The Western Conference Finals are set to begin tomorrow night at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Nuggets vs Lakers Series Odds at BetUS.com are favoring the Lakers to take the series; Los Angeles in presently listed as a -280 money line favorite to advance to the NBA Finals. The Lakers advanced to the conference finals after beating the Rockets 89-70 in game seven on Sunday. The Denver Nuggets earned a spot in the conference finals by dumping the Mavericks 4-1 in the semifinals.
Los Angeles, everyone assumed, would coast to the Western Conference Finals, but they had more than their share of troubles with a tough Houston squad. The Lakers finally prevailed 4-3 in that series after dispatching the Jazz 4-1 in the opening round.
Los Angeles is averaging 101.5 points per game in the playoffs, down from their regular season average of 106.9. However, they have improved their defensive numbers, yielding just 93.4 per game to their playoff opponents after giving up 99.3 per outing to their regular season foes.
Phil Jackson's team is 6-1 at the STAPLES Center in the post-season, but a surprising 2-3 in playoff road action. Their average margin of victory in home games is a stellar 17.7, while they have won by an average of 9.3 in opposing venues.
Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol have led the Lakers during the post-season, Bryant averaging 27.4 points, 4.5 assists, 2.2 steals, and 5 rebounds per game while Gasol has put up 18.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
The Nuggets have been, other than Cleveland, the most impressive team in the playoffs. Denver easily took out New Orleans in the opening round 4-1 and followed that effort up with an equaling lopsided 4-1 series win over Dallas.
Denver currently leads all post-season clubs in scoring, averaging a 111.5 per outing and they have shown a penchant for defense in the playoffs as well. George Karl's troops allowed 110.9 per game in the regular season, but limited the Hornets and Mavs to an average of 95.5 in 10 games.
The Nuggets have yet to taste defeat at the Pepsi Center in these playoffs, sporting a perfect 6-0 record there. They are 2-2 in their post-season road games, but have lost by an average of just two points per game in their two road playoff failures.
Carmelo Anthony is leading the Nuggets in post-season scoring, pouring in 27 per game. Chauncey Billups has been remarkable too, averaging 22.1 points, 7.3 assists, and 3.8 rebounds in Denver's 10 playoff contests.
Los Angeles won the season series between these two teams 3-1. The Lakers split with the Nuggets 1-1 at the Pepsi Center and went 2-0 againt them at the STAPLES Center. Phil Jackson's squad averaged 100.75 points per game in the four games (110 per game in LA, 91.5 in Denver). Denver posted an average of 94.8 in the season series (93.5 per game in Denver, 96 in LA).
BetUS.com Nuggets vs Lakers Series Odds:
Denver Nuggets +210 ( To win seven game series)
Los Angeles Lakers -280 (To win seven game series)
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