LA Lakers @ Phoenix
I will be playing the Los Angeles Lakers -1.5 verses the Suns at America West Arena tonight. If someone were to have told me that the Lakers would be 4 games below .500 approaching the All-Star break and the Suns would be 6 games above .500 at the same point in the season, I would have obviously said they were crazy. But, with that being said, it?s the truth and tonight's game is a big one for both clubs. For the Lakers, it?s the beginning of a stretch of games where they will face the likes of upper echelon NBA teams Sacramento and Indiana, both on the road. In fact including tonight's game, 4 of their next 5 will be away from Staples. What I am trying to get at is that since the Lakers have huge ballgames coming up at the Kings and Pacers, both potential losses, the importance of the other three games during this stretch is multiplied. Unfortunately for the Suns, the Lakers have had 4 days to rest and think about this one tonight. Kobe had a chance to rest the sore knee and the big fella was able to stay off the toe for a few days. Conversely, the Suns have had really no rest at all, playing 5 road games in the last 9 days, a stretch of games where they went 1-4 SU and ATS. They have only had 1 day to recuperate and get ready for the champs. Statistically the Teams are pretty close offensively as the Lakers average just around 96 points per contest and the Suns 93. Defensively they are relatively close as well as the Suns allow 93 ppg and the Lakers 96. The Suns are coming into this one with an 11 game home winning streak and many are jumping on the Suns bandwagon at home, but I feel the fatigue factor will play a huge role here tonight as the well rested Lakers are really looking at this one as a must win before they go to Sacramento day after tomorrow.
I will also be playing the Lakers and Suns OVER the posted total of 195.5 today. Playing OVER when Los Angeles takes the court has been a pretty wise idea. After all, they are now 27-15 OVER this season and 14-6 OVER when on the road. The Suns have played in their share of high scoring games as well, going 25-20 OVER for the season. Moreover, Phoenix has now played OVER in 8 of their last 9 games overall. The Lakers and Suns have now played OVER in 4 straight meetings, having produced 206 points, 200 points, 224 points, and 202 points respectively. This one should soar OVER as well!
PLAY
LAKERS -1.5 and OVER 195.5
I will be playing the Los Angeles Lakers -1.5 verses the Suns at America West Arena tonight. If someone were to have told me that the Lakers would be 4 games below .500 approaching the All-Star break and the Suns would be 6 games above .500 at the same point in the season, I would have obviously said they were crazy. But, with that being said, it?s the truth and tonight's game is a big one for both clubs. For the Lakers, it?s the beginning of a stretch of games where they will face the likes of upper echelon NBA teams Sacramento and Indiana, both on the road. In fact including tonight's game, 4 of their next 5 will be away from Staples. What I am trying to get at is that since the Lakers have huge ballgames coming up at the Kings and Pacers, both potential losses, the importance of the other three games during this stretch is multiplied. Unfortunately for the Suns, the Lakers have had 4 days to rest and think about this one tonight. Kobe had a chance to rest the sore knee and the big fella was able to stay off the toe for a few days. Conversely, the Suns have had really no rest at all, playing 5 road games in the last 9 days, a stretch of games where they went 1-4 SU and ATS. They have only had 1 day to recuperate and get ready for the champs. Statistically the Teams are pretty close offensively as the Lakers average just around 96 points per contest and the Suns 93. Defensively they are relatively close as well as the Suns allow 93 ppg and the Lakers 96. The Suns are coming into this one with an 11 game home winning streak and many are jumping on the Suns bandwagon at home, but I feel the fatigue factor will play a huge role here tonight as the well rested Lakers are really looking at this one as a must win before they go to Sacramento day after tomorrow.
I will also be playing the Lakers and Suns OVER the posted total of 195.5 today. Playing OVER when Los Angeles takes the court has been a pretty wise idea. After all, they are now 27-15 OVER this season and 14-6 OVER when on the road. The Suns have played in their share of high scoring games as well, going 25-20 OVER for the season. Moreover, Phoenix has now played OVER in 8 of their last 9 games overall. The Lakers and Suns have now played OVER in 4 straight meetings, having produced 206 points, 200 points, 224 points, and 202 points respectively. This one should soar OVER as well!
PLAY
LAKERS -1.5 and OVER 195.5
