Posted on
1/14/2008 2:01:28 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – LA Lakers at Seattle
By Charles Jay
WHO: Los Angeles Lakers (25-11 SU, 21-13 ATS) at Seattle SuperSonics (9-27 SU, 16-20 ATS)
WHERE: Key Arena in Seattle
WHEN: Monday, January 14 at 10:05 PM ET
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: LAKERS -7, Total: 209.5
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA betting trends:
* LA has won five of the last six meetings SU
* SEA is 3-0-2 ATS in the last five meetings
* Eight of the last ten meetings have gone OVER the total
* LA has had the shooting edge in five of the last six meetings
* SEA has made more three-pointers in each of the last six meetings
Seattle has averaged more rebounds than anyone else in the league, with 45.3 per game. The Sonics are shooting just 43.4% from the field and have turned the ball over 15.8 times a game. Also:
* SEA has lost its last six games SU
* SEA is 0-4 ATS in its last four games
* SEA has played its last seven games UNDER the total
* SEA has lost three of its last four home games SU
* SEA has covered three of its last five home games
The Lakers are averaging 107.6 points a game, which is third highest in the league. And its 47.7% from the field is also third in the NBA. With 8.7 steals a game they can turn defense into offense rather quickly. Also:
* LA has won its last six games SU
* LA has covered six of its last eight games
* LA has played six of its last eight games OVER the total
* LA has won its last four road games SU
* LA has covered seven of its last nine road games
To answer a couple of questions - are we expecting an eventual Laker collapse? The answer is "yes." Are we big fans of Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo? The answer is "no." But Carlesimo has had a tougher job than Phil Jackson in that he has had to take a bunch of youngsters and generate good shots after the departure of the two leading scorers, Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis.
One of the guys trying to pick up the slack is prized rookie Kevin Durant, but as might be expected from a 19-year-old rookie, he is wildly inconsistent, scoring just under 20 a game but shooting less than 41%.
The Sonics coming off scoring their season low against Dallas (70 points). And they are less than 39% from the field in their last five. Missing playmaker Luke Ridnour and second-leading scorer Chris Wilcox hurts things immeasurably. While the Lakers may get to impose their will, it doesn't necessarily mean they are going to make it a scoring fest.
They can beat Seattle at either a slower or faster pace. We'll look for Seattle to extend its streak of seven straight - unders, that is - and move below the 209.5-point total, as it is represented in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: UNDER 209.5
You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!
(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)