Grizzlies, Nets collide in Memphis

Basketball Betting Lines

03/08/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Memphis Grizzlies will attempt to put their current home woes behind in this evening's clash with a New Jersey Nets squad that enters FedEx Forum off a rare positive result.

Memphis has lost eight consecutive contests as the home team since besting the defending world champion Los Angeles Lakers on February 1. The Grizzlies have not dropped nine in a row in their own building since a club-record 11-game losing streak from February 16-March 31, 1996, when the franchise was then located in Vancouver.

The Grizzlies had put together back-to-back road wins over New Orleans and Chicago prior to Saturday's home test with San Antonio, but couldn't keep up with the Spurs in a 102-92 defeat.

"We have played a different caliber of teams away than we have at home," Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins said of his team's drought at FedEx Forum. "We just haven't been able to raise our caliber of play. We execute better on the road. We make a better effort and better decisions on the road."

Memphis had drawn within 89-83 on an O.J. Mayo basket midway through the fourth quarter, but the Spurs countered with a 9-2 burst to take a 13-point lead and the Grizzlies never got the deficit closer than eight the rest of the way. Mayo ended with 23 points in the loss, with Marc Gasol amassing 17 points and 13 rebounds for Memphis.

The Grizzlies, four games back of Portland for the eighth and final playoff seed in the Western Conference, will try to bounce back against a Nets team that owns an NBA-worst 7-55 record and is a dismal 4-27 on the road. However, New Jersey has actually won its last three times as the visitor and is fresh off Saturday's 113-93 triumph over the rival New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The Nets trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half but dominated the Knicks over the remainder of the game in halting a three-game skid. An ability to shoot from long range made the comeback possible, as New Jersey sank 14- of-24 three-point attempts on the evening.

Devin Harris made 13-of-21 overall shots for 31 points to pace the Nets, while Courtney Lee returned from a three-game absence due to a sprained ankle and delivered 25 points.

"The second team was huge for us," said Harris. "We got off to a very lethargic start. Those guys came in a did a great job getting us back in the game."

Brook Lopez finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for New Jersey, which will be aiming for its first four-game road winning streak since November 26- December 6, 2009.

Saturday's win kicked off a five-game trek for the Nets, with matchups at Dallas, Oklahoma City and Houston upcoming. The team may not have forward Yi Jianlian for any of those tests, however, after the seven-footer suffered a sprained left ankle in the first quarter against the Knicks.

New Jersey has prevailed in two of its last three visits to FedEx Forum but was a 104-94 loser to the Grizzlies when these teams squared off in the Garden State on February 21. Rudy Gay led Memphis with 29 points in that one, with Mayo coming through with 24 points and seven assists.

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American Idol Betting Odds: Season 6  

The online gambling websites are in the process of deciphering each American Idol contestant and his or her chances of winning Season 6 to come up with the early American Idol betting lines.

Tim Dalton of MySportsbook.com has been locked away in a soundproof room coming up with all the latest tallies, we are told. "American Idol has become one of the most significant betting events of the year," claims Jack Black of MySportsbook.com.  "Last year, millions were bet during the season across the globe, not just in America.

It's tough early on since we really do not have a glimpse as to how well each of these individuals will perform solo on a week-to-week basis.  It's like Week 1 of the NFL.  Pre-season means nada!

We do know the 24 finalists however.

Sanjaya Malakar is the young man whose sister failed to make it into the Top 24.  He's very low key but - unless he totally flubs - will probably win over the young girlie vote for a few weeks anyway.  He's too young to go all the way, according to Payton O'Brien. 

Brandon Rogers - Who?

Phil Stacy is the military guy who missed his daughter's birth because of the Memphis audition.  He should go a good distance.

Chris Sligh - He's got the humor and in many ways he's the Anti-American Idol much like last year's winner Taylor Hicks was.  And this is why he'll probably get pretty far in this competition.  He's chubby, white with a big curly afro....but more importantly, a great voice!  People love "real", not "real cute" to go all the way. 

"Blake Lewis should go far because of his uniqueness and looks.  He's the boy next store with a twist - he beat boxes.  But on top of this, he's a great singer, and I adore him," Payton O'Brien relayed.

A talented beat-boxer Blake Lewis was a hit during the group sing in Hollywood but Simon explained that this is a singing contest just before he told him he was “in.”

Paul Kim has caught our own roving reporter, Jenny Woo's eyes. 

"I love the fact that there is a Korean American on the show and he is bound to get more Asians tuning into the show," Woo said from her Miami Beach estate.  "There has never been a major presence of Asian-Americans on American Idol in the past.  He's a hottie with a nice voice so that should help to take him far.  Expect heavy betting action from the Asian community."

Sundance Head - He's not perfect, but he's got the personality that will take him through a few weeks, plus he's got the lineage (son of Roy Head - whose 1965 single, "Treat Her Right," hit No. 5 in the charts) 

And the others:

Rudy Cardinas
AJ Tabaldo - the 5th time is the charm
Nicolas Pedro
Chris Richardson
Jared Cotter

The girls

"Melinda Doolittle has one of the best voices," says MySportsbook.com Reporter and an acclaimed dancer in her own right, Destiney Lewis.  "It is great to see a back up singer step out like she has.  The girl needs to gain more confidence but that can also be a positive.  I think she will go far."

Alena Alexander - Those tears (she never seems to stop bawling) should get her far.

"Single mom Lakisha Jones I suspect will be a pretty big favorite entering Week 1 of the competition," says Destiny Williams.  Jones is an excellent singer and down to earth.  "She'll have a wide appeal," echoed O'Brien.

Nicole Trellis - Seems to exert confidence.

Amy Krebs - a powerful singer.

Antonella Barba
Gina Glocksen
Hailey Scanardo
Jordan Sparks
Stephanie Edwards
Leslie Hunt
Sabrina Sloan

MySportsbook.com is offering a 20% signup bonus with an initial deposit (i.e. open your American Idol betting account with $300, receive another $60 in which to bet with). 

Last two contestants will be?

1 Male/1 Female +100 (a $10 bet pays $10 plus your initial $10)

2 Males +170 (a $10 bet pays $17 plus your initial $17)

2 Females +130 (a $10 bet pays $13 plus your initial $10)

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