On A Roll
Memphis,Tn – The Memphis Grizzlies have been on a roll since a blowout loss earlier this month, winning four in a row in convincing fashion.
To keep it going, they’ll have to figure out a way to finally get past the last team to hand them a defeat.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Hornets –5 point spread favorites for Friday’s game against the Raptors. Current NBA Public Betting Information shows that 78% of more than 283 bets for this game have been placed on the Hornets –5.
The New Orleans Hornets have beaten Memphis in six straight meetings, a streak the Grizzlies will try to stop at home Tuesday night when they look to win a fifth consecutive game for the first time in three seasons.
Memphis (9-15) looked like it was going nowhere through its first 18 games, and after its first loss in December, it had run its losing streak to seven in a row and 11 of 12.
The Grizzlies have since looked like a different team, having won five of six and four in a row by an average of 10.2 points. Their latest win was their most lopsided yet. Rookie O.J. Mayo scored 28 points and Memphis used a 35-point third quarter to rout Miami 102-86 on Sunday.
"After we’ve gotten a couple of wins and seen that playing team basketball really gets you wins, guys are really working on it,” said Mike Conley, who scored 12 points. "Making sure that they’re making the extra pass and guys are getting open looks."
Conley seems to have found a groove off the bench for the Grizzlies after struggling as a starter. The second-year point guard averaged 7.3 points in 18 games in the starting lineup, but he’s been much better as a reserve. In his last four games he’s averaging 11.8 points.
Everyone’s job has been made easier by the emergence of Mayo as a go-to scorer. Mayo’s scored in double digits in all 24 games, and with at least 10 against the Hornets (13-7), he’d move into second place behind Dan Issel (27) for the longest streak of double-figure scoring to start a career.
Memphis, meanwhile, hasn’t won five straight since the end of the 2005-06 season.
"As long as we play together, open it up for each other making an extra pass, a screen to get your teammate open, then I feel it makes the game a lot easier for us,” said Mayo, who leads all rookies with 20.8 points per game.
Mayo had 18 points in New Orleans on Dec. 6 as the Hornets rolled to a 106-87 win, their sixth in a row over Memphis.
The last three have been by an average of 16.6 points, including a 116-98 win in their last visit to FedEx Forum on Dec. 26. Chris Paul had 40 points in that victory, but he tormented the Grizzlies even more in their previous meeting. Paul scored a career-high 43 in a 118-116 overtime win on Dec. 7, 2007.
New Orleans has won four of five, with its only loss coming Friday in Boston. The Hornets bounced back Sunday in Toronto, winning 99-91 behind 12 points and 12 assists from Paul, who Raptors coach Jay Triano said "controlled the game."
Paul continually found James Posey and Rasual Butler, who combined for 10 3-pointers. New Orleans is shooting 40.6 percent from beyond the arc, the best in the league.
"When those guys start knocking down shots, then when we get in the lane they don’t know whether to help,” said Paul, who can match Alvin Robertson’s NBA-record 104-game streak with at least one steal against Memphis. "You’ve got to give up a layup to me, or a 3 to those shooters."
The Hornets are hoping to get leading rebounder Tyson Chandler (8.0 per game) back after missing two games with a stiff neck.
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Posted: 12/16/08 12:35AM ET