RADIO
Memphis got by with three players versus the Spurs. Unless those three, Ja Morant, Jonas Valanciunas, and Dillon Brooks, can get any help from their supporting cast, we are going to see a similar outcome Friday night. The Warriors pose a much different threat than San Antonio, so not only will the Grizzlies require some sense of urgency with their scoring, but Golden State's pace tends to dictate what direction each game goes. Morant, Brooks, and Valanciunas are getting their shots tonight, that much is certain. But we've seen how quickly both guards will resort to outside options before willingly taking it into their own hands.
Where Morant is able to involve the rest of the offense on his drives, Brooks seems stuck on drive-or-launch whenever he has the ball. That is the main reason it's been a struggle for consistency coming from the Grizzlies guards, so look for Desmond Bane, Grayson Allen, and Kyle Anderson to do what they can to relieve some of the offensive pressure from Memphis' main three contributors. If they are lucky, Stephen Curry won't have another near-40-point game, but seeing how tightly Golden State kept their game with the Lakers, the Grizzlies are going to have to put in maximized effort on both sides of the ball, something they haven't shown the ability to do all season consistently.
MonkeyKnifeFight.com continues to be ahead of the curve with their canceling of contests amid postponements, so don't worry about wasting money on a player or game that might not play. As always, you can find me in the NBA Chat Room or @HalfCourtJester on Twitter with any questions, especially since lines and players are subject to change throughout the day.
Featured Promo: Our friends at Monkey Knife Fight are hooking you up. Get a 100% instant deposit match up to $50 with promo code BALLER with your first deposit. Claim your 100% instant deposit match now, and use our prop picks to get off on a winning foot!
MEM @ GSW
Stephen Curry (GSW) MORE 37.5 Points - Ja Morant (MEM) MORE 21.5 Points
There still hasn't been a single player in the league that has done so much for their team like Stephen Curry has in the second half of the season. He's not winning games because of his defense, but that's obvious and has never been the case. His movement and offensive spurts is the engine behind the Warriors momentum and now that the playoffs have started, Draymond Green is proving just how valuable he is to their frontcourt. Valanciunas has the size advantage clearly, but Green thrives when he can be physical down low. He'll need help contesting shots around the rim, but driving into someone like Green might hurt you more than you would think it's a viable strategy. Golden State's defense is underrated and the Grizzlies will need to work from the outside-in if they want to have a chance of winning.
The deciding factor here lies on the shoulders of Jaren Jackson Jr. If he can make the most of his 30 minutes and space out the Warriors defense to allow Morant and Brooks more room to operate, there's a much better chance they will be able to find their rhythm early in the game. However, if everything is going to be contested and the Grizzlies backcourt can't seem to find enough space to get to their spots, it's going to another one of those games where "things just happen." There are three players tonight that will be able to score with little resistance. Curry, Valanciunas, and Andrew Wiggins. Everyone else will be forced into converting tough shots and working for every point.
Play the Contest Now on Monkey Knife Fight
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy basketball mobile app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, lineup notifications & DFS articles. All free!
