L.A. Lakers AT Chicago Bulls
December 10, 2010 at 8:05 PM EST
Opening Point Spread:  L.A. Lakers -2
Current Point Spread: L.A. Lakers -1.5
Opening Total:  200
Current Total: 199
Current Moneyline:  L.A. Lakers -110 / Chicago Bulls -110

Both teams enter tonight’s game with three game winning streaks.  The Lakers have beat three poor teams in Washington, the Clippers, and Sacramento, which helped them rebound from a four game losing streak.  The Bulls last three wins came against the Thunder, Rockets, and Cavs.  Chicago has been tough to beat at the United Center, having won 7 of their 9 home games this season.  The Lakers are 6-4 on the road.

The last meeting between the Bulls and Lakers came in November on the 23rd.  The Lakers won by a score of 98 to 91, despite a strong showing by the Bulls’ Rose, as he went for 30.  That night, the Lakers had a balanced attack with three players (Odom, Shannon Brown, and Kobe) scoring more than 20.  Noah had a particularly strong showing against Pau Gasol, scoring more points (19 to 12) and getting more rebounds (13 to 11) than the All-NBA center.

The Lakers have a +8.4 point differential, scoring a third best 107.8 points per game and giving up just under 100 points a game (99.4).  The Bulls have a +1.1 point differential, scoring 100 per night and giving up 98.9.  The Lakers have won 18 of the past 24 meetings between the teams, including four of their past five in Chicago.  The total has gone UNDER in 6 of the last 7 games between the teams in Chicago.  Also, the total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chicago’s past 6 games at home.  The Bulls are also 2-4-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.  The Bulls are 3-7 ATS vs the Lakers in the past ten games, too.

Some of the key matchups in tonight’s game:

Pau Gasol vs Joakim Noah

Noah has emerged as one of the best defensive centers in the league.  He blocks 1.4 shots a game and is second in the league in rebounding, ahead of Dwight Howard, and behind Kevin Love, with an average of 12.3 boards a game.  Noah has enabled the Bulls to be the third best rebounding team in the league.  Gasol happens to be sixth in rebounding himself, with an average of 11.6 and the Lakers are 2nd in the league in rebounding.  So it goes without saying that this will be a great battle on the glass with Gasol and Noah leading the way for their respective teams.  With Tom Thibodeau’s offense, Noah has been often playing a facilitating role and is averaging a career high 2.9 assists per game.  Gasol plays a similar role in the triangle offense and manages 4.3 assists per game.

Kobe Bryant vs Keith Bogans & Ronnie Brewer

This is obviously not a key matchup due to Bogans or Brewer’s scoring prowess, but an obvious key to beating the Lakers is containing Kobe Bryant and both Bulls guards are very good defender.  They collectively held Kobe in check last meeting, keeping him to 8 of 18 from the floor and 20 points for the game.  That night Brewer played most of the minutes despite Bogans starting.  Kobe has been playing typical Kobe ball and has scored 20 or more in his last 15 games, and only once has been held below 20 for the season, so he is going to get his.

As mentioned, this game will be heavily determined upon defense and rebounding.  While the Lakers’ are a high scoring team, the Bulls have the pieces to keep them in check, which is why NBA oddsmakers have set the total at a seemingly low 200 (it has since moved to 199).  It should be a tough defensive battle between two of the better defensive teams in the league.