PREMIUM
3-Game NBA SWEEPER PASS
(NBA) LA Lakers vs. Phoenix,
Point Spread: -4.00 | -103.00 Phoenix (Home)
Result: Win
Point Spread: -4.00 | -103.00 Phoenix (Home)
Result: Win
The setup: The 19-38 LA Lakers will take on the only team in the West with a worse record than themselves, when they visit the 17-39 Suns tonight in Phoenix. However, the Lakers know well that they own a 10-game losing streak in Phoenix, as the Suns' streak of success matches the franchise's longest home winning streak against the Lakers.
LA Lakers: Nineteen wins seems modest but remember, last year's 17 wins set a franchise record for futility. LA is led by its backcourt which includes starters Russell (14.0 & 4.7 APG) and Young (14.0) plus leading scorer Williams (18.5) and Clarkson (13.6) coming off the bench. Luke Walton shook up his lineup by benching starting center Timofey Mozgov (7.4 & 4.9) and forward Luol Deng (7.7 & 5.4), inserting Tarik Black (6.1 & 5.5) in the middle and rookie Brandon Ingram (8.1 & 4.1) in Deng's spot in Friday's 122-114 at Milwaukee. That was the case again last night but LA scored just 96 points in a one-point home loss to the Kings. What's the next move? Maybe Walton will check with Magic?
Phoenix: The Suns have dropped 10 of their past 12 games but do own a coveted young backcourt in Bledsoe (21.5-4.9-6.1) and Booker (21.1). Bledsoe scored 37 points in Monday's 110-108 loss to New Orleans Pelicans for his 11th 30-point outing of the campaign. He has scored in double digits in a career-best 42 consecutive games, the longest streak by a Phoenix player since Amar'e Stoudemire (51) in 2009-10. His 20-year-old-backcourt partner Booker has reached 20 points in 19 of his last 21, including 16 straight from Jan. 3 through Feb, 4.
The pick: The Lakers allow 110.3 PPG to rank 27th and the Suns allow 112.6 PPG to rank 29th, so don't expect a defensive contest. However, 10 straight wins here at home over the Lakers is nothing to sneeze at and why would I want to step in front of that, considering all teh issues LA is dealing with in the front office? The Suns are a 10* play.
LA Lakers: Nineteen wins seems modest but remember, last year's 17 wins set a franchise record for futility. LA is led by its backcourt which includes starters Russell (14.0 & 4.7 APG) and Young (14.0) plus leading scorer Williams (18.5) and Clarkson (13.6) coming off the bench. Luke Walton shook up his lineup by benching starting center Timofey Mozgov (7.4 & 4.9) and forward Luol Deng (7.7 & 5.4), inserting Tarik Black (6.1 & 5.5) in the middle and rookie Brandon Ingram (8.1 & 4.1) in Deng's spot in Friday's 122-114 at Milwaukee. That was the case again last night but LA scored just 96 points in a one-point home loss to the Kings. What's the next move? Maybe Walton will check with Magic?
Phoenix: The Suns have dropped 10 of their past 12 games but do own a coveted young backcourt in Bledsoe (21.5-4.9-6.1) and Booker (21.1). Bledsoe scored 37 points in Monday's 110-108 loss to New Orleans Pelicans for his 11th 30-point outing of the campaign. He has scored in double digits in a career-best 42 consecutive games, the longest streak by a Phoenix player since Amar'e Stoudemire (51) in 2009-10. His 20-year-old-backcourt partner Booker has reached 20 points in 19 of his last 21, including 16 straight from Jan. 3 through Feb, 4.
The pick: The Lakers allow 110.3 PPG to rank 27th and the Suns allow 112.6 PPG to rank 29th, so don't expect a defensive contest. However, 10 straight wins here at home over the Lakers is nothing to sneeze at and why would I want to step in front of that, considering all teh issues LA is dealing with in the front office? The Suns are a 10* play.
