Boston Celtics vs Memphis Grizzlies: League's best defense Celtics meet against elite Grizzlies

NBA is heading towards the Postseason window and as we near the Playoffs, we have been seeing some squads picking up the intensity. And we are seeing some bottom feeders in the league ramping their games up as their team chemistry has improved considerably with the course of the season. That is why the betting scenario has become trickier and some bets are failing with the short-handed teams putting up a huge fight on a regular basis. And this will be the case as the season tick on and on. And as the Boston Celtics meet the Memphis Grizzlies here, we are in for a wild ride.

The Boston Celtics have been the best defensive team in the league since the beginning of the Year and courtesy of that, they have done a great job of holding down elite offenses to fewer points. They have won 37 and lost 27 matches, an improved effort so far compared to last season. Talking about elite offenses, the Memphis Grizzlies are right there and with Ja Morant’s MVP-like ways, they have been oozing with confidence these days. However, it is the overall team depth that has made them garner 43 wins and just 20 losses, currently on a two-game winning streak and capable of going on much lengthier streaks on a regular basis. With a strong defense and one of the best offenses, the Grizzlies are surely in the hunt for the second seed in the West. Can they beat the Celtics and solidify their chances as the top-two team in the league or will the elite defense of the Celtics chew them out here? To know my game total and result prediction, go to “Expert Betting Tips”. For my player-based statistics projections, jump to “Player Performance Prediction”.

Colossal offense meets titanic defense

The Celtics are putting the league on notice

The Celtics have been the best defensive team this season and they have especially showcased tremendous grit since the beginning of the year. I was wondering for a long time why they are unable to go on big game-winning streaks and why they lack the balance that is needed to be a top-four/five team in the Association. The Celtics finally lived up to the hype surrounding them before the All-Star Break when they won nine in a row and this is where they turned around their season. A large part of this can be attributed to Robert Williams III, who is my pick for the Defensive Player of the Year as of now.

The other change has been the improved offensive balance and when you have Tatum, you can have one of those players who can put up a bunch of points in a quick time. Jaylen Brown is a brilliant offensive player too while Marcus Smart brings a lot to the offensive end. On the other hand, Robert Williams III can scrap out big-time offensive rebounds whereas Horford can make important passes from the post position. Derrick White gives more two-way balance off the bench while Grant Williams has been giving immense depth to the big Forward position. Can the Celtics continue being this effective on both ends of the floor?

Grizzlies and their incredible youth

The Grizzlies are one of the youngest teams in the league and yet they have achieved a lot this season. With the way things are going, they can topple the Warriors for the second place as they have just one more loss and the same amount of wins at the time of writing. On the other hand, they can also catch up to the Suns, a team that can suffer without Paul but still, getting to the first position remains a long shot for Memphis. The biggest spark has been Ja Morant recently and he has dropped 44 points or more in three of the last four games. It will be interesting to see how he fares against a loaded defense of Boston.

Jaren Jackson and Steven Adams form a strong defensive pairing in the frontcourt and Jackson is surely a contender for the Defensive Player of the Year award but yeah he does have the tendency to foul too much. Both give tremendous rebounding, especially Steven Adams. Desmond Bane forms a strong backcourt with Morant and DeAnthony Melton has improved his production as the back-up guard. Meanwhile, Brandon Clarke has been a terrific offensive off the bench and the combination of Jones, Anderson, and Konchar form a versatile bench that is one of the deepest in the league.

Player Performance Prediction

If they are all available, these are my player-based prediction:

• I believe Ja Morant will be held below 30 points here;
• I see Jayson Tatum scoring at least 30 points;
• I believe Steven Adams will clasp at least 12 rebounds;
• I see Robert Williams grabbing at least 11 rebounds;
• I see Jaren Jackson blocking at least 2 shots;
• I believe Marcus Smart will score at least 17 points.

Expert Betting Tips

Points Range: The Grizzlies are one of the best offensive teams in the league and they are strong even away from home. They have continually scored 116 or more on the road but the Celtics defense doesn’t even allow anywhere close to 110 at home these days. Even with Brown being out, they can deploy Derrick White in the starting lineup, who can be a strong defensive player too, and even if he comes off the bench, he is set to receive a ton of minutes. Celtics have usually been in the 107-112 points range these days and Tatum’s work is cut out with Brown out. I believe the total points range here is 210-220.

Prediction: With Brown out for the Celtics, the Grizzlies have now some advantage in terms of overall depth. They usually get more scoring from the big Forward position but the battle of points between Tatum and Morant will be crucial here. Celtics will need big nights from White and Smart to fill the wide-sized hole at the off-guard position in the absence of Brown. I see an intense battle here with the Grizzlies having a 52% chance of winning but Boston with an impressive 48% chance of winning. I believe the scoring line will be 111:108 either way.

Betting Odds

• To Win By (3Way): Any Other Score-Win With Difference Less Than 8 for 2
• Total Under 223.5 for 1.99
• Player Props: Player Points: Jayson Tatum Over 29.5 for 1.80