PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* Total MASSACRE >> Went 6-0 Monday!
(NBA) Oklahoma City vs. LA Lakers,
Total: 221.00 | -110.00 Over
Result: Win
Total: 221.00 | -110.00 Over
Result: Win
The set-up: Russell Westbrook leads the 8-6 Oklahoma City Thunder into Staples Center tonight, as the team opens a three-game road trip against the 7-7 LA Lakers. The Durant-less Thunder opened the season 4-0 but are just 4-6 their last 10. As for the Lakers, a .500 start after 14 games seems like quite an achievement for a franchise which has won just 27, 21 and 17 games the last three seasons (LA didn't win its seventh game last season until its 34th game!)
Oklahoma City: One could argue that Westbrook (31.6-9.6-10.4) has been the NBA's top performer this season but the Thunder have struggled after a fast start. They opened 6-1 but have dropped five of their last seven contests, including a 115-111 overtime defeat by the Indiana Pacers in Oklahoma City on Sunday. "Just wasn't ready tonight," said Westbrook, who posted his fifth triple-double of the season with 31 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds in the loss. "Starting with myself. I was (expletive) tonight. I could have did a lot of things better. I have to come out and be ready to play every night. I feel like I let my guys down and we have to be better." There is a YUGE drop-off after Westbrook, as backcourt mate Victor Oladipo is second on the team in scoring at 16.9 PPG. Then there is the center duo of Kanter (12.2 & 6.3) and Adams (9.9 & 5.2). After that, not so much!
LA Lakers: Luke Walton's 7-7 start is impressive but it's not because his team is playing much defense. LA is allowing 109.6 PPG and opponents are shooting a league-high 47.5% from the floor against them. The Lakers are a guard oriented team, as starters Russell (16.1 & 4.8 APG) and Young (14.1) are combining for 30.2 PPG, while backups Williams (16.9) and Clarkson (14.6) add a combined 31.5 PPG. PF Randle (14.1 7 8.3) is developing nicely but the center duo of Mozgov and Black adds little, as do most of the LA frontcourt reserves, save Larry Nance Jr. (7.2 & 5.0).
The pick: The Thunder have won the past nine meetings and LA's PG Russell was limited to 23 minutes against the Bulls in the team's last game due to a sore left knee. He had just eight points on 3-of-11 shooting against Chicago and didn't participate in Monday's practice. I'll stay away from the side. LA home games have averaged 225.0 PPG and not surprisingly, six of the seven have gone over. That's why this over/under number is so high. However, OKC is just 2-2 SU (1-3 ATS) on the road and has had real issues scoring away from home, averaging just 93.0 PPG. The Under is a 10* play.
Oklahoma City: One could argue that Westbrook (31.6-9.6-10.4) has been the NBA's top performer this season but the Thunder have struggled after a fast start. They opened 6-1 but have dropped five of their last seven contests, including a 115-111 overtime defeat by the Indiana Pacers in Oklahoma City on Sunday. "Just wasn't ready tonight," said Westbrook, who posted his fifth triple-double of the season with 31 points, 15 assists and 11 rebounds in the loss. "Starting with myself. I was (expletive) tonight. I could have did a lot of things better. I have to come out and be ready to play every night. I feel like I let my guys down and we have to be better." There is a YUGE drop-off after Westbrook, as backcourt mate Victor Oladipo is second on the team in scoring at 16.9 PPG. Then there is the center duo of Kanter (12.2 & 6.3) and Adams (9.9 & 5.2). After that, not so much!
LA Lakers: Luke Walton's 7-7 start is impressive but it's not because his team is playing much defense. LA is allowing 109.6 PPG and opponents are shooting a league-high 47.5% from the floor against them. The Lakers are a guard oriented team, as starters Russell (16.1 & 4.8 APG) and Young (14.1) are combining for 30.2 PPG, while backups Williams (16.9) and Clarkson (14.6) add a combined 31.5 PPG. PF Randle (14.1 7 8.3) is developing nicely but the center duo of Mozgov and Black adds little, as do most of the LA frontcourt reserves, save Larry Nance Jr. (7.2 & 5.0).
The pick: The Thunder have won the past nine meetings and LA's PG Russell was limited to 23 minutes against the Bulls in the team's last game due to a sore left knee. He had just eight points on 3-of-11 shooting against Chicago and didn't participate in Monday's practice. I'll stay away from the side. LA home games have averaged 225.0 PPG and not surprisingly, six of the seven have gone over. That's why this over/under number is so high. However, OKC is just 2-2 SU (1-3 ATS) on the road and has had real issues scoring away from home, averaging just 93.0 PPG. The Under is a 10* play.
