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2008 Memphis Grizzlies Betting

The Memphis Grizzlies got O.J. Mayo in a draft day trade and hope he will be their future in a big, big way. We preview the 2008 betting chances of the Memphis Grizzlies…

2008-09 Basketball Betting – Memphis Grizzlies Preview

The Memphis Grizzlies (22-60 SU, 35-46-1 ATS, 39-43 O/U), got explosive combo guard O.J. Mayo in a draft day trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but dropped the ball if you ask me by allowing talented big man Kevin Love to get away for another point guard just one season after drafting former Ohio State product Mike Conley to be their ‘point guard of the future.’

Now, the Grizzlies have three talented point guards in Mayo, Conley and starter, Kyle Lowry, but question marks at every other position on the floor, though I will admit they have two athletic scoring forwards in Rudy Gay and Hakim Warrick.

Still, this team is going to struggle to surpass the 22 wins they recorded in the BetUS Sportsbook last season.

Second-year head coach Marc Iavaroni will have his hands full trying to win games with a slew of young players that need time to grow.

The Grizzlies have hired defensive-minded former college coach Kevin O’Neill as an assistant coach to help shore up the team’s porous defense, while maintaining the same offensive-minded attack that Iavaroni learned under former Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D’Antoni.

“We’re going to entrust Kevin’s system with our players,” Iavaroni said. “We also will insist that we don’t give up our attack mentality on offense.

In addition to getting Mayo, the Grizzlies also acquired another athletic forward in 6-9 forward Darrell Arthur out of Kansas in a trade for the Grizzlies’ second-round pick, Syracuse forward Donte Green.

The Grizzlies also obtained Iranian center Hamed Haddadi after the promising big man put on several solid performances in the just-completed 2008 Olympics and will start another promising young center in Marc Gasol, the younger brother of former franchise star Pau Gasol.

Swingman Rudy Gay, the team’s leading scorer, gave his approval of the younger Gasol recently.

“Whereas Pau is a guy who would rather play out on the perimeter, Marc doesn’t mind banging with guys,” Gay said. “He’s doesn’t mind confrontation down there (in the paint). That’s kind of refreshing.”

The Grizzlies averaged a solid 100.7 points per game, good for tenth overall, but allowed more points per game than they scored, giving up 106.9 points per game, (28th) while allowing opponents to shoot a blistering 48.0 percent from the field, (30th).

Memphis also failed to come through very often against the spread in the BetUS Sportsbook, recording just 35 ATS wins last season, 25th overall.

Again, playing in the powerful Western Conference, the Grizzlies will be hard-pressed to reach the same 22 wins they recorded last season although I think the addition of Kevin O’Neill will help the team record at least a few more ATS wins in 2008-09 because of an improved defense.

The Grizzlies are +10000 to win the Western Conference and +30000 to win the NBA Championship in the BetUS Sportsbook.

By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"