NBA Handicapping Predictions – Clippers vs Lakers
The Clippers are one of the hottest teams in the league winners of 6 straight, but they still trail the Lakers by 1.5 games for the 3rd spot in the Western Conference.
Venue/ Stadium: STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA
Time/Date: 10:30 PM EST Wednesday, April 4, 2012
NCAA Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): OFF
Over/Under: OFF
L.A. Clippers vs. L.A. Lakers Preview
These 2 teams have split the 2 games they have played this season and the winner will get regular season bragging rights for La La Land.
In their last games the Clippers crushed the Dallas Mavericks 94-75 and the Lakers beat the Nets 91-87.
This season the Clippers are 27-26 ATS with an O/U record of 26-27 and the Lakers are 22-32 ATS with an O/U record of 29-24-1.
One big question in this game is will Andrew Bynum play? He did not play against the Nets and the Lakers are having disciplinary issues with him. If he can play he and Pau Gasol will be a major handful for a Clippers’ team that only ranks 19th in the league in rebounding while the Lakers rank 2nd.
With Blake Griffin and Chris Paul only going for 15 points each in the win over Dallas the Clippers got big contributions from other players, especially Randy Foye (10.1 ppg), who is averaging 21.7 ppg in his last 3 games. Foye has really struggled against the Lakers this season and he, Nick Young, and Caron Butler have to help Paul and Griffin out, as those are the 2 the Lakers will key on.
Clippers 4th leading scorer Mo Williams (13.6 ppg) is out for this game with a toe injury. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Lakers will see how Ramon Sessions will deal with Paul, who has been on fire in the Clippers winning streak. Sessions has played well since joining the Lakers and his D will be key tonight.
Clippers C DeAndre Jordan (7.6 ppg 8.4 rpg) will be counted on tonight to help Griffin out on the glass, but they will breath a huge sigh of relief if Bynum is not on the court.
The Clippers have been playing stellar defense as of late and in their last 5 games they have given up an average of 87.8 ppg. Kobe will get his points, as usual, but the Clip Joint must key on other players like Gasol and Bynum and not let them have big games.
In some betting trends for this Pacific Division match up the Lakers are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 games overall, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record, and they have an Over record of 12-4 in their last 16 games.
The Clippers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall, 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games following a SU win of more than 10 points, and they have an Over record of 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Jason’s Pick: The Lakers have not been a good ATS team lately and the Clippers are on fire, but I do not think either of those things matter. The Lakers will show they are still THE team in L.A. and they will win and cover tonight.
