2011 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Quarterfinals, Game #2
#7 New Orleans Hornets at #2 Los Angeles Lakers (NOH leads series 1-0) Best of Seven Series, Format 2-2-1-1-1
Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Wednesday, April 20, 2011, 10:35 pm Eastern, TV: TNT
Opening Line: Lakers -11
Current Line: Lakers -11 1/2
Opening Total: 187
Current Total: 187 1/2
Money Line: Lakers -1200 / Hornets +800

In my Lakers-Hornets series preview article, I predicted that Chris Paul would lead the Hornets to at least one win just on sheer will and determination. However, I didn’t think it would happen in game one! Paul was simply brilliant and almost unstoppable in the Hornets 109-100 upset in game #1 Sunday afternoon. He had 33 points, 14 assists, 7 rebounds, and 4 steals in the win. The Hornets led for most of the game, but the Lakers kept coming back. New Orleans held off every rally. The biggest problems for the Lakers were some defensive lapses. Derek Fisher tried to guard Paul and was pretty effective for the most part, but he isn’t as fast as he used to be. Paul was able to get some open looks because of that. However, 3 times in a row in the fourth quarter Pau Gasol ended up guarding Chris Paul and Paul buried  3 long jump shots to basically put the game away. Paul distributed the ball early as he had 10 assists in the first half and took over the scoring in the fourth quarter when he had 17 points.

Four other Hornets besides Paul scored in double digits in the win. Forward Carl Landry added 17 points and 5 rebounds. Shooting guard  Marco Belinelli scored 10 points in the win. Backup point guard Jarrett Jack added 15 points and 5 assists off the bench. Reserve center Aaron Grey scored 12 points but sprained his ankle late in the game Sunday. Grey is doubtful for game 2 with the  injury. Remarkably, the Hornets only had 3 turnovers for the whole game. They struggled from the free throw line until the fourth quarter when they were perfect from the line. The Hornets hot 52% from the field.

For teh lakers, Kobe Bryant was his normal brilliant self scoring 34 points. he also had 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Ron Artest scored 16 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Andrew Bynum was questionable before the game with a knee injury but he scored 13 points and added 9 rebounds. NBA sixth man of the year Lamar Odom added 10 points off the bench. The big story for the Lakers  was Pau Gasol was ineffectual. He scored only 8 points and had 6 rebounds. He was 2-9 from the field. The Lakers shot 46% from the field and turned the ball over 13 times, with Kobe having 5 of those turnovers.

The Lakers swept the Hornets in the regular season, and have won 9 of the last 12 straight up in the series. However the Lakers are only 6-6 ATS in those games. Eight of the last twelve games have gone over the total in the series. The Hornets are 55-84 ATS the last 3 seasons against teams scoring 99 points a game or more. The Lakers are 15-27 ATS at home this season. The Lakers are 84-102 ATS in all games the last 2 seasons, including 72-87 as a favorite.

Center Theo Ratliff is out indefinitely with a knee injury for the Lakers. Guard Devin Ebanks is also out indefinitely with a leg injury for LA. Back-up point guard Steve Blake missed the last game with the chicken pox, but is probable for game #2. He will help in guarding Paul but he might be weak from the illness and could play limited minutes until he recovers fully. New Orleans forward David West was the team’s leading scorer but is out for the season with a knee injury.

The Lakers’ strength is their size but the Hornet’s speed on the pick-and-roll negates that advantage. The Lakers will have to double team Paul on every possession. However, Paul can dish the ball to an open teammate as eh is one of the best passers in basketball. I do think in spite of Paul’s brilliance, the Lakers will rebound for game #2 and take a split to New Orleans for game #3 Friday night.

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