Los Angeles Lakers AT Phoenix Suns
Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 10:35 PM EST
Opening Line: L.A. -4
Current Line: L.A. -4
Opening Total: 209
Current Total: 207
Opening Moneyline: L.A. -200 / Phoenix +170
Current Moneyilne: L.A. -200 / Phoenix +170
The Lakers finally found a way to get things going last game against the Memphis Grizzlies. They have won just 3 of their last 7, but managed to dispose of the Grizzlies 108-83.
“I told the guys, ‘Listen to how everyone is talking about you. You have to use it as fuel for motivation,’” Bryant said. “It’s early, we just continue to play, take our time. The playoffs aren’t tomorrow.”
Kobe can only take a positive stance since he is part of the struggles. He’s scored 21 or less in 6 of the last 8 games, and some are left to wonder if his long NBA career is beginning to take a toll on his legs.
L.A. is however dominating the rest of their division. Phoenix actually happens to be second in the conference, but they are 8.5 games behind L.A. and are under .500 with a 14-18 record. While Mickael Pietrus’ NBA Finals guarantee may be a bit far fetched to any one other than him, it’s doubtful many consider the Suns to be division crown champion contenders, either.
Some Betting trends:
The Lakers have won 11 of their past 16 and have won 6 of their last 7 on the road. The total has gone UNDER in 10 of their past 14 road games and it has gone OVER in 6 of the last 8 against Phoenix. They are 12-5 over their last 17 against the Suns. They have lost 4 of the last 6 to Phoenix, though, and the total has gone OVER in 4 of those games. They have won only 7 of the last 23 road games in Phoenix.
Phoenix has won only 1 of their last 6 games and are 1-4 ATS in their last 5. The total has gone UNDER in 4 of their last 6 home games and they have won 2 of those 6 games. They are 1-5 ATS in those games, as well. Phoenix is 5-10 ATS in their last 15 home games against the Lakers.
Key matchups:
Derek Fisher & Steve Blake vs Steve Nash
While Nash isn’t slow, it isn’t his speed that gives him an advantage against decent to good defenders like Fisher and Blake. His constant hesitation dribbles and change of direction moves give most defenders problems. The problem against a team like the Lakers is that even once he beats the perimeter defenders on the dribble, he’ll find the paint clogged by the L.A. bigs. The Lakers have the Suns, like most teams they play, badly outmatched on the front line.
Odom/Gasol/Bynum vs. Frye/Lopez/Warrick/Gortat
I don’t need to labor too much on this for you to get the point that L.A.’s front court dominates Phoenix’s. It isn’t so much size as skill that separates the two. Gasol is one of the best centers in the past ten years’ in the NBA and Odom has been great off the bench. Bynum does a great job of keeping the ball high and preventing the smaller defenders from knocking it away from him, and really this will be what determines the game — the frontlines.
It seems odd that NBA oddsmakers have only set a 4 points spread for tonight’s game, but they are clearly taking into account L.A.’s recent struggles. One has to wonder, however, just how long a good team like L.A. can continue to struggle as they have. They are the defending champs for a reason and seem like a good bet to cover the spread.
