The Memphis Grizzlies finished their regular season with a record of 51-31, which is the fourth-best performance in the franchise’s history and earns them the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference for the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The question now is, what will they get for having such a fantastic regular season.
Finally, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the rest of the Lakers have arrived. Congratulations!
Since the trade deadline, when Los Angeles reworked its squad, they have played like a completely different club. After the All-Star break, the Lakers went 16-7, which allowed them to move up to No. 7 in the West standings. The Lakers then secured their spot in the playoffs by claiming victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Play-In Tournament game on Tuesday night.
Lakers vs Grizzlies Betting Odds for Game 1
These are the Lakers vs Grizzlies betting odds for the first game of this 2023 NBA Playoffs series:
- Los Angeles Lakers: Point Spread +3.5 -110, Moneyline +140
- Memphis Grizzles: Point Spread -3.5, Moneyline -160
- Total: 228.5 Over/Under
Learn how to bet on sports with this easy guide, then head to YouWager.lv and place your favorite bets on this particular game.
Which side will emerge victorious from what promises to be an interesting series and move on to the semifinals of the conference? Let’s examine this first-round game between the Grizzlies and the Lakers in greater detail.
Lakers vs Grizzlies 2022-23 regular season series
- Jan. 20, 2023: Lakers 122, Grizzlies 121
- Feb. 28, 2023: Grizzlies 121, Lakers 109
- March 7, 2023: Lakers 112, Grizzlies 103
It is not a good idea to look at previous games from the regular season in order to make predictions about how this series will go. Simply put, there are just too many aspects of the situation that have evolved.
Russell Westbrook came off the bench for the Lakers on January 20 and finished with 29 points, six assists, and five rebounds. He also had five rebounds. Big men Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke of the Grizzlies scored a combined 36 points and pulled down 27 rebounds. There will be no involvement from any of those players in this competition. Westbrook was dealt to another team, and Adams (knee) and Clarke (Achilles) are unable to play due to injury.
James missed the games on February 28 and March 7 because he was suffering from a foot injury, and Ja Morant did not play in the showdown in March because the NBA opened an inquiry into his infamous gun video. In the end, he was penalized with an ejection from eight games.
The primary storyline for this game between the Lakers and the Grizzlies is the battle of the boards
Both the Lakers and the Grizzlies rank among the best rebounding teams in the NBA. During the regular season, the Lakers finished second in defensive rebounds per game and sixth in total rebounds per game, and the Grizzlies placed in the top five in defensive, offensive, and total rebounds per game. The Grizzlies also finished second in total rebounds per game.
There will be more than enough opportunities for rebounds to go around. Both the Lakers and the Grizzlies are in the bottom ten in terms of their 3-point shooting. Players on the perimeter will be forced to take more risks with their shots because rim defenders like Davis and Jaren Jackson Jr. will be patrolling the paint. This will increase the likelihood of long rebounds and opportunities to transition.
Grab-and-go possessions might be quite important since both Los Angeles and Memphis were among the top five teams in fast break points scored.
Memphis needs to get back on its feet as a team now that Adams and Clarke are out with injuries. It will be especially difficult to compete without Adams, as he led the NBA with 5.1 offensive rebounds per game last season. These opportunities for a second shot were crucial for a Grizzlies team that has trouble performing well in half-court situations.
