PREMIUM
Rogers' Late Night TOTAL MASSACRE >> 9-4 NBA Run! 2-0 L2 Totals!
(NBA) Memphis vs. LA Clippers,
Total: 201.50 | -110.00 Under
Result: Win
Total: 201.50 | -110.00 Under
Result: Win
The set-up: The 10-1 LA Clippers own the NBA's best record and despite an 85-83 loss at home to the Thunder, have outscored teams here at Staples Center by an average of 20.5 PPG (106.5-to-85.8). Overall, they have outscored the opposition by 183 points, the largest differential in the NBA. The 5-5 Memphis Grizzles are in the midst of a four-game road trip. After a 106-96 setback at Milwaukee to open the trip, they bounced back with a 102-96 win Monday over the Jazz in Utah. It was the Grizzlies' first win away from home after three defeats.
Memphis: The Grizzlies still own the solid inside duo of Gasol (18.6 & 6.0) and Randolph (14.2 & 8.1), although PG Conley (18.7-6.3 APG) is now considered the team-leader. Memphis has struggled on offense, averaging 97.5 PPG, which ranks 25th in the NBA. However, first-year head coach David Fizdale said after Monday's win, "I feel like this is the best four quarters we've put together. They want to win. They really want this, and we worked really hard over the last couple of days to clean things up."
Memphis center Pau Gasol added, "The first half was really good as far as percentage goes. The second half we became a little more static but were able to find the open guy and execute a little bit, especially down the stretch."
LA Clippers: Los Angeles is the best defensive team in the NBA in the early stages of the season, ranking No. 1 in both points allowed (92.2 PPG) and opponents' FG percentage (40.9%). The Clippers scored a season-high 127 points in routing the Nets on Monday but the players were still pointing to the defense as the main factor. "It was definitely our defense," Clippers center DeAndre Jordan told reporters after the rout of the Nets. "We were limiting those guys to one shot. Our defense really has an effect on the offense. If we come out and are not scoring or our shots are not falling, we can still come out and play defense and still get stops." Griffin (20.2 & 9.5) and Paul (19.2 & 8.5 APG) are the main guys but LA has great backcourt depth plus center Jordan (10.5 & 12.4) and the newly-acquired Speights (9.5 & 4.5) up front.
The pick: LA's early season defensive numbers keeps this over/under low but remember, the Clippers average 106.5 PPG at home. Also, Memphis coach Fizdale's goal is to move Memphis to a faster pace and away from the plodding style of recent seasons. "I still want it to be gritty," he said. " I just don't want our offense to be in a grind. I want to be able to get the ball up the court and score more points. Our field-goal attempts are where they need to be, we just aren't shooting the ball great." My 8* play is on the Over.
Memphis: The Grizzlies still own the solid inside duo of Gasol (18.6 & 6.0) and Randolph (14.2 & 8.1), although PG Conley (18.7-6.3 APG) is now considered the team-leader. Memphis has struggled on offense, averaging 97.5 PPG, which ranks 25th in the NBA. However, first-year head coach David Fizdale said after Monday's win, "I feel like this is the best four quarters we've put together. They want to win. They really want this, and we worked really hard over the last couple of days to clean things up."
Memphis center Pau Gasol added, "The first half was really good as far as percentage goes. The second half we became a little more static but were able to find the open guy and execute a little bit, especially down the stretch."
LA Clippers: Los Angeles is the best defensive team in the NBA in the early stages of the season, ranking No. 1 in both points allowed (92.2 PPG) and opponents' FG percentage (40.9%). The Clippers scored a season-high 127 points in routing the Nets on Monday but the players were still pointing to the defense as the main factor. "It was definitely our defense," Clippers center DeAndre Jordan told reporters after the rout of the Nets. "We were limiting those guys to one shot. Our defense really has an effect on the offense. If we come out and are not scoring or our shots are not falling, we can still come out and play defense and still get stops." Griffin (20.2 & 9.5) and Paul (19.2 & 8.5 APG) are the main guys but LA has great backcourt depth plus center Jordan (10.5 & 12.4) and the newly-acquired Speights (9.5 & 4.5) up front.
The pick: LA's early season defensive numbers keeps this over/under low but remember, the Clippers average 106.5 PPG at home. Also, Memphis coach Fizdale's goal is to move Memphis to a faster pace and away from the plodding style of recent seasons. "I still want it to be gritty," he said. " I just don't want our offense to be in a grind. I want to be able to get the ball up the court and score more points. Our field-goal attempts are where they need to be, we just aren't shooting the ball great." My 8* play is on the Over.
