Yao, Rockets visit Kobe & Lakers in LA
Yao, Rockets visit Kobe & Lakers in LA
It's a game the Rockets need desperately to at least remain in the top half of the Western Conference playoff bracket. It's also a win Houston needs to avoid being swept by Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers this season. How much effort, and how many minutes Kobe and Pau Gasol each play tonight, remains to be seen when Yao Ming & Company travel to LA on Friday evening in search of win No. 49 on the season.
For a second there, I thought Allen Iverson had actually retired. Turns out he’s only talking openly about retiring rather than accepting a full-time position as a bench player, which is where he’s at right now with the Detroit Pistons. But the first mention of this story I saw online had a headline something to the effect of “Iverson prefers retirement to bench.” Fish, meet hook.
The Pistons are 1-2 SU and 2-1 ATS since Iverson (back) rejoined the lineup. But the last game was a 111-98 loss at New Jersey (-1) in which Iverson shot 1-of-8 in 17 minutes, prompting his public complaint over playing time. Maybe he’s already mentally checked out.
Houston at L.A. Lakers (-5½, 198)
Friday, Apr 3, 7:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN
This matchup will get some extra attention because of the Michael Lewis article that ran in the New York Times, explaining how effective Houston’s Shane Battier was at limiting L.A. superstar and reigning MVP Kobe Bryant. The Lakers (59-16 SU, 38-37 ATS) have still covered five of their last six meetings with the Rockets over the past two seasons. That includes 3-0 SU and ATS this year, with Bryant shooting a combined 37-of-72 (51.4 percent) from the floor.
The circumstances are not quite the same for Friday’s contest. The Lakers have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and Bryant has been fighting off a stomach virus while coming off a right ankle sprain. Bryant says he doesn’t want his playing time limited; Pau Gasol, on the other hand, admitted to the Los Angeles Times that he could use a break. This will be L.A.’s sixth game in nine days, but just the third for the Rockets (48-27 SU, 36-38-1 ATS), who are still jockeying for position in the West.
Betting odds have the Lakers as 5½-point favorites with a total of 198.
Orlando at Atlanta
Saturday, Apr 4, 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Over in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic (55-19 SU, 46-27-1 ATS) are trying to take advantage of the Kevin Garnett situation and move past the Boston Celtics for the No. 2 seed. Orlando is on a 13-3 run at 10-6 ATS to take over the top spot in the money standings from Cleveland. The under is 10-6 as well during this hot streak. However, the Magic did manage to lose to the visiting Toronto Raptors (+10) on Wednesday, and this matchup comes just one day after a tough test at home against the Cavaliers.
The Hawks (43-32 SU, 41-33-1 ATS) are also playing the second of back-to-back games, their opponents on Friday being the aforementioned Celtics. Atlanta is in fourth place in the East and hanging onto home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. But the Hawks have dropped four of their last six games at 2-3-1 ATS. Cashing in could be a problem while Marvin Williams (back) tries to get healthy for the postseason.
San Antonio at Cleveland
Sunday, Apr 5, 1:00 p.m. (ET), ABC
Stop the presses: The Cavaliers have lost a game. Their streak of 13 consecutive victories is over after Thursday’s 109-101 loss to the Washington Wizards (+9½). This game was played in D.C. with Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood back in the lineup for the Wiz, yet Cleveland appeared content to play from behind during this contest. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the Cavs have dialed down their practice sessions significantly in order to keep the players fresh for the playoffs. Thursday’s effort may have been a side effect.
Back in the West, the Spurs (48-26 SU, 36-36-2 ATS) have been swimming in red ink the past couple of weeks at 4-5 SU and 2-7 ATS. Coach Gregg Popovich has a tough task managing his players’ minutes; Tim Duncan sat twice during that span to rest his knees, and Manu Ginobili has been moved into the starting lineup over Roger Mason, presumably to give Ginobili more minutes for conditioning as he comes back from an extended layoff due to a stress fracture. Neither Duncan nor Ginobili played in San Antonio’s 97-86 loss to the Cavs (-4) on Feb. 27.
It's a game the Rockets need desperately to at least remain in the top half of the Western Conference playoff bracket. It's also a win Houston needs to avoid being swept by Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers this season. How much effort, and how many minutes Kobe and Pau Gasol each play tonight, remains to be seen when Yao Ming & Company travel to LA on Friday evening in search of win No. 49 on the season.
For a second there, I thought Allen Iverson had actually retired. Turns out he’s only talking openly about retiring rather than accepting a full-time position as a bench player, which is where he’s at right now with the Detroit Pistons. But the first mention of this story I saw online had a headline something to the effect of “Iverson prefers retirement to bench.” Fish, meet hook.
The Pistons are 1-2 SU and 2-1 ATS since Iverson (back) rejoined the lineup. But the last game was a 111-98 loss at New Jersey (-1) in which Iverson shot 1-of-8 in 17 minutes, prompting his public complaint over playing time. Maybe he’s already mentally checked out.
Houston at L.A. Lakers (-5½, 198)
Friday, Apr 3, 7:30 p.m. (ET) ESPN
This matchup will get some extra attention because of the Michael Lewis article that ran in the New York Times, explaining how effective Houston’s Shane Battier was at limiting L.A. superstar and reigning MVP Kobe Bryant. The Lakers (59-16 SU, 38-37 ATS) have still covered five of their last six meetings with the Rockets over the past two seasons. That includes 3-0 SU and ATS this year, with Bryant shooting a combined 37-of-72 (51.4 percent) from the floor.
The circumstances are not quite the same for Friday’s contest. The Lakers have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, and Bryant has been fighting off a stomach virus while coming off a right ankle sprain. Bryant says he doesn’t want his playing time limited; Pau Gasol, on the other hand, admitted to the Los Angeles Times that he could use a break. This will be L.A.’s sixth game in nine days, but just the third for the Rockets (48-27 SU, 36-38-1 ATS), who are still jockeying for position in the West.
Betting odds have the Lakers as 5½-point favorites with a total of 198.
Orlando at Atlanta
Saturday, Apr 4, 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Over in the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic (55-19 SU, 46-27-1 ATS) are trying to take advantage of the Kevin Garnett situation and move past the Boston Celtics for the No. 2 seed. Orlando is on a 13-3 run at 10-6 ATS to take over the top spot in the money standings from Cleveland. The under is 10-6 as well during this hot streak. However, the Magic did manage to lose to the visiting Toronto Raptors (+10) on Wednesday, and this matchup comes just one day after a tough test at home against the Cavaliers.
The Hawks (43-32 SU, 41-33-1 ATS) are also playing the second of back-to-back games, their opponents on Friday being the aforementioned Celtics. Atlanta is in fourth place in the East and hanging onto home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. But the Hawks have dropped four of their last six games at 2-3-1 ATS. Cashing in could be a problem while Marvin Williams (back) tries to get healthy for the postseason.
San Antonio at Cleveland
Sunday, Apr 5, 1:00 p.m. (ET), ABC
Stop the presses: The Cavaliers have lost a game. Their streak of 13 consecutive victories is over after Thursday’s 109-101 loss to the Washington Wizards (+9½). This game was played in D.C. with Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood back in the lineup for the Wiz, yet Cleveland appeared content to play from behind during this contest. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the Cavs have dialed down their practice sessions significantly in order to keep the players fresh for the playoffs. Thursday’s effort may have been a side effect.
Back in the West, the Spurs (48-26 SU, 36-36-2 ATS) have been swimming in red ink the past couple of weeks at 4-5 SU and 2-7 ATS. Coach Gregg Popovich has a tough task managing his players’ minutes; Tim Duncan sat twice during that span to rest his knees, and Manu Ginobili has been moved into the starting lineup over Roger Mason, presumably to give Ginobili more minutes for conditioning as he comes back from an extended layoff due to a stress fracture. Neither Duncan nor Ginobili played in San Antonio’s 97-86 loss to the Cavs (-4) on Feb. 27.
