FairwayJay’s Free NBA Selection January 3

FairwayJay’s Free NBA Selection January 3 & Game Analysis of Memphis at Denver

Line:  Denver Nuggets -4 l Total: 191

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We enter January 3rd NBA action on a 3-0 run to tip-off the New Year following back-to-back winning months in November in December.  Included is a 8-2 run since Christmas and a perfect 4-0 YTD mark on our Top Rated Big Bertha plays.   Join other members in building your bankroll with victories and value offered here or click on the banner links below.

How things quickly change in the NBA.  The Denver Nuggets ( 14-17 SU, 13-18  ATS ) were 14-11 in mid-December that included a 7-game winning streak.  They enter the New Year and January 3rd game with 8-straight losses following an embarrassing performance and home loss to the lowly Philadelphia 76ers, 114-102.   That was Denver’s 5th-straight home loss, and recall that the Nuggets went 38-3 at home last season.  Attitude and effort have been an issue during the losing streak and Nuggets coach Brian Shaw called a team meeting yesterday in lieu of practice on the court.  Discussions included the 2-game suspension to guard Andre Miller for negative comments towards his coach.

Both Denver and Memphis enter with the same record at 14-17 and losing ATS records for their betting backers.  But as the losses mount and scoring lags, the young Nuggets are showing signs of being mentally fragile.  Denver’s scoring has dropped to 92 PPG during their losing streak while shooting just 40% from the field and 27% long range.  Denver is getting beaten on the boards in allowing many second-chance points, and out-scored by over 13 PPG during their losing streak.  A most recent loss was vs. tonight’s opponent, the Memphis Grizzlies ( 13-17 SU, 10-19-1 ATS ), a 120-99 second half blowout in Memphis December 28th.  The Grizzlies dominated the boards 46-25 while piling up second-chance points with 19 offensive rebounds.   The Grizzlies have to feel confident facing the Nuggets again after their season-high scoring output.  With center Kosta Koufous patrolling the paint with premier power forward Zach Randolph, the Grizzlies should bang the boards hard and score inside plenty again.  Note that while Memphis continues to play without Marc Gasol in the middle, they play at the slowest pace in the league.  However, in their victory over the Nuggets, Memphis pushed the pace and took 91 shots.

No doubt this line has been adjusted for recent results, and Memphis does travel in back-to-back nights following last night’s 99-91 win at Phoenix; a game in which they dominated the boards again with 59 rebounds.  Point guard Mike Conley is helping the Grizzlies balance their offense and as they play with more confidence we’re seeing improved results now with a 4-2 SU/ATS run.  That’s just the opposite of the Nuggets as they not only struggle with chemistry and losses, but a fan base that is frustrated with the Nuggets home performances which has seen them also go 2-8 ATS as home favorite this season.

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