NBA Basketball
2005-12-30 - Memphis at Portland
A Sports Betting Pick by Ermine
Memphis @ Portland ....STANDINGS :
Grizzlies - 3rd place, 4 1/2 GB, Southwest Division.
Trail Blazers - 5th place, 5 GB, Northwest Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS :
Grizzlies - F Eddie Jones, F Shane Battier, C Gasol, G Stoudamire, G Mike Miller.
Trail Blazers - F Viktor Khryapa, F Randolph, C Theo Ratliff, G Dixon, G Blake.
TEAM LEADERS :
Grizzlies - Gasol, 19.5 ppg and 9.6 rpg; Stoudamire, 4.8 apg.
Trail Blazers - Randolph, 18.5 ppg and 8.9 rpg; Telfair, 4.3 apg.
SEASON SERIES :
1-1.
LAST MEETING :
Dec. 21; Grizzlies, 89-79. At Memphis, Tenn..
ROAD/HOME RECORDS :
Grizzlies - 8-5 on the road;
Trail Blazers - 6-7 at home.
This is one of those games that goes against recent trends.
Portland has been playing their best basketball of the season. They are 7-1 Against the Spread in their last 8, but they are still only 6-7 ATS at home where Memphis is 8-5 on the road.
Portland has been lead by Zack Randolph, but he is matched up against Pau Gasol, who I think matches up very well against him and should give Randolph troubles.
The bottom line is this. Memphis is a much better team that plays very well on the road, playing against a team that has struggled at home.
