NBA Preview: Memphis Grizzlies at Miami Heat

Added on Mar 12, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

NBA

The Miami Heat got a big win against the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday to end their five game losing streak. They’re still in third place in the Eastern Conference three games back of first place Boston. The Memphis Grizzlies are holding on to the 8th and final playoff spot in the West with a 1 1/2 game lead over 9th place Phoenix and a 2 game lead over 10th place Utah.

Memphis Grizzlies at Miami Heat
March 12, 2011 12:35 PM Pacific

As far as the mainstream sports media is concerned, all is right with the world and every is hunky dory in Miami with the Heat. We’re not so sure that’s the case. At any rate, they now face a brutal letdown spot after a game that they considered a ‘make or break’ game for this season. Or as Chris Bosh put it after the win:

“We had everything riding on this game, really, to be honest with you.”

Thanks for the tip, Chris. To make matters worse, the Heat will have another ‘statement’ game up next as they host the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night. So we’ve got a classic ‘sandwich situation’ with Miami coming off arguably their biggest game of the year. As if this wasn’t already the perfect set up for us they’ll be facing the most profitable underdog in the NBA. The Memphis Grizzlies are 22-12 ATS on the road and 22-8 ATS as an underdog. The Heat are still an underperforming home team despite their win against the Lakers with a pointspread record of 11-20 and are 2-7 ATS in this price range (-6′ to -9 points). They’re also 11-16 ATS against opponents with winning records and on a 3-9 ATS run. The Heat win/cover against the Lakers broke a 7 game losing streak to the pointspread.

Memphis is coming off a loss which is usually a good situation for a play on an underdog, but especially in this case. The Grizzlies were upset at home by the New York Knicks as a -4 point favorite. After a SU loss as a favorite this year the Grizzlies are a perfect 10-0 against the spread. They’ll enter this contest with a 10-5 ATS record in their last 15 games and are a team the Heat are almost certain to take lightly–and particularly with San Antonio on deck. We’ll call for the outright Memphis upset.

Bet Memphis Grizzlies +7′ over Miami Heat