Game Time: 9:30 PM ET, Wednesday, May 11th, 2022 

Venue:   FedEx Forum, Memphis Tennessee

Where to Watch:  TNT

DraftKings:  Warriors -3.5; O/U 218.5

Fanduel:  Warriors -4; O/U 218.5

BetMGM: Warriors -4.5; O/U 218.5

Warriors: 53-29, 2nd place Western Conference; 3-1 in the series

Grizzlies: 56-26, 3rd place Western Conference; 1-3 in the series.

The FedEx Forum will be LOUD.  The FedEx Forum will be Angry.  The boos will be heard for miles around.  An NBA Western Conference Second Round matchup Game 5 between the #2 Seed and the #3 Seed.  In Game 3 the Golden State Warriors SG Jordan Poole viciously attacked the knee of the #2 Seed’s star PG Ja Morant.  The result is that Morant is “Out, but working hard to return” ... The real truth is that Ja has a torn ACL or MCL… which means 4-9 months of surgery and rehab. Ja is done… The #2 Seed in the West is done.  The Warriors will cruise to the next round to face the winner of the Phoenix Suns vs the Dallas Mavericks.  It sucks to say a series is over, but it most likely is.  Still there is a game 5 to play.. Which means a great betting opportunity to determine.  Because Game 5 is a home game for the Grizzlies the spread is 3.5 to 4.5… instead of the 7 to 9 it would be in Golden State.  Lots of people love to talk about how the Grizzlies went 20-5 without Ja this season… but they did not have to play the Warriors in all those games.  The Warriors meanwhile are rounding into form and will be a tough matchup for the Suns in the Western Conference Finals.  Let’s check the numbers and make some cash.

The Golden State Warriors have won 8 of their last 10 games including the last regular season game.  They went 5-5 ATS during that stretch.  With 7 Overs and 3 Unders.  The Warriors have a triumvirate of Hall of Famers that are not out to pasture yet.  PG Steph Curry is still a devastating shooter… no matter where on the floor.  SG Klay Thompson is not quite what he was after missing 2 ½ seasons with injury and rehab time… but he is capable of hitting big shots… and PF Draymond Green is a defensive and passing beast.  Draymond leads the team in Assists, Rebounds, and blocked shots… and routinely rips the opposing teams top guy a new backside hole. But that isn’t all there is… This season has seen the blossoming of SG Jordan Poole into a new actual NBA star… and the rededication of SF Andrew Wiggins into a first time all-star… not to mention they have young buck F Jonathan Kuminga coming off the bench.  Jonathan is a teenager now but will be a multi-time all-star in a couple of years… we all already see it in his game.  The Warriors have everything they need.

The Memphis Grizzlies feel terrible.  They had the second best season in the league this year AND the best season in Grizzlies history.  They have won 5 of their last 10 games.  They are on the verge of elimination in the 2022 Playoffs.  They went 6-4 ATS during that stretch with 4 Overs and 6 Unders.  The Grizzlies are a great YOUNG team.  That inexperience has caused up and down play even before PG Ja Morant was brutally attacked by Warriors SG Jordan Pole and knocked out of the Playoffs (and most likely has begun the long slide out of relevance that befell Derrick Rose).  In the last game, a 101 - 98 loss to Golden State.  Grizzlies SG Desmond Bane had just 8 disappointing points… Desmond’s play has been so bad that several people have wondered aloud if he should be trying to play through the nagging back injury he still is recuperating from. C Steven Adams finally got to play for real after several games in a row of DNP.  Steven Adams has 10 points 15 rebounds and perfectly showcased his usefulness when the team shops him and a pick to Toronto, Charlotte, and or with a returning asset.  Why Adams fell out with Head Coach Taylor Jenkins is not truly spoken about yet… it will come out soon though.

In the last 7 days Team Del Genio is 5-0-1 ATs in NBA betting… while Ben Burns is 7-2 ATS in NBA betting.  That is +$5000, and +$4800  respectively… Imagine if you had been following along!  Get Team Del Genio’s and Ben Burns’ picks now!  Don’t miss out on these great chances to beat your Book! Make winning the thing you do from now on!! Stay with BigAl.com throughout the NBA Playoffs and let’s grow that bankroll! You can discover the best  picks right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. NCAAF, NFL, MLB, college football… get positive value from all your bets! Expert picks!  Fun fact… winning a wager is much better than making a wager!

The Warriors are 59-31 on the season, but 45-24-4 ATS.  They have logged 41 Overs, 48 Unders, and 1 Push.

The Grizzlies are 61-31 on the season, but 58-31-1 ATS.  They have notched 47 Overs, 44 Unders, and 1 Push.  They are 33-13 in home games.

 

Our prediction for Wednesday, May 11th is….. Warriors 118 - Grizzlies 103

The Warriors will close out.  The poor Grizzlies have their offseason mapped out… It will be Ja Morant rehab updates followed by trade attempts of C Steven Adams and SG/SF Dillon Brooks.  It’s a sad ending to a great season.  Hopefully Ja Morant makes a healthy return to start next season.

Memphis is 6-2 ATS versus Golden State at Memphis the last 3 seasons.

Memphis is 23-10 ATS as a home underdog of 6 pints or less the last 3 seasons.

Memphis is 2-12 ATS when facing elimination in a playoff series since 1996.

Warriors: SG Andre Igoudala (neck) Out ** PG Gary Payton II (elbow) Out ** C James Wiseman (knee) Out

Grizzlies: PG Ja Morant (knee) OUT

Warriors: SF Klay Thompson, PF Sndrew Wiggins, C Draymond Green, SG Jordan Poole, PG Stephen Curry

Grizzlies: PF Jaren Jackson JR, C Steven Adams, SF Dillon Brooks, PG Tyus Jones, SG Desmond Bane

Warriors: Steve “Don’t break the code… unless you are on my team” Kerr

Grizzlies: Taylor “When will I get a call?”  Jenkins

**  Steve Kerr is out because of a positive Covid test.  His fill in is Mike Brown… who handled the bench in the last game admirably.