Lakers vs 76ers NBA Handicapping
Only a convenient turn in the schedule that took the Lakers to the nation’s capital on Friday night has enabled Mike D’Antoni’s beleaguered team from carrying a 5-game anchor of a losing streak to Philadelphia tonight.
Los Angeles Lakers (10-14) at Philadelphia 76ers (12-11)
Sunday, Dec. 16
Wachovia Center, Philadelphia
6 p.m. EST
Spread: Lakers -1 at Bovada
O/U: 196.5
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But a win is a win is a win, and who cares if Kobe Bryant is being forced to play huge minutes to help the Lakers shake a head-shaking 10-14 start.
Bryant is averaging 38 minutes a game, but over the last five has been getting less than five minutes of clock rest. Besides the wear and tear on his 34-year-old legs, Bryant is dealing with the emotion burden of a recent stretch that included consecutive losses to the Thunder, Jazz, Cavaliers and Knicks.
Not an easy stretch, but the numbers are the numbers, and the Lakers are now only 3-8 on the road.
Injuries have taken a pick-axe to the Lakers’ pre-season business model. Dwight Howard was to have partnered with Pau Gasol to create an impenetrable front line, and Bryant and PG Steve Nash would work the perimeter to perfection. [ad-6571516]
Bryant could shed minutes and be fresh for the playoffs come mid-April. But Gasol is dealing with knee tendinitis and Nash is still recovering from a fracture in his right leg.
The Sixers don’t want to hear about the Lakers’ travails. They have some problems of their own after losses to Chicago and Indiana. Philly has now dropped five of its last seven and has scored in triple digits only once this month.
It would behoove the Sixers to get this one tonight, because 10 of the next 11 games are on the road as Disney on Ice takes over the Wachovia Center for an extended run.
One possible positive sign for the 76ers – PG Jrue Holiday might be back in the lineup after dealing with a foot injury. He’s a game-time decision.
RECENT TRENDS
L.A. Lakers Lakers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a road underdog of 0.5-4.5.
Lakers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Lakers are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5.
Philadelphia Over is 7-0 in 76ers last 7 games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5.
Under is 5-0 in 76ers last 5 games as a home favorite of 11.0 or greater.
76ers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as a home favorite of 0.5-4.5.
Head to Head
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Philadelphia.
THE PICK: It’s just happening for the Lakers right now, and Philly is a bad matchup. If Holiday is a go, the Sixers and the over are a possible parlay. Holiday was on a scoring tear before he got hurt.
If Holiday is a no-go, the offense will run through emerging forward Thaddeus Young, who has gone over 20 five times in the last 11 games.
