Ten years ago, Kobe Bryant was playing alongside guys like Stanislav Medvedenko and Kareem Rush, players no one with a right state of mind would refer to as championship-caliber pieces. Well apparently, history is repeating itself as Kobe is once again left with just a morsel of talent to work with. The San Antonio Spurs, meanwhile, appear to have finally gotten their groove as they are coming off their first back-to-back wins this season on the strength of their old reliable Big Three.
Read on for more on this Western Conference tilt and while you’re at it don’t miss our looks at some of the bigger NFL games of the week. Our preview of Eagles vs. Packers is here, and the Vikings vs. Bears preview is here.
[sc:NBAArticles ]San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles
When: Thursday, November 14, 10:00PM ET
Line: San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers – view all NBA lines
Betting on the San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are fine. That’s the message San Antonio sent to the rest of the league after consecutive wins against the Los Angeles Clippers (89-85) and the Golden State Warriors (113-100), respectively.
[sc:NBA240banner ]The ageless trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili were effective as usual in their last game against the Warriors. Duncan had a double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds. Tony Parker had a team-high 28 points and a game-high seven assists. Ginobili, meanwhile, came off the bench and fired 17 points and added five assists.
Los Angeles will find it difficult to stop the Spurs if San Antonio continues to be as smooth on offense as they were against Golden State. Led by Parkers’ playmaking, the Spurs were able to break down whatever kind of defense Golden State presented them. The Spurs compiled 28 assists with players knocking down threes (10-25) and scoring inside the paint off passes. San Antonio abused the Warriors’ interior defense, ultimately outscoring Golden State 48-28 in the shaded area.
It’s not hard to imagine the Spurs doing at least the same kind of damage against Los Angeles, one of the worst teams in the league in defending the three-point area (9.0 three-pointers allowed per game) and the worst in keeping opponents from scoring inside the paint. Opposing teams average 47.5 paint points per game against the Lakers, the highest clip in the NBA thus far this season.
San Antonio is 8-2 SU and 6-4 ATS in its last 10 games against the Lakers.
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Betting on the Los Angeles Lakers
In hindsight, the Lakers’ 107-92 win Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets was just a brief respite in a tumultuous season rather than a start of change. The Lakers followed that victory with two losses to the Memphis Grizzlies (107-102) and the New Orleans Pelicans (109-102) to remain at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 1-7 record.
Kobe Bryant once again led the team in scoring against the Pelicans, as he put up 33 points on 10 of 28 shooting from the field. He received ample support from the other starters, who all scored in double figures. Bryant tops the team with 27.5 PPG, followed by Jordan Hill and Carlos Boozer with 13.6 and 13.0 PPG, respectively.
The Lakers obviously can score, but whatever success they’re having on offense is easily negated by a dreadful defense that surrenders 111.9 PPG.
The Lakers are going to need to play the passing lanes aggressively against San Antonio. The Spurs are masters in finding the open man by quickly moving the ball around, as they are averaging 449.0 touches per game this season, sixth-most in the league. Jeremy Lin and Ronnie Price should play key roles in disrupting the Spurs’ offense by hounding Tony Parker in the backcourt to throw San Antonio off its rhythm.
The Lakers are 3-0 ATS in their last three games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
San Antonio wins, 117-98.
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