NBA Playoffs
Western Conference - First Round
Tip-off: Saturday, 10:35 p.m. ET
Line: Portland -3.0, Total: 189.0

The Grizzlies look to take a 3-0 series lead with a win over the Blazers in Portland in Game 3 on Saturday.

The Grizzlies beat up on the Blazers in Games 1 and 2, winning 14.5 PPG in their two home games. Memphis has held the Blazers to under 40% shooting in both games this series and the Grizzlies have also played mistake-free basketball so far. Memphis has turned the ball over just 13 times total in the two games and the Blazers are turning the ball over 13.0 times per game. That type of difference in ball security will come a long way in determining who wins games in the postseason. Over the past three seasons, Memphis has been dominant in this series. The Grizzlies are 11-2 SU and 10-3 ATS versus Portland in that time and 5-1 both SU and ATS when playing at Moda Center. The Grizzlies are 25-12 ATS in road games when playing six or less games in 14 days over the past three seasons. Portland, however, is 18-5 ATS after three straight games where it made 42% of its shots or worse since 1996. The Grizzlies enter this game with a completely healthy roster. SG Arron Afflalo (shoulder) is probable for the Blazers, who are already without SF Dorell Wright (Hand) and SG Wesley Matthews (Achilles) for the season.

The Grizzlies have been excellent this series, taking care of the basketball and really clamping down on defense. One guy who has had a huge series for this team is PG Mike Conley (15.8 PPG, 5.4 APG, 1.3 SPG), who has completely outplayed Damian Lillard on both ends of the floor. Conley is averaging 17.0 PPG this series and is 12-for-22 from the field in the two games. He’ll need to continue to go toe-to-toe with Lillard moving forward. C Marc Gasol (17.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.6 BPG) has also been at his best in this series. Gasol is averaging 15.0 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 6.0 APG and 3.0 BPG in 37.0 MPG this series. He has too much size for any of the Blazers to handle and the Grizzlies must continue to get him the ball as often as they can. PF Zach Randolph (16.1 PPG, 10.5 RPG) is going to need to start playing a little better offensively this series. He is averaging just 13.0 PPG in the series and Memphis will need him to score more in the coming games and potentially series. SF Jeff Green (13.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG) is averaging 10.0 PPG and 5.5 RPG in this series. He has hit some big shots and his athleticism is really adding an element to this team that it did not have in years past.

The Portland Trail Blazers have looked sluggish in this series, but they will be getting SG Arron Afflalo (13.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG) back. Afflalo is a very good two-way player and can really provide a spark for this team on both ends. PF LaMarcus Aldridge (23.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.0 BPG) needs all the help he can get against Memphis. He has been a monster in this series, averaging 28.0 PPG, 14.0 RPG and 4.0 BPG. He is, however, shooting just 37% from the field and needs to be more efficient moving forward. If this team has any chance of winning the series then it means that Aldridge will be scoring at will but also shooting a good percentage. PG Damian Lillard (21.0 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.2 SPG) has been miserable in this series, averaging 16.0 PPG on 27% shooting from the field. He will need to be way more efficient in the rest of the games or this team has no chance of winning. SF Nicolas Batum (9.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.1 SPG) can also play better for this team. He is averaging 13.0 PPG but is doing it on 37% shooting and this team just needs to take better shots altogether.