Sides have not been kind to me this season. Still, I believe we will see the stronger teams prevail tonight:
LA LAKERS -4 vs. MILWAUKEE (BEST BET)
Lakers have dominated this series recently, covering in 9 of the last 11 games. Lakers appear ready to make a serious run for the West's best record, and tend to get up emotionally for better opponents (recent losses came to bad teams like Cleve, Chi, Memph, etc.). Season trends also support a Lakers' win -- LAL 19-9 on the road, 17-8 as a road favorite (SU), and 18-3 (SU) coming off a road win. Road favorites are a remarkable 138-79 (SU) this season. Lakers are 6-1 (SU) when playing the first of back-to-back road games. Bucks are a terribly inconsistent team, and do have the revenge motive coming in, as well as the spark of being a home dog. But they catch the Lakers at a very bad time here and will have a tough time pulling the upset.
SEATTLE -1.5 vs. CLEVELAND
Sonics are clearly the more talented team??the question is, will they take the Cavs seriously, or just sleepwalk through the game and let Cleveland pull the upset? Sonics are 4-1 this season on the road versus bad (sub .400) teams?.a good sign they should play well. Several trends against Cavs here -- Cavs are just 2-10 SU when coming off a 50+ percent game shooting. Cavs are also just 3-8 as a dog coming off a win. Cleveland's big problem is consistency and facing a decent West team, they are clearly the dog in this spot. Nice value laying just a point.
HOUSTON -6 vs. LA CLIPPERS
Clippers are coming off a game where things went way too easy -- Memphis was absolutely dreadful last night. Look for Clippers to get a dose of reality here, as Houston continues to improve and play well at home. Clippers are just 1-9 SU on the road with no rest, versus rested team, and 6-18 SU as an away dog. Clippers road record is just 8-20 SU.
-- Nolan Dalla
LA LAKERS -4 vs. MILWAUKEE (BEST BET)
Lakers have dominated this series recently, covering in 9 of the last 11 games. Lakers appear ready to make a serious run for the West's best record, and tend to get up emotionally for better opponents (recent losses came to bad teams like Cleve, Chi, Memph, etc.). Season trends also support a Lakers' win -- LAL 19-9 on the road, 17-8 as a road favorite (SU), and 18-3 (SU) coming off a road win. Road favorites are a remarkable 138-79 (SU) this season. Lakers are 6-1 (SU) when playing the first of back-to-back road games. Bucks are a terribly inconsistent team, and do have the revenge motive coming in, as well as the spark of being a home dog. But they catch the Lakers at a very bad time here and will have a tough time pulling the upset.
SEATTLE -1.5 vs. CLEVELAND
Sonics are clearly the more talented team??the question is, will they take the Cavs seriously, or just sleepwalk through the game and let Cleveland pull the upset? Sonics are 4-1 this season on the road versus bad (sub .400) teams?.a good sign they should play well. Several trends against Cavs here -- Cavs are just 2-10 SU when coming off a 50+ percent game shooting. Cavs are also just 3-8 as a dog coming off a win. Cleveland's big problem is consistency and facing a decent West team, they are clearly the dog in this spot. Nice value laying just a point.
HOUSTON -6 vs. LA CLIPPERS
Clippers are coming off a game where things went way too easy -- Memphis was absolutely dreadful last night. Look for Clippers to get a dose of reality here, as Houston continues to improve and play well at home. Clippers are just 1-9 SU on the road with no rest, versus rested team, and 6-18 SU as an away dog. Clippers road record is just 8-20 SU.
-- Nolan Dalla
