Pelicans vs Grizzlies NBA Predictions Today 4/5
- A Plus Picks
- Apr 5, 2023, 6:37:42 AM
© Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Game Preview: Grizzlies vs Pelicans – April 5, 2023
The Memphis Grizzlies will face off against the New Orleans Pelicans on April 5, 2023 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Both teams have their eyes set on the postseason, as they battle it out in the Southwest Division. The Grizzlies, with a record of 50-29, have been impressive this season led by their star point guard Ja Morant who has been averaging 26.5 points per game. Their offense, ranked ninth in the league, has been in top form, scoring an average of 116.7 points per game. The Pelicans, on the other hand, have had a rough season with a record of 40-39. Nevertheless, they have shown glimpses of brilliance, especially led by shooting guard CJ McCollum who has been averaging 20.8 points per game. The team has relied on their defense, ranked eighth in the league, to keep themselves in the playoff picture. Both teams have faced each other three times this season, with the Grizzlies leading the series 2-1. Expect a thrilling encounter between two teams fighting hard for their respective playoff spots. Stay tuned for our in-depth analysis and predictions on the game.
Grizzlies: Offensive Analysis
The Grizzlies are heading into their game against the Pelicans with a strong offensive record this season. Their average score margin of +4.0 ranks them 4th in the league and they are scoring an impressive 116.7 points per game, which is 9th in the league. Their fastbreak game is also strong, with an average of 17.7 points per game, ranking them 3rd in the league. Their inside game is lethal, with an average of 58.3 points in the paint per game, which ranks them 1st in the league. They will look to Jaren Jackson Jr. to continue to dominate in the paint and create second chance opportunities with his 6.8 rebounds per game. The Grizzlies have struggled with their shooting efficiency, however, with an effective field goal percentage of only 53.9%, ranking them 21st in the league. They will need to improve on this to take advantage of the Pelican's weaker defense and secure a win. Their assist game is also solid, with an average of 25.7 assists per game, ranking them 11th in the league. Ja Morant is a key player in this area, averaging 8.1 assists per game. The Grizzlies will need to continue to work on their free throw shooting though, with a team free throw percentage of only 73.2%, which ranks them 30th in the league. This could be a potential weakness that the Pelicans will look to exploit. Overall, the Grizzlies have a strong offensive game and they will look to capitalize on their strengths to secure a win against the Pelicans.
Grizzlies: Defensive Analysis
The Memphis Grizzlies are entering their game against the New Orleans Pelicans with a 50-29 record and a 15-23 away record. In order to secure a victory, the Grizzlies will need to put up a strong defensive effort against a talented Pelicans team. Let's take a closer look at the Grizzlies' defensive statistics. The Grizzlies' defense has been solid throughout the season, allowing only 112.7 points per game, ranking 11th in the league in this category. Their defensive rating of 109.8 is also impressive and puts them in the top half of the league. They have been particularly good in slowing down fast breaks, allowing only 13.9 points per game in this category, which ranks 17th in the league. The Grizzlies are also strong defenders in the paint. They allow only 47.5 points per game in this category, which ranks them 5th in the league. They will need to continue this consistent performance against a Pelicans team that scores 53.5 points per game in the paint. In terms of assists, the Grizzlies allow 26.3 per game, which ranks 26th in the league. They will need to improve in this area against a Pelicans team that averages 25.9 assists per game. The Grizzlies are also solid at rebounding, averaging 55.7 total rebounds per game, which ranks 3rd in the league. However, they will need to be careful against the Pelicans, who average 51.8 total rebounds per game. The Grizzlies' block and steal numbers are also impressive. They average 5.8 blocks per game, ranking 3rd in the league, and 8.3 steals per game, ranking 3rd in the league as well. They will need to use these defensive weapons to slow down a Pelicans team that is offensive-minded. In terms of turnovers and fouls, the Grizzlies average 13.7 turnovers per game and 20.2 fouls per game. These are areas where they will need to improve to give themselves the best chance at securing a win. In summary, the Grizzlies have a solid defense that will need to perform well in several key areas to secure a win against the Pelicans. They will need to slow down the Pelicans' paint game and improve in their assist defense, turnovers, and fouls. If they can continue to rely on their strong defensive weapons such as blocks and steals, they will give themselves a good chance at emerging victorious.
Pelicans: Offense Analysis
The New Orleans Pelicans have been struggling on the offensive end, ranking 15th in points per game with an average of 114.3. They will need to step up their game in order to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, who have a stronger offense with an average of 116.7 points per game, ranked 9th in the league. One area where the Pelicans have excelled is in their fastbreak points, averaging 14.7 per game, which ranks 11th in the league. However, they will need to improve their shooting, as they only have an effective field goal percentage of 54.3%, which ranks 16th in the league. CJ McCollum has been their leading scorer, averaging 20.8 points per game with a shooting percentage of 43.6%, including an impressive 78.7% from the free throw line. Jonas Valanciunas has been a key player in the rebounding department, grabbing an average of 10.1 rebounds per game. The Pelicans will need to improve their three-point percentage, which currently stands at 36.4%, ranking 14th in the league. They will also need to limit turnovers as they average 14.6 per game, ranking 22nd in the league in that category. Overall, the Pelicans have the potential to put up big numbers on the offensive end, but they will need to be more consistent and efficient in order to come out with a win against the Grizzlies.
Pelicans: Defensive Analysis
The New Orleans Pelicans will face off against the Memphis Grizzlies on April 5, 2023, in what could be a crucial game for their playoff hopes. In this defensive analysis, we will take a closer look at the Pelicans' defense and how they match up against the Grizzlies. The Pelicans have had an up-and-down season defensively, ranking 15th in the league in points allowed per game at 112.2. However, they have shown the ability to get stops when they need them, ranking 10th in average score margin at +2.1. One area where the Pelicans have excelled defensively is in generating turnovers. They are tied for second in the league in steals per game at 8.3 and rank fourth in steals per play at 7.4%. This will be crucial against a Grizzlies team that ranks 12th in the league in turnovers per game at 15.1. The Pelicans' strength on defense is their ability to protect the paint. They rank first in the league in points in the paint allowed per game at 49.4 and fourth in blocks per game at 5.8. This should help them against a Grizzlies team that relies heavily on scoring inside the paint, ranking ninth in the league in points in the paint per game at 53.5. One area where the Pelicans have struggled defensively is in defending the three-point shot. They rank 14th in the league in opponent effective field goal percentage at 54.3% and 16th in opponent three-point percentage at 33.8%. This could be concerning against a Grizzlies team that ranks 12th in the league in three-pointers made per game at 12.8. In conclusion, the Pelicans have a solid defense that can generate turnovers and protect the paint, but they will need to improve their three-point defense to shut down the Grizzlies' offense. Expect a competitive game with the Pelicans' defense playing a key role in the outcome.
Injury Report
For the Memphis Grizzlies, both Dillon Brooks and Jake LaRavia are listed as doubtful for the upcoming game. Brooks is dealing with a thigh injury, while LaRavia has a foot injury. Their absence could impact the Grizzlies' offense and defense, particularly against a strong team like the Pelicans. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans do not have any injured players listed on their injury report. They will have their full roster available for the game, potentially giving them an advantage against a Grizzlies team dealing with injuries. Overall, the Grizzlies may struggle without the contributions of Brooks and LaRavia, while the Pelicans could take advantage of their full strength lineup. However, as with any NBA game, anything can happen on the court.
| Player | Team | Position | Injury Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dillon Brooks | Memphis Grizzlies | SF | Doubtful |
| Jake LaRavia | Memphis Grizzlies | F | Doubtful |
| No injured players | New Orleans Pelicans |
Betting Trends Analysis
The Memphis Grizzlies have been one of the top teams in the NBA this season, posting a 50-29 record and going 15-23 on the road. They have also been a strong team against the spread, going 36-40-2 ATS. However, they have struggled in their last five games, winning just three of them. On the other side of the court, the New Orleans Pelicans have had a more up-and-down season, with a 40-39 record and a 25-14 record at home. They have also been mediocre against the spread, going 38-39-1 ATS. The Pelicans have lost their last game and are currently on a 10 game losing streak. Looking at the over/under, the total for this game is set at 232.5. This season, the Grizzlies have gone over the total 40 times and under 39 times, while the Pelicans have gone over the total 36 times and under 43 times. In terms of injuries, the Grizzlies have listed Dillon Brooks and Jake LaRavia as doubtful for this game, while the Pelicans have no injured players. Taking all of these trends into account, it appears that the Grizzlies are the stronger team overall and should be favored in this game. However, given the Pelicans' recent struggles, it may be wise to avoid betting on this game altogether.
Prediction: Grizzlies vs. Pelicans NBA Game
The New Orleans Pelicans have a good chance of winning and covering the spread in their upcoming game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies have struggled on the road this season, with a 15-23 record away from home, and they may rest some of their best players since they have already clinched the division. On the other hand, the Pelicans have a solid home record with a 25-14 record and will likely have their full roster available.
According to the matchup predictor by ESPN Analytics, the Pelicans have a 47.4% chance of winning, which is not too far behind the Grizzlies' 52.6%. Additionally, the Pelicans have a slightly better record against the spread, with a 38-40-1 ATS record compared to the Grizzlies' 36-41-2 ATS record.
Overall, the Pelicans have a good chance of winning and covering the 5-point spread, given their home court advantage and the possibility of the Grizzlies resting some of their best players.
Pick: Pelicans (-5)
