Denver at Los Angeles (05/19/2009)

Quote Originally Posted by W8LIFTER:

Quote Originally Posted by hokie69:

Quote Originally Posted by dukeycat:

Denver at LAkers -6.5
"Bball is about matchups"

Denver missing Hunter
Lakers full roster

Nuggets C. Anthony has gotten better in the playoffs increasing his per game avg from 22.8 to 27 and shooting better from 3 pt land
Billups has also gotten better.

 C. Anthony #8 scorer in reg season 22.8 ppg 44.3% 37.1% 3pter
in playoffs 27ppg 48% 44.7% 3pter

Billups 17.1ppg 41.8% 40.8% 3pter
playoffs 22.1ppg 49.1% 54.1% 3pter

While Kobe is about the same as reg season
K. Bryant #3 26.8ppg 46.7% 35.1% 3pter
playoffs 27.4ppg 45.8% 34.7% 3pter

D. Fisher @ 6'1" gives up some ht to Billups @ 6'3" and Fisher has been shooting worse in the playoffs. (kind of a slump)
Billups will get his 20/gm
(unless the younger Farmar defends him)

Bynum showed some life in the last Hou gm, but his lack of experience and agressiveness inside vs Nene is a plus for Den.

Gasol should be able to use his swing right and make the fall away jumper vs K Martin just like vs Hou but the Lakers don't get him the ball enough. Given the ball Gasol could easily be in the 20's.
Martin's physical play will take its toll on Gasol, and Gasol will have trouble defending him.

Off the bench JR Smith has been excellent in the playoffs, and better at contributing than Odem.

Bench of Lakers is hot and cold. Ariza is shooting 50% from 3pt arc in playoffs, but not consistently. He has a good gm then a bad gm. (10,8,13,5,13,7,and 15 were his ppg vs Hou)

Den wins at home and loses at Staples

This playoff season the dog has taken the 1st gm straight up a couple of times. Orl vs Bos, Chi vs Bos, LA vs Hou

Doubt if there will be much defense in the 1st gm and the O/U shows it at 215 and climbing.

For Lakers to cover and hit O/U score needs to be 111 -104

Taking Lakers -4

Quote Originally Posted by BloodyShredder:

Everyone who watched the Denver/Dallas series is jumping on the over.  Even at 215!!  Vegas can't stop gigling. 

Both these teams can play some D when the need arises.  Just to be safe...

UNDER 1ST HALF,

if it doesn't hit,

chase UNDER 2ND HALF

 

Quote Originally Posted by wangichu:

Any time here, moneymaker will come on and pound the lakers ML 1Q and so will I.  The nuggets have run into the lakers 11 times over the last two years (second straight year meeting in the playoffs, and have lost every 1Q in that span.  Furthermore, the lakers have more momentum coming out of that 7 game series while the nuggets may come out a little sluggish.

LAL 1Q ML

as for the spread, i'm all but sold on denver.  The line movement hinted at them early dropping to 6.5 with almost even money on each side.  Also, generally teams fresh off a 7 game series are fade material in the next game 1, also the lakers coming off a blowout where you normally fade the blower (lakers).

DEN +6.5 (probably buy to 9.5)

Quote Originally Posted by rekamyenoM:

ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS GAME 1, Q1 LAKERS ML.  LOVE IT!

Don't care who wins but the 1stQ belongs to the lakers at home!

Quote Originally Posted by checcmystyle:

tour probabbly right about that and if i did bet it would be the lakers 1Q but im scared because i think the lakers might struggle for the 1st Q and then in the second get things rite but gl 2 u, u seem 2 always hit those

 

Quote Originally Posted by wangichu:


while fading a team who just finished a 7 game series is not a bad idea, it is the other team who frequently steps out of the gate a little sluggish.  Lakers are still in the flow of things having just had a single day off and carrying momentum from last season.  They'll start this puppy out right, while i think the nuggs are the team that may struggle out the gate.  Plus game 1 is where you play those little querks that have been big money in the two teams recent history.