The Los Angeles Clippers travel back to Tennessee to take on the Memphis Grizzlies in game 7 of their first round matchup. The game is scheduled for a 1:00 pm start time and it will be televised live on ABC. Currently the odds have the Memphis favored by 8 points with the total sitting at 177.5 points for the contest.
Free Analysis: It’s fitting that a series with four games decided by four points or less comes down to a seventh game. Three of those close wins have been in favor of Los Angeles, winning by one point, one point and four points. Memphis had its narrow victory on Friday night, edging the Clips on the road 90-88. The Clippers are 17-19 SU (17-17-2 ATS) on the road this season, but are just 1-5 (SU and ATS) in their past six road games dating back to the regular season. After scoring 101 points in its Game 4 win, L.A. has been held to just 84.0 PPG on 40.3% FG in its past two losses. L.A.’s two stars both had subpar performances playing through injuries on Friday as PF Blake Griffin (sprained knee) was held to 17 points and five rebounds, and PG Chris Paul (hip flexor) scored a paltry 11 points before fouling out. But Paul continues to dominate the series with 20.7 PPG (47% FG), 7.7 APG and 5.2 RPG. Griffin has scored at least 15 points in each game this series, averaging 19.7 PPG on 56% FG, which his nearly as high as his 58% free-throw rate (28-of-48 FT). SF Caron Butler injured his non-shooting hand in Game 1, and has made just 13-of-36 shots (36%) since the injury. But he does have a respectable 10.3 PPG over the past three games. SG Nick Young has cooled down considerably since his 15.0 PPG on 10-of-16 FG (6-of-7 threes) in Games 1-2, both in Memphis. In the past four contests, Young has a total of 14 points on 5-of-17 FG (2-for-9 threes), logging just 16.3 MPG. Memphis is 28-8 SU, but just 17-18-1 ATS at home this season. SF Rudy Gay (19.0 PPG, 41.4% FG in series) is especially happy to return home, considering he’s shot 49% FG in Memphis this series, and just 35% FG on the road. SG O.J. Mayo (9.7 PPG in series) continues to struggle putting the ball in the basket. After averaging 18.5 PPG in Games 1-2, he has scored a total of 21 points over his past four games, making just 5-of-23 FG (1-for-8 threes). Memphis. however, has used the same blueprint to twice stave off elimination. The tandem of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph has overpowered the Clippers in the back-to-back wins. Both of the Memphis big men had huge nights, as C Marc Gasol scored a game-high 23 points with nine rebounds (four offensive) and PF Zach Randolph added 18 points and 16 boards (six offensive). This was almost a carbon copy of Game 5, where Gasol had 23 points and seven rebounds in Game 5, and Randolph pitched in 19 points and 10 rebounds. Since 1948, the home team has prevailed in Game 7 a whopping 80 percent of the time, while only eight teams in NBA history have rebounded from a 3-1 deficit to win a seven-game series.
Free Pick: This has been a close series indeed, but Memphis has all the momentum in the world right now, they are at home and they also have the time advantage in this one, as this is equal to a 10 AM LA start time. A little early for the Clippers to be starting a game. There have been 4 games that have been decided by 4 or less points, but the tigers do have the two biggest wins in the series (7 & 12 points) and both have been on this floor. The Clippers look a bit down and having this early start time won't help them at all. I expect them to fall behind early and never be able to catch up as the Grizzlies complete the 3-1 deficit comeback with an easy DD win.
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