Lakers, Magic and Celtics highlight weekend action
Pau Gasol's double-double helped the Lakers past the Bulls on Thursday, 108-93. Next up for the defending champs will be Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City on Sunday night as LA tried to keep pace with the red-hot Suns in the Pacific Division. The Friday night NBA slate finds a rematch of last year's Easterno Conference Finals when the Orlando Magic travel north to face Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics.
So I was watching basketball the other day, as I am wont to do, and ESPN analyst Mark Jackson was asked if Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets is the best point guard in the NBA today. Jackson didn’t think so, because the Hornets (5-8 SU and ATS) aren’t winning.
There’s just no reasoning with these people. But here goes: Paul leads the entire NBA in Player Efficiency Rating at 33.97, ahead of LeBron James (31.65) and Chris Bosh (30.61). The closest point guard is Milwaukee Bucks super-rookie Brandon Jennings at 23.31 PER, good for No. 15 overall. The Bucks are 6-3 SU and ATS, so by Jackson’s logic, Jennings must be the best. But I’m sure Jackson would say something about how Jennings hasn’t earned it yet.
There’s this guy named Rajon Rondo that doesn’t get enough respect, either. Let’s see what’s up with Rondo (20.95 PER) and the gang.
Orlando at Boston (-7, 189)
Friday - 8:00 p.m. (ET) ESPN
The Celtics are the only winning team in the Atlantic Division at 9-3 SU (5-7 ATS). But over the last two weeks, they’re 4-3 SU and 1-6 ATS. The betting odds just don’t add up for them right now. The smallest spread Boston saw during that span was seven points, on the road at Indiana (5-4 SU and ATS). The Pacers won 113-104. The C’s are back home Friday night, and they’re laying seven points again, this time to the defending Eastern Conference champions from Orlando (9-3 SU, 7-5 ATS). The total is 190.
The last time we saw these two teams in action, the Magic were defeating the Celtics in the 2009 Eastern final at 4-3 SU and ATS. Both teams improved during the offseason, but Orlando was the big winner, landing Vince Carter (19.53 PER) and Ryan Anderson (22.64 PER) from New Jersey and signing Brandon Bass (15.97 PER) away from Dallas. Anderson did a stellar job filling in for the suspended Rashard Lewis as he sat out the first 10 games of the season. The one problem Orlando has now is that point guard Jameer Nelson (knee) is out until Christmas, leaving veterans Jason Williams (age 34) and Anthony Johnson (age 35) to run the floor.
Unlike last May, the Celtics will have Kevin Garnett (18.78 PER) in the lineup against Orlando, but he’s showing real signs of career decline at age 33. Same goes for his new back-up, 35-year-old Rasheed Wallace (13.87 PER). With Glen “Big Baby” Davis out with a broken thumb and Leon Powe now a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, today’s Celtics are a step behind at the 4-spot compared to their championship season two years ago. The betting public has yet to cotton on to this.
Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers
Sunday - 9:30 p.m. (ET)
The Lakers (9-3 SU, 5-7 ATS) are even with Boston in the standings and just as likely to be overvalued by the public. But they’ve been operating most of the year without Pau Gasol (hamstring) at power forward. He made his season debut Thursday night with 24 points and 13 rebounds in a 108-93 castration of the Chicago Bulls (+9.5 road dogs). L.A. is now at full strength, although Kobe Bryant (25.29 PER) is playing on a tender groin.
Bryant played 38 minutes against Chicago, but he’ll have plenty of rest before taking on Oklahoma City (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS). This is expected to be a breakthrough season for the rebuilding Thunder, although it probably won’t be enough to get them a playoff spot in the ridiculously tough Western Conference. Kevin Durant (23.14 PER) is creeping into MVP territory in his third NBA season. Russell Westbrook (18.12 PER) is already one of the better young point guards as a sophomore. But this team is about stopping power; OKC is ranked No. 8 in the league in defensive efficiency and just No. 26 on offense.
The Thunder play Friday night at 8:00 p.m. ET against Washington (+2.5 road dogs), so check in on that matchup in preparation for Sunday. Comcast (Wizards) and Fox Sports (Thunder) have the local coverage if you’re in those regions.
Pau Gasol's double-double helped the Lakers past the Bulls on Thursday, 108-93. Next up for the defending champs will be Kevin Durant and Oklahoma City on Sunday night as LA tried to keep pace with the red-hot Suns in the Pacific Division. The Friday night NBA slate finds a rematch of last year's Easterno Conference Finals when the Orlando Magic travel north to face Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics.
So I was watching basketball the other day, as I am wont to do, and ESPN analyst Mark Jackson was asked if Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets is the best point guard in the NBA today. Jackson didn’t think so, because the Hornets (5-8 SU and ATS) aren’t winning.
There’s just no reasoning with these people. But here goes: Paul leads the entire NBA in Player Efficiency Rating at 33.97, ahead of LeBron James (31.65) and Chris Bosh (30.61). The closest point guard is Milwaukee Bucks super-rookie Brandon Jennings at 23.31 PER, good for No. 15 overall. The Bucks are 6-3 SU and ATS, so by Jackson’s logic, Jennings must be the best. But I’m sure Jackson would say something about how Jennings hasn’t earned it yet.
There’s this guy named Rajon Rondo that doesn’t get enough respect, either. Let’s see what’s up with Rondo (20.95 PER) and the gang.
Orlando at Boston (-7, 189)
Friday - 8:00 p.m. (ET) ESPN
The Celtics are the only winning team in the Atlantic Division at 9-3 SU (5-7 ATS). But over the last two weeks, they’re 4-3 SU and 1-6 ATS. The betting odds just don’t add up for them right now. The smallest spread Boston saw during that span was seven points, on the road at Indiana (5-4 SU and ATS). The Pacers won 113-104. The C’s are back home Friday night, and they’re laying seven points again, this time to the defending Eastern Conference champions from Orlando (9-3 SU, 7-5 ATS). The total is 190.
The last time we saw these two teams in action, the Magic were defeating the Celtics in the 2009 Eastern final at 4-3 SU and ATS. Both teams improved during the offseason, but Orlando was the big winner, landing Vince Carter (19.53 PER) and Ryan Anderson (22.64 PER) from New Jersey and signing Brandon Bass (15.97 PER) away from Dallas. Anderson did a stellar job filling in for the suspended Rashard Lewis as he sat out the first 10 games of the season. The one problem Orlando has now is that point guard Jameer Nelson (knee) is out until Christmas, leaving veterans Jason Williams (age 34) and Anthony Johnson (age 35) to run the floor.
Unlike last May, the Celtics will have Kevin Garnett (18.78 PER) in the lineup against Orlando, but he’s showing real signs of career decline at age 33. Same goes for his new back-up, 35-year-old Rasheed Wallace (13.87 PER). With Glen “Big Baby” Davis out with a broken thumb and Leon Powe now a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, today’s Celtics are a step behind at the 4-spot compared to their championship season two years ago. The betting public has yet to cotton on to this.
Oklahoma City at L.A. Lakers
Sunday - 9:30 p.m. (ET)
The Lakers (9-3 SU, 5-7 ATS) are even with Boston in the standings and just as likely to be overvalued by the public. But they’ve been operating most of the year without Pau Gasol (hamstring) at power forward. He made his season debut Thursday night with 24 points and 13 rebounds in a 108-93 castration of the Chicago Bulls (+9.5 road dogs). L.A. is now at full strength, although Kobe Bryant (25.29 PER) is playing on a tender groin.
Bryant played 38 minutes against Chicago, but he’ll have plenty of rest before taking on Oklahoma City (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS). This is expected to be a breakthrough season for the rebuilding Thunder, although it probably won’t be enough to get them a playoff spot in the ridiculously tough Western Conference. Kevin Durant (23.14 PER) is creeping into MVP territory in his third NBA season. Russell Westbrook (18.12 PER) is already one of the better young point guards as a sophomore. But this team is about stopping power; OKC is ranked No. 8 in the league in defensive efficiency and just No. 26 on offense.
The Thunder play Friday night at 8:00 p.m. ET against Washington (+2.5 road dogs), so check in on that matchup in preparation for Sunday. Comcast (Wizards) and Fox Sports (Thunder) have the local coverage if you’re in those regions.