Thursday Night NBA

By Divol

Cleveland Cavaliers v Los Angeles Lakers



22nd january 03:35 GMT

This one is huge for the Lakers team. They got blown away by Cleveland at home in Staples Center on Christmas evening and now they want revenge. They admit they came with wrong approach for that game.

"Yeah, it's a big game," Lamar Odom admitted.

And why is that?

"Because they kicked our [butts] the last time," Odom said.

Indeed the Cavaliers did.

The Lakers entered Christmas Day saying it was just another game, that Lakers-Cavaliers didn't have the historical rivalry to match a Lakers-Celtics game.

Lakers match up so well against Cleveland. No one but LeBron can guard Kobe. Even Pavlovic is gone. AP did a good job on Kobe in Staples Center, but I really doubt he will be able to do that again today. Kobe dropped 36 points on AP last year against the Raptors and then 23, but 9 from 14 from the field. He dropped 34 and 46 with good percentage shots the year before that with Parker on him, so I do believe that with the rest that he got until this game, he should be ok and Parker won't stop him. But Kobe isn't the story. The rest of the Lakers are. Farmar, Brown, Bynum and Artest in the best form I remember them in a long time and Odom and Gasol are in good form as well. Even with Kobe out, I would still think hard if I would go against them (and still would have taken the Lakers here). Odom, Artest and Walton can guard LeBron. All three have the size to do so and Artest has the defensive abilities as well. Gasol and Bynum can match up well with big man of Cleveland, though Varejao can be an x-factor here.

With Mo Williams injured, Cleveland PG position, biggest advantage on the Lakers (actually the only one) turns to tie at best, since as I said, Farmar and Brown just great the last few games. Coach match up also a big advantage for the Lakers I believe.

There is a small advantage with the refs in Cleveland favour, but nothing too big to make me turn away from such bet.



Pick: Lakers +4, 1.91 - 4.5 units play - Bodog