NBA Handicapping – Phoenix vs Los Angeles
Unlike the last few seasons not many are talking about the Lakers (6-4) as being legit title contenders and, yes, they were swept by Dallas in the playoffs last season and 6th Man if the Year Lamar Odom is now in the Big D, but Kobe and Pau are playing well and Andrew Bynum has been putting up sick numbers since coming off his suspension.
Venue/ Stadium: STAPLES Center, Los Angeles, CA
Time/Date: 10:30 PM EST Tuesday, January 10, 2011
NCAA Odds From: Bovada
Moneyline: OFF
Spread (ATS): Lakers -7.5
Over/Under: 189.5
Phoenix Suns vs. L.A. Lakers Preview
The Suns (4-4) are only .500 this season and NBA lines have the Lakers as 7.5-point favorites in this game with a total of 189.5.
In their last games the Lakers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 90-82 and the Suns beat the Milwaukee Bucks 109-93.
So far on the season the Suns are 5-3 ATS with an O/U record of 2-6 and the Lakers are 5-5 ATS with an O/U record of 3-7.
After struggling on offense to begin the season the Suns have scored 109 points and 102 points respectively in their 2 game winning streak. The Suns’ offense will be tested tonight by a Lakers’ team that ranks 5th in the league in opponents’ points allowed.
The Lakers are tired, as no team has played more in the first few weeks of the season.
L.A.’s D really has to key on Steve Nash, who is almost shooting 70% from the floor this month. Nash combined for 40 points and 33 assists in the 2 games facing the Lakers in La La Land last season. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Nash will need help on offense from C Marcin Gortat (12.3 ppg) and SG Jared Dudley (11.6 ppg). If the Lakers can keep these guys from having good scoring games they will be in good shape.
Kobe is getting it done averaging 27.6 ppg, Gasol is averaging 16.7 ppg and 9.3 rpg, and Bynum has been playing great averaging 18.8 ppg and 15.7 rpg. Gortat has to body up on Bynum and not allow him to dominate the glass.
The Lakers committed a season-high 27 turnovers in their last game, but they dominated the glass and played great D. The Suns have also been playing good D as of late, but will have a tougher time tonight with all the scoring options the Lakers have.
Betting Trends
The Suns are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games, 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games as an underdog of 5.0-10 points, and they have an Under record of 6-1 in their last 7 games as an underdog.
The Lakers are e 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games, 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games against teams with a losing road record, and they have an Under record of 6-2 in their last 8 home games.
Jason’s Pick: The road team is 5-0-1 ATS in the last 6 games between these 2 Western Conference rivals, but that trend will not continue tonight. Look for the Lakers to dominate this game on both ends of the floor, as they will win and cover the spread and the posted total will go Over.
