The first round clash between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Memphis Grizzlies is set to get underway in a couple of days’ time and it is still a mystery as to who will actually show up in this best-of-seven series. Both sides are struggling with injuries heading into their much-anticipated matchup and it will be interesting to see which team will make the necessary adjustments in what is bound to be a long and exciting series.
Read on below for our preview of this Game 1 showdown and while you are at it, you can check out our other Western Conference Game 1 previews in Golden State vs. Minnesota, Houston vs. Dallas and LA Clippers vs. San Antonio.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies Preview
Series Scores & Schedule
Game 1 — April 19, 8:00 PM ET, Portland Trail Blazers (+4.5) at Memphis Grizzlies (-4.5); total: 188.5 – view all NBA lines
Game 2 — April 22, 8:00 PM ET, Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies
Game 3 — April 25, 10:30 PM ET, Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers
Game 4 — April 27, 10:30 PM ET, Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers
Game 5* — April 29, Time TBD, Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies
Game 6* — May 1, Time TBD, Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers
Game 7* — May 3, Time TBD, Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies
* If necessary
Betting on the Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers ended the regular season on a sour note as they suffered a 114-98 loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night. It was the fourth consecutive defeat for the Blazers who will now travel to Memphis to face the Grizzlies in a highly-physical best-of-seven series.
[sc:NBA240banner ]That is a major concern for the Blazers who seem to have more injured players than healthy ones at this stage of the season. Nicholas Batum, Chris Kaman, C.J. McCollum, Arron Afflalo, Dorell Wright and Wesley Matthews are all listed on the injury report. Kaman (back), Batum (knee) and McCollum (ankle) are doubtful for Game 1 while Matthews, Wright and Afflalo have all been ruled out for the entire series.
With that being said, the Blazers have a fighting chance in this series thanks in large part to their star duo of LaMarcus Aldridge and Damien Lillard. Aldridge has been a monster inside the shaded area for the Blazers this season, averaging 23.4 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Lillard, on the other hand, has proven to be one of the top guards in the league right now, averaging 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.2 dimes per game for the Blazers this campaign.
Much of the credit, however, should go to Aldridge who elected to delay his thumb surgery back in January for the Blazers to have a shot in this year’s playoffs. For Portland to have a shot against Memphis, it needs Aldridge to produce solid numbers every single game.
Aldridge will fancy his chances of doing just that as he has fared extremely well against the Grizzlies this season. In three games with Memphis this season, Aldridge has averaged 22.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots. They will need more of the same from Aldridge this coming Sunday if they are to record an upset against the Grizzlies in Game 1.
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Betting on the Memphis Grizzlies
It’s not just Portland that has injury concerns heading into this best-of-seven series. The Memphis Grizzlies are also struggling on that front with Tony Allen and Mike Conley both questionable for Game 1 this coming Sunday. Conley has missed the last five games with a right foot sprain while Allen has missed nine straight games because of a strained left hamstring.
This will be a huge blow for the Grizzlies as both players are key contributors to the team. Conley is averaging 15.8 points and a team-high 5.4 assists per game for the Grizzlies this season while Allen is averaging 8.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest. What they will miss most from Allen is his excellent on-the-ball defense. He leads the Grizzlies in steals this season with 2.0 per game.
With Conley and Allen both out, the onus is on Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph to carry the offensive cudgels for the squad. Gasol and Randolph lead the Grizzlies in scoring with 17.4 and 16.1 points per game respectively. It’s crucial for Memphis to feed their vaunted frontcourt duo down low. The Grizzlies are first in the NBA in points inside the paint, averaging 47.1 per game.
Gasol looks to be in perfect shape heading into the playoffs as he delivered a masterful performance in the Grizzlies’ final regular-season game against Indiana. Gasol scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed 13 boards in a dominant showing against the Pacers.
He has proven to be unstoppable against the Blazers as well, averaging 18.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 2.0 blocks in four games against Portland this season. Expect the Grizzlies to ride the shoulders of their talented big man not only in this game and series but in the entire playoffs as well.
Writer’s Prediction
Memphis (-4.5) wins, 92-84, to take a 1-0 series lead.
Series: Memphis in six games.
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