Vegas Line at this writing: Memphis -4 (188.5)
Injury Report as of this writing
Trailblazers:
SG Wesley Mathews (out for season)
SG C.J. McCollum (questionable, did not practice Friday, ankle)
Grizzlies:
PG Mike Conley (Game time decision, probable)
Arguably the most intriguing series of the first round, this one figure to be a good old fashioned slobber knocker on hardwood. Memphis is a small favorite despite Portland having the best two players on the floor in LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard. Both teams sporting several nagging injuries to key player with the Blazers sweating Aldridge and Memphis needing PG Mike Conley close to 100% if it has one aspirations of advancing into the next round. Do your due diligence and check for the latest player reports before going to the window.
Memphis has totally dominated this series winning four straight, nine of the last ten and covering eight of the last nine. The Grizz wins were by 11-4-6-13 with the total split 2-2. Portland struggled down the stretch going 1-5 SU and ATS, the Over was 3-1 in their last four. Memphis has covered six of its last eight, the Under is 7-2-1 L10 overall. The Grizz hold a 9-2 straight up (8-3 ATS) series edge at the FedEx with six of the 11 going Under. Portland is 1-6 in its last seven first round series winning for the first time since 2000 last year. The Grizz are 2-5 in the first round since moving to Memphis.
Blazers: Players to watch (Probable Starters)
PF LaMarcus Aldridge (23.2, 10.4, 1.7)
C Robin Lopez (9.6, 6.7, 0.9)
SF Nick Batum (9.4, 5.8, 4.8)
PG Damian Lillard (21, 6.2, 2.0)
SG Alan Crabbe (3.3, 1.4, 0.8) Had 8/5/3 in season finally vs. Dallas
Grizz: Players to watch (Probable Starters)
PF Zach Randolf (16.1, 10.5, 2.2)
C Marc Gasol (17.4, 7.8, 3.8)
SF Jeff Green (15.2, 4.7, 1.7)
SG Courtney Lee (10.1, 2.3, 2.0)
PG Mike Conley (15.8, 3.0, 5.4)
PG Beno Udrih (7.7, 1.8, 2.8) Would start for Conley
Allen’s Angles
The Blazers are 10-22 ATS off 3+ straight losses, 1-5 this year
Portland is 9-19 ATS the L3 years in April, 3-6 this year
The Over is 19-5 when the Blazers are underdogs
The Over is 7-2 when Portland is off a double-digit loss
Memphis is 4-8 ATS after allowing less than 85 points
The Grizz are 7-2 this year as home favorites of 3-6 points
The Under 25-13 this year in Memphis home games
The Over is 10-3 in the Grizz L13 first round playoff games