posted February 26, 2008 at 13:04 EST in NBA Articles

Portland Trailblazers (- 15.5) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (+ 15.5)

This game pits the top team in the NBA against the BetUS spread, the Los Angeles Lakers, versus a team that is absolutely reeling versus the BetUS spread. The Lakers have gone 9 and 1 against the BetUS spread in their last 10. They are actually better than that covering or beating 12 out of their last 14 BetUS spreads. Pretty amazing for a basketball team that a lot of pundits threw under the bus before the season started. What about the Portland Trailblazers? Early on during this season the Trailblazers were incredibly hot. Lately, though, they have been one of the most awful teams in the NBA against the BetUS spread. The Blazers have gone 1 and 9 against the BetUS spread in their last 10 games.

Here are more trends:

The Portland Trailblazers are 5 and 1 against the spread in their last 6 games on a Tuesday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers are 7 and 0 against the spread in their last 7 games on a Tuesday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers are 6 and 1 against the spread in their last 7 games versus a team from the NBA Northwest Division.

The Portland Trailblazers are 8 and 3 against the spread in the last 11 meetings between these two teams in Los Angeles.

As much as I love the Lakers, as hot as they have been lately, the BetUS spread of 15.5 points is just too many for me to give up. I know that the Trailblazers haven’t covered in who knows how many games, but they are getting an awful lot of points to work with.

Not only that, but I do think that Blazers power forward, LeMarcus Aldridge, could stick with Pau Gasol during most of this game. Aldridge is a lanky, tall, tough defender who can guard Gasol on the perimeter. That leaves Brandon Roy to at least keep Kobe Bryant in some sort of check.

Kobe went for 63 in a game versus the Blazers last year. He won’t have to do that for the Lakers to win. Instead, look for Kobe to get around 30 in this game. Another 20 or so from Gasol and all of a sudden the Blazers have a chance to keep it within 16 points.

That’s the key, right? Under 16 points?

The Lakers should win, but I just can’t see them beating the Blazers by more than 12 or 13 points in this game. The Blazers are due for some good luck - - if not a straight out win than against the spread.

The BetUS NBA Betting line is Portland Trailblazers + 15.5 against the spread on the road versus the Los Angeles Lakers.

I like the Blazers to beat that huge spread.

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