- Mar 2, 2006
- 4,794
- 120
- 0
ATS: 104-76-4 (+30)
OU: 60-52-1 (+1.5)
ML dogs: 3-7 (+1.5)
The Lakers and Grizzlies game is an interesting match up tonight. Here is one team that plays some of the worst defense on the road, versus a team that plays some of the best defense at home. The Lakers have literally hit rock bottom, after a horrible outing vs. the Bulls where they were held to 14 points in the fourth quarter, but let?s not forget that the Grizzlies have been a struggle recently as well, and they have lost two of their important bench players.
The Grizzlies just made a trade, thinning out their already struggling bench, which is second to last in the league in scoring. The Grizzlies have not managed to score over 85 points in any of their last six games, 4 of which they have lost. They are also shooting under 25% from threes in their last 8 games. They traded away their best three point shooter in Ellington, who led Memphis with 17 points in their last game. Although I'm sure the core starters are happy they get to stay and play together, it has to be a bit demoralizing to realize that they have no bench anymore.
Since beating the Spurs in an overtime thriller, the Grizzlies have not been good. To their credit, their schedule has been brutal. After the home overtime victory, they had to travel to Dallas and play a hot Mavericks team unrested. Then they came home and played the Clippers, then traveled away for a loss to Spurs. They came home and beat the Kings handily, then pulled out a short victory over the Bulls on the road, and lost to the Pacers. In their last 8 games, they have not had two consecutive site games. Teams playing this kind of schedule as a home favorite of 5.5 or less (average line -3.9) against a team with a losing record are 8-17 SU and ATS since the 2001 season.
The Lakers lost to the Grizzlies earlier this season by 8, in a game where the Memphis frontcourt dominated the Lakers, holding the team to 28 rebounds and Howard and Pau Gasol to a combined 13 points. This is the only time that Marc Gasol has won a head-to-head matchup against Howard. I expect a huge game from the Lakers frontcourt tonight.
Kobe: "We're going to have to change something. Probably going to have to post the ball a lot more, slow the game down a lot more. That's just my intuition, but that's my gut right now."
Kobe has really struggled from the field in his last few games. Since the 2004 season, the Lakers are 9-3 SU (+7.2) and ATS after two games in which Kobe shot less than 35% from the field.
Earlier this week, Memphis was a 7 point favorite over the Pacers, and now they are only a 4 point favorite over the Lakers. This line could reflect the trade impact, or the points the Lakers still get automatically for being the Lakers. As a home favorite, the Grizzlies have been rewarded with an average line of -7.5 this season, and against opponents with a losing record the average line has been -9.4.
I have to believe in one of the best competitors the NBA has ever seen tonight, and that somehow Kobe comes out and leads him team to a win tonight. Somehow...
Lakers +4
Rockets -2
Warriors +2
Rockets OVER 216.5
Wolves-Nets UNDER 187.5
Good luck...
OU: 60-52-1 (+1.5)
ML dogs: 3-7 (+1.5)
The Lakers and Grizzlies game is an interesting match up tonight. Here is one team that plays some of the worst defense on the road, versus a team that plays some of the best defense at home. The Lakers have literally hit rock bottom, after a horrible outing vs. the Bulls where they were held to 14 points in the fourth quarter, but let?s not forget that the Grizzlies have been a struggle recently as well, and they have lost two of their important bench players.
The Grizzlies just made a trade, thinning out their already struggling bench, which is second to last in the league in scoring. The Grizzlies have not managed to score over 85 points in any of their last six games, 4 of which they have lost. They are also shooting under 25% from threes in their last 8 games. They traded away their best three point shooter in Ellington, who led Memphis with 17 points in their last game. Although I'm sure the core starters are happy they get to stay and play together, it has to be a bit demoralizing to realize that they have no bench anymore.
Since beating the Spurs in an overtime thriller, the Grizzlies have not been good. To their credit, their schedule has been brutal. After the home overtime victory, they had to travel to Dallas and play a hot Mavericks team unrested. Then they came home and played the Clippers, then traveled away for a loss to Spurs. They came home and beat the Kings handily, then pulled out a short victory over the Bulls on the road, and lost to the Pacers. In their last 8 games, they have not had two consecutive site games. Teams playing this kind of schedule as a home favorite of 5.5 or less (average line -3.9) against a team with a losing record are 8-17 SU and ATS since the 2001 season.
The Lakers lost to the Grizzlies earlier this season by 8, in a game where the Memphis frontcourt dominated the Lakers, holding the team to 28 rebounds and Howard and Pau Gasol to a combined 13 points. This is the only time that Marc Gasol has won a head-to-head matchup against Howard. I expect a huge game from the Lakers frontcourt tonight.
Kobe: "We're going to have to change something. Probably going to have to post the ball a lot more, slow the game down a lot more. That's just my intuition, but that's my gut right now."
Kobe has really struggled from the field in his last few games. Since the 2004 season, the Lakers are 9-3 SU (+7.2) and ATS after two games in which Kobe shot less than 35% from the field.
Earlier this week, Memphis was a 7 point favorite over the Pacers, and now they are only a 4 point favorite over the Lakers. This line could reflect the trade impact, or the points the Lakers still get automatically for being the Lakers. As a home favorite, the Grizzlies have been rewarded with an average line of -7.5 this season, and against opponents with a losing record the average line has been -9.4.
I have to believe in one of the best competitors the NBA has ever seen tonight, and that somehow Kobe comes out and leads him team to a win tonight. Somehow...
Lakers +4
Rockets -2
Warriors +2
Rockets OVER 216.5
Wolves-Nets UNDER 187.5
Good luck...
