Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers Pro Basketball Predictions

Memphis Grizzlies at Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday, 11/2/2010, 10:30 PM EST, TV: NBA TV
Opening Point Spread: Los Angeles -10
Current Betting Line: Los Angeles -9.5
Opening Total: 201
Current Total: 201

The Los Angeles Lakers are clearly motivated with a perfect 3-0 start to the 2010-11 NBA season

Memphis tallied an impressive 109-89 home victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves in their last game without the services of Zach Randolph (hip) and playing a third game in four nights. “I think it’s effort,” coach Lionel Hollins said. “It’s getting back to what we do. We had 32 deflections and nine times we had three tops in a row. We had some consistency with our effort.” The Grizzlies hope Randolph returns to action tonight in the first game of a four-game, five-nigh Western road trip, but his status is unknown at this time. Hollins has gained the respect of his players ever since dealing with a disgruntled Allen Iverson last year, as team chemistry and the Grizzlies’ record improving considerably in finishing 40-42 during the 2009-10 campaign. Memphis is currently a big road underdog on the NBA lines page.

The Grizzlies have been led offensively by forward Rudy Gay, who is averaging a team-high 22.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game through the first three regular season games. He chose to re-sign with Memphis as one of the members of the 2010 free agent class and helped Team USA win its first gold medal at the FIBA World Championships since 1994. The squad has a 2-1 overall record and perfect 2-0 mark against the Western Conference, with wins over the Mavericks and Timberwolves. Memphis dropped two of three meetings with Los Angeles during the 2009-10 campaign, with the last two games decided by two points or less. They will be seeking their first 2-0 road start since the 2000-01 season, the franchise’s final season in Vancouver.

Los Angeles will try to improve to 4-0 on the season and pick up its fourth straight home win over the Grizzlies tonight. Lakers star guard Kobe Bryant declared his surgically repaired knee 100 percent healthy after a 107-83 blowout victory of the Golden State Warriors. “Leave me alone about my knee,” said Bryant after Sunday’s game. Head coach Phil Jackson had an entirely different way of looking at things by saying, “He’s not 100 percent, but that’s nice of him to say it.” Either way, he managed to score 20 points and grab seven rebounds, averaging 24.0 points on the season. Los Angeles is 2-1 ATS this year and 9-16 ATS after allowing 85 points or less.

The Lakers are glad to have Jackson back on the sidelines this season, as he goes for his fourth three-peat as an NBA coach. Jeannie Buss, the Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations told reporters that her boyfriend, Jackson, probably won’t coach after this season. Los Angeles leads the all-time series 42-14 against the Grizzlies, but have posted a 20-13 mark since the team moved to Memphis. Tuesday’s game is also the squad’s first of a back-to-back set, as the Lakers will play just 15 of them this season as opposed to the 20 they endured a year ago. They were 12-8 on the front end of this situation during the 2009-10 season.