The Los Angeles Lakers’ opened up as 1.5 point underdogs and have since shifted to 3.5 point favorites. In LeBron James and Anthony Davis’ debut together, expect them to cover.
The Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers open up the 2019-20 NBA season on Tuesday night. A matchup that has seen the line shift many times all over the place.
The Clippers’ started out as 1.5 point favorites and the line shifted to even. Then within a 12-hour span on Monday it shifted all the way to Lakers’ as 3.5 point favorites.
Any NBA fan that knows the injuries Paul George had to his shoulders, knew he would not suit up for this game. So anyone that jumped on the money line for the Lakers’ as 1.5 point underdogs scored big.
That line ultimately came out before the report of George missing the first 10 games of the season at the very least. The Lakers, on the other hand, will miss Kyle Kuzma but with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the lineup, they still pack plenty of punch.
Both teams have big-time names, and if both teams were healthy, the Clippers have the edge here. But they each are dealing with an injury and George was third in MVP voting last year so that’s a bigger loss for the Clippers’.
3.5 points is a big line, but I still believe the Lakers will cover that line and you should jump on those odds. Overall, I think the Lakers’ will push up to around five-point favorites by tip-off.
Respect to Kyrie Irving and Dwyane Wade, but James has never played with a player as good as Davis. They will be determined to show out in their opening night together as they start their run for a title this year.
The supporting cast of Danny Green, Quinn Cook, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Alex Caruso will provide good shooting. Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee will get good looks off playing with two superstars and also play their roles well on defense.
The pick-and-roll the Lakers will run will be absolutely dynamic with James and Davis and with spot-up shooters, they will keep the Clippers’ defense on their toes. The Lakers also have multiple guys they can throw at Kawhi Leonard and bother his rhythm.
Take the Lakers’ -3.5 while you can. Congratulations if you got them at +125 on the money line when they were underdogs when the line first dropped too.