Spurs to send Grizzlies into early hibernation

Memphis have their backs against the wall and face being swept by the Spurs on their home court.

Having being out-gunned in offence and out-muscled in defence, the Tennessee team have lost 83-105, 89-93 and 93-104 so far and are in danger of being eliminated unless they can rewrite the record books.

Teams leading 3-0 in best-of-seven series are 107-0 in the entire history of the NBA.

That said, the classic sporting cliché of ‘one game at a time’ has to apply and with a feverish capacity crowd behind them, Memphis will be desperate to avoid an embarrassing whitewash.

Also, there is an argument that San Antonio will take their foot off the gas, safe in the knowledge that there are two home games left to secure the series if required.

But the events of 2011 are fresh in the memory, and should act as a motivational tool for Gregg Popovich’s men.

Two years ago, with a play-off spot already banked, Memphis rested key players, in order to allegedly lose their final two games and contrive a play-off match-up against the Spurs who were injury ravaged at the time.

While the Grizzlies publicly denied this, they went on to shock a San Antonio side that included many of the players still on court today.

The prospect of extracting revenge and also gaining a few extra days of rest, while the Heat and Pacers slug it out in the East, should be enough to ensure the Spurs flight home is a happy one.

Get on the Texans at 6/5 to book their place in the NBA Finals.

With the average points per game in this series standing at 189, the Over market at 180.5 (10/11) is another opportunity to top up your ‘kids college fund’.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing