Tip off: 7:35 PM EST
Spread: LAL -5.5
Total: 186.5
M/L: LAL -235, DET +195
Betting Odds from Bookmaker
L.A. Lakers
The Lakers are coming off an impressive defeat of the Miami Heat Sunday that left many questioning whether it should be Kobe Bryant, and not LeBron James, that takes this season’s MVP award. Kobe, now 33, is still leading the league in scoring and has shown few signs of slowing down for the 23-14 Lakers. The Lakers have finally passed the Clippers by half a game in the Pacific division, silencing some of the “Clippers are the best team in L.A.” talk that has been circulating around the Staples Center.
Still, the Lakers have struggled on the road this season and are only 6-12 away from the Staples Center. Riding their three game win streak, they should be able to dispose of the struggling Pistons tonight, but still don’t find themselves huge favorites; again, likely because they are on the road.
Metta World Peace has made his return to the world of relevancy by posting 17 and 15 points over his last two games and coming up with 5 steals between the contests as well (4 of which came against the Heat).
Trade talks have swirled around Pau Gasol for most of the season, and he’s not having his best year as a pro to say the least, but he is still second on the team in scoring with 16.7 points per game and if the Lakers deal him, they should get something of significant value back. They almost made a deal with the Timberwolves to acquire small forward Michael Beasley, but decided not to go into the luxury cap to add the inconsistent Beasley.
Lakers Betting Trends:
The Lakers are 8-2-1 SU in their last 11 games and the total has gone OVER in 6 of the last 8 Lakers games. The Lakers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games and they are 6-14-1 SU in their last 21 games on the road.
Detroit
There’s not much to be excited about in Detroit. Joe Dumars sank the team pretty hard after winning a couple titles by signing free agent busts Charlie Villanueva (who is out indefinitely with an ankle injury) and Ben Gordon to huge contracts, inking two players that play very little defense, something that has typically been a hallmark of Detroit teams.
The result is a 12-26 ball club with no chance of making the playoffs. If there is any silver lining, it is that two of the best three players on the team are young, in Greg Monroe and rookie Brandon Knight. The duo could eventually combine to form something for the Pistons, as Monroe is drawing comparisons to Duncan with his methodical yet effective play. The Georgetown product is averaging a team high 16.7 points per game and a team high 10.1 boards per night. At 6’11” the 0.6 blocked shots per game is pretty disconcerting, but that isn’t really Monroe’s game, as he lacks explosion and doesn’t have great leaping ability. Nonetheless, he and Knight form what little hopes Pistons fans have of things getting better.
Pistons Betting Trends:
Detroit is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games and the total has gone OVER in 12 of their last 17 games. It has also gone OVER In 8 of their last 12 at home and they are 6-3 SU in their last 9 at home.
