason Changes
In the offseason, Vince Carter moved to the Grizzlies from the Dallas Mavericks. He hit some big three-point shots for the Mavs in the playoffs and will be looked to for three-point shooting on this season’s roster. Michael Beasley is also on the roster, but it’s hard to tell if he’s going to stick or if another team will try to experiment with him. The notable loss on this roster is Mike Miller, who went to Cleveland to join the LeBron James traveling road show with the Cavaliers. Carter is being asked to replace Miller’s long-distance shooting.
Projected Finish
The Grizzlies are still a playoff team, but there are at least four teams in the West that are better than they are. Memphis isn’t a complete offensive team, so for now, it will have to settle for fifth place in the conference.
Pick: Fifth In The Western Conference, First Round Of The Playoffs
