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Posted at 1:30 PM EST

Memphis +136 over Portland

Note the early start time.

4:00 PM EST. Portland is one of the sexier picks of the early stages of the NBA resumption, as they are well-rested and return a slew of talent at a full bill of health that they missed for much of the regular season. In addition to front-man “Dollar” Dame Lillard being recuperated and ready to roll, Rip City also return some key front court pieces in Zach Collins and Jursuf Nurkic which enable Portland to be a “big team”. At least, that is what the media is selling.

Thanks to the Trail Blazers depth returning to optimal form, Portland has all the makings to do some damage in the Western Conference postseason picture. At least that is the scoop of the town, rendering Portland the flavor of the week. However, there is one caveat to any one that dares dig into such hype, the Blazers have to first snag the eight seed from the very team they are playing tonight currently occupies. We would be remiss to highlight that Memphis will be reluctant to give their position away so easily and squander a resurgence to the postseason on the back of the guitar-man himself, one Ja Morant.

A big selling point for Portland is the “must-win” angle. After all, should Rip City fall to the Griz, that would put the Blazers 4½-games behind Memphis and place them in the danger zone of not being able to qualify for a play-in game, as such, a scenario only transpires when the eight and nine seed finish this eight-game slate within four games of each other. It will be reiterated over and over again that Portland can simply not afford to lose this game this early in the resumption of play. The market is very likely going to eat this rhetoric right up. While doing so, the market will also be dismissing the motivation of Memphis, as they will be all the more inclined to pick up where they left off before the disruption and keep their momentum going. It’s not like Memphis doesn’t want to win here. But the build-up makes it seem that way and this is a dangerous proposition in itself.

A prime cause of ripped tickets is betting a team by virtue of the aforementioned “must-win” angle. Every game is a must win and almost all professional athletes treat every competition as such. This game opened with Rip City laying a point but heavy action has caused the Trailblazers to lay an extra basket. We need not disclose the peril in chasing a bad number as yesterday’s Clippers-Lakers game highlighted the danger vividly. The fact remains the “transformed” Portland Trailblazers may be a Megatron in disguise, and we will play that accordingly. Forget the points, we’ll trade away the three-ball and take Memphis outright.

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