NBA Game of the Night Lakers vs Hornets

The Hornets, despite some strong victories, have fallen back in to betting purgatory. They have the chance to gain a semblance of respect by challenging the Lakers tonight, but if we’ve learned anything about LA, it’s that they step up in huge matchups. The only hope for New Orleans lies in James Posey being able to hold down Kobe Bryant.

But that’s a far stretch by anyone’s read. The reason Posey was able to step up and defend Kobe so well in the Championships last year was that he knew Kevin Garnett was ready to step in and annihilate Kobe if he was able to squeeze by. There’s no form of reassurance that Posey has that form of help with the Hornets.

Couple that with the fact that New Orleans lost both games early on this season to the Lakers when they were the home team. They’ve lost those games by 10 points accumulated, and the Lakers’ only glaring loss is Jordan Farmar. Chris Paul is going to obliterate a scrambling Derek Fisher for sure, but that doesn’t mean that KB24 won’t be able to answer the points Paul generates.

NBA Betting Trends

-New Orleans is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games

-New Orleans is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games

-New Orleans is 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games

-LA is 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games

-LA is 0-10 ATS in their 10 games before that

-LA is 2-4 ATS in their last 6 games against NO

The line has stayed steady since opening late last night, which means that both sides of the betting line see this as a far call by the oddsmakers. I don’t. LA is vicious at home, and despite losing both Farmar and Walton, they have a deep bench and the type of playmakers in the frontcourt that can decimate a thin, and small, team like New Orleans.

New Orleans Hornets (20-10) vs. LA Lakers (27-5)

Tuesday, January 6th — STAPLES CENTER, LA — 10:30pm EST

NBA Betting Line: LA -7 (196)

I would bet the conservative OVER in this game considering that CP3 will be able to unleash hell on the Lakers. Expect Kobe and Gasol to answer right back, but New Orleans walking in to the STAPLES Center and winning is a far cry from reality. If CP3 is seriously MVP material, he will will the Hornets to a win. But with Kobe gaining momentum in that very same race, I highly doubt it.

NBA Free Pick: LA -7 (OVER)