NBA Premium Play 10/29: Los Angeles Clippers @ Los Angeles Lakers

NBA - 505 Los Angeles Clippers @ 506 Los Angeles Lakers

Play #3

This game will be a pure run and gun contest that will put the two LA teams head to head. Right now both teams look to be more "ready" on their offensive processes than on defense. I watched several games of the Clippers on the preseason and there are no doubts that they will be one of the best offensive teams in the regular season. Their offensive flow is already way superior with Doc Rivers than it was with Vinny Del Negro. They are now quicker in executing on offense, while they are moving a lot more off the ball. On the break, they keep being lethal as usual by averaging 22 fast break points per game on their last four games of the preseason.

Therefore, I believe that the Clippers won't have problems in scoring against the Lakers, who will be in my opinion one of the worst defensive teams in the league, especially while playing on a run and gun style. According to my preseason rankings stats, the Lakers were one of the fastest paced teams in the league and for this opening day game, coach Mike D'Antoni will use a small ball lineup with Pau Gasol, Shawne Williams, Nick Young, Steve Blake and Steve Nash. This lineup will be an easy opponent for the Clippers' offense and everything will start on the matchup between Chris Paul and Steve Nash.

However, the Lakers might surprise the Clippers on offense, as the Clippers' frontcourt defense hasn't been looking good. Pau Gasol looked pretty sharp physically on the preseason and I believe he will have a good performance in here. The Lakers will spread the floor with a lot of guards on the court and this will be problematic for the Clippers who will have to fit Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan on defending such a small lineup. Doc Rivers will eventually have to put Griffin at the Center position and set his team into a small lineup as well, but until then the Lakers will offer a lot of problems to the Clippers' defense.

I expect this game to have more than 200 points scored on a fast paced game, where both offenses will outstage both defenses. So, I'll be taking the Over in here.

Pick: 3 units (Single Dime Play) on 505/506 Over 198.5 @ -110 / 1.91 on Bookmaker