Philadelphia 76ers at L.A. Clippers
Time: 9:30 PM ET, Feb 9, 2014
Spread: LAC -15.5
Total: 221
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The Philadelphia 76ers have lost five straight contests and will look for its eighth road win of the season against the L.A. Clippers in NBA action Sunday night. The Clippers (35-18) are 21-4 at home this season and will be double-digit favorites according to NBA oddsmakers at Bovada who set the line 15.5-points in favor of Doc Rivers’ team.
Philadelphia has been competent offensively, scoring a middle of the road 101.1 points per game. Defense, however, has been more than problematic for the young Sixers, who surrender 110.0 points per game (worst in NBA).
The Sixers have some talent on the perimeter in the form of Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young and rookie Michael Carter-Williams, but the team is weak inside as its best interior player (Spencer Hawes) is more of a face up player and there are no other legit big men on the team.
Turner and Young are both trade candidates for the Sixers, though Michael Carter-Williams is likely off limits. The Syracuse product has averaged 17 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game and big guards are a luxury in the NBA. Young is a bit of a tweener, but the Sixers may be able to obtain a first round pick given his talents as a stretch-4. Young posts the highest PER of any Sixer at 17.3.
The Clippers have been without playmaker Chris Paul since Jan 3. Darren Collison has started in his stead and performed well, but it has been Blake Griffin who has picked up most of the slack for the Clippers.
Griffin is now averaging 23.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford are both shooting lights out too, and the tandem combines to average 34.1 points per game for the Clippers who rank 2nd in the NBA in scoring (106.4 points per game). Redick is suffering from back spasms though and is unlikely to play.
PHI Trends: UNDER 3-0-1 in last 4 following ATS loss; 0-6 ATS in last 6 vs teams with winning SU records; UNDER 3-0-1 in last 4 vs teams with winning percentages above .600.
LAC Trends: OVER 8-0 in last 8 following SU Win of more than 10 points; OVER 4-0 in last 4 Sunday games; 1-5 ATS in last 6 following SU win of more than 10 points.
Head-to-head: 76ers 0-4 ATS in last 4 meetings; 76ers 8-3 ATS in last 11 meetings in Los Angeles.
