NBA Picks: Los Angeles Lakers at New Orleans Hornets
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The Los Angeles Lakers will look to snap a three game losing streak when they go on the road to take on the New Orleans Hornets tonight. The Lakers lost 97-82 last night at San Antonio, as their shooting struggles continued. The Hornets lost their seventh consecutive road game on Monday, falling to the Timberwolves 113-98. New Orleans however has won four straight at home and are 13-3 at New Orleans Arena this season. The oddsmakers don’t seem to be buying the Hornets home success, as our NBA spreads indicate that the Lakers are favored by 3-points over the Hornets.
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The Lakers shot just 35.4% from the field against the Spurs, and are not just losing lately, they are getting beat badly. Los Angeles is losing by an average of 16.7 points during there three game losing streak, and its been a team struggle to put the ball in the basket. The Lakers are averaging just 80.3 points per game, not exactly the type of offense everyone expected to see from the defending champs.
Kobe Bryant has to get things going, as the rest of the team really feeds of his performance. Bryant is averaging just under 18 points over his last five games. Bryant had 21 points against the Spurs last night, but was just 8 of 27 from the field, and the Lakers aren’t going to be a very good team when he is taking that many shots and only making eight.
The good news for Lakers fans, is this isn’t going to last. There is just too much talent on this team for them to continue to struggle like this.
The Hornets are hoping that Lakers woes will continue for at least one more night. While New Orleans just allowed the Timberwolves 113 points, they are giving up just under 85 points a game in their last four at home, and will need another strong defensive effort if they want to upset the Lakers tonight.
While Chris Paul is second on the team in scoring to David West, he is the reason the Hornets have a fighting chance in this one. Paul had 22 points, 13 assists, and five steals against the Timberwolves. West added 23 points, but it just wasn’t enough to get the win. While there is no doubt the Hornets will need a big game out of Paul and West tonight, they need someone like Trevor Ariza, to step up and have a big game.
I have a hard time seeing the Lakers snapping out of their funk tonight on the road, and I think you have to take the points and the Hornets in this one. New Orleans has played too well at home this season to be getting points, and the Lakers don’t deserve to be favored wit the way they have been playing.
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