Jazz/Lakers on ESPN late Friday night

The Lakers act like the regular season is over already..Half ass effort on this last road trip....Shit half ass effort since the allstar break...They have not blown out a team from start to finish in who knows how long and will continue to struggle with that if they can start hitting from the outside...Teams are packing the paint on defense and daring the perimeter players to hit shots and they are not doing that right now...So until Chuck Peson and Craig Hodges puts on a uniform that will be the recipe to defeat this team and teams are starting to figure it out...So I look for the Jazz to do much of that tonight and possibly pull out a win...shit the way that they're playing they could wax the Lakers right into Chick Hearn Dr

Sports Insights shows 72% on the Jazz.  To me the Lakers actually look like the hard side..  Still have not made up my mind but its starting to look like the unpopular home favorite that I like to play.

I had 5-1 SU, 1-5 ats, but either way, trend pointing to a win, but no cover for the regular season.
Either way, you made good points for the Jazz.
One question, does Kirilenko not playing make any difference on the total?  I kind of like the under a little more.
That and the most assuredly "playoff" atmosphere.

I agree with your take here. The Lakers are missing that "edge" they had last year. They've seemed to be complacent this year. My first instinct was that tonight would be one of the night's they actually ratchet up the intensity. They've had a knack of making statements to other teams that come into Staples on hot streaks. I really thought the Lakers would have more doubters tonight due to their disappointing road trip, and overall inability to cover a point spread, but one quick look through this forum quickly changed my mind. Everyone seems to be on board with a Laker bounce-back tonight, which makes the opening line all that much more intriguing.  After looking through the forum, and then seeing the line make the move to -4.5, I started strongly considering the Jazz. I think you make some great points, and are definately onto something here. I'm not exactly sure yet if I'm going to play this, but I know I WON'T be on the Lakers.  I'll probably stick the "Pirates of the Caribbean" with them instead.  

 

 

 

Not really.  For one thing the Nuggets didn't have a history of domination over the Blazers.  Also, few expected the Nuggets to bust out at home following a bad stretch on the road, whereas the public always expects the Lakers to go nuts following any game they lose.  And following two losses?  Double nuts!!

 

Not in the betting lines, but certainly in their production.  With him, they're just incredibly bigger than everyone.

 

 

The Lakers -7 would be an unpopular home favorite, and then I'd be right there with you.  But at -4.5, they look kinda cheap, especially when you consider that in recent times they've been laying double digits at home to Utah.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the smallest line the Lakers have had all season at home with Kobe in the lineup.  Against the likes of Dallas, Denver, Cleveland, and Orlando they were at least -5.5.  How could the Lakers possibly be an unpopular home favorite on the day they're made smaller home favorites than they've been all season?

 

 

Nice post. 

Most of us can barely imagine the Jazz defeating the Lakers at Staples, but this game might not even be competitive.  Dallas went in there and blew the Lakers out early in the season.  Denver did it, too.  Cleveland embarrassed the Fakers on Christmas Day.

I like Utah myself. Lakers have sewn up the top spot in the West barring a monumental collapse. Utah is trying to fend off Denver & Okla City for the division as well as Dallas and Phoenix for the #2 Seed. This is a much bigger game for Utah than it is for the Lakers and a win in L.A. would give Utah some confidence going into the playoffs knowing they can beat L.A. on their home court. Give me Utah and the points.

 

 

Excellent post.  Any post that agrees with me is excellent. 

 

tuck321, did you just tell WizrduvOdz that the Lakers are not coming off a loss?

BOL)The Lakers are not coming off A loss.

 

 

NICE READ MR B.

 

AGREE WITH UR POINTS AND THIS GUY IS LOCKED IN ON THE JAZZ TONIGHT... 

True, but the Lakers are 4-0 ATS after a double digit loss this year, & 5-2 ATS after a ATS loss.  I think the line is set exactly where it needs to be give or take a point.  You can't set the line off just lakers/jazz, you have to take into account that the lakers locked up#1 seed in playoffs, and really don't have anything to play for. 

You could say that they need wins for home court in the finals in Clev. gets bumped, but I think the focus is getting healthy & possible rest.  I don't think we see Bynum back unitl 1st round. 

All in all, I do like the Lakers tonight, just haven't pulled the final trigger.  Gl Bator....

Remember the PM you sent me yesterday about the Nuggets coming home and showing there doubters. I like the same angle tonight with the Lakers coming off a shitty road trip against a HOT Jazz team.

You are talking about games that happened anywhere from 3-5 months ago...

There are 2 teams I will never bet against if they are playing at home.  The Cavs and the Lakers.

 

I used to think that way but the truth is the Cavs have not covered at home lately and the Lakers are a no play for now until the playoffs

You must not enjoy money.

Good write-up, Mr. Bator. I like your mindset, it's completely on the ball here (No pun intended).

That said, I agree with your sentiment. Take the Jazz and the points here. Aside from their personal rivalry with the Lakers and that historic game earlier this year in Staples, this is a really great team that's on a roll. Those kinds of teams ALWAYS show up against the few elite franchises, especially when in the middle of a golden streak of play. I would take the Jazz here as well, especially in a three or four-game teaser, which I plan on doing.

 

 

If by "this year" you mean 2010, and not this entire regular season, then the Lakers are 3-2 SU & 4-1 ATS after a double digit loss. 

The Lakers are 8-2 SU & 5-5 ATS off a double digit loss for the season.

tuck and flyn

03/31/10

@ATL

L 92-109

L 1.5