Online NBA Picks - A Bear Of A Team
The Memphis Grizzlies earned the right to party like animals after upsetting the Number One seed San Antonio. But now know they are one bear of a team.
The Spurs became only the second team in history to fall in a best of 7 series as a number one seed and that speaks the truth about Memphis.
The Thunder had better not take this team lightly, or Memphis just might send them packing too.
Memphis wanted the Spurs, they got them, and they beat them soundly. They made big plays down the stretch in the close out online sports betting game and despite point guard Mike Conley being in foul trouble, they won by extending their lead in the fourth quarter.
Memphis showed how deep they can be with Conley out when Greivis Vasquez gave them 23 solid minutes at the point and shot 4 for 8 from the free throw strip.
Now they have to face a team nobody wants to play in the Oklahoma Thunder. Although Oklahoma is the real deal, they will not be facing any cupcakes in Memphis.
Despite coming back in less than 24 hours, they dealt the Thunder an online casino loss in the first game of the series then last Tuesday got off to a slow start losing by 9 in the first quarter and that was the difference in the final score.
Zach Randolph will make Kendrick Perkins defend and that puts him at risk of getting in foul trouble. Zach had 31 points and 11 boards in the last game vs. the Spurs and he is so tough because he can go inside, outside, and shoot with either hand.
When he gets to the line, he’s very good and he has a good running mate in the paint in Marc Gasol, who is in much better shape this year and is a bull to defend against.
The heart and soul of the Grizzlies is Tony Allen, who became a sports betting bonus team leader right after coming in a trade with Boston.
He unified the team after the publicized fight in flight with O.J. Mayo and has put away his differences to just go out and play like a monster every night. He made a play in the final Spurs game where he stole the ball twice within seconds.
A clear edge for the Thunder is with Kevin Durant but after Rudy Gay was injured, Sam Young came alive to give Memphis a young, live body that was not afraid to attack.
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich sometimes looked frazzled watching his Spurs get flat out beat up but his assessment of Memphis should be a warning to the Oklahoma team.
Popovich: “I thought their athleticism, their strength, their size really hurt us offensively. We really had trouble scoring against their defense and they deserve a lot of credit for that.”
For hoop bettors, expect Memphis to be overlooked. They were in tough in the first game in the series with Oklahoma as it was an afternoon game and a quick turn around but don’t be shy about taking the points with this team.
They even might be pups at home in a game or two.
If Memphis can somehow keep a lid on Russell Westbrook, Durant and James Hardin off the bench, they just might be partying on Beale Street when the lights go out.
