Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers
Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon
Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 10:05 pm Eastern, TV: SportSouth, Comcast-Northwest, NBA League Pass
Opening Line: Blazers -6
Current Line: Blazers -5
Opening Total: 187 1/2
Current Total: 188 1/2
Money Line: Blazers -220 / Grizzlies +180
I am almost positive when the NBA schedule was made-up last summer that no one thought this game between Portland and Memphis on the second to last night of the regular season would have major playoff implications. However, here we are. The 47-33 Trail Blazers are a game ahead of the 46-34 Grizzlies for the sixth spot in the Western Conference. A Portland win would lock up the sixth seed. A Memphis win would create a tie with one game left for each team. The two teams have played twice this season with both teams winning. Both games were in Memphis but they haven’t played since mid-December. Portland won 100-99 November 16 and Memphis won 86-73 December 13. Memphis will clinch the sixth seed with a win tonight and at the Clippers tomorrow night. Portland travels to Golden St to close out the regular season Wednesday night. Both the Blazers’ and Grizzlies’ first round opponents have yet to be determined as the Lakers, Mavericks, and Thunder are locked in a tight battle for the 2nd seed. Both teams are playing well down the stretch. Portland has gone 7-3 in their last ten, including a 93-86 win at home against the Lakers Friday night. Memphis has gone 8-2 in their last 10 including a 111-89 win at home against the Hornets Sunday night.
Portland is 7-3 straight up in the last 3 seasons against Memphis. The Grizzlies are 5-4-1 ATS in those games. The Blazers are 88-73 ATS in all games the last 2 seasons. Portland is 90-67 ATS as a favorite the last 3 seasons. Memphis is 51-28 ATS in all games this season, including 25-10 as an underdog, 25-14 on the road, 28-13 against teams with winning records, and 14-2 against teams from the Northwest division.
Memphis forward Rudy Gay is out for the season with a shoulder injury. He averaged 19.8 points a game. Grizzly guards Xavier Henry (knee) and Jason Williams (back) are both out indefinitely. Power Forward Zach Randolph leads the team in scoring with 20.1 points and rebounds with 12.2 a game. Point guard Mike Conley averages 13.6 points, and leads the team in assists with 6.6 a game. Center Marc Gasol averages 11.8 points a game and leads the team in blocks with 1.7 a game. O.J. Mayo scores 11.3 points a game. Tony Allen leads the team in steals with 1.8 a game. The Grizzlies are outscoring opponents 100-97 on the season. They are shooting 47.1% from the field and 32.9% from 3-point range. Memphis opponents are shooting 45.6% from the field. The Grizzlies make 75% of their free throws. Memphis averages 41 rebounds a game and has a rebounding margin of +0.8. The Grizzlies average 20.6 assists and 13.9 turnovers a game. They force 16.7 turnovers a game on defense. Memphis averages 9.5 steals and 5.4 blocks a game.
Portland point guard Andre Miller is questionable with an eye injury. Forward Marcus Camby is also questionable with a strained neck after missing the last two games. The Blazers have 6 players averaging double figure scoring, led by power forward LaMarcus Aldridge with 21.8 points a game. He also averages 8.7 rebounds. Guard Wesley Matthews averages 15.9 points. Gerald Wallace averages 15.9 points and leads the team in steals with 2 a game. Miller averages 12.9 points and leads the team in assists with 7.1 a game. Brandon Roy missed significant time with a knee injury this season and is trying to get back to his all-star form. He is averaging 12.4 points a game. Nicholas Batum averages 12.3 points a game. Camby leads the team in rebounds with 10.3 a game and blocks with 1.5 a game. The Blazers are outscoring opponents 96-95 on the season. Portland is shooting 44.9% from the field and 34.1% from 3-point range. Blazer opponents are shooting 46.7% from the field. The Blazers make 80.4% of their free throws. They average 39.2 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of -0.4. They average 21.2 assists and 13 turnovers a game. Portland forces 15.7 turnovers a game on defense. The Blazers force 8.1 steals and 4.4 blocks a game.
Memphis has never won a playoff game in franchise history having been swept in 3 previous appearances. This team is very dangerous and can certainly scare the four elite teams in the West, the Spurs, Mavericks, Lakers, and Thunder. Portland is also capable of playing tough with any team. This should be a great game and is almost like an early playoff game.
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