NBA Betting – Thursday Picks – Memphis Grizzlies vs New York Knicks
Before nba betting fans turn their attention to more basketball betting events this week, we have some more good Tuesday Night NBA matchups on tap, and our man Lawrence weighs in with his picks for tonight. It’s time for our weekly hoops picks for NBA gambling action.
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GRIZZLIES vs. KNICKS
Time: Thursday 7:30 p.m. EST
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York
Spread: Knicks -4.5
Over/Under: 213.5
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Before the Knicks acquired Carmelo Anthony they were slightly above .500 and in the lower reaches of the Eastern Conference playoff scene. Anthony’s arrival hasn’t done much to change their status. They remain in a 6- and 7-seed hunt with Philadelphia, careening toward a date with Boston, Miami or Chicago in the first round.
As expected in a Mike D’Antoni offense, the Knicks can flat-out score. The problem is on defense, where Anthony is reportedly having trouble learning New York’s defense. That will come as a shock to those unaware that New York even had a defense, but is creating serious concern. In the last seven games the Knicks have allowed 106 or more points six times. Indiana laid a total of 225 on them in back-to-back games. Cleveland, of all teams, torched the Knicks for 119 in a win over New York.
Some of the Knicks troubles defensively stem from the leg injury suffered by Chauncey Billups, who was forced from the lineup for six games. But even Billups’s return hasn’t seemed to help much – he was outplayed badly by Pacers point guard Darren Collison as Indiana won twice.
If there is a silver lining in New York’s recent slide, it’s that it’s happening with a few weeks left in the season and there’s time to make necessary repairs before the playoffs start. And with a healthy Billups running the show and Anthony and Amare Stoudemire as 1 and 1A offensive options, New York can be a very tough first-round out for any of the Big Four in the East. As long as they do something about that defense.
NBA Trends:
MEM are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 Thu. games.
MEM are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 road games.
Over is 16-5 in MEM last 21 vs. NBA Atlantic.
Under is 10-3 in NY last 13 Thu. games.
Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in New York.
BEST BET: Bettors have slept all season on the Grizzlies, who are 42-25-1 ATS and along with Philly and Chicago are the league’s best cover teams. The Grizz are 37-31 SU and in a 6-team battle for the final four playoff spots in the Western Conference. They play hard every night, and have been competitive against good teams on the road. Memphis lost at home to the Knicks by two a week ago, but NY had to shoot better than 50 percent (12-23) on its 3-pointers to do it. The Grizz have their offense in gear, and the teams should easily cover the 213.5 total.
Lawrence Paul is a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog, and is a free-lance gambling expert from Massachusetts.
