L.A. Lakers At Memphis
When: 8:00 PM ET, Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Where: FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Time Warner Cable SportsNet (Los Angeles), SportSouth (Memphis)
Prediction: Grizzlies 95, Lakers 88

Oddsmakers currently have the Grizzlies listed as 5½-point favorites versus the Lakers, while the game’s total is sitting at 193.

With turmoil plaguing the team for most of the season, Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant decided to take a break from present-day happenings and focus on the past. The future Hall of Famer celebrated Tuesday’s seventh anniversary of his 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors by watching the game in its entirety for the first time. As a treat to fans, he broke in his relatively new Twitter account by sending out messages while the game was being re-broadcast. Bryant may need to channel some of his 2006 performance Wednesday as he faces off against a Memphis club allowing the second-fewest points per game in the league (89.4)

Los Angeles lost its last outing, a 95-83 result against the Bulls on January 21. The Lakers failed to cover in that game as a 1-point favorite, while the 178 combined points took the game UNDER the total.

Team record: 17-24 SU, 16-25 ATS
Current streak: lost 3 straight games.

The total has gone UNDER in 4 of the LA Lakers last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 6 of the LA Lakers last 8 games on the road
LA Lakers are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games when playing on the road against Memphis
LA Lakers are 10-5 SU in their last 15 games when playing Memphis

When playing on Wednesday are 6-4
Before playing Utah are 7-3
After playing Chicago are 7-3
After a loss are 3-7

Memphis made a minor move Tuesday, dealing Marreese Speights, Wayne Ellington, Josh Selby and a heavily protected future draft pick to the Cavaliers for forward Jon Leuer and a trade exception. The deal was conducted with business in mind – it saves the Grizzlies $6 million against the salary cap and eliminates the need to pay a luxury tax bill of roughly $4 million. “It’s a trade that had to be made … so that we can keep our core together and we move forward,” Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I hate to lose Mo and Wayne and Josh but it’s part of the business of basketball.”

Last time out for Memphis, they were an 82-81 loser as they battled the Pacers at home. The Grizzlies failed to cover in the match as a 6-point favorite, while 163 combined points moved the game UNDER for totals bettors.

Team record: 26-14 SU, 23-16-1 ATS

The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 6 games at home
is 15-6 SU in its last 21 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of last 6 games when playing at home against LA Lakers

When playing on Wednesday are 7-3
Before playing Brooklyn are 4-6
After playing Indiana are 6-4
After a loss are 5-5

The post Los Angeles Lakers vs. Memphis Grizzlies Free Betting Pick & Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.

Atlanta At Charlotte
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Where: Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte, North Carolina
TV: 7 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta, Charlotte)
Prediction: Hawks 95, Bobcats 91.

Oddsmakers currently have the Hawks listed as 6-point favorites versus the Bobcats, while the game’s total is sitting at 194½.

Atlanta is adjusting to life without guard Lou Williams, who was lost for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last week. Guard Devin Harris is listed as questionable with a sprained left ankle, and reserves Anthony Morrow (hip) and DeShawn Stevenson (knee) also are questionable, while backup center Zaza Pachulia (Achilles) is not expected to make the trip. The Hawks still have their two biggest stars in Josh Smith (16.3 points, 8.2 rebounds) and Al Horford (15.6 points, 9.8 rebounds).

The Hawks were a 104-96 winner in their most recent outing at home against the Timberwolves. They earned a push of the 8-point spread as favorites, while the total score (200) made winners of OVER bettors.

Team record: 23-18 SU, 16-23-2 ATS
is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Charlotte
The total has gone OVER in 8 of last 9 games when playing on the road against Charlotte
The total has gone OVER in 6 of last 7 games when playing Charlotte
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of last 7 games on the road
When playing on Wednesday are 5-5
Before playing Boston are 6-4
After playing Minnesota are 4-6
After a win are 4-6

Unlike the Hawks, the Bobcats can say they’re relatively healthy – forward Byron Mullens (11.6 points, 7.8 rebounds) is the only player expected to miss the game – but the good news stops there. Charlotte has been one of the least efficient teams at both ends of the floor, and two of the team’s top three scorers – Ramon Sessions (14.3 points) and Ben Gordon (13 points) – are reserves. Kemba Walker leads the way with 17.9 points and 5.7 assists per game.

The Bobcats were a 100-94 loser in their most recent outing at home against the Rockets. They covered the 7-point spread as underdogs, while the total score (194) made winners of UNDER bettors.

Team record: 10-31 SU, 16-25 ATS
Current streak: lost 2 straight games.

The total has gone OVER in 8 of last 9 games when playing at home against Atlanta
The total has gone OVER in 6 of last 7 games when playing Atlanta
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of last 7 games
is 8-16 ATS in its last 24 games

When playing on Wednesday are 3-7
Before playing Minnesota are 3-7
After playing Houston are 3-7
After a loss are 3-7

The post Atlanta Hawks vs. Charlotte Bobcats Free Betting Pick & NBA Matchup appeared first on IdealCapper.