RECORD YTD 56-37 (.602)
SIDES 36-26 (.580)
TOTALS 20-11 (.645)
UNDER in the LAKER/MINNY game on Friday brought home the money here. No play Sat.
If it ain't broke don't fix it. I'll ride the Laker UNDER at home once again.
Lakers are 3-20-2 OU in their last 25 at home
Want to point out that the above play is not some technical get "rich without thinking" selection. There is a fundamental basis for the Lakers defensive prowess at home. It started out as good defensive play by the Lakers and it has developed into a prideful defending of the home court.
As I posted last time from LA paper "In the past six games,(7 now)O'Neal has averaged 16.8 rebounds and four blocks -- well over his season averages of 11.4 and 2.48. And though he's scored at a modest, steady pace of 21.7 points per game, O'Neal's emphasis has clearly been at the defensive end.
He is chasing rebounds and chasing guards on pick-and-rolls. He is changing as many shots as he is blocking and -- in a concession he's always been hesitant to make -- has allowed that his defense may be the most critical asset for his team...There is little danger of the Lakers losing with a defensive-minded Shaq. They are 18-2 when he gets at least 14 rebounds and 14-0 when he gets at least 15. They are 15-1 when he blocks at least four shots.
When it was mentioned that O'Neal had embraced a defense-first philosophy, Jackson nearly fainted.
"Would you repeat that question again? Because I can't believe someone actually said that," Jackson said. "He believes the idea that he can be a defensive force and a rebounding force first and foremost? Every time I've ever said that to Shaquille, he's always said, 'I'm a scorer, I'm not a rebounder and a defensive player.'
"That's an idea I've tried to sell Shaquille for the last three years. That makes a huge difference to our team."
Coming into Staples tonight is the offensively challenged Jazz, 26th in the league in points scored but sporting a top ten defense. The last 10 between these two has seen the Total go 1-8-1. The previous 3 meetings betwen these two this year has seen the totals average out to 178.6. Talked last post about the Laker totals having gotten fat from playing 5 bottom 10 defenses in the last 5 and sure enough when the Lakers faced a top ten defense that Minny brought the resulting total was a 32 point winner. Expect more of the same tonight. Jazz coming off a big win last night and should fade offensively. Both teams coming off big emotional wins and that 12 seems high even with UTAH on a backtoback. I'll leave the side alone as the TOTAL appears to have more value.
UNDER 187'
SIDES 36-26 (.580)
TOTALS 20-11 (.645)
UNDER in the LAKER/MINNY game on Friday brought home the money here. No play Sat.
If it ain't broke don't fix it. I'll ride the Laker UNDER at home once again.
Lakers are 3-20-2 OU in their last 25 at home
Want to point out that the above play is not some technical get "rich without thinking" selection. There is a fundamental basis for the Lakers defensive prowess at home. It started out as good defensive play by the Lakers and it has developed into a prideful defending of the home court.
As I posted last time from LA paper "In the past six games,(7 now)O'Neal has averaged 16.8 rebounds and four blocks -- well over his season averages of 11.4 and 2.48. And though he's scored at a modest, steady pace of 21.7 points per game, O'Neal's emphasis has clearly been at the defensive end.
He is chasing rebounds and chasing guards on pick-and-rolls. He is changing as many shots as he is blocking and -- in a concession he's always been hesitant to make -- has allowed that his defense may be the most critical asset for his team...There is little danger of the Lakers losing with a defensive-minded Shaq. They are 18-2 when he gets at least 14 rebounds and 14-0 when he gets at least 15. They are 15-1 when he blocks at least four shots.
When it was mentioned that O'Neal had embraced a defense-first philosophy, Jackson nearly fainted.
"Would you repeat that question again? Because I can't believe someone actually said that," Jackson said. "He believes the idea that he can be a defensive force and a rebounding force first and foremost? Every time I've ever said that to Shaquille, he's always said, 'I'm a scorer, I'm not a rebounder and a defensive player.'
"That's an idea I've tried to sell Shaquille for the last three years. That makes a huge difference to our team."
Coming into Staples tonight is the offensively challenged Jazz, 26th in the league in points scored but sporting a top ten defense. The last 10 between these two has seen the Total go 1-8-1. The previous 3 meetings betwen these two this year has seen the totals average out to 178.6. Talked last post about the Laker totals having gotten fat from playing 5 bottom 10 defenses in the last 5 and sure enough when the Lakers faced a top ten defense that Minny brought the resulting total was a 32 point winner. Expect more of the same tonight. Jazz coming off a big win last night and should fade offensively. Both teams coming off big emotional wins and that 12 seems high even with UTAH on a backtoback. I'll leave the side alone as the TOTAL appears to have more value.
UNDER 187'
