The NBA season has just begun, but the Brooklyn Nets look every bit as good as advertised. After opening their season by beating Golden State 125-99, the Nets went to Boston on Christmas Day and unwrapped a second-half whipping on the Celtics, turning a three-point halftime deficit into a 123-95 win.
There is still a long way to go, but for those wondering about how quickly Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving would gel and how good the Nets could be with a rookie head coach in Steve Nash, questions have been answered as definitively as they could be thus far. Can they keep up when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night? The Grizzlies had a promising campaign last season in Ja Morant’s rookie year, but how far can they go this season? Will they be any match for the Nets?
Memphis Grizzlies Preview
After posting a 33-49 record in 2018-19, the Grizzlies surpassed that win total by one last season, in nine fewer games. The Grizzlies started 6-16 last season but went 28-23 the rest of the way. Ja Morant, the #2 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, spearheaded the turnaround on the way to winning Rookie of the Year honors, averaging 17.8 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 7.3 assists in 67 games.
It looks like Morant has a lot in store for this season, judging by his performance in Memphis’s season-opening loss to San Antonio. The Grizzlies went down 131-119 at home, but it was not because of their star guard, who was 18 of 27 from the field and put up 44 points and nine assists in 35 minutes. Morant is +1400 to be named Most Improved Player, which would be well within his reach if performances like Wednesday’s are a regular occurrence. Morant followed it up with 28 points (on 10 of 21 shooting) and seven assists in a 122-112 home loss to Atlanta on Saturday.
However, as far as Morant can take the team on his shoulders, he needs a lot more help from the supporting cast if Memphis is to really push for the postseason. Against the Spurs, only three other Grizzlies scored in double digits, and those three players, Dillon Brooks, Brandon Clarke, and Jonas Valanciunas, combined for fewer points (41) than Morant scored himself and the other four players in the starting lineup combined for the same amount of points as Ja netted. The production was better against the Hawks, as every other member of the starting lineup scored in double figures. But they were 13 of 43 from three, and their bench was outscored 46-22 by the Hawks’ bench.
Brooklyn Nets Preview
One superstar can accomplish a lot, but with two superstars now in their fold, the Nets are hoping that this is their season. The Nets, who are +440 to win the NBA title and +240 to win the Eastern Conference, have hit the ground running. Their star duo has led the way, with Kyrie following a 26-point effort in the opener by notching 37 points, six rebounds, and eight assists in Boston on Friday. Meanwhile, KD scored 22 points in the opener against Golden State and put up 29 points on 9 of 16 shooting against the Celtics.
A key for the Nets so far is their three-point shooting. They made 15 threes on 42.9% shooting against the Warriors, and they followed that up by hitting 15 of 29 shots (51.7%) from three against the Celtics. Kyrie has been the standout shooter so far, making four of seven against Golden State and seven of ten against Boston. The supporting cast will also be key for the Nets if they are to sustain this early success, and Caris Levert, one of the pre-KD and Kyrie holdovers, went for 20 against the Warriors and also scored in double digits against the Celtics.
Odds for Nets vs Grizzlies
Odds from FanDuel as of Monday, December 28 (6:30 am ET)
Spread: Grizzlies +7.5 (-110), Nets -7.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Grizzlies -265, Nets +330
Total: Over 237.5 (-110), Under 237.5 (-110)
Betting Breakdown
Key Trends
- Memphis was 2-0 against Brooklyn last season, winning 134-133 in overtime at home on October 27 and winning 118-79 on the road on March 4.
- Last season, the Grizzlies were 14-13 vs. Eastern Conference teams, including a 6-7 mark in true road games.
- The Nets were 2-7 on the back end of a back-to-back last season. That includes their home loss to Memphis after a 129-120 at Boston on March 3.
- Last season, the Nets were 12-14 vs. Western Conference teams, including a 7-6 record in true home games.
- The Grizzlies were 14-18 in true road games last season, not counting the four bubble games that were designated as road games.
- The Grizzlies averaged 111.9 points in true road games last season and gave up an average of 114.8 points per game in those games.
- The Nets were 18-14 in true road games last season.
- Last season, the Nets averaged 111.2 points in true home games and gave up an average of 109.5 points per game in those games.
Best Bets
Nets spread in the third quarter: This is an excellent option to hop on live, whatever the score may be. In the third quarter against Golden State, the Nets outscored the Warriors 36-26 to go up almost 30 and render the fourth quarter all but meaningless. Against Boston, the Nets outscored the Celtics 35-23 in the third quarter after being down 54-51 at halftime. That broke the will of the Celtics, who were finished off 37-18 in the fourth quarter in the Nets’ huge win.
Prediction
In this showdown between two of the superstars of today and one of the superstars of tomorrow–that tomorrow might be this season, if his opener against the Spurs was a sign of what is to come–the Nets are and should be a heavy favorite. Look for them to back that up. It may be the back end of a back-to-back, but the season is still early, and they are still fresh.
Tip: Nets to cover