The NBA season tips off again Wednesday with the visiting Lakers travelling to Portland to face the Trail Blazers in a game that has remained off the board due to Kobe Bryant's injury situation.
As usual, he has hogged the headlines Tuesday by stating he is 85 per cent ready to go, but now nobody is asking questions about Lakers chemistry with Dwight Howard and Steve Nash on board.
Now with an opening-night loss in Dallas, can the Lakers avoid an 0-2 start?
View LA Lakers vs Portland Odds and Stats.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Trail Blazers - Lakers odds would favor the Lakers if the lines were set according to power ranks. Portland is rated No. 24 in our latest Odds Shark poll, while the Lakers sit at No. 7. Math models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 48-40 win for the Trail Blazers.
How They Match Up:
In rebounding, the battle of the boards features Portland's No. 7-rated squad against Los Angeles's No. 2-rated roster. When it comes to long-range shooting, Portland rates No. 7 in the league with 0 per game, while their foes tonight rank No. 6 with 3 per outing.
Defensively, the Lakers feature the league's No. 1-rated defense on the road, allowing 0 points per game. Portland, meanwhile, comes in at No. 4 in the league in scoring at home.
Last time out for Los Angeles, they were a 99-91 loser as they battled the Mavericks at home. The Lakers failed to cover in the match as an 8.5-point favorite, while 190 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors. Los Angeles got 23 points and 13 rebounds from Pau Gasol in a losing cause in a 99-91 loss to Dallas on Tuesday at STAPLES Center.
Portland lost its last outing, a 96-94 result against the Jazz on April 26. The Trail Blazers covered in that game as a 7.5-point underdog, while the 190 combined points took the game UNDER the total. The Trail Blazers endured a 96-94 loss at the hands of the Jazz on Thursday, despite a 20-point effort from J.J. Hickson at EnergySolutions Arena.
Los Angeles Lakers Trends:
When playing on Wednesday are 8-2
Before playing LA Clippers are 9-1
After playing Dallas are 4-6
After a loss are 7-3
Portland Trail Blazers Trends:
When playing on Wednesday are 7-3
Before playing Oklahoma City are 8-2
After playing Utah are 6-4
After a loss are 3-7
A few Lakers at Trail Blazers trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 7 of the LA Lakers last 9 games when playing on the road against Portland
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 7 games when playing Portland
LA Lakers are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games when playing Portland
Portland is 11-2 SU in their last 13 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Portland's last 9 games when playing at home against LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Portland's last 7 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Portland's last 9 games at home
Next up:
LA Lakers home to LA Clippers, Friday, November 2
Portland at Oklahoma City, Friday, November 2
