After an entertaining couple of weeks, the NBA Summer League will conclude on Monday night with a final matchup between the 5-0 Memphis Grizzlies and 5-0 Miami Heat. It should be an entertaining final, and there are plenty of storylines to catch up on before
In this article, we will recap how these two teams managed to remain undefeated and reach the final, cover the opening betting odds, and share our best bet. Buckle up, tonight's game tips off at 8:00 PM EST on ESPN.
The 5-0 Grizzlies didn’t let a game come within five or fewer points until their semifinal victory against the Clippers. In that game, Washington State rookie Jaylen Wells lit it up from beyond the arc, shooting 6 of 7 from deep while dropping 28 points on LA. While it should be difficult for Wells to replicate this performance as he played 39 minutes in that game, it will be up to GG Jackson whether or not Memphis is given rings at the end of Monday night.
Jackson is an NBA-ready wing. We saw this last season after half of the Memphis roster was injured and GG stepped in as a rookie to make a positive impact. However, dating back to last season, growing pains have been apparent for him.
For example, last game in the 4th quarter Memphis had to call a timeout because Jackson was busy tying his shoes while the point guard couldn’t cross the half-court line due to on-ball pressure. He also had six turnovers last game, some of them coming in pivotal moments. I’m looking for GG to clean up the mistakes while keeping his shot selection out of the papers.
Scottie Pippen Jr. is the main reason Memphis is still playing in Vegas. Pippen dropped just the sixth Summer League triple-double last game with 23, 10, & 10. While he might be small compared to some rim protectors, he’s shifty enough to get to his spots and make defenders pay. He’s had a great SL run so far averaging 20 PPG and 8.2 APG on 41% shooting from deep.
A cause for concern though? He’s averaged 5.2 fouls during his five games in Vegas. Due to Miami’s jumbo-sized wings and fast-paced style, it will be pivotal for the Grizzlies to keep Scottie off larger guards in order for him to stay out of foul trouble.
After trailing by two points at halftime against Golden State yesterday, Miami caught fire from deep in the second half, propelling them into the Summer League final. The team has gone 5-0 in true Miami fashion—not by relying on a single star player, but by winning loose balls, prevailing in foul battles, and running a movement offense that creates chaos for defenses.
They have won three games by 13 or more points and two games by five or less points, so this team knows how to win in both situations. Also, Miami’s offense has looked silky smooth in Vegas as they have posted just one game scoring less than 102 points.
My favorite second-round prospect, and someone I’ve been touting for quite some time, has been making a notable impact for the Summer Heat. Pelle Larsson (Sweden/Arizona), a 6’6” 3-and-D wing, consistently makes all the right plays.
Whether it's drawing an offensive foul, taking a steal coast to coast, or nailing seven free throws in seven tries to lead Miami to the Summer League final, this guy’s got it. He will have his hands full against GG Jackson and Jaylen Wells tonight, but after a 21-point, 6-assist, 4-rebound, and 4-steal performance on a big stage against the Warriors, Pelle is the player to watch for Miami in the final bout in Vegas.
Josh Christopher was once one of the top recruits in the country, known for his ability to handle the ball, knock down 3-pointers, and find his teammates with ease. However, he has yet to make a notable impact in the league.
This Summer League and the final game could be a turning point for his career as Christopher is now part of the Miami development system with the team needing offensive weapons outside of Herro, Butler, and Bam.
Averaging 18.4 PPG on 54/50/100 shooting splits, Christopher hasn’t been tasked with guarding the toughest opponents, rebounding, or assisting—he’s just had to score the basketball and he’s done that at a high rate. With a potential matchup against the smaller Pippen Jr. against Memphis, I’m expecting Josh Christopher to get off to an early start in what could be the best Summer League campaign of his career.
While Aldones Williams and Isaiah Stevens are a few role players that Miami will heavily utilize on both ends in this game, their 15th overall selection Kel’el Ware deserves some love. After Zach Edey was shut down for the rest of the Summer League after a scary fall, Ware has a chance to dominate the paint against Memphis with his 7’1 frame. Ware has averaged 17.4 PPG on 58/33/67 shooting splits in five Vegas games while hauling in 8 RPG and 1.6 BPG.
While Miami would like to see his stock numbers rise in Summer League play, Ware has been no short of great while he’s been on the floor, not doing too much with the basketball and truly playing within his defined role. After the Grizzlies didn’t have to deal with a big man in their semifinal game, this is a tall task for them to handle what Miami has to throw at them from the first offensive set.
The Grizzlies open as a slight betting favorite over the Heat, with the spread set at 2.5 points. Bookmakers see this playing out as a low-scoring game with the total sitting at 186.5 points.
Spread: Miami +2.5 (+105) vs Memphis -2.5 (-150)
Total: O/U 186.5
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With Miami’s offense excelling in transition, set plays, and broken plays, along with a defensive scheme that has held teams to 80 or fewer points three times in their undefeated Summer League run, I believe the underdog will prevail in Vegas.
Between Pelle Larsson’s three-level scoring and fantastic decision-making, and Kel’el Ware towering over the Grizzlies frontcourt, this Miami team should be too much for a Memphis squad that turns the ball over and fouls at a high rate.
The keys to the game for Memphis will be GG Jackson and Scottie Pippen Jr. Can they limit their turnovers and fouling? Both need to be on the same page and play impactful defensive minutes from the jump. Our pick is Miami to win, but regardless, both of these teams will leave Vegas tomorrow with their heads held high.
Best Bet: Miami +105 Moneyline
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