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Two of the worst teams in the NBA record-wise, the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Lakers, square off in what should be an evenly matched encounter on paper tonight at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit.
The Pistons (3-14, 2-7 home) have failed big time with their big-man project, as they tried without success to dominate teams with the powerful Smith-Monroe-Drummond trifecta. Detroit has been horrible this season, they can`t run, can`t shoot and have the worst backcourt in the league by a mile as far as I`m concerned (of course, competing with the shameful 76ers). They tried to mix things up a bit in the last match, playing with a smaller lineup, but it did not help and they lost by 11 points at home to Golden State – their 8th consecutive loss. Detroit gets a small boost by having a healthy Brandon Jennings back, but this guy is by no means a difference maker at point guard, I`m not sure if his absence was a handicap at all.
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Lakers has an abysmal win-loss record of 4-13 (2-5 away), but they are really much better than this record suggests. The Lakers had a nightmare schedule so far, meeting not only top teams, but run & gun teams against which they match up horrible. LA has been competitive against any opponent that does not shoot under 10 seconds and they have been abusing the weak Eastern Conference, winning all their 3 games against East teams – including an overtime victory 2 days ago against the top team in the East, Toronto, on the back of a triple double by Kobe Bryant (albeit Toronto was without its leading scorer DeRozan).
Listen, the Lakers are far from being a top team and have their problems, but they are much better than that 4-13 record and they are without a doubt a better team than the Pistons, I`d say miles better – Detroit is struggling big time in the Eastern conference, LA would be a playoff team there. The Pistons are a broken team right now and I fully expect the Lakers to improve on their bad record, making it 4 out of 4 against the Eastern Conference. Morale should also be a difference maker, the Pistons are just clueless and in all kinds of trouble, the Lakers are confident after the last win and feeling much better about themselves, there is excitement in the locker room according to Kobe.
Look for Kobe to have a great passing night again after having a triple double against Toronto and when he does that things are going very well for LA – he will probably be guarded by big man Josh Smith so he should find all kinds of ways to pass against a one dimensional player. My tip is a LA Lakers win, no point in taking handicaps, they should really edge this and I am very happy to bet this with 10 units. I can see the odds dropping on this pick until match time. Prediction: Detroit Pistons – Los Angeles Lakers 95-105.
Pick: LA Lakers
Odds: 2.02 @ Unibet
Stake: 10
Possible profit: 10.2
Event date: 3 December
Looking at how bad the Pistons have been, this seems like a good value bet. I have small doubts about Kobe being as efficient on a back to back nights at 36 years old, but I am sure he’ll try, and if not, I too expect him to pile on the assists. Still, with Boozer playing a bit better and Swaggy P in the line-up, should be a good one.
Agree with everything you said. Should be a winner, time will tell.