3/29 NBA Plays

[Nick Douglas]

Happy birthday to my sister. One for tonight. Good luck.

Portland +8 over LAKERS 350/318

Wallace is out for Portland and I like the angle of playing a team in the first game without a star, especially with a deep team, because the rest of the team usually steps up. Lakers have allowed 52% and 54% shooting their last two games which indicates a defensive deficiency that will be tough to correct against a good team.

 

[JT Sneaks]

Nick

Nick

Although I am staying away from this game I share your views on playing on a team that loses a superstar the first game out. However the pacers are also in a similar situation tonight with O'neal's suspension. Do you feel that a suspension is different from an injury in this case?

JT Sneaks

 

[RobertBIrish]

Nick normally I would agree with you but do you think it makes a difference that he didn't play against Memphis earlier this week and didn't even make a half against SA?

 

[Nick Douglas]

You know what, JT, the Pacers may be a good play, but I just remember watching them without O'Neal earlier this year and they were so pitiful. They didn't even try to score inside. At least Portland has Wells and Davis to try to establish a post game. Indy just folded last time O'Neal was out.

The other thing is that the main reason I like Portland is that the Lakers have been struggling defensively. Giving up 100+ to two teams like Cleveland and Phoenix is unacceptable. Their defense has been soft and in a big game like this, they will be hard pressed to turn that around in my opinion.

 

[Roger]

not the first game w/o wallace...he was out for the game against the spurs if I remember correctly...

 

[thisisbad]

Wallace played 11 mins in the first half against the Spurs. They played the second half without him. Port was down 3 at half at won by 5, if that helps any.

 

[Roger]

Happy Birthday Sis!!!

thanks bad...didn't catch the first qtr...

8 pts. seems a lot to lay against a good blazers team...but it's the lakers at home and we have to remember they are the world champs...this looked really fishy to me when I first saw the line...but after seeing nick on it I'll take the pts and my chances...

 

[ddubs]

Up to 9 and 9.5 at some places now, boys.

GL

 

[PerpetualCzech]

My 2 cents on the first-game-without-an-star theory: I like it makes a lot of sense and find that bookmakers often overadjust the line e.g. Carter out against the Cavs last week moved teh line from 2 to 5.5. Iverson out against the Knicks was also a good example.