L.A. Lakers at San Antonio
Time: 8:30 PM ET, Mar 14, 2014
Spread: SAS -17.5
Total: 224
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The San Antonio Spurs hold a 1/2 game lead over Oklahoma City for the best record in the Western Conference. The Spurs have won eight straight games and NBA odds don’t predict this to be the time that the club falls; San Antonio is 17.5 point favorites over the visiting Lakers in NBA action Friday night.
The Lakers have had its season derailed by injuries, but that hasn’t stopped Kobe Bryant from calling for the firing of Mike D’Antoni, quite possibly the worst coach in NBA history. D’Antoni has coached the Lakers to near-respectability on offense, while playing such horrendous defense that it scarcely matters. The Lakers are giving up 108.2 points per game, and scoring 102.0 itself.
Despite playing at a fast pace, the team ranks just 24th in rebounding (41.4 per game). D’Antoni is getting minimal production from Pau Gasol given his skill set, and the center is almost a lock to leave via free agency this summer. It will leave the Lakers looking for talent, as the roster is primarily comprised of castaways at this point. Trade-acquistion Kent Bazemore has been a pleasant surprise and Jodie Meeks is a lights out shooter, but there’s little on this team to make anyone think it is any better than Kobe’s supporting cast from the infamous Smush Parker and Kwame Brown days.
San Antonio was able to get a big win over another Western Conference power when it defeated the Trail Blazers 103-90 on Wed night (Mar 12). Six Spurs scored in double-figures, and Patty Mills led all Spurs scorers with 15 points. The Spurs are cruising in a real sense with only one player seeing more than 30 minutes per game (Parker, 30.5).
Gregg Popovich is able to play his bench and still get wins over most NBA squads, which has been a hallmark of his coaching. Tim Duncan is still productive, averaging 15.2 points and 10.0 rebounds per game in just 29 minutes a night. Expect the Spurs starters to rest plenty in this one, and still likely cover the big spread set by NBA oddsmakers.
LAL Trends: OVER 4-0 in last 4 following ATS loss; 4-0 ATS in last 4 Friday games; OVER 8-0 in last 8 on 0 days rest.
SAS Trends: UNDER 4-0 in last 4 Friday games; 5-1 ATS in last 6 after scoring 100 or more in previous game; OVER 4-1 in last 5 following SU win of more than 10 points.
Head-to-head: Lakers 1-4 ATS in last 5 meetings; UNDER 20-7 in last 27 meetings; UNDER 19-7 in last 26 meetings in San Antonio.
