NBA Basketball Matchup: Spurs vs Lakers
The San Antonio Spurs are enjoying a sneaky good season.
San Antonio Spurs (42-16) vs Los Angeles Lakers (39-22)
Tuesday April 17
Staples Center – Los Angeles, CA
10:30PM
Moneyline: no line currently listed
Spread: no line currently listed
O/U: no line currently listed
San Antonio
They have the second best record in the West and have built that despite sitting some of their older players to rest them for the playoffs and missing Manu Ginobili for big chunks of the season.
This is quite probably the best managed franchise in the league and possibly all of sports right now. Every move they make seems to provide dividends.
The Spurs seemed to be doing the smartest job managing their minutes in this crazy season. In their last game, a 14 point victory over Phoenix, 13 players played in the game, all with more than 11 minutes of game action. That kind of distributed playing time has led the Spurs to an amazing 9 players on their roster averaging 8 or more points.
You know things are going to tighten up in the playoffs and this team has the depth to push any team. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Los Angeles
The Lakers are playing great right now having won their last 4, beginning with a 14 point road victory at San Antonio last week. More and more this is looking like a team to take seriously come playoff time where the only team with equivalent experience is the Spurs.
There are only a few games left but L.A. needs to stay sharp to stay ahead of their arena mate the Clippers. Wouldn’t that be weird if they squared off sharing the same arena.
Missing Tuesday’s game in an effort to get well for the playoffs is Kobe Bryant. With Bryant out of the lineup Metta World Peace has rediscovered his offensive game including a season high 26 points against San Antonio in their victory.
Its a good thing too because the Lakers are getting little out of Devin Ebanks who is technically taking Bryant’s spot in the lineup. On the bright side, acquired point guard Ramon Sessions has been effective.
Spread Pick:
O/U Pick:
Score Prediction: San Antonio 99 – Los Angeles 95