Revenge is in the Air – New Orleans vs. Memphis

Memphis Grizzlies (17-50 SU, 30-36-1 ATS) at New Orleans Hornets (42-25 SU, 28-37-2 ATS)

BetOnline NBA Odds: NEW ORLEANS -11.5, Total 188

Here are some of the NBA betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* MEM has lost 14 of its last 16 games SU

* MEM has covered seven of its last nine games

* MEM has played five of its last eight games OVER the total

* MEM has lost nine of its last eleven road games SU

* MEM has covered eight of its last nine road games

* MEM has played seven of its last nine road games UNDER the total

* NO has won 10 of its last 13 games SU

* NO has covered two of its last six games

* NO has played its last four games UNDER the total

* NO has won six of its last seven home games SU

* NO has covered two of its last six home games

* NO has played five of its last six home games UNDER the total

Also…

* NO has won 12 of the last 14 meetings SU

* Eleven of the last 13 meetings have gone OVER the total

* NO has won the last seven meetings SU as the home team

* NO has covered five of the last seven meetings as the home team

* The last six meetings in New Orleans have gone OVER the total

* NO has made more three-pointers in each of the last six meetings

The Hornets may not be at full strength for this one, as Tyson Chandler is nursing a bad left ankle and had to sit out the game against Minnesota on Wednesday night. Still, they’re in better shape than they were the last time they played against the Grizzlies, when they were without both point guard Chris Paul and power forward David West. They were not themselves in any way that evening, as they hit less than 30% of their shots from the floor.

Yes, revenge is in the air, and Memphis has scored only 17 straight-up wins this season (only five of which have taken place on the road). But the oddsmaker has consistently given this team too many points lately; Memphis has covered seven of its last nine games and also eight of their last nine on the road. They’re playing the under on the road too, which means they’re bearing down a little more on defense and also forcing a slower pace. That’s some of what Marc Iavaroni and assistant Kevin O’Neill were probably looking for at the season’s outset (Iavaroni has since been replcaed by Lionel Hollins).

We know the Hornets can win this and gain at least a measure of payback, but they may be hard-pressed to extend leads, having fallen below the 100-point mark in each of their last four games. Peja Stojakovic is dealing with a back problem, and he also sat out the last game. Chandler’s loss hurts the team at both ends. Without those two, the Hornets had life and death with the T-Wolves and had to sweat out an errant shot in the final seconds to preserve victory.

They may just be able to get by here too. We’re willing to take the hotter pointspread team with the points. That’s the Grizzlies, the 11.5-point underdog in the BetOnline Sportsbook NBA pro basketball sports betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: MEMPHIS +11.5 **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)