Game Time: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, November 15th, 2021 

Venue: FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee

Where to Watch: NBA League Pass

DraftKings:  Spread:  Grizz -11.5; O/U 220.5

BetMGM:  Spread:  Grizz -11; O/U 221

VegasInsider:  Spread: **

Rockets: 1-11, 15th place Western Conference

Grizzlies: 6-7, 9th place Western Conference

The Rockets are a disaster.  Everyone knew they would be because over the last decade they chose the route of trading and trading and trading until they were out of assets to try and build a champion.  When it didn’t happen and their superstar James Harden wanted to jump ship….  They had to pull the plug, stockpile picks and start over from the bottom.  The Rockets it seems will also be happy to finish this regular season in last place and get a top 3 pick. They are on a ten-game losing streak, that’s two five-game losing streaks back to back...They are one of the very few NBA teams who can say they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Target Center (the only other is the New Orleans Pelicans… who also stink) They won’t sniff the NBA playoffs for a few more seasons.

The Grizzlies are still on an upswing even though they have dipped below .500.  The NBA season is young and Memphis has a dynamic star in Ja Morant.  Winning from here on in is the responsibility of the front office.  Can they build this thing?  Will they hit the phone lines with offers to get players to enhance Ja now?  The Grizz are on an embarrassing three-game losing skid against the New Orleans Pelicans, the Phoenix Suns and the Charlotte Hornets.  It’s embarrassing because they lost to the Pelicans and let the Hornets jump over them in excitement about THEIR young superstar guard. 

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RECENT FORM

Houston is 1-11 on the season, but 5-6-1 ATS.  They have notched 4 Overs and 8 Unders.

Memphis is 6-7 on the season, but 7-6 ATS… They have logged 5 Over and 8 Unders.

Houston is 25th in scoring in the NBA with 102.8 ppg, 19th in rebounds with 45.1 per game, and a league-worst 30th in assist-turnover ratio 1.1.  They need to control the ball and work as a cohesive unit.   The turnovers are unacceptable because they also crash their defense by giving up easy points on the other end in layups and dunks. For entertainment purposes they should consider sitting whoever commits a turnover… be it Jalen Green or Christian Wood.  No hard feelings but this is pro basketball, it’s time to learn how to take care of the ball.  It’s also weird to see that Eric Gordon is still there.  He has been forgotten about in their current tanking efforts.  I’m sure someone would pony up a late pick for him… maybe the Los Angeles Clippers or the Indiana Pacers?

Memphis is 18th in the NBA in points scored 107.8 per game, 6th in rebounds 47.6, 9th in assist-to turnover ratio 1.7.  They are also a hefty 6th in blocked shots with 5.9 a game.  The offense is fine.  It’s the winning that is suffering.  They don’t play with a lot of cohesion yet and SG Dillon Brooks has been sidelined all season.  They also need a lot more out of Jaren Jackson Jr than 2 blocked shots per game.  Maybe Jaren came back diminished after missing a season with a bum knee, maybe he needs to be coached up… but Steven Adams is doing more at this point.  The stars are supposed to be Ja and Jaren? 

Our prediction for Monday, November 15th is…  Memphis 118 - Houston 88

Blow out win for Memphis.  Take Memphis but avoid the Over Under.

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Injury list

Rockets: SG Eric Gordon (goin) Quest ** G Danuel House (foot) Quest

Grizzlies: C Killian Tillie (Back) Out, SF Ziaire Williams (wrist) Quest ** SG Dillon Brooks (hand) Out indefinitely.

Rockets: PG Kevin Porter JR, SG Jalen Green, SF Jae’Sean Tate, PF Daniel Theis, C Christian Wood

Grizzlies: PG Ja Morant, SG Desmond bane, SF Dillon Brooks, PF Jaren Jackson JR, C Steven Adams

Rockets

Points: Christian Wood 16.9

Rebounds: Christian Wood 11.8

Assists: Kevin Porter Jr 5.2

Steals: Alperen Sengun 1.5

Blocks: Christian Wood 0.8

Grizzlies

Points: Ja Morant 26.2

Rebounds: Steven Adams 8.8

Assists: Ja Morant 7.4

Steals: Ja Morant 1.7

Blocks: Jaren Jackson Jr

Houston:  Stephen Silas.  Coach Silas looks 30, but don’t let him fool you… He is 48 years old and has worked as an assistant in the NBA for 20 years.  Yes he is the son of legendary coach Paul Silas.  As rookie head coaches go he is in a tough position.  It is a job, but the roster will tear up coach Silas chances at having a great career record.  Still it’s good work and he has the chance to build something good if he gets the time.

Memphis: Taylor Jenkins.  Coach Jenkins has a roster of pretty good NBA professionals.  He has a superstar in the making in Ja Morant.  Coach Jenkins needs to get a hold of this group and get them playing together because so far they are underperforming.  Maybe it’s too much for a rookie coach who was fast tracked through the network of coaches. It’s time to win some basketball games in Memphis.  Oct started out great, but Nov is turning into a mediocre span.