Sportsbooks have the Memphis Grizzlies as underdogs most of the time in NBA action and that is not likely to change even without Memphis guard Allen Iverson. The Memphis guard has left the team to deal with personal business and offshore sportsbook info has his return up in the air. Offshore sportsbook stats had Iverson averaging 12.3 points and 3.7 assists in the three games he played in since returning from a hamstring injury.
Sportsbooks have seen the Grizzlies struggle to a 1-6 start straight up and a not much better 3-4 against the odds at the offshore sportsbook. The situation with Iverson has definitely not helped the Grizzlies results at the sportsbooks. Iverson has complained about playing time and now he has left the team. Sportsbooks reports had Memphis owner Michael Heisley giving Iverson permission to skip Saturday’s game against the Clippers. “It’s a personal issue that they asked for permission to go attend to,” head coach Lionel Hollins said. “It was granted, and it’s indefinite. I have no other information.”
In the game against the Lakers on Saturday, it was Iverson playing 21 minutes and scoring eight points while dishing out three assists as offshore sportsbook stats showed. Sportsbooks had him complaining after the game about his playing time again and now it is unclear when or if he plays for Memphis again. “It’s something that I never did in my life, so obviously it’s a big adjustment,” Iverson said about coming off the bench, “I’m so tired of discussing that, talking about that, every single day. It’s just not something that I want to discuss. That’s something you’ve got to ask the coach. He makes all the decisions around here. Obviously, they signed me for a reason. They’ve been watching me play this game for 13 years, and they know what I do on the basketball court.”
It would be one thing if Memphis was winning and doing well in sportsbooks results but they are not. Sportsbooks noted that even Iverson realizes he has become a distraction. “When I hear anything about the Memphis Grizzlies, I don’t hear you guys talk about anything other than the situation with me coming off the bench,” he said Friday. “I mean, there’s got to be something else with this team to talk about besides that. But I guess that sells a lot better than anything else when it comes to this team.”