Lakers head into new year slipping at window
With the league's top record and a comfortable five-game lead over Phoenix in the NBA's Pacific Division, the Lakers' present troubles are easily masked. But their 3-7 record recently at the window is more than just the team struggling to cover spreads that are inflated for John Q. Public. Pau Gasol and crew will be home for the holiday weekend, another gift from the schedule maker, hoping to make things right.
There’s something wrong in Lakerland, and the trouble goes far beyond former in-game Hennessy connoisseur Ron Artest’s concussion.
Artest’s fall and subsequent injury at his home on Christmas Day is getting all the press, but the Lakers have some more profound issues to overcome if they’re to get back to the top of the mountain this season.
It’s easy to look past Los Angeles’ 7-3 SU record over its last 10 games, until you consider its mediocre 3-7 ATS mark during the stretch. Looking a little deeper at the Lakers, it’s obvious the defending NBA champions are having trouble with decent opposition – against the spread or otherwise.
L.A.’s three ATS paydays during the stretch have come against the likes of New Jersey, Detroit, and Sacramento. The Lakers also have two SU victories in overtime (against Milwaukee and Sacto) during their last 10 games, while their other SU wins came against Chicago, Oklahoma City, and Golden State.
In games against Utah, Cleveland, and Phoenix during the stretch, Los Angeles is winless both against the number and SU. It’s safe to say the Lakers are having trouble winning – let alone covering – against good teams right now.
Oklahoma City at Milwaukee
Saturday – 8:30 PM ET, NBA TV
Elsewhere this weekend, two teams headed in different directions on the NBA moneylist meet when the Bucks tangle with the Thunder on Saturday night at the Bradley Center.
Oklahoma City has won five of its last six against the spread (5-1 SU), and is 7-4 ATS (6-5 SU) in its last 11 contests. Milwaukee, on the other hand, has been bleeding money left and right for backers after getting off to a surprising start.
The Bucks have dropped five of their last six both SU and against the number, and are 1-7 SU (3-5 ATS) over their last eight games.
Milwaukee was certainly no match for Oklahoma City when the teams met at the Ford Center on November 27. The Thunder covered as five-point chalk in their 108-90 win over the Bucks, who allowed Oklahoma City to put up 48 points in the paint in the payday.
Kevin Durant had 33 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder, while Hakim Warrick went for 15 points and nine boards for the Bucks, who were without Andrew Bogut in the previous meeting.
Dallas at LA Lakers
Sunday – 9:30 PM ET
The Lakers hook up with a team that is likely to give them difficulty when they take on the Mavericks to close out this weekend’s NBA schedule at Staples Center on Sunday night.
That was certainly the case when Dallas (+7½) upset L.A. 94-80 in Hollywood on October 30. The Mavs held the Lakers to only 39.5% shooting (32-of-81) in the win, as Pau Gasol and Josh Howard both sat out with injuries.
Dirk Nowitzki went for 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead a balanced attack for the Mavericks, while Kobe Bryant managed only 20 points to go along with six boards on 6-of-19 from the field. Dallas was also much more aggressive than Los Angeles, getting to the line 32 times in contrast to the Lakers’ 14 free throw attempts.
Gasol will be in the lineup this time around, but that hasn’t made a difference for Los Angeles against solid opposition lately. Artest is questionable for the Lakers’ game against the Kings on Friday night, and his absence would mean a ton to L.A., most notably on the defensive end.
The Lakers had allowed 113.0 points per game in going 2-1 SU (1-2 ATS) rolling into their contest with the Kings, so it’s safe to say they’re missing Artest’s defensive presence. If Artest doesn’t go against Dallas, Los Angeles should have trouble covering Nowitzki, Howard (if he plays), and Shawn Marion. The Lakers will also have difficulty covering the spread, which figures to be only slightly smaller than the 7½ points they gave to the Mavs last time around.
Dallas had won eight of its last 11 games heading into Saturday’s contest at Sacramento, but it was only 4-7 against the number during the streak. The Mavs will be playing in the second night of a back-to-back against the Lakers, but that’s offset by their recent ATS run on the road: Dallas is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games away from American Airlines Center.
With the league's top record and a comfortable five-game lead over Phoenix in the NBA's Pacific Division, the Lakers' present troubles are easily masked. But their 3-7 record recently at the window is more than just the team struggling to cover spreads that are inflated for John Q. Public. Pau Gasol and crew will be home for the holiday weekend, another gift from the schedule maker, hoping to make things right.
There’s something wrong in Lakerland, and the trouble goes far beyond former in-game Hennessy connoisseur Ron Artest’s concussion.
Artest’s fall and subsequent injury at his home on Christmas Day is getting all the press, but the Lakers have some more profound issues to overcome if they’re to get back to the top of the mountain this season.
It’s easy to look past Los Angeles’ 7-3 SU record over its last 10 games, until you consider its mediocre 3-7 ATS mark during the stretch. Looking a little deeper at the Lakers, it’s obvious the defending NBA champions are having trouble with decent opposition – against the spread or otherwise.
L.A.’s three ATS paydays during the stretch have come against the likes of New Jersey, Detroit, and Sacramento. The Lakers also have two SU victories in overtime (against Milwaukee and Sacto) during their last 10 games, while their other SU wins came against Chicago, Oklahoma City, and Golden State.
In games against Utah, Cleveland, and Phoenix during the stretch, Los Angeles is winless both against the number and SU. It’s safe to say the Lakers are having trouble winning – let alone covering – against good teams right now.
Oklahoma City at Milwaukee
Saturday – 8:30 PM ET, NBA TV
Elsewhere this weekend, two teams headed in different directions on the NBA moneylist meet when the Bucks tangle with the Thunder on Saturday night at the Bradley Center.
Oklahoma City has won five of its last six against the spread (5-1 SU), and is 7-4 ATS (6-5 SU) in its last 11 contests. Milwaukee, on the other hand, has been bleeding money left and right for backers after getting off to a surprising start.
The Bucks have dropped five of their last six both SU and against the number, and are 1-7 SU (3-5 ATS) over their last eight games.
Milwaukee was certainly no match for Oklahoma City when the teams met at the Ford Center on November 27. The Thunder covered as five-point chalk in their 108-90 win over the Bucks, who allowed Oklahoma City to put up 48 points in the paint in the payday.
Kevin Durant had 33 points and 12 rebounds for the Thunder, while Hakim Warrick went for 15 points and nine boards for the Bucks, who were without Andrew Bogut in the previous meeting.
Dallas at LA Lakers
Sunday – 9:30 PM ET
The Lakers hook up with a team that is likely to give them difficulty when they take on the Mavericks to close out this weekend’s NBA schedule at Staples Center on Sunday night.
That was certainly the case when Dallas (+7½) upset L.A. 94-80 in Hollywood on October 30. The Mavs held the Lakers to only 39.5% shooting (32-of-81) in the win, as Pau Gasol and Josh Howard both sat out with injuries.
Dirk Nowitzki went for 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead a balanced attack for the Mavericks, while Kobe Bryant managed only 20 points to go along with six boards on 6-of-19 from the field. Dallas was also much more aggressive than Los Angeles, getting to the line 32 times in contrast to the Lakers’ 14 free throw attempts.
Gasol will be in the lineup this time around, but that hasn’t made a difference for Los Angeles against solid opposition lately. Artest is questionable for the Lakers’ game against the Kings on Friday night, and his absence would mean a ton to L.A., most notably on the defensive end.
The Lakers had allowed 113.0 points per game in going 2-1 SU (1-2 ATS) rolling into their contest with the Kings, so it’s safe to say they’re missing Artest’s defensive presence. If Artest doesn’t go against Dallas, Los Angeles should have trouble covering Nowitzki, Howard (if he plays), and Shawn Marion. The Lakers will also have difficulty covering the spread, which figures to be only slightly smaller than the 7½ points they gave to the Mavs last time around.
Dallas had won eight of its last 11 games heading into Saturday’s contest at Sacramento, but it was only 4-7 against the number during the streak. The Mavs will be playing in the second night of a back-to-back against the Lakers, but that’s offset by their recent ATS run on the road: Dallas is 9-3 ATS in its last 12 games away from American Airlines Center.