NBA Expert Picks: Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies

Portland Trail Blazers at Memphis Grizzlies
Tuesday, 11/16/10, 8:00 PM EDT, TV: NBA TV
Opening Point Spread: Memphis -2
Current Betting Line: Memphis -1
Opening Total: 194
Current Total: 192.5
Current Moneyline: Memphis -120 / Portland +100

The Memphis Grizzlies have lost seven straight home games to the Portland Trail Blazers

Portland has lost five of eight games since starting the season with a perfect 3-0 mark and will likely be without star guard Brandon Roy tonight in Memphis. “He told me his knee was sore and he needed to be pulled,” head coach Nate McMillan stated. “He’ll be evaluated and we’ll wait to see what happens.” The Blazers may not need the All-Star in tonight’s venue, averaging 103.0 points and holding the Grizzlies to 96.1 per contest during a seven-game winning streak at Memphis. It’s important to note that Roy has averaged 21.8 points in six of those games. The two teams did split last year’s series, 2-2, with the road team winning each contest. Portland is 5-4 ATS this season and 2-0 ATS after suffering a loss by 10 points or more. The NBA lines page has them listed as a slight road underdog.

The Trail Blazers have played eight of their 12 games on the road, which is the most games away from home of any NBA team so far this season. Portland finished 24-17 on the road in 2009-10, tied for the third-best mark in team history. It’s also important to note that the team is a perfect 6-0 thus far when holdings opponents to 95 points or less this season, allowing 85.5 points per game in wins and 111.0 points in losses. This is no surprise due to Portland allowing the fewest points per game of any Western Conference team last season (94.8).

Memphis is likely to have a hard time ending its home futility against the Blazers if they continue their play from last night, a dismal 89-72 road loss to Orlando. The Grizzlies were so bothered by the loss that the team held a meeting after the game. “We needed to talk,” said guard Mike Conley. “The issues we have as a team, being accountable individually, we’ve got to stop it up and have all the guys in tune.” Conley is an early season candidate for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award, posting career highs in points (14.4), rebounds (4.2) and assists (7.4). Memphis misfired on 15 of its 20 shots in the opening quarter on Monday, while also turning the ball over 10 times. The squad is 0-2 ATS as a home favorite of three points or less.

The Grizzlies are currently a losing club due to having nine of their first 11 opponents posting a winning record and seven of their losses have come against teams with a combined 50-21 record. Memphis has done some great things early on, leading the league in steals (11.8), forced turnovers (20.3) and points off turnovers (21.8). The team has also been a force in the paint, ranking third in the league with 47.3 points per game, after leading the NBA with 51.4 points during the 2009-10 campaign.