The NBA-best Golden State Warriors were all business in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. They completed a series sweep of the young but talented New Orleans Pelicans. The Memphis Grizzlies didn’t take too much time as well, handling the Portland Trail Blazers in five games to make the conference semifinals.
Can the grizzled vets of Memphis find a way to stop the streaky Warriors? Read on as we take a peek at this intriguing West Coast matchup. Speaking of the West, the Clippers and the Spurs are still locked into their own series. Check out our complete preview for Game 6 on Friday night.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors Game 1 Preview
Series Scores and Schedule
Game 1 – May 3, 3:30 PM ET, Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors – view all NBA lines
Game 2 – May 5, 10:30 PM ET, Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors
Game 3 – May 9, 8:00 PM ET, Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies
Game 4 – May 11, 9:30 PM ET, Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies
Game 5* – May 13, TBD, Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors
Game 6* – May 15, TBD, Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies
Game 7* – May 17, TBD, Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors
*If necessary
Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies took care of business alright. But the absence of Mike Conley (facial fractures) could get them in deep trouble against Golden State’s Splash Brothers. Conley is a versatile guard who averaged 15.8 points, three rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game in the regular season. He’s been just as handy in the playoffs scoring 16 points on 50 percent shooting in three games thus far.
[sc:NBA240banner ]But Memphis has a one-two combo which can at least partially cover up for Conley. Nick Calathes has averaged 6.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and two assists per game filling in for the injured guard. He had three steals in his first ever start of the season (first career playoff start) in Game 4 against the Blazers. There’s also the reliable Beno Udrih scoring 9.4 points on 49 percent shooting in four playoff games thus far.
With Conley still out, the Grizzlies will get much of their production from their frontcourt duo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. Randolph has averaged 14 points (albeit on 35 percent shooting) and 8.4 rebounds in the playoffs thus far. He finished with two double-doubles in five games. Gasol has stepped up big time for the Grizzlies, averaging team-highs 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, five assists and 2.4 blocks throughout the first round of the playoffs.
Randolph is due for big games in this series. Golden State doesn’t have a proven power forward that could stop him. Expect him to beef up his stat lines of 12.3 points on 52 percent shooting over three regular season games against the Warriors.
The Grizzlies are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games against the Warriors.
Betting on the Golden State Warriors
These Warriors are on fire!
Golden State stamped their class over the hapless New Orleans Pelicans in four games in the first round of the playoffs, including a thrilling come-from-behind overtime win in Game 3. The Warriors have been tested and they won’t back down without a fight.
Stephen Curry is doing Stephen Curry kinds of things. He leads everyone in the playoffs with 33.8 points per game. Curry is making five three-pointers per game in the playoffs, while being a trusty playmaker averaging 7.3 assists. He should once again explode for a couple of big games against the Grizzlies, especially with Conley possibly out for the first few games.
But Curry’s Splash Brother, Klay Thompson may struggle especially if Memphis’ defense-specialist Tony Allen puts the clamps down on him. Allen is averaging 2.4 steals through the first round of the playoffs, including a whopping five steals in Game 5. But Thompson has been quite a sure-shot in three games against Memphis in the regular season, averaging 30.7 points on 62 percent shooting (75 percent from three).
Andrew Bogut is a game-changer on defense in the paint. He’s blocking two shots per game in the playoffs thus far while averaging nine rebounds. Bogut will be tasked of slowing down Memphis’ Gasol, who has put up just 14.3 points on 47 percent shooting against Golden State in the regular season.
The Warriors have lost five of their last seven home games against Memphis, going 1-6 against the spread.
Writer’s Prediction
The Warriors win Game 1, but Memphis takes them to the brink to cover. Golden State wins the series in a thrilling seven-game series.
Create a betting account now and make your mark in exciting playoff basketball.
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