Every year the Memphis Grizzlies continue to be the team that no one wants to meet in the playoffs because they play one of the toughest brands of basketball since the "Bad Boy" Detroit Pistons in the late 1980s. Every series they participate in is a knock-down-drag-out war, and the fact that they never had a legitimate crunch-time threat to provide the team with reliable scoring during the closing minutes of a game is a shame. Memphis has always been good but just not good enough to compete for a title-and sadly, 2014 will not be any different.

The Grizzlies play the right type of basketball, especially during the postseason when the game slows down, yet they never found that final piece of the puzzle to push the squad over the hump. In the NBA dominant offensive players win titles, and the only team to win a championship over the last 20 years without a dominant scorer was the Detroit Pistons in 2004. Maybe 2014 will be different for Memphis, or maybe it won't, but either way the "Grind House" will be one of the last places opposing players will want to visit this season. Let's take a closer look at Memphis' 2014 futures odds with predictions and analysis.

2014 Memphis Grizzlies Betting Story Lines

Memphis is not necessarily a team that is built for the up-tempo grind of the regular season. The team did win 50 games last year but struggled to consistently produce points and ended up with the third-lowest scoring average in the league. Yet despite its scoring deficiencies, Memphis was a Zach Randolph Game-7 suspension away from eliminating the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first-round of last year's playoffs and possibly making a deep run through the Western Conference.

Memphis may not have the offensive firepower to run up 58 wins and grab a top seed in the conference, but if the team can make it into the postseason-no matter where the squad ends up-it will be a threat to win any series. The NBA regular season favors strong offensive teams, mainly because of the energy required to play lock-down defense on a nightly basis, and Memphis does not truly excel as a group until it reaches the postseason and can play its optimal brand of basketball.

2014 Memphis Grizzlies Additions and Departures

Key Additions: Vince Carter

Key Departures: None

The Grizzlies did not make many moves during the offseason as they picked up two players in the draft and signed Vince Carter through free agency. The Carter pickup may not be the blockbuster signing it could have been five or six years ago, but the veteran is still an excellent player who can hit big shots late in games while creating his own offense. Carter could be the extra help on the offensive end that pushes to team back into the Western Conference Finals.

2014 Memphis Grizzlies Futures Odds

NBA Title Odds: +5000

Western Conference Odds: +2500

Division Odds: +800

Win Total: O/U 48.5

MVP: Marc Gasol +20000; Zach Randolph +30000

Memphis was meant to play postseason basketball, and because of that its futures odds will always be enticing. The squad continues to be a horrible stylish matchup in a league that continually favors small-ball, up-tempo basketball. The Gasol and Randolph duo can at times be unstoppable, which is the biggest issues for teams that do not have the size or strength to match up with them. The problem for the Grizzlies is that while they can be a dominant postseason force, they are also not guaranteed to even make the playoffs.

Many NBA experts are predicting that Memphis will be the one playoff team from last year to fall out of the postseason picture to make room for Phoenix or another up-and-coming Western Conference squad. And while that could certainly happen in a tough conference, expect Memphis to produce another 50-win season and squeak by its win totals wager with an "over"

2014 Memphis Grizzlies Predictions and Futures Odds Picks

Record: 50-32

Playoffs: Eighth seed with the possibility of a Cinderella run.

There are no surprises with Memphis; what you see is what you get. The squad is a defensive monster, plays tough and is a bad matchup for every team in the NBA. Memphis also struggles to score, which could be the main cause if the squad misses the playoffs. Last season the Grizzlies were one of the worst ATS teams in the league with a 36-43-3 records, and they will probably put up the same type of numbers during the 2014-15 season. Memphis' futures odds, however, are live wagers and worth a bet for those gamblers looking to take a long shot group to win the 2015 NBA title.

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