Memphis Grizzlies at Charlotte Bobcats
January 10th, 2011 at 7:00 PM EST
Opening Line:  Memphis -2.5
Current Line:  Memphis -3.5
Opening Total: 192.5
Current Total: 192
Opening Moneyline:  Memphis -140 / Charlotte +120
Current Moneyline:  Memphis -155 / Charlotte +135

Since bringing in a new coach in Paul Silas, Charlotte’s players have begun to look like they actually want to play.  Larry Brown’s slow down and grind it out style did not fit his personnel, and few players enjoy playing that style, anyway.

“It’s kind of like losing a team. Nobody wanted to play no more,” said star shooting guard Stephen Jackson. “Everybody wanted to play a different style than we were playing. We didn’t agree with what was going on. Obviously, it wasn’t working, so we needed a change.”

The change has been working out.  The Bobcats have won four straight at home and players are at least looking like they are enjoying themselves on the court.  Most of the players’ numbers have increased since the trade and even without star forward Gerald Wallace, things have begun to look up for the Bobcats.

Memphis has been quite mediocre of late, and indeed quite average all year.  They sit at 3 games below .500 and have split their last 10 games, 5-5.  They have stayed healthy, but made few improvements from last season when they also failed to make the playoffs.  Perhaps it will take a trade to improve Memphis’ chances.  O.J. Mayo in his reduced role would probably make excelletn trade bait, but no deals seem to be rumored currently.

Some betting trends:

The total has gone OVER In 4 of Memphis’ last 6 games and UNDER in 7 of their last 10 road games.  They are 5-14 SU in their last 19 road games and 1-4 SU in their last 5 against the Bobcats.

The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Charlotte’s last 14 games and they are 4-2 SU over their last 6.  They are also 2-4 ATS in their last 6 at home and the total has gone UNDER In 10 of their last 12 games at Time Warner Cable Arena.  They are 4-1 SU in their last 5 vs Memphis and 2-4 ATS in their last 6 at home vs the Grizzlies.

Key matchup:

Mike Conley vs. D.J. Augustin

Augustin was left to be the starter after Raymond Felton bolted for the Knicks as a free agent.  Many questioned whether Augustin was starter material, but since Silas has came in as coach he has silenced many of those doubters by averaging better than 19 points per game.  He’s still not quite the ball distributor that Felton was, but perhaps that will come in time.  Conley has slightly improved his play in his fourth year in the league, but still doesn’t look as though he was worth the #4 overall pick that the Grizzlies spent on him.  They then signed him to a rather precarious extension last summer and drew criticism for it.  Perhaps they want a mediocre point guard, no one knows.  But rolling forward with Conley at point guard certainly doesn’t send the message that they can be a contender.

It’s almost strange to see Memphis favored in a road game like this.  They are 6-14 on the road and Charlotte isn’t exactly dominant at home (.500 win pct).  NBA oddsmakers have set the line in Memphis’ favor, but I, for one, am going to make a moneyline bet on Charlotte for this game.