January 11, 2012

Current Line:

Lakers -2
Total: 186

As the Lakers prepare for their January 11 game with Utah, the team does not appear to have gelled as of yet. While this game is may be close, some insiders might even lean towards the Jazz to win the contest. Kobe Bryant is not performing up to his normal standards and the team is not playing as they were before Lamar Odom was traded, but they are still number one in the league when it comes to rebounds per game, which can change the course of any game.

While it is unlikely that Odom's departure is the main problem on the team, the team is still reeling from all the pre-season trauma drama of trades and blocked trades. No matter how you cut it, these Lakers are in desperate need of leadership and Bryant seems to be falling short at this point of the season. With his wrist injury, Bryant is only shooting 44% for the season from the floor. Pau Gasol has picked up some of the slack by shooting a hefty 57% from the floor. Bryant is leading the Lakers averaging over 27 per game and Gasol is scoring over 16 per game trailing Andrew Bynum who is second on the team in scoring with over 18 a game.

While the Jazz are still not a great team, they are a consistent one. They shoot well and rebound well day in and day out. The team is not turning over the ball and they do not get into unnecessary foul trouble. This type of play is exactly what they need to continue if they want to make it to the post season. Al Jefferson is currently their highest scorer with an 18-point a game average. Whatever the spread will be, it will not be huge, but the Jazz might just be the favorite. The high power offense of the Lakers may over power the low scoring Jazz. Look for a low scoring game won by the Lakers.

The Lakers have won 7 of the last 10 games ATS versus the Jazz. In the last ten games the teams have face one another the score has been OVER on only four occasions. The Lakers are 5-5 ATS in their last ten games this season while the Jazz are 4-4 in their last eight games ATS this season. SU the Lakers are 6-4 this season and the Jazz are 5-3.

Continue to ride the streak until it stops and take the OVER.

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