The Brooklyn Nets lost 12 of 14 games from November 10 to December 5 but since then are 5-1 SU and, more importantly to bettors, 6-0 ATS. They welcome the LA Lakers at Barclays tonight and the Nets open as 2.5-point underdogs with early action on LeBron’s squad. The total opened at 228.
- The Lakers are 2-5 ATS in their last seven games on the road.
- The Nets are 6-0 ATS in their last six games.
- LA scored just 85 points in its only other Tuesday game this season.
LeBron is Coming Off His Worst Game of the Season
King James scored just 13 points on Sunday in Washington and is likely to be ticked off when the ball tips off tonight.
Sunday’s performance was the lowest scoring output for the GOAT in a game where he’s played at least 15 minutes since February 3 against the Houston Rockets when James was a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In each of the last three games when James was held under 15 points, he responded with a minimum of 38 the next time out, twice going off for more than 40.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
It certainly seems like the Brooklyn Nets are in the Christmas spirit. Brooklyn is on its best betting run since last Christmas when the team went 6-0 ATS from December 29 to January 8.
December has been the best month of the season so far for the Nets as they’re averaging 113.9 points per game while holding teams to 111.6 points per game. Both marks are the best they’ve put up this season.
In the last 10 days, the Nets have toppled Toronto, Philadelphia and Washington while also covering as a 6.5-point underdog to OKC. In their past three games, the suddenly hot Nets have scored an average of 132 points per game, easily the best mark in the Association over that time. I expect that to continue against a very loose Lakers system.
Watching The Lakers Makes Me Want to Claw my Eyes Out
On a completely personal note, watching the Lakers play their version of basketball makes me want to tear my eyes out and throw them on the yule log. LA is 2-5 ATS in its past seven and I’ve stopped betting on the Lakers in any regard because they are more casual than a week at a hedonism resort.
Optional defensive structure, baseball passes from their own baseline, guys running down the court and throwing up low-percentage shots, not getting the ball to one of the best players of all time and on and on and on.
There’s more structure to a Saturday morning pickup game at the local Y than when the Lakers take the court – which is why they struggle against what I’m going to term “real” basketball teams. You know, teams that run an offense, pay attention to the shot clock, etcetera.
My Best Bet For Tonight
The Lakers will win games despite themselves because they have some real talent on their roster, led by LeBron James and Kyle Kuzma. However, I will continue to refuse to bet on this team that is 13-17 ATS this season, including 3-6 in its past nine road games.
My strategy for tonight will be to watch to see if this line continues to move toward LA as most of the early action is coming in on the Lakers. When the number levels off, I will get in on the Nets at hopefully 3.5 or 4.
