Grizzlies, Suns clash
November 5, 2014
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (4-0) at PHOENIX SUNS (3-1)
Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Even, Total: 195
The Grizzlies look to stay perfect when they visit the high-flying Suns on Wednesday night.
Memphis improved to 4-0 SU after defeating the Pelicans 93-81 at home on Monday, which was also the third straight ATS victory. Phoenix is also off to a great start at 3-1 SU, including a win over the defending champion Spurs on Halloween and just defeated the Lakers 112-106 in Los Angeles. The Suns played late on Tuesday night, so there’s a good chance that they’ll be dealing with some fatigue in this game.
Last season, the Grizzlies won-and-covered in all four meetings between these teams, giving them seven SU wins in the past 10 meetings between these teams. This includes going 3-1 (SU and ATS in Phoenix) in the past two seasons.
Over the past three seasons, the Grizzlies are 58-41 ATS (59%) after a game where they covered the spread. They are, however, 1-9 ATS after four or more consecutive wins over the past two years. Phoenix, meanwhile, is 24-8 ATS (75%) in the first half of the season over the past two seasons and 54-30 ATS (64%) in all games since the start of last season.
PG Mike Conley (ankle) and SG Courtney Lee (concussion) will likely both be giving it a go when the game tips off tonight, as both are listed as probable.
Memphis is off to an unbelievable start this season and that all begins with the play on the defensive end. The Grizzlies are allowing a NBA-low 85.0 PPG on 40.3% FG (4th in NBA).
One of the reasons this team is playing so well defensively is that C Marc Gasol (22.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.8 BPG) is healthier than ever. Gasol had 16 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks while anchoring Memphis in a 93-81 victory over New Orleans on Monday. He’s in the best shape of his life and is playing like a legitimate MVP candidate. Gasol may not be able to keep it up all season, but at the moment he’s truly difficult to deal with on both ends of the floor.
PF Zach Randolph (18.5 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 1.5 SPG) is also off to a hot start this season, and is coming off a game in which he scored 15 points and also added 11 rebounds and four assists. He’s taking much better shots early in the season and should be in for a big performance on Wednesday, as the Suns don’t have anybody who can match his size at the power forward position.
PG Mike Conley (13.3 PPG, 5.5 APG, 1.3 SPG) will need to be on top of his game in this one, as the Suns have three point guards that are capable of starting and he’ll be the one who constantly has to deal with their speed.
SG Vince Carter (6.3 PPG) will also be relied on heavily in this game, as Phoenix gets up and down the floor in a hurry. This could end up being a shootout and the Grizzlies need somebody who can catch fire like Carter.
Phoenix has picked up right where it left off last season, playing a fast-paced game and baffling teams with unique lineup combinations. SG Eric Bledsoe (11.0 PPG, 5.3 APG, 4.8 RPG) and PG Goran Dragic (13.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.0 APG) were one of the league’s best backcourts last season, and now the team has even more firepower in the backcourt with PG Isaiah Thomas (19.5 PPG, 4.5 APG) coming off the bench. Thomas had 22 points and nine assists in the Suns’ win over the Lakers on Tuesday.
He is an explosive scorer and has made SG Gerald Green (14.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.5 SPG) a much better player in the second unit. Green had 26 points on 11-of-19 FG in the win over Los Angeles on Tuesday. The two linked up on a number of plays and are allowing Bledsoe and Dragic to play with 100 percent intensity when they are on the floor due to a small decrease in minutes.
Another player who has been excellent for Phoenix is PF Markieff Morris (17.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG). The 6-foot-10, 245-pound Morris has spent a lot of time playing power forward and even center for this team, but the lack of height has not hurt them at all. Morris had 23 points, 10 rebounds and five assists against the Lakers Tuesday night. He will have to deal with Zach Randolph for a majority of this game, so he’ll need to be ready to defend and play physically. His twin brother, PF Marcus Morris (12.3 PPG), will also help out on Randolph defensively.
C Miles Plumlee (5.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.3 BPG) has been a disappointment to start the season for Phoenix, and will need to step his game up against Memphis or Marc Gasol will make it impossible for the Suns to pick up a victory.
