Dave Malinsky comp 4* play
GAME: Los Angeles Lakers @ Phoenix Suns Feb 20, 2008 9:00PM
SPORT: National Basketball Assoc.
PICK: Los Angeles Lakers
Offered at: 3.5
REASON FOR PICK: 4* L.A. LAKERS over PHOENIX
The fact that the early line is holding steady here tells us that the marketplace has an entirely different view of Shaq joining the Suns than we do. We are not sure that they have helped themselves at all in the long run, and certainly do not believe that they will be ready to match what the Lakers bring tonight. It is a case of having to take a step back before they can go forwards, and there is absolutely an ?if? attached.
Adding a 35-year old center that weights over 300 pounds and clearly has his best days behind him was not a talent upgrade for Phoenix over Shawn Marion, and it creates real adjustment issues for a team that plays the way that the Suns do. Yes, getting Marion out of the locker room might be good karma, but there could be some harsh realities ahead. It begins tonight as they try to somehow make the chemistry puzzle work, and this is hardly the opponent that Mike D?Antoni would like to be facing right now. But the coach is caught in a real bind, with this game followed by the Celtics and Pistons, and he acknowledges that they are going to be a work in progress - ?Every day is one step closer to the team we want to be. There are going to be bumps in the road, but we have 29 games to get it straight and 29 games to win also. We want to make sure it doesn?t become the Shaq Show ? that it?s still the Phoenix Suns Show ? and find that balance that makes it all work.?
The Lakers are much closer to finding their balance, having had Pau Gasol on board for a couple of weeks now. The assimilation has been seamless so far ? in games with him in the lineup in which they have had at least one day of preparation time for their opponent they have gone 5-0 SU and ATS, beating the spread by 49 points, and averaging 113.0 per game in the process. Now it is a back-to-back setting, but instead of that being a negative it turns around here ? it is a plus for them to have been on the court after the All Star break, and the first half vs. Atlanta on Tuesday might have been as good as any NBA team has played all season. They exploded to a 73-37 advantage that enabled Phil Jackson to give the starters most of the second half off, and that means plenty of physical energy as well as having had another good chance to develop chemistry.
If there is any positive at all to having Shaq on board for Phoenix it is in the form of tougher defense around the basket, but even that is not a factor at all tonight ? Gasol will take him away from his comfort zone, and he can get lost guarding someone more than 10 feet from the basket. It all helps the better and more cohesive team to win this game outright, with the points being offered a nice cushion. A 3* plus the points and a 1* Money Line would be the proper way to go here.
GAME: Los Angeles Lakers @ Phoenix Suns Feb 20, 2008 9:00PM
SPORT: National Basketball Assoc.
PICK: Los Angeles Lakers
Offered at: 3.5
REASON FOR PICK: 4* L.A. LAKERS over PHOENIX
The fact that the early line is holding steady here tells us that the marketplace has an entirely different view of Shaq joining the Suns than we do. We are not sure that they have helped themselves at all in the long run, and certainly do not believe that they will be ready to match what the Lakers bring tonight. It is a case of having to take a step back before they can go forwards, and there is absolutely an ?if? attached.
Adding a 35-year old center that weights over 300 pounds and clearly has his best days behind him was not a talent upgrade for Phoenix over Shawn Marion, and it creates real adjustment issues for a team that plays the way that the Suns do. Yes, getting Marion out of the locker room might be good karma, but there could be some harsh realities ahead. It begins tonight as they try to somehow make the chemistry puzzle work, and this is hardly the opponent that Mike D?Antoni would like to be facing right now. But the coach is caught in a real bind, with this game followed by the Celtics and Pistons, and he acknowledges that they are going to be a work in progress - ?Every day is one step closer to the team we want to be. There are going to be bumps in the road, but we have 29 games to get it straight and 29 games to win also. We want to make sure it doesn?t become the Shaq Show ? that it?s still the Phoenix Suns Show ? and find that balance that makes it all work.?
The Lakers are much closer to finding their balance, having had Pau Gasol on board for a couple of weeks now. The assimilation has been seamless so far ? in games with him in the lineup in which they have had at least one day of preparation time for their opponent they have gone 5-0 SU and ATS, beating the spread by 49 points, and averaging 113.0 per game in the process. Now it is a back-to-back setting, but instead of that being a negative it turns around here ? it is a plus for them to have been on the court after the All Star break, and the first half vs. Atlanta on Tuesday might have been as good as any NBA team has played all season. They exploded to a 73-37 advantage that enabled Phil Jackson to give the starters most of the second half off, and that means plenty of physical energy as well as having had another good chance to develop chemistry.
If there is any positive at all to having Shaq on board for Phoenix it is in the form of tougher defense around the basket, but even that is not a factor at all tonight ? Gasol will take him away from his comfort zone, and he can get lost guarding someone more than 10 feet from the basket. It all helps the better and more cohesive team to win this game outright, with the points being offered a nice cushion. A 3* plus the points and a 1* Money Line would be the proper way to go here.
