Not a Cake-Walk

Photo courtesy of nbcsports.msnbc.com

The NBA Western Conference is so deep that even the number one versus number eight seed game is not clear-cut.

The Memphis Grizzlies and San Antonio Spurs split their regular season series against each other (2-2).  Both of the Grizzlies wins came in the second half of the season.

Player to Watch: If Memphis plans on giving the Spurs a run for their money, leading scorer (20.1 PPG) and rebounder (12.2RPG) Zach Randolph to have one hell of a series.

During mid-March, the time period Tim Duncan was sidelined with an injury, the Spurs lost the most consecutive games since he has been on the team (6).  If Duncan is not at 100% health level by the time this series starts, the Grizzlies may have an even better chance at getting the upset, than previously perceived.

Despite some of their recent struggles, the Spurs finished with over 60 wins for a reason.  They scored the 6^th most amount of points per night in the NBA (103.8), and allowed the 14^th fewest (97.8).

Bottom line: The Spurs were an eye-popping 36-5 at their AT&T Center.  Look for the Spurs to continue to defend their turf in San Antonio.

Prediction: the Spurs will not get by without some bumps and bruises, yet they are too good not to make it through the first round (Spurs over Grizzlies in 6).

(Statistics up-to date as of April 10, 2011)