NBA Playoff Betting Odds

Written by Lucky Lester on May, 21st 2008 | 0 Comments

L.A. Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs Preview

Well, here are two teams that won road games and that’s probably why they are here. The Lakers ousted the Jazz in Game 6 in Utah, and it was the road team Spurs that finished off a feisty Hornets group in New Orleans in Game 7. San Antonio really impressed me to get this far, but could their grand show be finished? Kobe and the Lakers have played better than anyone during this post-season, and the only thing between them and a shot at the title is a 7 game series with an aging Spurs team.

L.A. Lakers (1) vs. San Antonio Spurs (3) (Series Tied at 0-0)

Series Preview:
The Lakers and Spurs each took their home games against each other during the regular season. So, this very well could be yet another home-team series with a back and forth feel until a final game 7, or the Lakers could just handle the Spurs…

These two teams didn’t play many close games during the regular season as the home team won by 12 or more in 3 of the 4 contests. The only close game was a 5 point Laker win in L.A. on December 13th.

This series will come down to three things. Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant, and the two Lakers stars that don’t get as much limelight, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. The Spurs will play ball, and they will put points in the basket. Tony Parker will get his as will Manu Ginobli, so they can’t really be questioned, I know what they are going to do in this series. However, it will be interesting to see if Odom and Gasol continue to attack the hoop like they did against Utah. There are better post defenders now than there were in their last series, and while Odom is an impossible match-up for almost any defender, and Gasol is a tricky big to guard, both could be intimidated and crush the Lakers’ dreams.

Tim Duncan needs to dominate this series if the Spurs want a chance. Nobody in L.A. can guard Tim or keep him from running the game. So, it’s now up to him. I think he likes it that way.

And then there’s Kobe, if he plays his best basketball, this series is over already. He’ll get his teammates involved, hold down any player he guards defensively, and but the facilitator and confidence surge the Lakers need to meet the Eastern Conference winner.

This is a good match-up.

Regular Season Series:
04/13/08 - SA 85 - LA 106 (Over 187)
01/23/08 - LA 91 - SA 103 (Under 196)
12/13/07 - SA 97 - LA 102 (Under 201)
11/13/07 - LA 92 - SA 107 (OVER 198)

Playoff Series Schedule:

Gm. 1:Wed., May 21: at Los Angeles, 9 p.m. ET (TNT)
Gm. 2:Fri., May 23: at Los Angeles, 9 p.m. ET (TNT)
Gm. 3:Sun., May 25: at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Gm. 4:Tue., May 27: at San Antonio, 9 p.m. ET (TNT)
Gm. 5*:Thu., May 29: at Los Angeles, 9 p.m. ET (TNT)
Gm. 6*:Sat., May 31: at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
Gm. 7*:Mon., June 2: at Los Angeles, 9 p.m. ET (TNT)
* if necessary

Series Prediction: I think the Spurs match up better with the Lakers than the Hornets did, and this will be a better series because of it. However, I still see the Lakers winning in 5 or 6. The Lakers will have some trouble with Tim Duncan in the post, but his scoring won’t counter Kobe’s ability to finish, and the Lakers will get plenty of offense from Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. The Spurs don’t give up a lot of open looks, but Kobe is a different beast, and his presence will hurt the Spurs defensive game plan. I like the Lakers to open with two home wins and take Game 4 in San Antonio and finish off the gig at home or in San Antonio over the next two games. Basically, I don’t think the Spurs are good enough to beat the Lakers twice in a row.

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