Vegas Over/Under: 37.5
Fromal’s Record Projection: 37-45 The Bet: lean although Prevent under
The Memphis Grizzlies are baffling.
For many years, they have outperformed their underlying metrics since their grit-and-grind style enabled them to win close games more often than other squads. That commitment to defensive excellence and physical drama became synonymous with these Beale Street inhabitants.
But what happens today?
Zach Randolph and vince Carter have defected to the Sacramento Kings. Tony Allen and JaMychal Green remain free agents, and there is no telling whether they will return to their old stomping grounds for 2017-18. The roster feels more depleted than it has in years.
And nonetheless, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol are still present. So long as the group’s two best players stay in precisely the same uniform, they’ll be so competitive on both ends of the ground. Each deserves to be at the All-Star mix year in and year out, and they have taken over as the Grizzlies’ true leaders.
With the Western Conference enhancing, is that enough? Can Memphis supplement both celebrities’ efforts?
Betting on the Grizzlies falling entirely from the playoff conversation would be foolish, no matter where they wind up in the Western hierarchy. But the odds seem far longer this time around.
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