NBA Basketball Matchup: Lakers vs Knicks
The Lakers have struggled through the first part of this season, but last night’s win in Boston was their single best victory of the year.
8 PM EST on ESPN
NBA Gambling Odds from Bovada
NBA Betting Favorite: Lakers -3.5
Over/Under: 184.5
Can the Lakers use that game as a momentum builder? New York is without Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, but Linsanity has hit New York City! Can Jeremy Lin and the Knicks prevent the Lakers from picking up back-to-back national television road victories?
Kobe Bryant is averaging 29.2 points per game, which is four points per game more than he averaged last year. Bryant also averages 5.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game, which are both better than his averages from last season. The Lakers lost one of their more important players when they let Lamar Odom go. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Andrew Bynum has taken on a bigger role in the offense. Bynum is averaging 17.1 points and 12.6 boards per game. Both of those numbers are easily career highs for the big man. Pau Gasol has been disappointing so far this year, but he was instrumental in the team’s win at Boston Thursday. If Gasol gets going this team is much more dangerous.
Jeremy Lin went from struggling to get playing time to being the talk of the town in a matter of just a few days. Lin has been an Internet sensation for quite a few years, but he has just recently found the floor in the NBA. In the past three games, Lin has averaged 25.5 points per game. He is a great ball-handler who sees the floor very well. With Lin at the point guard, Iman Shumpert can play his natural two-guard position. Tyson Chandler has been a nice addition to this team. Chandler averages 12 points and ten boards per game. The Knicks have won three straight, but this will be a tough test.
I like the way the Knicks have played of late, but I do think the Lakers defense will slow them down in this one. Look for a close game that Bryant and the Lakers win in the end.
Prediction: Los Angeles 95 New York 92
