Posted on
4/14/2008 12:11:02 PM
NBA Basketball Betting - Memphis at Miami
By Charles Jay
WHO: Memphis Grizzlies (21-57 SU, 34-44 ATS) at Miami Heat (14-64 SU, 30-47-1 ATS)
WHERE: American Airlines Arena in Miami
WHEN: Friday, April 11 at 7:35 PM ET
BetUS Sportsbook NBA betting odds: Memphis -4.5, Total 193.5
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA betting trends:
* MIA has won and covered four of the last five meetings
* Seven of the last nine meetings have gone UNDER the total
* MIA has won and covered four of the last five meetings as the home team
* Seven of the last ten meetings in Miami have gone UNDER the total
* MIA has had the shooting edge in four of the last five meetings
* MIA has had the rebounding edge in four of the last five meetings
Memphis averages 7.5 three-pointers a game. The Grizzlies chalk up 10.1 offensive rebounds a game and 41.3 total rebounds per contest. Also:
* MEM has covered two of its last six games
* MEM has lost 18 of its last 25 games SU
* MEM has played six of its last seven games OVER the total
* MEM has covered six of its last seven road games
* MEM has lost 20 of its last 23 road games SU
* MEM has played four of its last five road games OVER the total
Miami trails the rest of the league with 91.5 points per game, and is only slightly more productive at home (92.3 ppg). The Heat surrenders 46.9% shooting from the field. Also:
* MIA has covered two of its last six games
* MIA has lost seven of its last eight games SU
* MIA has played six of its last seven games UNDER the total
* MIA has covered eight of its last 25 home games
* MIA has lost 21 of its last 25 home games SU
* MIA has played seven of its last eight home games UNDER the total
Miami, as we have gone over time and time again, is a time that is dominated right now by refugees from the Developmental League. But that makes the Heat a bit different than a team of NBA veterans just playing things out and thinking about golf or rollerblading or whatever. Sure, Ricky Davis is still around, and that's not often a good thing, but many of these guys are literally playing for their NBA lives, to be in the plans of either Pat Riley next season or catch the eye of some other NBA coach.
That includes Kasib Powell, the D-League's most valuable player, Blake Ahearn, a hustling guard from Missouri State, and even Earl Barron, who's been around the league for a few years and put together efforts of 20 and 13 points back-to-back. And for maybe the biggest surprise, the undrafted second-year man chris Quinn has averaged 16 points over his last ten games with an assist/turnover ratio of more than 3-to-1.
This is not to say that the Heat is a team on the move; indeed, Tuesday's win over Chicago was just their third in the last 21 games. But this 21-win Memphis squad is a team that has played with a certain indifference all season, and to lay points with them in this game is risky at best. After all, the Grizzlies have been a road favorite only one time all season, and they have emerged triumphant in just seven of 38 road games.
Let's grab the points with Miami, the 4.5-point dog in the BetUS NBA betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: MIAMI
You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!
(Charles Jay of http://www.eBookies.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)