L.A. Lakers at San Antonio
Time: 9:30 PM ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: SAS -13
Total: 207
Betting odds c/o Bookmaker
The Los Angeles Lakers haven’t had much go right this season. Kobe Bryant is still Kobe Bryant, but there’s not much around him and the Lakers have won just six games through its first 22 contests.
Tonight is unlikely to yield much more than another ‘L’ as the Lakers pull into San Antonio to face Tim Duncan and the Spurs.
NBA oddsmakers list the Spurs as 13-point favorites and the NBA odds list the total as 207.
The Lakers are 3-7 on the road this season, with wins over Atlanta and Houston on back to back nights, after losing its first five on the road.
Nick Young missed the first 10 games of the year for the Lakers but since has come back to be the second leading scorer behind Kobe. Young is averaging 14.6 points per game, and many would be quick to attribute this to having been with Iggy Azalea this summer, but truthfully Young has always been a hired gun.
Beyond the offense of Kobe and Young, the Lakers have received meager production, though. Jordan Hill is a good center, but he shouldn’t be a No. 3 option offensively. Hill is good for 13 points and nine boards a game, and he’s showing he is worth the lottery pick the Rockets spent on him.
Carlos Boozer, simply put, is a bum. And losing Julius Randle for the season ensured Lakers fans would have nothing better to do than watch Boozer try to force mid range jumpers without jumping (is it still a jumper?). The bottom line is the Lakers are lacking just about all the components that make up a successful team. The Lakers took a small gamble in obtaining Jeremy Lin, but at least he’s good for a fanbase. Between Lin and Kobe, the Lakers have a marketable team. But it is a marketable lottery-bound team.
San Antonio is 16-6 on the season and took down the New York Knicks Wed. night by a score of 109-95. The Spurs put up 38 points in the third quarter to give itself a 21-point lead heading into the final period. The Knicks were without Carmelo Anthony, while the Spurs sat Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan (Gregg Popovich was not fined this time for it).
With three starters resting, Marco Bellinelli filled the void. The sharpshooter hit all three of his triples and knocked down a perfect 7-of-7 from the line to finish with 22 points, two steals, three assists and four boards in 30 minutes of play. The Spurs put seven players in double figures with its three All-Stars resting, showing again the continued depth of the franchise.
San Antonio’s defense has been very stingy this year, allowing 94.3 points, which is the second best in the league. Prior to a Dec. 3 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the Spurs had run an eight-game win streak. Another unlikely loss to Utah on Dec. 9 still has San Antonio as winners of 12 of its past 14.
Tim Duncan is still one of the best power forwards in the league, evidenced by his 22.81 PER. Now in his 18th NBA season, the No. 1 overall pick from the 1997 draft is averaging 14.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.
Most of the great big men are able to play until age 40, and given that Timmy has shown no signs of slowing down, the Spurs should be able to make a smooth transition to the next major post player to carry the team. Some have speculated it may end up being Marc Gasol, who is a free agent this offseason. As for the present, rest assured Pop doesn’t care; he’s only concerned about his team and winning a fifth NBA championship.
Tony Parker is expected to return after missing the past three games. Kawhi Leonard is questionable after sustaining a bruise to his hand.
