Free NBA Pick: Clippers vs Trail Blazers Lines
Looking for Los Angeles Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers free NBA picks? NBA betting sees the Clippers taking on the Blazers on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at the Moda Center in Portland, Ore. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions.
0-0 (0-0 V) Los Angeles Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers 1-0 (1-0 H)
Date: Thursday October 27
Time: 10:30 PM EST
Venue: Moda Center, Portland, Ore.
NBA Moneyline Odds: Off
NBA Betting Odds: LAC -1.5
NBA Betting Total: 208.5
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The Portland Trail Blazers opened their season at home against the Utah Jazz Tuesday night, taking down their Northwest Division rival, 113-104.
The Los Angeles Clippers have yet to make their season debut, but will do so Thursday on national television against the same team that knocked them out of the first round of the 2016 NBA playoffs.
Los Angeles Clippers
Losing to Portland in the postseason was no shame for this Clippers squad. Nobody expected the Blazers to be as good as they were, and they ultimately gave the Golden State Warriors fits in the second round despite an eventual 4-1 series loss.
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The problem was how it happened. L.A. believed it had a shot to take advantage of a Warriors team in Round 2 that was dealing with a Stephen Curry injury, but playoff-ending injuries to both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin would wind up being their ultimate demise.
This season, Los Angeles kicks off its season at the Moda Center to face off against the same Damian Lillard-led crew that knocked it out of the playoffs a year ago.
Against Portland, the obvious goal defensively is to contain the backcourt. When Lillard and CJ McCollum are able to run freely and score at will, the Blazers are beyond difficult to beat.
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Offensively, the Clippers will look to attack the paint. Portland struggles defending the rim with Miles Plumlee at center and Al-Farouq Aminu as the small-ball 4.
Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan should look to have a field day in the pick-and-roll game.
Portland Trail Blazers
In Game 1 of the season against Utah, Damian Lillard showed why he’s a legitimate MVP candidate. He’s talked this offseason about how he believes he’s worthy of consideration, and he backed up that talk with 39 points, nine rebounds and six assists against a Utah team that is known for its defense.
The one area where he’s yet to prove himself throughout the course of his career is defense. Staying in front of his man has been a struggle at times, and getting through screens has been one of his bigger issues.
Against the Clippers, he’ll need to anticipate screens, but more importantly, the Blazers’ frontcourt guys need to help collapse in pick-and-roll settings.
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Offensively, the bigs need to be able to spread the floor.
Noah Vonleh started his season off on the right foot hitting every one of his jumpers. Al-Farouq also proved that his improved three-point shooting last season wasn’t a fluke.
If Portland’s bigs become a cause for concern on the perimeter, the Clippers will have even more incentive to stay at home on the backcourt.
NBA Betting Trends:
- Under is 24-5 in Clippers last 29 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 8-2 in Clippers last 10 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings.
- Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Free Los Angeles Clippers vs. Portland Trail Blazers NBA Prediction:
As good of an offensive showing as Portland had against the gritty Jazz, you have to remember that Utah was shorthanded. Derrick Favors, Gordan Hayward and Alec Burks were all sidelined in Game 1 of the season.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: LAC -1.5
With that in mind, the Blazers’ offense should take a slight step back against the Clippers. Lillard isn’t going to push 40 points, Allen Crabbe likely won’t push 20 off the bench and odds are Vonleh finally misses a shot.
Give this one to the Clippers.
NBA Free Score Prediction: Clippers 100 – Portland 97
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