Tip off: 10:30 PM EST
Spread: LAC -3
Total: 188.5
M/L: LAC -155, LAL +135
Kobe just posted his third straight 40+ point game against the Cavs on Friday night. Kobe put up 42 on Kyrie Irving and Anthony Parker. Bryant attempted 31 field goals and got to the line 10 times, also collecting 5 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists. In addition to the offense, Bryant contributed defensively as well, coming up with 3 steals. Bryant is now averaging 31.2 points per game, only further solidifying his position atop the best players of the last decade.
The Clippers won a big game over the visiting Miami Heat on Wednesday, holding the “Big 3” to 56 points, while receiving big games from Chris Paul, Caron Butler, and Blake Griffin. Chris Paul played all but 3 minutes and hit 11 of 21 field goal attempts while dishing out 11 assists. He has been everything the 5-3 Clippers hoped he would be.
With the core the Clippers now have, there are many who feel they could be the best team in L.A. Tonight should give us some kind of idea.
Lakers Betting Trends:
The Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games and the total has gone UNDER in 9 of their last 13 games. The Lakers are also 1-5 SU in their last 6 road games and are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games on the road.
Clippers Betting Trends:
The Clippers are 8-15 ATS in their last 23 games and the total has gone UNDER in 4 of the Clippers last 5 games. The Clippers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games and 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games at home.
Key Matchup:
Kobe Bryant vs. Chauncey Billups
With all due respect to the 6’3″ Billups, this may be mission impossible. Kobe is among the bigger two guards and is capable of using his size on the block against the smaller Billups. I don’t think Billups has any defense either, for a player as hot as Kobe has been. What can Billups do that the last three guys couldn’t to prevent Kobe from going for 40+ again tonight? Is there any reason not to expect Kobe to have a huge game? I think this matchup is obviously key, because Billups must do something to disrupt Bryant’s flow at least, if he can’t actually find any way to stop him entirely.
Pau Gasol vs. Blake Griffin
Griffin should get the best here, but Gasol has a lot left in the tank. It’s just that Griffin is the future and Gasol, the past. Griffin jumps over cars, Gasol jumps over jump ropes. Still, jokes aside, Gasol offers a lot in any team’s offense. Though his assist production has fallen off since Mike Brown abolished the triangle, Gasol is shooting a higher field goal percentage this year on less attempts, mainly because he has yeilded part of his role to the emerging Andrew Bynum. Bynum has the potential to be an All-Star, and his matchup tonight against DeAndre Jordan will also be worth keeping an eye on.
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