Posted on
1/17/2008 3:33:32 PM
NBA Basketball Free Picks – Suns Looking To Cool Off Lakers
By Eric Williams
Will somebody please pinch me and wake me up!
Let me see if I have this right.
After beginning the regular season amid swirling rumors that the team would trade superstar shooting guard Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers, (26-11 SU, 22-14 ATS, 19-17 O/U) have come together, bolstered by the eye-opening growth of its young players and are now the proud owners of the best record in the western conference with just six games remaining before reaching the halfway point of the regular season.
Now, while the Phoenix Suns, (26-12 SU, 15-22-1 ATS, 20-18 O/U) certainly aren’t chopped liver, I don’t think anyone in their right mind could have suspected that the Lakers would own a better record than Phoenix – and every other team in the western conference – at this point of the season.
Now, as the teams prepare to meet for the third time this season, after two Lakers victories already – the tables have been turned and it is the Suns who are chasing the Lakers – at least for now.
Los Angeles is the hottest team in the league, having won seven straight games and nine of their last ten coming into this matchup, including Monday’s thrilling 123-121 overtime victory over the Seattle Supersonics.
While Phoenix still has superstars in two-time MVP Steve Nash, power forward Amare Stoudemire and small forward Shawn Marion, the Suns have played inconsistent basketball nearly all season and come into this game off a dismal 97-90 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.
With the Lakers having recently lost blossoming center Andrew Bynum to a knee injury, the Lakers will be depending on Bryant to carry them – which isn’t such a bad thing considering that Bryant has averaged 27.0 points per game on 51.4 percent shooting from the field in L.A.’s two victories over the Suns
Here is a look at tonight’s Key Trends, followed by my NBA Betting Free Picks:
Key Suns Trends
The Suns are 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a S.U. loss.
The Suns are 27-12 ATS in their last 39 games as a road favorite of 0.5-4.5.
The Suns are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games as a favorite of 0.5-4.5.
Key Lakers Trends
The Lakers are 6-0 ATS in their last six vs. NBA Pacific.
The Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last five games as an underdog.
The Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games playing on two days rest.
Key Totals Trends
The Over is 5-0 in Suns last five games playing on one days rest.
The Under is 6-1 in Suns last seven Thursday games.
The Over is 4-0 in Lakers last four vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
The Over is 4-0 in Lakers last four games following a ATS loss.
Key Head-to-Head Trends
The Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings.
The Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings in Los Angeles.
The Road team is 7-3 ATS in the last ten meetings.
Analysis: While the Lakers are certainly going to miss the contributions of the 20-year-old Bynum, I’m taking the Lakers to win this game and covert the spread with Bryant going off for at least 40 points tonight.
NBA Free Picks: Lakers +2.5 Points/Under 226 Total Pooints
10:35 PM EST NBA Spreads
Phoenix Suns -2½ -110
LA Lakers +2½ -110
Over 226 -110
Under 226 -110
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