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The Los Angeles Lakers are ready to reclaim their status as the top team in LA. For the last four seasons, the Lakers have played second fiddle to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers blew everything up in the offseason though as Chris Paul, JJ Redick, and Jamal Crawford all left in the offseason. They still have Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan though and that makes them competitive for as long as Griffin can stay healthy. Now, let’s see if the Lakers can catch up to the Clippers.
Don’t miss the hardwood action from the Staples Center at 10:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, October 19, 2017. Catch every moment of the game live on TNT. We’ll have NBA opening odds at BookMaker.eu available for this and every game on the NBA Thursday schedule.
Odds Analysis
Although the Clippers have typically played second fiddle to the Lakers in LA, they have dominated this rivalry over the past five years. The Clippers have won 18 of the last 20 meetings against their crosstown rivals in their most successful spurt since the franchise moved to Los Angeles more than 30 years ago.
These teams have rarely been good at the same time, but it seems like they might finish at around the same record this season. It’s very probable that the Clippers will get worse, while the Lakers should get better.
Player to Watch
Everyone will be excited to see Lonzo Ball play his first meaningful game for the Lakers. Ball was taken with the No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft, much to the delight of everyone in Los Angeles. He is a hometown kid with a style all his own and can’t wait to play under the big lights.
A lot of the attention that should be on Lonzo instead goes to his over the top dad LaVar, so it will be good to see Lonzo step on the court and push the other stuff to the side. He was a superstar guard at UCLA with incredible vision and isn’t afraid to fire away from downtown. Ball will likely be given the keys to the offense immediately on this very young team.
There is a question of whether or not his awkward jump shot will transfer over to the NBA though. His complex motion and low point of release could prove costly against better defenders in the NBA. If he can’t get off his shot, it will be very tough for him to be successful.
Key Injuries
There are a lot of role players who are game time decisions for this one. For the Clippers, they may not have former Rocket Patrick Beverley, draft pick Sindarius Thornwell, or Jamil Wilson with various injuries.
On the other side of the court, the Lakers may be missing Julius Randle, rookie Josh Hart, and will definitely be missing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope because of a suspension.
Free NBA ATS Picks
There’s no question who most of the people in attendance will be cheering for. These teams share an arena and anytime they meet, mostly Lakers fans fill the Staples Center.
This is the first year in some time that the Lakers fans have reason to be optimistic heading into this season. They have some talented young players and a young coach in Luke Walton who is well-respected around the league.
Clippers fans have got to be ready for the team to slip back into mediocrity. They just don’t have the guns to run with the best teams in the West anymore, and the backcourt is far worse than it has been in years past. The fact that Doc Rivers’ son Austin is now the starting point guard is troubling, and everything might collapse around Griffin and Jordan this year.
Back the Lakers in this one. They are more talented and more eager to win.
NBA Odds: Lakers 101 – Clippers 93
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