Tip-off: Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Line: San Antonio -9, Total: 191.5

It’s Gasol vs. Gasol when the Grizzlies and Spurs meet for Game 1 on Saturday.

The Memphis Grizzlies were almost certainly the most undercovered Western Conference playoff team by the mainstream sports media this regular season, as they endured injuries, an aging core and the flop of high-priced free agent Chandler Parsons to reach the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season, their first under head coach David Fizdale. The Grizz did, however, struggle in the latter part of the regular season, dropping nine of their final 14 games to finish the year 43-39 (41-41 ATS). They’ll need to shape up quickly if they want to make any noise in the postseason, as they face an elite opponent in the 61-21 San Antonio Spurs (42-38-2 ATS). The Spurs are riding the longest consecutive playoff appearance streak in the league, a run that is now officially at 20 seasons. The span dates back to Tim Duncan’s rookie year and, in its first season without the Hall-of-Famer, San Antonio is yet to miss a beat. The Grizzlies and Spurs split their four regular season games this year, with the Spurs winning the most recent matchup by a 95-89 score in overtime on April 4 (MEM +9). Over the last five seasons, underdogs of 3.5 to 9.5 points looking to revenge a loss to their opponent and coming off an SU loss as a favorite to a division rival are 18-39 ATS. Since 1996, games involving a road team with a winning record that is coming off a loss to a division opponent as a favorite of at least six points are 33-10 Over against totals set between 190 and 199.5. For Memphis, SG Tony Allen is out indefinitely and SF James Ennis is listed as questionable.

If you haven’t watched the Grizzlies since last year’s playoffs, the major difference you’ll notice is that star C Marc Gasol (19.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.3 BPG) has started to step outside. Having never attempted more than 0.2 three-pointers per game in a season, the Spaniard is shooting 3.6 3PA on the year and making them at an impressive 38.8% clip. Perhaps consequently, he’s averaging a career low 6.3 RPG; then again, his 4.6 APG are a career high. After missing last year’s playoffs with an injury, he’s certainly been itching for a return to the postseason. Along with PG Mike Conley (20.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 6.3 APG, 1.3 SPG), the two form a dynamic duo in Memphis. Conley didn’t make the Western Conference All-Star team after signing the largest deal in league history over the summer, but that says more about the high level of talent in the league than it does of his level of play. Impressively, he posted career highs in both scoring and shooting percentage (45.9%), while also shooting a career-best 40.7% from deep. He has been especially hot recently, averaging 22.9 PPG on 49.4% shooting in his last 14 games. Another difference between this Grizzlies squad and those of years past is PF Zach Randolph’s (14.1 PPG, 8.2 RPG) transition to the bench. He’s a leading Sixth Man of the Year candidate, and his 16.8 career playoff points per game make clear the time of year when he’s at his best. Allen (9.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.6 SPG) has played 111 career playoff games, and his absence will be felt both on defense and in the huddle. Oft-overlooked PF JaMychal Green (8.9 PPG, 7.1 RPG) is an x-factor for Memphis.

The fact that San Antonio SF Kawhi Leonard (25.5 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.8 SPG) is even in the MVP conversation this season speaks volumes about his play, considering the quality of competition for that award this year. He has been a playoff force since before he even became a star, winning the Finals MVP honor during the Spurs’ championship run in 2014. In 10 games in last year’s postseason, he averaged 22.5 PPG on 50% shooting. In three games against Memphis this regular season, he averaged 24.3 PPG and 8.7 RPG, the latter being his highest such number against any conference opponent. PG Tony Parker (10.1 PPG, 4.5 APG) and SG Manu Ginobili (7.5 PPG, 1.2 SPG) have been critical parts of these Spurs playoff teams for what seems like forever now, and it will be interesting to see if Gregg Popovich expands the relatively limited roles they occupied in the offseason as aging veterans. New to the team is C Pau Gasol (12.4 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.1 BPG), who is also past his prime, but is probably closer to it than those two. If he’s able to score on his brother, an elite defender, San Antonio should be on its way to a not-too-tiring series victory. SG Danny Green (7.3 PPG, 1.0 SPG) shot 37.9% from three this season after being down at 33.2% last year. If he can shoot like he has in postseasons past, the Spurs could compete for the title. He shot 50% on 4.8 3PA in last year’s playoffs.