Early consensus seems to conclude that I am crazy in liking the Grizz here. Memphis sucks at home now! Nets = covering machine!
My main thoughts:
Grizz will be looking to snap their home losing streak, and to do so emphatically. The Nets provide the perfect opportunity to give the home crowd what they want and expect: an easy win
Excerpt from my blog:
Memphis is a strong home team, make no mistake about that. Their 8 game home losing streak is well-publicized and many people on the opposite side of this play will point to that. However, I see it differently.The Grizzlies have proven all year long that they are a strong team, and even more so when they are playing at home. So instead, how I view their home struggles is that I believe their recent home skid has to end eventually -- they are too good not to--- and I see this game versus the Nets as the perfect opportunity for them to put the hammer down and defend their home court emphatically.
At first glance, the 9 point spread looks quite large and intimidating to lay for a team that has lost 8 straight at home against a team in the New Jersey Nets that have proven to be a great cover against large spreads. However, their recent trends together (the Nets' success as large dogs and Memphis' recent struggles at home), are what makes this line so high and it should drive the public to bet on New Jersey's side. Yet, I really like Memphis in this spot because this is a team, who has the talent to match any in the League, and have for the most part, shown the chemistry needed to play at their best. They're coming into this game both rested, and aware of their 8 game home losing streak. I see them hungry to end this streak and end it in a big way. If they come out like that, there is nothing the Nets can do to prevent a DD piecing. When a team has the ability to control their destiny and the incentive to do so in a particular game, they are a team I can back confidently. The Nets are not that team here; the Grizzlies are.
MEM -9; anyone else with me?
My main thoughts:
Grizz will be looking to snap their home losing streak, and to do so emphatically. The Nets provide the perfect opportunity to give the home crowd what they want and expect: an easy win
Excerpt from my blog:
Memphis is a strong home team, make no mistake about that. Their 8 game home losing streak is well-publicized and many people on the opposite side of this play will point to that. However, I see it differently.The Grizzlies have proven all year long that they are a strong team, and even more so when they are playing at home. So instead, how I view their home struggles is that I believe their recent home skid has to end eventually -- they are too good not to--- and I see this game versus the Nets as the perfect opportunity for them to put the hammer down and defend their home court emphatically.
At first glance, the 9 point spread looks quite large and intimidating to lay for a team that has lost 8 straight at home against a team in the New Jersey Nets that have proven to be a great cover against large spreads. However, their recent trends together (the Nets' success as large dogs and Memphis' recent struggles at home), are what makes this line so high and it should drive the public to bet on New Jersey's side. Yet, I really like Memphis in this spot because this is a team, who has the talent to match any in the League, and have for the most part, shown the chemistry needed to play at their best. They're coming into this game both rested, and aware of their 8 game home losing streak. I see them hungry to end this streak and end it in a big way. If they come out like that, there is nothing the Nets can do to prevent a DD piecing. When a team has the ability to control their destiny and the incentive to do so in a particular game, they are a team I can back confidently. The Nets are not that team here; the Grizzlies are.
MEM -9; anyone else with me?
