Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Picks and Preview – February 20, 2015

The Brooklyn Nets resume their chase of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference tonight when they travel to the West Coast to meet the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time this season. Both teams are looking to start the NBA season’s second half with a bang, having lost their previous assignments prior to the All-Star break.

Also tonight, the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors collide in a meeting of two title contenders. You can read a preview of that game here.
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Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Preview

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles

When: Friday, February 20, 2015, 10:30PM ET

Line: Brooklyn Nets (-3) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (+3); total: 192.0 — view all NBA lines

Betting on the Brooklyn Nets

[sc:NBA240banner ]Playing in the Eastern Conference comes with some perks. For the Nets, that includes having sight of a playoff spot despite owning an ugly 21-31 record. But if they are to appear in the postseason for the third time in a row, the Nets will have to do it without Kevin Garnett.

Garnett has been traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday as part of a whirlwind of deals that beat the trade deadline. In return, the Nets got Thaddeus Young, who adds a much-needed scoring punch for Brooklyn’s offense that is only 26th in the league with 95.5 PPG. Young’s arrival to the team couldn’t be timelier as the Nets are averaging just 86.7 PPG on just 42.3 field goal percentage over the last three games, which Brooklyn all lost. In 48 games played for Minnesota this season, Young has put up 14.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 2.8 APG. He should be an immediate impact player for the Nets.

As for the holdovers, Jarrett Jack will likely be in charge again of the starting point guard duties against the Lakers. Jack has replaced Deron Williams for the starting gig this February, wherein the nine-year vet is averaging 16.5 PPG and 6.0 APG.

Aside from the addition of Young to the roster, the Nets will perhaps be better on offense tonight, as they’re about to face a pathetic Lakers’ defense that gives up 106.2 PPG—the worst mark among NBA teams’ defenses thus far this season.

Brooklyn, which lost to the Memphis Grizzlies 95-86 on February 10, is 4-0 ATS in its last four road games against the Lakers.

Create a betting account now and put your own prediction to the test.

Betting on the Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers haven’t done much on the playing court this season. Even on the trading table, the Lakers proved they can be as futile, watching the trade deadline expire without making any deals. Tonight, the Lakers can do their frustrated fans a big favor if they can manage to end their six-game losing skid with a win over Brooklyn at home. Los Angeles is 9-1 in its last 10 games against the Nets.

For the Lakers to start their second-half schedule with a victory, they will have to find a way to get it together on defense. As mentioned, the team currently is the worst in the league in defense. The Lakers seem incapable of stopping opponents from scoring in the paint (44.9 PPG allowed) and on the fast break (15.1 PPG allowed). In their 102-86 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers just before the All-Star break, the Lakers limited the Blazers to just 36 inside points, but gave up 21 big points on the open court.

The Lakers’ defense, however, will get a shot in the arm as big man Jordan Hill is set to return after missing five games due to a hip injury. Hill is the team’s leading rebounder with 8.0 RPG to go along with his 12.3 PPG output. He’ll play an important role in keeping Brook Lopez and Mason Plumlee of the Nets from dominating the boards.

The offense, meanwhile, will mainly come from the pair of Jordan Clarkson and Wayne Ellington. Clarkson has been the starting point guard for the Lakers over the last few games, including in the Portland game, where he made 17 points and dished out four assists with six rebounds to boot.  So far this month, the Filipino-American guard is averaging 13.2 PPG and 4.2 APG. Wayne Ellington, meanwhile, is the biggest benefactor of Kobe Bryant’s absence, replacing the 2008 MVP in the starting five. Ellington has put up 13.7 PPG over the Lakers’ last 10 games.

Writer’s Prediction

Brooklyn (-3) wins, 106-102.
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