Tweet
DAVID BANKS
February 19 ,2013
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Detroit Pistons Tuesday marks the first night of NBA action following the All-Star break, and one matchup is this non-conference affair as the Memphis Grizzlies (33-18, 29-21-1 ATS) visit the Detroit Pistons (21-33, 26-28 ATS) at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit at 7:35 ET. It certainly seems fair to say that "The West is the Best" this season based on the pre-All-Star Game results, as Western Conference favorites have gone 104-80-1, 56.5 percent ATS vs. Eastern Conference counterparts, and the West's Grizzlies will almost certainly be the favorites here.That makes this a prime opportunity for the West to continue its success in non-conference games as the Grizzlies are a perfect 6-0 both straight up and ATS in their last six head-to-head meetings with the Pistons including an easy 90-78 win over Detroit back home in Memphis this season. At 33-18, the Grizzlies currently own the fourth best record in the Western Conference and the fifth best in the entire NBA, with their success keyed by have the second best scoring defense in the league allowing a measly 90.2 points per game. The Grizzlies struggled slightly in the first few games after trading away then leading scorer Rudy Gay, a role now taken over by All-Star Zach Randolph, but they regrouped nicely rather quickly and ended the first half of the season on a three-game winning streak, and perhaps most importantly they have bee scoring more points since Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye came over in that trade involving Gay. Memphis is still ranked just 26th in the NBA with 93.7 points per game, but that average has soared to 104.0 points during the three-game win streak with the Grizzlies eclipsing 100 points twice and scoring 99 points in the other game. Memphis is also 14-5 straight up and 13-6 ATS vs. Eastern foes this season.The Pistons did win three of their last four games going into the break including an upset of the San Antonio Spurs, but they did not beat much otherwise in fellow Eastern bottom-feeders Washington and Milwaukee and the one loss in that stretch came at home to a New Orleans team out of the West that is in last place in the Southwest Division and 15 games behind the Grizzlies. Another concern for the Pistons here is that while the Memphis offense seems to be getting better, the Detroit defense seems to be getting worse allowing 99.8 points per game in the last four contests while allowing over 100 points three times despite going 3-1 in those games. That could set up their old friend Prince to have a big game in his first game back in Detroit as a visiting player after spending his entire NBA career with the Pistons before the trade.The Grizzlies are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games vs. the Central Division while the Pistons are 11-29 ATS in their last 40 games following a straight up win by at least 10 points. Detroit is also 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games vs. the Western Conference.
Pick: MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES-2
February 19 ,2013
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Detroit Pistons Tuesday marks the first night of NBA action following the All-Star break, and one matchup is this non-conference affair as the Memphis Grizzlies (33-18, 29-21-1 ATS) visit the Detroit Pistons (21-33, 26-28 ATS) at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit at 7:35 ET. It certainly seems fair to say that "The West is the Best" this season based on the pre-All-Star Game results, as Western Conference favorites have gone 104-80-1, 56.5 percent ATS vs. Eastern Conference counterparts, and the West's Grizzlies will almost certainly be the favorites here.That makes this a prime opportunity for the West to continue its success in non-conference games as the Grizzlies are a perfect 6-0 both straight up and ATS in their last six head-to-head meetings with the Pistons including an easy 90-78 win over Detroit back home in Memphis this season. At 33-18, the Grizzlies currently own the fourth best record in the Western Conference and the fifth best in the entire NBA, with their success keyed by have the second best scoring defense in the league allowing a measly 90.2 points per game. The Grizzlies struggled slightly in the first few games after trading away then leading scorer Rudy Gay, a role now taken over by All-Star Zach Randolph, but they regrouped nicely rather quickly and ended the first half of the season on a three-game winning streak, and perhaps most importantly they have bee scoring more points since Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye came over in that trade involving Gay. Memphis is still ranked just 26th in the NBA with 93.7 points per game, but that average has soared to 104.0 points during the three-game win streak with the Grizzlies eclipsing 100 points twice and scoring 99 points in the other game. Memphis is also 14-5 straight up and 13-6 ATS vs. Eastern foes this season.The Pistons did win three of their last four games going into the break including an upset of the San Antonio Spurs, but they did not beat much otherwise in fellow Eastern bottom-feeders Washington and Milwaukee and the one loss in that stretch came at home to a New Orleans team out of the West that is in last place in the Southwest Division and 15 games behind the Grizzlies. Another concern for the Pistons here is that while the Memphis offense seems to be getting better, the Detroit defense seems to be getting worse allowing 99.8 points per game in the last four contests while allowing over 100 points three times despite going 3-1 in those games. That could set up their old friend Prince to have a big game in his first game back in Detroit as a visiting player after spending his entire NBA career with the Pistons before the trade.The Grizzlies are 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games vs. the Central Division while the Pistons are 11-29 ATS in their last 40 games following a straight up win by at least 10 points. Detroit is also 2-8 ATS in its last 10 games vs. the Western Conference.
Pick: MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES-2
Comment