Lakers vs Knicks NBA Handicapping
The pressure builds and builds and builds on Kobe Bryant’s 34-year-old shoulders as the Lakers stumble through the first part of the season.
Los Angeles Lakers (9-13) at New York Knicks (16-5)
Thursday, Dec. 13
Madison Square Garden, New York
8:00 p.m. EST
Spread: Knicks -6.5 from Bovada
O/U: 208
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What’s wrong with these guys? Can they hang together until Steve Nash gets back? Will Dwight Howard ever make another free throw? Will Mike D’Antoni get fired if he can’t figure things out? Will Phil Jackson be the team’s third coach in one season?
Bryant and the Lakers stumble into New York tonight for a battle against the new-born Knicks, two days after having their nads crushed by the Cavaliers, of all teams.
Cleveland games used to be merely a decent practice for the Lakers, and truth be told the Cavs still are still thagt for most teams. But the Lakers aren’t most teams these days, and even 42 points from Bryant and 19 points (and 20 boards) from Howard weren’t enough as the Cavs got out front early and coasted.
And now the Knicks and a nationwide television audience get to perform their own private autopsies on the Lakers, who have big names but would be out of the playoffs if they were to begin tonight. Los Angeles 9-13? Maybe the Mayans were right and the world is going to be deep-sixed in a week or so. [ad-6571516]
No doubt the Knicks – still feeling their oats after taking down the Heat last week – would view a victory over the Lakers as validation of regime change in the NBA and will treat Kobe & Co. as a three-legged wildebeast.
After a decade in the desert, New York is living large atop the Atlantic Division and with the best record in the Eastern Conference (16-5).
The Knicks have a legit PG (Ray Felton), a wing who can go off at any time (Carmelo Anthony) and veterans who can even keep the team’svolcanic personalities (Rasheed Wallace and J.R. Smith) in check. An they’re doing it without injured big Amare Stoudemire, who is expected to bolster what is already a solid rotation. Stoudemire’s return will give Mike Woodson even more flexibility.
THE PICK: The Lakers have given up 100 points or more in three straight games (whatever happened to Howard protecting the rim?) and six of their last seven. New York averages more than 102 a game and is on an offensive run right now.
Figuring here that LA will not want to sprint up and down the court with the Knicks for the full 48. Knicks -6.5.
