Charlotte at L.A. Clippers
Time: 9:30 PM ET, Jan 1, 2013
Line: LAC -11
Total: 193
Betting Odds courtesy of Bovada
The Charlotte Bobcats are 14-18 on the season, which is good for the 6th seed in the weak Eastern Conference to-date. The Los Angeles Clippers will still be double-digit favorites at home against the Bobcats according to NBA oddsmakers at Bovada, who set the line 11-points in favor of the Clips.
The Clips lost 107-88 to the much improved Phoenix Suns on Monday night, but Doc Rivers has had the team playing more inspired defense. The Clippers rank 12th in points allowed (99.7) while posting 104.5 points per game on the offensive end.
Chris Paul is making a strong MVP case as the league’s best point guard, averaging 11.3 assists per game in feeding his high scoring teammates, not the least of which is power forward Blake Griffin, who averages 21.7 points per game. DeAndre Jordan has emerged as a top-10 center in the NBA with nine points and 13.4 rebounds per game, and the Clips have a lot of depth when fully stocked. J.J. Redick is out for four more weeks, but he and Jamal Crawford both combine to average 32.5 points per game.
The Bobcats have received a big boost from free agent acquisition Al Jefferson. Al Jeff is posting 17 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Kemba Walker is becoming a very good NBA point guard and averages 18.6 points and 4.7 assists per game.
The Bobcats are disappointed slightly with the progression of Michael Kidd Gilchrist. The No. 2 pick in the 2012 NBA draft is averaging just 9.1 points per game in 26 minutes a night. He is currently nursing a broken hand and will be out four to six weeks.
The Bobcats are looking like a playoff team in a decimated Eastern Conference, but the 2014 Draft may yield high impact players in the late lottery through the late-first.
CHA TRENDS: 7-0 ATS in last 7 vs teams with home winning percentages above .600; 7-0 ATS in last 7 road games vs teams with winning home records; 6-0 ATS in last 6 vs teams with winning SU records.
LA TRENDS: 6-1 ATS in last 7 Wed; UNDER 4-1 in last 5 home games; UNDER 4-1 in last 5 vs teams with losing SU records.
Head-to-head: Bobcats 1-6 ATS in last 7 meetings; UNDER 4-1 in last 5 meetings.
