The Los Angeles Lakers look to dig themselves out of a hole tonight, Wednesday May 4th, as they host the Dallas Mavericks for Game 2 of the Western Conference semi-finals. The Mavericks lead the best of seven series 1-0 and they lead the Lakers 3-2 SU through their last five meetings. NBA oddsmakers have the Lakers as -7 point home favourites over the Mavericks with the over/under set at 186.5 points. Be sure to check the Mavericks vs Lakers NBA Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
Dallas (5-2, 2-2 V) stunned the Lakers by coming back from 16 points down in the third quarter to steal Game 1, 96-94, at Staples Center Monday and bouncing into Game 2 tonight looking to take complete control of the series. After Nowitzki's 28-point, 14-rebound performance in Game 1, the Lakers claimed they aren't planning a new defensive approach. Gasol, Lamar Odom and Ron Artest will share defensive duties, but Los Angeles realizes it must improve its rotation to prevent Nowitzki's teammates from spreading the floor for open shots. Jackson indicated he might play small forward Ron Artest against the 7-foot Nowitzki in Game 2. Artest, listed at 6 feet 8, has outmuscled taller players like Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant in the past and been successful at slowing them. Sixth man Lamar Odom might also take more turns against Nowitzki as Jackson seeks to find someone a little more mobile than 7-footer Pau Gasol to play against the Mavericks' power forward. Gasol was no match for Nowitzki on the perimeter.
Los Angeles (4-3, 2-2 H) is significantly better than the Hornets and own nearly every edge against the Mavericks. Neither team is good enough to just stroll into Staples Center and win a playoff game, let alone both of them. But that is what they did, the Lakers once again messing around and creating unnecessary problems for themselves. You would have thought they learned their lesson against the Hornets, but they didn't. The Lakers got away from everything that enabled them to build a 16-point lead, started hoisting up outside shots rather than pounding the ball inside and got lazy and sloppy on defense to allow Dallas to find space and comfort on the perimeter. But everything that went wrong is correctable, and probably will be done in time for the Lakers to take Dallas out. Unlike the Mavs, the Lakers have a large memory bank filled with postseason resilience to draw upon when things go wrong. "We're playing against one of the best teams in the NBA, and there's no anticipation of being able to get up to a certain level and be able to maintain a lead," Lakers guard Derek Fisher said. "We've accepted the fact that it won't be perfect. We're going to lose games."
Recent Trends to Consider:
Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
Mavericks are 7-2 ATS in the last 9 meetings in Los Angeles.
Over is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Los Angeles.
Road team is 11-4-1 ATS in the last 16 meetings.
Mavericks are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
Mavericks are 8-0-1 ATS in their last 9 games vs. a team with a winning S.U. record.
Mavericks are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Mavericks are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Mavericks vs Lakers
When: Monday, May 02, 10:30 PM ET
Pick: Lakers -7
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The Bottom Line: The Lakers always rebound big when they lose an opener. Dallas will have to come out harder. Go LA. Be sure to check Mavericks vs Lakers Basketball Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
