The question surrounding the Memphis Grizzlies isn’t how healthy they’ll be for the playoffs, it’s whether they’ll even get there. It would take an epic collapse for them not to make the postseason, but the roster now isn’t what we envisioned just a few weeks back.
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SCHEDULING
Toronto doesn’t have to worry about Atlanta with a five-game cushion for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. But the Raptors can put a scare into the Cavaliers for the top seed, trailing by just 2.5 games. Toronto finishes its schedule against Western Conference teams with back-to-back games against the Grizzlies and Spurs. Following Saturday night’s game in San Antonio, the Raptors will alternate home and road contests over its final six. They would like to be playing better with the playoffs looming having lost three of four following Monday’s 119-100 home loss to Oklahoma City.
The collective inability of the Grizzlies to stay on the court is making the race for the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference more interesting than it looked a week ago. Memphis will try to keep some space between themselves and the Portland Trail Blazers while gaining some momentum after back to back losses to San Antonio extended the losing streak to three games. There’s no shame in losing to the Spurs, but the skid started with a loss to the Lakers, which really hurts. The Grizzlies are 3-8 SU and 6-5 ATS in 11 games since upsetting the Cavs on Mar. 7.
INJURIES
Raptors guard Kyle Lowry had his right elbow drained after Monday’s loss to Oklahoma City. A procedure stemming from inflammation he first experienced in January. Coach Dwayne Casey said he’s not going to risk anyone’s health during the regular season stretch run, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Lowry sit.
Let’s see, where do we start with the Grizzlies list of injured. Forward Zach Randolph could return after missing a pair of games with a right ankle sprain. Mike Conley and P.J. Hairston are out until the playoffs with leg injuries. Brandan Wright and Jordan Adams are out indefinitely due to knee injuries. And Marc Gasol was lost for the season last month with a foot injury.
KEY MATCHUP
It’s not often that Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas is mentioned as a threat on a team that has dynamic guards Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. But Toronto’s big man is poised for a big stat line against a severely undermanned and undersized Grizzlies squad. Since returning to the lineup from a hand injury that cost him four games, Valanciunas is averaging 11.5 points and 11.0 rebounds while playing slightly more than 25 minutes per game. He’s also double-doubled twice while blocking eight shots. Valanciunas is a key cog in the Raptors lineup, though he doesn’t get the pub because the team is based north of the border and the guard tandem pretty much takes all the ink. But he’s blossoming with a career-best 12.6 scoring average while knocking down better than 56 percent of his shots. With Gasol out, Randolph on a bum wheel – if he plays – and Chris Andersen well beyond his better days, Valanciunas is ready for a big game.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
Things have gotten so bad for the Grizzlies that starting point guard duties have been split between journeyman Jordan Farmar and rookie Xavier Munford, both of whom were signed by the team within the last two weeks. The Griz were led in scoring by 39-year-old Vince Carter’s 14 points in Monday’s loss to San Antonio, while JaMychal Green had 12 to pace the starters. “It’s very challenging,” swingman Lance Stephenson told reporters. The Griz tied an NBA record for most players on a roster in a season with 27 – and we’re not done yet – and while they are entrenched as the No. 5 seed, they don’t realistically have a chance of getting out of the first round. The schedule couldn’t be set up nicer for the Raptors to break out of their little slide.
Toronto 105, Memphis 97
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