Charlotte Bobcats AT Los Angeles Lakers
Mar 4, 2011 at 10:30 PM EST
Opening Line: L.A. -12.5
Current Line: LA. -12
Opening Total: 191.5
Current Total: 189
Opening Moneyline: LA -1100 / Cha +750
Current Moneyline: LA -1200 / Cha +800
Tonight’s game brings together two unlikely rivals in the Bobcats and Lakers. The Bobcats have absolutely owned the Lakers in the last 4 seasons, amassing a 8-2 record against the Lakers for the last 5 seasons.
If the playoffs started today, Charlotte would be on the outside looking in as they are still 3.5 games behind 8th seeded Indiana. The Bobcats have split their last 10 games but have lost their last 2. The Lakers have won 5 straight, and 7 of their last 10.
Some betting trends:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Charlotte’s last 6 games and the total has gone UNDER in 6 of Charlotte’s last 8 games on the road. Charlotte is 1-4 SU in their last 5 games on the road and they are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games against the Lakers.
The Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games and the total has gone UNDER in 15 of the last 22 Laker home games. The Lakers are 10-3 SU in their last 13 games at home and 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games at home. LA is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games against the Bobcats and they are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 against the Bobcats. LA is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 home games against the Bobcats.
Key Matchups:
Stephen Jackson vs Kobe Bryant
While Kobe certainly is the best player in this matchup, don’t sleep on Captain Jack. Jackson has averaged 15.6 points per game, 3.4 assists per game, and 3.1 rebounds per game over his career against the Lakers. While the Lakers have struggled against the Bobcats recently, over his career Kobe has been good against Charlotte with averages of 29.8 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game, and 4.3 assists. He was held to 20 the last time the teams met and he shot just 8 of 20 from the floor in that game. Jackson has the length and speed to give Kobe problems on the offensive end of the court. Jackson will pressure Kobe and do a good job of getting a hand in his face on jumpers, and sometimes that is enough to slow Bryant down. Other times it doesn’t matter if a hand is up at all, he’s going to hit.
Kwame Brown vs Pau Gasol
Kwame is having one of the better seasons of his career, and is over 7 points per game for his first time since 06-07. It’s hard to believe he’s been in the league for 11 seasons now since Jordan made him the first overall pick of the 2001 NBA draft. His best season came as a Wizard, in his third season in the league, when he averaged 10.9 points per game and 7.4 rebounds. Gasol has been historically far better than that, of course. Gasol has been steady. His scoring average is up slightly over last season, while his rebounding numbers are slightly down. He’s more or less the “1 B” option behind Kobe, as he often outscores Bryant now. As the Lakers, and Bryant, continue to evolve, Pau will probably become even more involved in the offense.
63% of bettors have bet on the Bobcats to cover tonight’s spread. Given their success over the Lakers, it seems like a very reasonable and good bet to make.
