Larry Ness' 10* Division G.O.Y. (90% ATS thi season)
My 10* Southwest Division G.O. Y. is on the Hou Rockets at 8:05 ET.
Center Marc Gasol has returned for Memphis but neither he nor the Grizzlies have made any major strides since that return. Gasol has averaged just 10.5 PPG since coming back (on 38.9 percent shooting), while averaging a modest 5.0 RPG. Yes, Memphis is 3-1 SU in that span but the Grizz are just 1-3 ATS, because they've averaged only 88.8 PPG.
That hardly bodes well for this game vs the Rockets, who average 105.9 PPG (3rd-best) on 47.3 percent shooting (also 3rd-best). Houston averages 106.8 PPG at home and already owns two wins over Memphis this season, despite James Harden (24.3-4.9-5.4) missing one of the games and Dwight Howard (18.3 & 12.6) being limited to 18 minutes and only two points due to foul trouble in another. The Rockets are much healthier now, as PG Patrick Beverley (9.8-3.9-2.5) returned to his starting position in the recent wins against Portland and Sacramento, leaving Lin (13.5-4.3 APG) to come off the bench, a role he's done well in this season.
Chandler Parsons has found his game again, averaging 20 & 10 on 22 of 34 shooting in the last two games, while checking in at 17.2-5.8-3.6 on the year. The Rockets scratched Ronnie Brewer because of a sore calf, Terrence Jones (bruised thigh) sat out his second straight contest and Francisco Garcia (knee) missed his third in a row the last time out for Houston. However, Omri Casspi (8.3-3.9) had season highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes off the bench and the good news is that Jones is listed as probable for this one. He's averaging 11.6 & 7.7 on the season, including 21.6 points and 12.2 rebounds in the five games before his injury!
Memphis PG Conley (18.1-6.3 APG) is having a career season and Randolph (17.1 & 10.6) is still a double-double 'machine' but the team's best perimeter defender, Tony Allen, remains out and as mentioned, Gasol hasn't exactly returned to 'rave reviews.'
Now here's the rub. The Grizzlies are 0-10 SU and 1-9 ATS (a 90% ATS "go against!") vs division opponents this season and Memphis’ victory in Houston last April 12, snapped its 13-game road losing streak in the series. These teams meet again tomorrow in Memphis, so expect Houston to "take care of business" here at home, tonight!
My 10* Southwest Division G.O. Y. is on the Hou Rockets at 8:05 ET.
Center Marc Gasol has returned for Memphis but neither he nor the Grizzlies have made any major strides since that return. Gasol has averaged just 10.5 PPG since coming back (on 38.9 percent shooting), while averaging a modest 5.0 RPG. Yes, Memphis is 3-1 SU in that span but the Grizz are just 1-3 ATS, because they've averaged only 88.8 PPG.
That hardly bodes well for this game vs the Rockets, who average 105.9 PPG (3rd-best) on 47.3 percent shooting (also 3rd-best). Houston averages 106.8 PPG at home and already owns two wins over Memphis this season, despite James Harden (24.3-4.9-5.4) missing one of the games and Dwight Howard (18.3 & 12.6) being limited to 18 minutes and only two points due to foul trouble in another. The Rockets are much healthier now, as PG Patrick Beverley (9.8-3.9-2.5) returned to his starting position in the recent wins against Portland and Sacramento, leaving Lin (13.5-4.3 APG) to come off the bench, a role he's done well in this season.
Chandler Parsons has found his game again, averaging 20 & 10 on 22 of 34 shooting in the last two games, while checking in at 17.2-5.8-3.6 on the year. The Rockets scratched Ronnie Brewer because of a sore calf, Terrence Jones (bruised thigh) sat out his second straight contest and Francisco Garcia (knee) missed his third in a row the last time out for Houston. However, Omri Casspi (8.3-3.9) had season highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes off the bench and the good news is that Jones is listed as probable for this one. He's averaging 11.6 & 7.7 on the season, including 21.6 points and 12.2 rebounds in the five games before his injury!
Memphis PG Conley (18.1-6.3 APG) is having a career season and Randolph (17.1 & 10.6) is still a double-double 'machine' but the team's best perimeter defender, Tony Allen, remains out and as mentioned, Gasol hasn't exactly returned to 'rave reviews.'
Now here's the rub. The Grizzlies are 0-10 SU and 1-9 ATS (a 90% ATS "go against!") vs division opponents this season and Memphis’ victory in Houston last April 12, snapped its 13-game road losing streak in the series. These teams meet again tomorrow in Memphis, so expect Houston to "take care of business" here at home, tonight!
