Betdistrict.com
The resurgent LA Lakers will take on a banged up Memphis Grizzlies side at the Crypto.com Arena on Sunday night.
This has been a really difficult season for the Lakers (21-19, 14-10 home) so far, as the Lebron-Davis-Westbrook trio has just not meshed together. LBJ has played at an MVP level, but Davis and Westbrook were, simply put, bad. However, since Anthony Davis went down with injury, the Lakers seem to have finally found something, winning 4 games in a row and 5 of their last 6. While it’s true that these wins all came against teams with losing records, the performances are improving, and the win against the Hawks last time out was quite a solid one.
The Grizzlies (27-14, 13-6 away) are riding a fantastic 8 game winning streak, including a comfortable victory over the LA Clippers last night. Even if they have dealt with injuries throughout the season, the Grizzlies have played excellent team basketball and are looking like a lock for a good playoff seeding in the Western Conference.
Listen, despite winning 4 games in a row, the Lakers clearly still have problems, and they haven’t beaten a solid opponent in quite a long time. The Grizzlies are a better team, and in normal circumstances I would go with them to win this game.
Thing is, Memphis is really banged up ahead of this game. Adams, Anderson, Konchar and Tillman are out, the first two being key pieces, while the other two important rotation players. What’s more, Dillon Brooks is doubtful (and highly unlikely to play), while star man Ja Morant is questionable. Memphis has played well throughout injuries this season, but this seems a bit too much, especially with this game being a back to back.
The Lakers don’t have any new issues. They are still without Davis, Nunn and probably Ellington.
If Ja Morant ends up not playing this will really become a monumental task for Memphis, they will have to run most of their offense through Jaren Jackson Jr, but that might not be feasable, because their star power forward will have to deal with Lebron James on the defensive end. That will take a lot from him, and it could get him in foul trouble (as guarding Lebron usually does, and Jackson is also particularly prone to fouling).
The Lakers are still flawed and in my honest opinion still can’t be fully trusted, but they are confident and improving. They lost a close one against Memphis last week and that was in Memphis, against a much healthier Grizzlies side, so you would think LA should have enough tonight. I reckon this is the moment the Grizzlies finally lose, it might even be a “scheduled” loss, and odds are dropping big time right now. It’s one of the very few times I can say that I actually find good value on the Lakers. Prediction: LA Lakers – Memphis Grizzlies 115 – 105.
Pick: Lakers
Odds: 1.74 @ Unibet
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 5.92
Event date: 9 January
