2011 NBA Playoffs Odds: Can The Grizzlies Cash In Vs. The Thunder?

The Memphis Grizzlies can announce themselves as serious contenders to win the Western Conference in Game 3 of their second-round series with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday afternoon at the FedExForum.

The Grizzlies are the eighth seed in the West, but that didn’t stop them from taking down San Antonio in six games in the first round. Now, Memphis is knotted at a game apiece with Oklahoma City, which was the trendy pick to win the West before the playoffs started.

Bettors might be saddling up with the Grizz pretty soon, especially if they can take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven set on Saturday. Memphis is a +700 longshot (7/1 odds) to win the West at some shops tracked by OddsShark.com and advance to the Finals.

They are listed as a +2200 longshot to win the NBA title.

But for Game 3, is the total the best bet on the board? The past seven times these teams have met, the result has been a victory for OVER bettors. The Thunder are on the board at +250 to cash the West and at +550 as an NBA champion wager, but they have their hands full with the Grizzlies.

Kevin Durant had 26 points for Oklahoma City (-6.5) in its 111-102 win over Memphis in Game 2 of their series on Tuesday night, but what did the trick was its defense on Zach Randolph.

Randolph went for 15 points and nine rebounds in Game 2, but he was only 2 of 13 from the floor as Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka shut him down on the inside. The 6-foot-8 Randolph was the difference in the series opener, a 114-101 win for the Grizz (+6.5).

Over the past few weeks, Memphis has been the best bet in the NBA. The Grizzlies are 15-4-1 ATS (13-7 SU) in their last 20 games dating back to the regular season.

Over in the East, the Miami Heat are comfortably installed as the chalk to represent the conference in the Finals after taking care of the Boston Celtics in the first two games of their second-round series. Game 3 between the Heat and Celtics goes on Saturday night at TD Garden. Bodog has Miami as -130 favorites to win the Eastern Conference, and it also headlines the odds list to win the NBA title at +200.

That said, Boston is an intriguing +1400 longshot to go all the way, and it’s an interesting bet if only because of its pedigree. The Celtics are +600 pups to win the East for the third time in four years.

The Heat have won SU and ATS in their last three games with the Celts, but all of those contests were played at AmericanAirlines Arena. LeBron James posted 35 points and seven rebounds in Miami’s 102-91 victory over Boston in Game 2 on Tuesday night, as the Heat covered as 5-point favorites.

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