Vegas Play of the Day: Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers

By Case Keefer (contact)

Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 | 11:46 a.m.

The NBA’s western conference is must-see television over the next few months.

The Play of the Day, which uses odds from the South Point and $10,000 starting bankrolls, hopes to capitalize.

Portland Trail Blazers minus-3.5 vs. Memphis Grizzlies: $330 to win $300

The Grizzlies have enjoyed an interminable 11 days off since the start of the All-Star break. Now they must travel through two time zones and more than 2,000 miles to resume the season.

It’s tough to imagine Memphis being at its sharpest under those circumstances. Portland played off some rust last night, in a 92-76 loss at Utah, before returning to the Moda Center, where it's five games above .500 against the spread for the season.

Even if all circumstances were equal, laying less than four points would still be a value with Portland at home. The Grizzlies and Blazers are of two of the most commensurate teams in the NBA.

They’re tied for fifth in efficiency differential with identical numbers on both offense and defense. Portland already has lost twice to Memphis this year, perhaps implying the Blazers will be motivated not to fall further behind a playoff competitor.

Portland’s recent offensive shortcomings are overblown. The Blazers have shot below its season average from the field in four of their past five games — including 36 percent in the sluggish performance at Utah — but Damian Lillard creates too many good shots for the trend to continue for long.

Standings: Keefer (65-64-2, $10,287), Bern (66-61-1, $9,806), Brewer (60-69-3, $4,615)

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.