PREMIUM
Rogers' 10* TOP TOTALS TICKET >> 8-1-2 Start To The Week!
(NBA) LA Clippers vs. Portland,
Total: 211.00 | -105.00 Under
Result: Loss
Total: 211.00 | -105.00 Under
Result: Loss
The set-up: The NBA season is just over a week old and there are currently only two remaining unbeatens. The SA Spurs moved to 4-0 with a win last night in Miami and tonight, the LA Clippers will take to the Moda Center floor against the Portland Trail Blazers looking to join the Spurs at 4-0. The Blazers are a strong offensive team, averaging 112.8 PPG (7th) and are hitting 44.4 percent from three-point range (2nd) to check in at 3-1 on the young season.
LA Clippers: The Clippers traded away franchise cornerstone PG Chris Paul over the summer but also gone are double-digit scorers Redick and Crawford plus a solid frontcourt player in Speights (8.7 & 4.5). Blake Griffin is now "the man" and taking on a bigger role with Paul gone. He's averaging 26.7-9.7-4.3. Center Jordan is still around and averaging 10.3 & 18.3 but three new additions have also shown well early. Guards Beverley (14.7) and Williams (13.0 & 5.3 APG) plus swingman Gallinari (12.3 & 6.3) have all stepped up nightly. However, it's LA's defense which has led to the team's 3-0 start, with the Clippers ranking first in points allowed (88.0), opponents' FG percentage (40.7) and opponents' three-point percentage (29.0).
Portland: The Blazers have a terrific guard tandem in McCollum (25.7 & 4.7) and Lillard (21.0-5.5-5.1) plus big guards Turner (13.2 & 4.2) and Cannaughton (10.8) are contributing as well. A key to the team's success will be the play of the 7-0 Jusef Nurkic (12.8 & 7.8), who made such a big impression after being acquired late last season in a trade with Denver. Portland, as noted, is a superior offensive team (see above) but the Blazers weren't at their best on offense against New Orleans on Tuesday, instead showing off some defensive 'chops' by holding the Pelicans to 39.5 percent shooting in a 103-93 win.
The pick: The Clippers lost to the Blazers in the 2016 playoffs (Paul got hurt early in that series) but last season, took all three meetings. Now let's see how these "new-look" Clippers fare. So far, they've been able to cruise past a pair of high lottery teams in the Lakers and Suns plus had little trouble knocking off Utah 102-84, a team that knocked them out of the postseason last spring. However, this year's Utah team may not be a playoff contender this season. Portland has the makings of a strong bench and that was on display in the team's last game. Turner (13 points, seven rebounds), Ed Davis (12 points and 10 rebounds, Connaughton (eight points, six rebounds), rookie Caleb Swanigan (five points, eight boards) and Meyers Leonard (five points on 2-for-2 shooting, two boards in six minutes), all made contributions. This contest will be the second of 10 home contests for Portland over the next 11 games. It offers a chance to get the season off to a fast start. Not sure the Blazers will beat the Clippers but they will score vs. LA, forcing the Clippers to open up as well. Make the Over a 10* play.
LA Clippers: The Clippers traded away franchise cornerstone PG Chris Paul over the summer but also gone are double-digit scorers Redick and Crawford plus a solid frontcourt player in Speights (8.7 & 4.5). Blake Griffin is now "the man" and taking on a bigger role with Paul gone. He's averaging 26.7-9.7-4.3. Center Jordan is still around and averaging 10.3 & 18.3 but three new additions have also shown well early. Guards Beverley (14.7) and Williams (13.0 & 5.3 APG) plus swingman Gallinari (12.3 & 6.3) have all stepped up nightly. However, it's LA's defense which has led to the team's 3-0 start, with the Clippers ranking first in points allowed (88.0), opponents' FG percentage (40.7) and opponents' three-point percentage (29.0).
Portland: The Blazers have a terrific guard tandem in McCollum (25.7 & 4.7) and Lillard (21.0-5.5-5.1) plus big guards Turner (13.2 & 4.2) and Cannaughton (10.8) are contributing as well. A key to the team's success will be the play of the 7-0 Jusef Nurkic (12.8 & 7.8), who made such a big impression after being acquired late last season in a trade with Denver. Portland, as noted, is a superior offensive team (see above) but the Blazers weren't at their best on offense against New Orleans on Tuesday, instead showing off some defensive 'chops' by holding the Pelicans to 39.5 percent shooting in a 103-93 win.
The pick: The Clippers lost to the Blazers in the 2016 playoffs (Paul got hurt early in that series) but last season, took all three meetings. Now let's see how these "new-look" Clippers fare. So far, they've been able to cruise past a pair of high lottery teams in the Lakers and Suns plus had little trouble knocking off Utah 102-84, a team that knocked them out of the postseason last spring. However, this year's Utah team may not be a playoff contender this season. Portland has the makings of a strong bench and that was on display in the team's last game. Turner (13 points, seven rebounds), Ed Davis (12 points and 10 rebounds, Connaughton (eight points, six rebounds), rookie Caleb Swanigan (five points, eight boards) and Meyers Leonard (five points on 2-for-2 shooting, two boards in six minutes), all made contributions. This contest will be the second of 10 home contests for Portland over the next 11 games. It offers a chance to get the season off to a fast start. Not sure the Blazers will beat the Clippers but they will score vs. LA, forcing the Clippers to open up as well. Make the Over a 10* play.
