Lakers Vs Heat Preview 12/25/06
Lakers Vs Heat Tickets
GAME: L.A. Lakers Lakers (18-9) at Miami Heat (12-14)
DATE/TIME: Monday, December 25 - 2:30 PM EST
SPREAD: Miami 1 TOTAL: 200.5
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NBA games on Christmas Day are always dramatic and almost always close whether it's Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks beating the legendary Boston Celtics in 1985 or Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James matching up with Tracy McGrady in 2003.
And by the looks of things, bettors shouldn't expect much to change when the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers hook up this yuletide.
"I definitely think this will be another close one," says Covers Expert Ted Sevransky. "These are two teams who are accustomed to playing in the spotlight and always play well when they do."
Giving the professional bettor confidence are the two previous Christmas meetings between the clubs. The Heat have won but failed to cover both matchups over the last two seasons, winning 97-92 as 6 ˝-point favorites last season and pulling off a 104-102 overtime win as 4 ˝-point favorites two years ago.
But where the Heat have come into previous matches as considerable favorites, oddsmakers have changed that this time around. The Lakers have definitely been the better club through the first quarter of the season, posting an 18-9 record straight up and a league-best 17-9-1 record ATS, and are just 1-point underdogs in today`s game.
Meanwhile, injuries and age have seen the defending champion Heat take a step back, going 11-14 (12-12-1 ATS) to start the year.
"The Miami Heat is a team built for playoff success and not for the regular season," says Sevransky. "They never have been since Shaq showed up. As for the Lakers, they have some depth they haven't had in recent years and the team is finally figuring out what Phil Jackson trying to do."
Also boosting the Lakers' chances is the fact they are on the road today, taking them away from all the distractions that come with being home for the holidays.
"The road team seems to come into these games a little more focused and with a greater sense of purpose," says Sevransky. "All these guys have to focus on is basketball as opposed to the home team that has a normal Christmas, but has to play a basketball game."
Oddsmakers have set a 200 1/2-point total on today`s game.
Lakers Vs Heat News:
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• Lakers Vs Heat Preview 01/15/07.
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NBA Future:
Kevin Love
Think Elton Brand. Kevin Love is a unique player. Kevin Love is a horse inside who loves to play and put up numbers. Kevin Love is a character of the game. Beginning to show 3-point range and worst case scenario is that he plays to mid-range facing the basket. Rebounds, passes well and has intensity to go with intangibles.
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JR Pinnock news:
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