How to handicap Lakers' NYC visit
For two nights only, LeBron James and the Lakers will be in the Big Apple for special engagements with the Knicks on Wednesday and Nets on Thursday.
This will be the Lakers’ only local visit of the regular season. Ticket holders are hoping James and Anthony Davis both will be healthy enough to appear and perform under the spotlight.
From the Lakers’ perspective, this is part of a six-day barnstorming tour of the Northeast that began Monday with a 139-107 loss in Boston and ends Saturday in Philadelphia. Load management has to be a consideration though a draining stretch against lower-priority nonconference opponents. For the Gothamites, both the Knicks and Nets will have at least a day off before the game, and after. Handicapping tips for the twin bill:
VSiN’s Jonathan Von Tobel pointed out last Saturday on “The Lombardi Line” that the Lakers are the most productive team in the NBA at the combination of attacking the basket and finishing. That subsequently drove their win/cover that night at Houston … and will again in New York if the Knicks and Nets don’t figure out a way to protect the rim. Bettors always should be thinking about how various teams try to maximize their skill sets … and if opponents are capable of disrupting that approach. True in all sports.
Bettors should monitor the Lakers through this stretch for fatigue. Continue doing that Saturday in
Philadelphia. If the Lakers are too focused on “making a statement” in media centers, they could run out of gas before reaching the finish line.
At the same time, bettors should study how Lakers coach Frank Vogel is managing minutes. He knows championships aren’t awarded based on January headlines. If you get the sense Vogel is pacing himself through the week, you won’t want to lay too many points on the road game after game.
Refresh your memories on recent form for the Knicks and Nets. Readers of this column know the Knicks’ defense has been abysmal lately against everyone except Cleveland. But, they have been getting the money vs. bad or disinterested opponents under interim coach Mike Miller. The Nets continue to deal with chemistry issues involving Kyrie Irving.
Both teams played on Monday, The Knicks (-1) clobbered the Cavaliers in Cleveland, 106-86. Still, they’re just 2-9 their last 11 straight up, and 3-5 ATS their last eight. Betting smart means picking your spots.
The Nets (-1¹/2) lost at home to Philadelphia, 117-110. That continued a tailspin that’s seen Brooklyn go 2-11 straight up and ATS their prior 13 games. Interestingly, every win has been a cover, every loss a non-cover going back the last 22 games.
The Lakers may have lucked into a great time to visit. Let’s see if game-day betting markets correctly capture all the dynamics of these betting attractions.