Tip off: 10:35 PM EST
Spread: LAL -5
Total: 187
M/L: LAL -205, UTA +175
The Lakers have jumped out to an 0-2 start, while the Jazz have yet to play their first game. Tonight should be a good chance for Kobe and Crew to get back on track, because the Jazz are not one of the better teams in the West. While Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap are about as good a 1-2 tandem as you can find, the Jazz have a lot of team chemistry issues to resolve still, after having jettisoned their captain and best player in Deron Williams last season.
Kobe Bryant is beginning to decline, but despite a hurt ligament in his wrist, he is still putting up typical Kobe numbers. The loss of Odom is probably going to hurt the Lakers more than they have anticipated or realized yet. Odom was a key rebounder and piece off the bench and it’s the kind of loss that teams don’t fully understand until they’re gone. He blossomed as a Laker, and was terribly sad to leave, and in time the Lakers will be equally sad they let him leave.
Some betting trends:
Utah is 3-6 ATS in their last 9 games and the total ahs gone UNDER in 7 of the Jazz’ last 9 games. The Jazz are 3-10 SU in their last 13 games and they are 2-7 SU in their last 9 games on the road. The total has gone UNDER in 5 of the Jazz’ last 6 road games and it has gone UNDER in 10 of their last 15 games against the L.A. Lakers. The Jazz are 2-8 SU in their last 10 against the lakers and they are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 against the Lakers. The total has gone OVER in 15 of Utah’s last 21 against the Lakers and they are 1-17 SU in their last 18 road games against the Lakers. The Jazz are 5-12-1 ATS in their last 18 road games against L.A.
The Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games and they are 0-5 SU in their last 5 games. The Lakers are 3-7 SU in their last 10 at home and are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 at home. The total has gone UNDER in 10 of their last 15 against Utah and they are 8-2 SU in their last 10 against the Jazz. The total ha gone OVER in 15 of the Lakers’ last 21 home games against the Jazz and they are 17-1 SU in their last 18 games at home against Utah.
Key Matchups:
Paul Millsap / Al Jefferson vs. Pau Gasol / Andrew Bynum (injured) / Josh McRoberts
Millsap and Jefferson are the entire hopes of the Utah Jazz team, though they have a couple of high draft picks coming in behind them off the bench (#5 overall Enes Kanter in 2011 and #3 overall Derrick Favors in 2010 from the Deron Williams trade). Millsap is undersized at 6’7″ but is very talented and capable of getting his shot off against bigger defenders. Jefferson is said to be in the best shape of his career and appears to be primed to have a season reminiscent of what he did when he was with the Timberwolves. Bynum has yet to play this season, so Josh McRoberts has been getting the minutes. For all that can be said about McRoberts, he bangs hard, can block some shots, and has a decent jumper. The Lakers could do a lot worse for a temporary hold over until Bynum returns.
