NBA Basketball
2010-11-30 - LA Lakers at Memphis Grizzlies
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States: NBA Basketball
Tuesday 30 November 2010 - Tip-Off 8pm ET
1am (British Standard Time)
Preview
Well, all is not well in the World of the LA Lakers (13-4) who hope to avoid their first 3 game losing run this season. They should have righted the ship when meeting the Indiana Pacers last time out, but might feel even better about meeting the Memphis Grizzlies (7-10).
The Lakers looked like being unstoppable on Offense after averaging over 112 points per game as they took the new season by storm, but things have not all been going their way recently. They are just averaging 95 points per game in their last 3 matches and are shooting at under 40% from the field.
Both of the last 2 losses have been tough to take for different reasons. The Lakers just became the latest team to blow a big lead when playing the Utah Jazz, blowing a 19 point lead in that one, before just underperforming in their home loss to Indiana. Phil Jackson will be hoping his team will need a little less production from Kobe Bryant and can return Derek Fisher to some sort of form.
The reasons for that are simple: the Lakers are 7-0 when Fisher scores in double digits and are 10-1 when Bryant scores less than 30 points. They are 3-3 if Bryant scores more than 30 points.
Memphis may have a losing record but they will feel they can certainly pose a threat when playing at home as they are now winners of 3 in a row there. They have averaged 106 points in those games and are shooting at 50% from the field.
The Grizzlies were vastly disappointing in their loss at Cleveland last time out but there could be some factors involved as it was a back to back game and they did not arrive in Cleveland until 4 in the morning.
Head to Head
This will be the 2nd meeting of the season between the two teams, the Lakers winning by 19 at home earlier on. That was a game in which LA scored 124 points, the most allowed by Memphis this season.
That improved the Lakers record to 7-1 against the Grizzlies, including winning 2 of 3 last season, but games at the FedExForum have been close.
Memphis are 16-7 against the spread in recent meetings, and are 3-1 at home.
The Grizzlies are 4-4-1 against the spread at home this season, while the Lakers are 5-2 on the road.
Prediction
The line has been set as it is because of the recent struggles of the Lakers and the decent home court performances by the Grizzlies. In the 3 game winning run at home, Memphis have the Miami Heat, but the calibre of opponents played are not on the level of LA.
While LA have been disappointing in the last 2 games, I do expect to see a reaction here. Memphis will play them tough, there is no doubt about that, but I am going to bite on the line and pick the Lakers to win and cover.
The Pick :
Memphis Grizzlies 99-106 LA Lakers
