Tip off: 10 PM EST
Spread: LAC -3.5
Total: 200
M/L: LAC -165, SAC +145
Betting Odds taken from Bookmaker
Los Angeles Clippers
The best team in L.A. no longer wears purple and gold. OK, so maybe it’s a little too early to anoint the Clippers as THE team in L.A., but at the moment they are in fact ahead of the Lakers in the Pacific division, and despite losing Chauncey Billups for the season, things are still very bright for the deep and talented Clippers squad.
They lost Tuesday night by 12 to the improved Minnesota Timberwolves, and they have lost 3 of their past 7, but that’s still less than half of course, and the Clippers will only get stronger as time goes on.
Blake Griffin is continuing to solidify himself as one of the most exciting, and one of the best, players in the game. He’s posting 21.7 points per game this season, while shooting 53.8% from the floor, largely due to the fact he dunks so often. Griffin trails only Dwight Howard in total dunks this season, and after Griffin and Howard, no one is even close.
Chris Paul would be the main reason things have been so much better in L.A. Arguably the best point guard in the game, Paul is putting up 19.5 points per game and 8.5 assists, while also ranking second in the league in steals with 2.2 per game.
Caron Butler and Mo Williams round out the major Clippers, as far as scoring goes, as each contribute double figure scoring.
DeAndre Jordan is a great shot blocker and defensive presence and adding Kenyon Martin’s experience will prove huge come playoff time.
Things are looking up in Clipperland.
Sacramento
The Kings have been one of the worst teams in basketball and are now 12-22, good for last pace in the Pacific division. They managed to beat Utah by 7 on Tuesday night behind DeMarcus Cousins 22 points and 18 rebounds, but prior to the win over Utah, and the win against Washington going into the All-Star break, the Kings had put together a hefty six game losing streak that crushed any hopes they had of ever contending for the 8th seed (not that it was eve really likely, at any rate).
Several Kings players have disappointed: Tyreke Evans has fallen off pretty severely since his 20-5-5 rookie season and Jimmer Fredette is still struggling to adapt to the NBA game. Throw the underachieving John Salmons and J.J. Hickson into the mix and you have a recipe for disaster.
But not all things have been bad for the Kings. Their second round pick (#60 overall) Isaiah Thomas is impressing of late, and DeMarcus Cousins, for all his head troubles, is still having a pretty great season, his 43.7% field goal not withstanding.
A lot has to change in Sacramento before the Kings can be taken seriously, but most Kings fans are just happy the team is staying in town, after plans to build an arena were finalized, saving the franchise from possible relocation.
Key Matchups:
Isaiah Thomas vs. Chris Paul
At first, one might think this is David vs. Goliath: Chris Paul, one of the top point guards in the league against an inexperienced rookie. But that’s the thing: Thomas doesn’t play like a rookie, and his experience at Washington proved he is capable of leading a team when it counts most. He’s posted 20.8 points per game over the last four games, while also totaling 30 assists over that span. Since becoming the Kings full time starter on February 19th, he has seen no less than 35 minutes in any contest, and played 43 minute in a heartbreaking one point loss to the Cavs on February 19th.
Will Paul abuse Thomas? No. I don’t think so. He’s the better player, but we’re all about to see just what makes Thomas special. Even if the Clippers blowout the Kings tonight, it will be worth keeping an eye on the point guard matchup.
