The Lakers are coming off their second consecutive championship and looking for the three peat.  Very little has changed from last season, with the exception of losing Jordan Farmar, and adding Steve Blake and Matt Barnes.  These small tweaks are unlikely to affect the stats of the prime players very much, and the real variable is going to be how much the Lakers decide to rest Kobe Bryant during the regular season.  Gasol may experience a slight bump in stats, with Bynum being perpetually injured.  We’ll examine these variables in the Lakers’ player prop bets available at Bodog.

Kobe Bryant Over/Under 27.5 ppg

UNDER.  He averaged 27.0 ppg last season, and 26.8 in 08-09.  With his hand injury and the lack of need for regular season dominance, the Lakers will likely give Bryant some nights off, as well as playing him less minutes.  This year has the potential to be a “down” year for Bryant, and I think he’ll average roughly a point less than the bodog line.

Kobe Bryant Over/Under 5.2 apg

UNDER.  5.0 last year, 4.9 in 08-09…Blake running the offense more, getting some of Kobe’s assists.  I think Kobe averages about 4.5 apg this season.

Pau Gasol Over/Under 18.7 ppg

Too close to call.  He has been right around 18.7 for the last four seasons (18.9, 18.8, 18.9, 18.3).  I have to think, even without Bynum, that these numbers are going to remain close to the same.  He may put up 19+, but he hasn’t done that since his Memphis days.  I advise staying away from this bet.

Pau Gasol Over/Under 10.3 rpg

OVER.  11.0 last season, Bynum injured, there is every reason to expect that he averages 11 again, if not 11.5   The Lakers are counting heavily on Pau to pull down the boards, and while last season was an outlier and career high for Pau, I think he keeps it up this season.

Lamar Odom Over/Under 11.5 ppg

OVER.  I think this one is a very close one to call, but Odom will see an increase in playing time, even when Bynum returns.  They need to rest Bynum for the playoffs, and Odom is one of the best 6th men in the league, so he’ll see the benefit of that decision.  While he hasn’t averaged more than 11.5 in three seasons, I think this is the year he kind of bounces back and puts up about 13 a game.

Lamar Odom Over/Under  8.7 rpg

OVER.  An easy one here.  He averaged a healthy 9.8 rebs a game last year, and as mentioned the Andrew Bynum effect will only further aid him in getting more.  I would not be surprised to see him a little over 10 boards a game this season.  Bodog really messed this one up because it is about the easiest over I have seen so far.  Definitely bet over on this one.

Ron Artest Over/Under 11.3 ppg

UNDER.  He didn’t score 11.3 last season, and this season they have added Matt Barnes, who will take some minutes away from Artest.  I think Artest will average about 10.0 this season, and this is a pretty easy ‘under.’

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