NBA Southwest Preview: Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies Search Repeat Division Title

The Memphis Grizzlies have been the shock workforce within the NBA final season, and guard Ja Morant and teammates are the bettering favourite at +105 odds to win back-to-back Southwest Division titles. Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks will not be far behind the Grizzlies at +140 odds to win the Southwest.

Ja Morant (left) from the Memphis Grizzlies defends Luka Doncic (proper) of the Dallas Mavs throughout a Southwest Division battle. The Grizzlies and Mavs are the Southwest betting favorites in the beginning of the preseason. (Picture: Getty)

Additionally, don’t sleep on the New Orleans Pelicans. Ahead Zion Williams returns to the workforce after lacking all the 2021-22 season with a mysterious and lingering foot harm. The Pelicans are +4000 odds to win the Southwest Division, which they final gained again in 2007-08 after they have been often known as the New Orleans Hornets.

2022-23 NBA SOUTHWEST DIVISION ODDS

• Memphis Grizzlies +105
• Dallas Mavs +140
• New Orleans Pelicans +400
• San Antonio Spurs +50000
• Houston Rockets +50000

** Odds by way of DraftKings

Each of the Texas groups will not be anticipated to place up a combat this season. The San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets try to complete the season with the worst document to tank for an opportunity to draft highly-touted French heart prospect Victor Wembanyama with the #1 choose within the 2023 NBA Draft.

Memphis Grizzlies +105

The Grizzlies posted a 56-26 document final season, which was the second-best document within the NBA behind the Phoenix Suns. The Grizzlies secured the #2 seed within the Western Convention Playoffs. Nonetheless, their postseason run fizzled when Morant suffered a knee harm in opposition to the Golden State Warriors within the convention semifinals.

Oddmaskers projected the Grizzlies with a 48.5 o/u win complete this season, which is seven fewer than final season’s spectacular run.

The younger Grizzlies exceeded expectations final season, in order that they’re being arrange this season to doubtlessly fall wanting the mark. They may not end with the second-best document within the NBA this season, and even lock up the #2 playoff seed. However the Grizzlies are the workforce to beat within the Southwest Convention.

The high-octane Grizzlies averaged 115.6 factors per recreation final season, which was the second-best scoring offense within the NBA behind the Minnesota Timberwolves. Morant put up MVP-like numbers, averaging 27.4 factors, 6.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per recreation. He leads a beginning 5 that features guard Desmond Bane, guard/ahead Dillon Brooks, ahead Brandon Clarke, and heart Steve Adams.

Bane had a coming-out get together, averaging 18.2 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and a pair of.7 assists. He additionally shot a blistering 43.6% from 3-pont vary. He flew below the radar final season because the Grizzlies’ second-best scorer, however he won’t be missed this season.

The Grizzlies are the consensus favourite to win the Southwest at +105 odds. However they’ve extra firepower than the Mavs, which makes them worthy of a flier to win back-to-back division titles.

Dallas Mavs +140

Guard Luka Doncic is the center and soul of the Dallas Mavs. Nonetheless, as a lot as he’d wish to drop a 40-point triple-double each recreation, the Mavs won’t go far within the playoffs and not using a true all-around workforce effort. The Mavs misplaced a number of starters from final season’s roster. They traded ahead Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards previous to the deadline, and guard Jalen Brunson bolted to the New York Knicks in free company.

Guard Spencer Dinwiddie will slide into the beginning 5 alongside sharpshooters forwards Reggie Bullock and Dorian Finney-Smith. The Mavs made a key offseason acquisition with huge man Christian Wood, a middle/ahead who can present a double-double each night time as long as he stays wholesome. Wooden struggled with accidents the final couple of seasons with the Houston Rockets. However he is usually a beast when he’s taking part in at full energy.

The Mavs have a projected win complete of 48.5 o/u, which is lower than final season’s 52-30 document. They completed in second place within the Southwest Division behind the Grizzlies, however secured the #4 seed within the Western Convention playoffs. The Mavs are the second favourite on the board to win the Southwest at +140 odds.

New Orleans Pelicans +400

The New Orleans Pelicans have one of many widest win ranges within the NBA this season, as a result of their success hinges upon the well being of Zion Williamson. The previous #1 choose has been plagued with accidents since his arrival from Duke in 2019. Williamson didn’t swimsuit up for a single recreation final season, however he nonetheless earned a profitable contract extension.

If Williamson stays wholesome, the Pelicans can problem the Grizzlies and Mavs for the division crown. If Williamson struggles with accidents as soon as once more, the Pelicans may very well be a .500 membership and preventing for a spot within the Play-In Match.

The Pelicans have a win complete of 44.5 o/u, which displays oddmakers’ insecurity in Williamson staying wholesome all season.

On paper, the Pelicans boast a robust starring 5 with ahead Brandon Ingram, guard CJ McCollum, ahead Herbert Jones, heart Jonas Valanciunas, and Williamson. They acquired McCollum ultimately yr’s commerce deadline, and he gives elite scoring on the courtroom and veteran management off the courtroom.

The second unit is anchored by guard Devonte’ Graham, and in addition contains heart/ahead Jaxson Hayes, ahead/heart Larry Nance, Jr. and heart/ahead Willy Hernangomez. The Pelicans additionally chosen guard/ahead Dyson Daniels with the #8 choose within the 2022 NBA Draft and have excessive hopes for the Australian wing participant.

San Antonio Spurs +50000

Head coach Greg Popovich loves European prospects, so you may solely think about how excited he’s about doubtlessly touchdown Wembanyama. The Spurs haven’t been the identical workforce since heart/ahead Tim Duncan retired. Wembanyama has drawn comparisons to Duncan.

Oddsmakers at DraftKings put in the Spurs with the bottom win complete on their board at 22.5 o/u. However will 60 losses safe the worst document within the league?

Then once more, San Antonio’s beginning 5 contains guard Tre Jones, guard/ahead Devin Vassell, ahead Doug McDermott, ahead Keldon Johnson, and heart Jakob Poetl. These guys may win most pickup video games at your native gymnasium. However they’re not placing up a lot of a combat in opposition to the typical workforce within the Western Convention.

Houston Rockets +50000

Whereas the Grizzlies and Mavs slug it out for first place within the Southwest, the Spurs and Rockets might be having their very own bum combat within the basement.

After profitable the Southwest crown for 3 seasons in a row between 2018 and 2020, the Rockets completed in final place within the division the final two seasons. The Rockets posted the worst document within the Western Convention through the earlier two seasons in an effort to rebuild the workforce via excessive draft picks. Count on extra of the identical this season. Very similar to the Spurs, the Rockets have their eye on Wembanyama.

The Rockets are projected to win 23.5 o/u video games, which is second-lowest within the league forward of the Spurs. Dropping apart, the Rockets’ roster is crammed with upcoming stars like guard Jalen Inexperienced and ahead Jabari Smith, Jr. The Rockets chosen Inexperienced with the second-overall choose within the 2021 NBA Draft. Smith was the consensus high choose in 2022 mock drafts, The Rockets have been thrilled that Smith slipped to #3.