NBA Finals Rematch – Orlando Magic vs. L.A. Lakers

The Magic have been waiting seven months to get another crack at the Lakers and tonight they get their shot. In the first rematch of last year’s NBA Finals, the Magic will travel out West to see if their new team can keep up with the team that defeated them for the 2009 NBA Championship title. Of course, Orlando may be a “new” team through its roster changes, but to say that they’re “improved” is yet to be determined.

The Magic have been struggling mightily as of late, and much of that has to do with the inability of Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter to co-exist on the court. Lewis especially has shot unusually poorly with just 9.8 points per game in his last five outings. In that same stretch he’s shot just 20-for-51 from the field. Lewis and Carter have been pointing to the fact that they haven’t had time to develop team chemistry, albeit they’re doing it without lashing out at each other.

Certainly the Magic are missing the guy they didn’t spend the money on – Hedo Turkoglu. Carter was brought in to be the athletic answer to Kobe Bryant, and while he has flashes of that left in him, he has certainly not shown it this season. Carter is averaging just 17.1 points per game and 3.1 helpers and has been bothered by a shoulder in injury. It’s the same old Carter story with the former UNC star having a malignant effect on team chemistry and nursing pansy injuries, and that might mean it’s the same old result when the Magic try to contest the Lakers tonight.

Orlando Magic (26-14) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (31-9) >> Join Now to Bet!
Monday, January 18th — STAPLES Center, Los Angeles — 10:30pm EST
NBA Betting Line: L.A. -6 (201.5)

Lost amidst all of the Carter-Lewis talk, however is how it’s affecting the Magic’s best player. After dropping 30-16-5 on Sacramento last week, Howard managed just 17-points combined against Denver and Portland though he did manage to haul down 24 rebounds. Howard struggled mightily against the combination of Odom-Gasol-Bynum last year in the Finals. With the Magic shooting so poorly as of late, it’s hard to imagine that the big men of L.A. won’t come crashing down on Howard in the paint.

Which brings us to the ruthless Lakers who’ve gone 19-6 SU in their last 25 games and are 5-0 SU and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games at home. Their biggest concern was the injury to a hobbling Kobe who has finger and back issues. Yet after being cleared to play against the Clippers last Friday, Kobe dropped 30 points on 50 percent shooting and went 4-of-7 from long range. I’d say he’s fine.

NBA Betting Trends:

• Orlando is 2-6 ATS in its last 8 games
• Orlando is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games
• Orlando is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
• Orlando is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
• The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Orlando’s last 5 games on the road
• LA Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games at home
• LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games at home
• LA Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games when playing Orlando

It’s a mid season game that will eventually mean very little, but Bryant and the Lakers take matchups against Eastern Conference Contenders very personally. They’ve already humiliated Atlanta and were embarrassed by the Cavs on Christmas Day. Bet on the Lakers to dominate a reeling Magic team that is shooting blanks, and struggling to find some rhythm as a newly constructed team.

If the Magic wanted to find out whether all that money they blew this past summer on Carter and the other jabronies they signed, then they’ll get their answer tonight as the Lakers steamroll right through the Magic.

Furious Free Pick: Los Angeles -6 (UNDER)