NBA FREE Pick: 567 Memphis Grizzlies @ 568 Houston Rockets
Rating: 4 Units – Regular Play
Pick: 568 Houston Rockets (+8)
Price: -105 / 1.95 on Pinnacle
Detailed Write Up:
I would be fine with this price of Memphis being favorite by 8 points if the game was played 2 weeks ago. The Rockets current team is a capable squad, especially if given the chance to be involved in a fast pace contest, which I think it is going to happen because the Grizzlies also like to play with pace. Their drive and kick game usually manufactures plenty of good looks (they are #4 ranked in corner 3pts vol% in this 2nd half of season) but they were just incapable of converting those shots. After the trade deadline, they got some new players that can shoot in D.J. Augustin; Kevin Porter Jr. & Kelly Olynyk; and Christian Wood is back after missing several games (I expect him to play tonight). Suddenly, a team that had a 28.3% 3pts mark in a 19-games span (all losses naturally) is now hitting 38.3% in L5 games.
Memphis defense was destroyed by the Utah Jazz in L2 games as they could not defend the perimeter against the Jazz. The Rockets offense isn’t by any means close to UTA’s level, but they have the same drive and kick mindset, and I expect HOU to get some edge @ perimeter.
I expect MEM offense to get some points in the paint tonight; they scored 74 points in the paint in the last H2H; but that was against a HOU team that played J. Patton @ center and didn’t have any other big man. That won’t be the case today. This is going to be a close fun game to watch and getting +8 points is a valuable play IMO.
