Timberwolves Celebration Won't Last Long, Grizzlies Will Sweep in First Round
I’m only 23 years old, but indulge me and allow me to put on my old man hat for a second.
The celebrating the Minnesota Timberwolves did after securing the No. 7 seed in the playoffs was pathetic. Jumping on scorer’s tables, crying like a banner was being raised and going on social media rants is ridiculous and they should be embarrassed they represented themselves like that.
As foolish as I believe them to be, I hope they partied hard last night because there won’t be a single smile in the first round for them. That’s because the Minnesota Timberwolves are about to get swept by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Yes, a sweep. 4-0.
WynnBET currently has the Grizzlies’ odds to sweep at +550 and I’m riding with that. The Grizzlies have spent the better part of two months without Ja Morant and they didn’t even lose five games in that span. For the year, they went 20-5 without Morant – which translates to a 66-win pace.
The moment Morant came back, the Grizzlies put up 141 points and 55 in a quarter. They’re dangerous.
Memphis has a better net rating than the Timberwolves do over the course of the season (5.3 to 2.7). Even after the All-Star break when Minnesota began to gel, the Grizzlies’ net rating was still nearly two points better.
The Grizzlies’ are 0.1 points away from having the best defense in the league post All-Star break and are in the top 10 in offensive rating in that span. Memphis has shown – even without an All-NBA guard – that it can run over any team in the league.
For Minnesota, it will have to go on the road for the first time since 2018 and win games in Memphis. I don’t see that happening. The Grizzlies had a hard fought series with the Jazz last season and are stepping into their time.
The same way the Phoenix Suns ran the playoffs last year as the No. 2 seed. Memphis can do the same and it starts against Minnesota.
Who should you bet on this postseason? Check out BetSided's NBA playoffs edition of Fraud or Future!