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San Antonio Spurs vs. L.A. Lakers Game 3 NBA Preview & Free Pick

Spurs vs Lakers NBA Handicapping

Do you know Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock?

No?

Well, tune in tonight because they figure to be in Lakers uniforms and perhaps will comprise LAL’s starting backcourt when Gang Purple tries to keep alive its flickering playoff hopes against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinal series.

Western Conference
San Antonio Spurs (2-0) at Los Angeles Lakers (0-2)
Friday, April 26
Staples Center, Los Angeles
10:30 p.m. EST
Spread – Spurs -4.5 at Bookmaker
O/U – 187.5

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To say the Laker backcourt is decimated is like saying the drivers experience a few slowdowns at 5 p.m. on the LAFreeway. Steve Blake has been ruled out for tonight, both Steve Nash and Jodie Meeks are extremely doubtful, and there’s a guy named Kobe who has been resorting to in-game tweeting.

That leaves Morris and Goudelock, second-year players whose jobs this season have been limited to slapping asses and making sure the bench is well-stocked with towels and Gatorade.

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Don’t think that the Lakers’ backcourt problems haven’t caught the attention of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

The Spurs stars are recovering nicely from injury issues of their own, and Parker in particular is stepping up his game – in San Antonio’s Game 2 victory the vet scored 24 of his 28 points in the second half as the Spurs were able to hang on for a 102-91 victory.

The Lakers’ myriad backcourt issues leave LA coach Mike D’Antoni with few options. Actually, zero options. D’Antoni has to hope that Morris and Goudelock don’t freak out – especially early – and get schooled to badly by the Spurs’ veterans, and trust that somehow, someway Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard stay out of foul trouble and make this game all about what happens in the paint. [ad-6571516]

If Game 2 was any indication, that will be easier said than done.

Howard had only six points after the intermission as he battled foul trouble (no surprise there), and Gasol was even less effective (3 points, 1 rebound) in the third and fourth periods. So unless the Lakers can get a handle on things inside, Jack Nicholson and Dyan Cannon could be getting an early jump on the post-game traffic.

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In Games 1 and 2 San Antonio’s bench has outscored LA’s subs by a whopping margin of 72-34.

It’s hard to see that changing, especially since there is not much left of the Lakers’ non-starters. LA getting 4.5 at home in a playoff game is damn near unheard of, but facts are facts and San Antonio now has a golden opportunity to put away this series on the West Coast and get some down time before taking on the survivor of the Denver-Golden State series.

San Antonio gets this done and covered tonight, rather easily.

By Lawrence Paul

Lawrence Paul is back in the saddle as a regular contributor to the Cappers Picks Blog. He's got an AMAZING knack for predicting when a team will have a letdown! Stick with our resident gambling experts sports betting tips all season long!