LATE POST but still a worthwhile WRITE-UP if you catch it for the NETS@LAKERS!!!!

I'm gonna take the Lakers +3 over the Nets (you can find it at 3 but I'm not capping this game for .5 pt difference if you get it at 2.5).

This write up won't be as long as others since I'm short on time but I like what I see and I will be betting this game.

What are the reasons for backing the Lakers and fading the Nets?

When you back crappy teams, you better have a lot of reasons for doing so. I have a lot of reasons to back the Lake Show.

Espn and NBA TV is fixated on the Nets record after the new year which is among the best in the league.

But let's look at how they've played this month and how they looked even in their wins.

2/1 - lost 96-97 @ Pacers but covered. Nothing to be ashamed of there

2/3 - won 108-102 at home vs the atrocious Sixers but failed to cover. Unimpressive win and a loss ATS

2/6 - won 89-103 at home vs the spurs and covered against a spurs team without Duncan Parker or Manu. Again a cover is a cover but nothing to brag about (and they were down big in the first quarter of that game to backups but regrouped after the half to put them away).

2/7 lost 95-111 @ Detroit. Crushed outright and ATS.

2/9 beat the Pelicans at home and covered 81-93. Give them credit for that.

2/12 Beat the Bobcats 89-105 at home. Bobcats were totally lifeless after beating the Mavs at home the night before and then flying out to Brooklyn. Big letdown game for them and the nets took full advantage but not an impressive win when looked at deeper.

2/13 got manhandled by the Bulls 76-92 and played one of their worst games of the season. Loss ATS.

2/19 Won and covered against the Jazz 105-99. Credit is given but again, went down big in the first quarter and had to regroup against one of the NBA's worst to win the 2nd half and game.

2/22 lost to a short handed Golden State team without their two big men in Lee and Bogut and failed to cover 86-93

So their results for the month so far?

One of the NBA's "hottest" teams to start the year is 5-4 ATS in their last 5 and 5 of those covers are against: Jazz, Pelicans, Bobcats on a B2B home/away letdown spot after an emotional win, a completely gutted Spurs team while playing at home, and in a loss to the Pacers.

Not anything to brag about.

The noncovers were even more disturbing:

Vs. An undermanned Warriors team, a unhealthy Bulls team they should still be seeking revenge for since last year, a thrashing by the Pistons and that was before they fired Mo Cheeks and a noncover against the worst team in the NBA.

Sum it up? Not much to write home about the Nets in February after a hot January.

Lakers at home with points is attractive.

After PP had a 25 point outburst vs. the Cats, here are his lines in his last 3 games:

3-11 11 Pts

3-8 7 Pts

4-11 15 PTs

Troublesome lines and in some games, heavily below average production.

If you thought PP was bad, KG is almost nonexistent in his last 3:

3-7 6 Pts

3-5 6 pts

2-3 4 pts

This is a STARTER we are talking about folks!

Troublesome lines against two of the teams 'stars'.

What else to be worried about? This is a back to back with travel on the road on a west coast trip where the nets almost never have success where the warriors had them running up and down the court like madmen to multiply the wear and tear effect. Older players like PP and Especially KG, if he even plays and he probably won't so the nets are down another man, get hurt even more 

Lakers with points at home looks good.

Did the line shift after this occurred? Yes, in THE LAKERS FAVOR.

Who will this help? The Nets? No. The Lakers.

Collins gives you nothing on the court and has never scored a lick in this league and now he's coming off his couch.

How will it help the Lakers?

The media crush has already begun.

In addition to that, Deron has already insinuated his displeasure with the singing due to the distraction it will cause.

The distraction is in full force tonight and we only get a single game to take advantage of it. While id love for this to be the Thunder to crush them, we have to deal with the Lakers here.

Well if there is one guy you do not want distracted, sulking, and finding an excuse for a media crush for his poor play if you are a Nets backers, it's Deron.

That makes the Lakers all the more attractive. Plus, all this attention comes sandwiched in a B2B on the road after a deflating loss. Nice for Lakers backers.

The Lakers need BODIES. Usually you fade the team with returning player as their line is inflated. Not the Lakers. Any addition to this terrible team is almost always a positive. The line did not move when it was announced he was coming off the bench tonight and any and all bodies the lakers can get, especially one that can give you 16, is a good thing.

Who else matters?

Kent Bazemore looked great off the bench in a victory against the Celts last game. I'll take it!

Pau is back and scored 16 last game and should be back to his double double self tonight. He is the team leader and thankfully is back on the floor.

And now the secret weapon!

Marshon Brooks scored in double figures last game, looked in great game shape and would absolutely LOVE to burn his ex-team in any action he sees tonight. Anything he gives, particularly motivated spirited play is a  great bonus.

Sum it up? This roster isn't depleted as much anymore when compared to their losing streak, it's motivated, and now it's finally coming off a confidence boosting win after it broke it's record home losing streak. While I would put a TON on the lakers tonight had they lost the last game, this is still a nice spot off a win.

Asking the lakers to win two in a row is a lot to ask given how bad they are, but I have enough reasons above for a moderate play tonight.

Oh and as an added bonus, the nets BEST PG in that hot streak to begin the year, Shaun Livingston is out with a bruised tailbone. Nice, one less effective nets body to beat us (no line movement after that was announced either = advantage Lakers). Also Marcus Throrton yet another nets body will not play.

Were gonna take a rail tonight on a shi tty team to basically win outright. BUT it's a worthwhile risk.

Thanks. Garnett confirmed out as expected and given how he's been playing, id rather him be on the floor.

Feeling ambivalence about the Lakers is completely normal. They are bad, as in, Knicks bad. But remember this Laker team took the Thunder right to the brink of a win right before the all-star break as 12 point dogs covering by 4. And that was without their team leader in Pau and no nick young (frustrating to watch but better than JR Smith in comparison) and we even get a nice spark plug in Brooks. That's a lot of key additions to a team that was so depleted, a guy had to foul out and stay on the floor not too long ago. We look for that Lakers team against the Thunder tonight to create some kind of momentum after a long awaited win vs. the Celtics.

Lol last thread was ridiculous. Win or lose, thanks again for the insight 

It was amazing wasn't it.

With a team like the Knicks, do people expect them to take a 30 point lead and never relinquish it when you post them as a play? Apparently so...Same with the Lakers, another bad team. These teams: 1) go down big 2) lose big leads etc. but let's talk when we see the final score.