No matter how you slice it, the Pacific Division title will be decided in Los Angeles this season. Will it be the star-studded Lakers that come out on top or the up-and-coming Clippers?
With a starting five of Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace, the Los Angeles Lakers make a pretty clear-cut favorite to not only win the Pacific Division but to win the Western Conference as well. The Lakers are currently going off at -400 at TopBet to win the Pacific.
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The only real question with this team is its health. Bryant, Howard, and Nash have all dealt with their share of dings in recent years, and the Lakers’ main priority is going to be being healthy for the playoffs as opposed to being the regular season’s top team.
If everyone stays healthy and on the court, the division title is a virtual lock; but health concerns leave the door open just a tiny crack.
If any team is going to press the Lakers for the Pacific Title, it will be their fellow team at Staples Center, the Los Angeles Clippers (+275 to win the Pacific Division). The Clippers looked good enough to beat anyone when they were healthy in 2011-12, but their depth issues became apparent when Chauncey Billups went down with an injury early in the year.
As a result, the Clippers went out and solidified their bench with a handful of signings including Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, and Lamar Odom. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul should keep the team rolling until Billups’ expected return in January where the Clippers could really start picking up steam.
The Golden State Warriors (+5000), Phoenix Suns (+6000) and Sacramento Kings (+8000) are all quite a ways away from being ready to compete with the big boys in LA. All three have some exciting young talent to build around though, especially in Sacramento’s front court of DeMarcus Cousins and Thomas Robinson.
The Clippers might be able to press, but the reality is that the Lakers should be good enough to win on most nights even if one of their “Big Three” is out with an injury.
Barring a complete inability to gel (unlikely with Steve Nash running things), the Lakers should run away with it.
NBA Odds: Pacific Division Props courtesy of :
Los Angeles Clippers
Total Points Per Game - Blake Griffin
Over / Under 20.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Blake Griffin
Over / Under 11
Total Points Per Game - Chris Paul
Over / Under 19
Total Assists Per Game - Chris Paul
Over / Under 9.5
Total Points Per Game - Jamal Crawford
Over / Under 13
Total Points Per Game - Caron Butler
Over / Under 11.5
Total Points Per Game - Chauncey Billups
Over / Under 11.5
Total Points Per Game - DeAndre Jordan
Over / Under 10
Total Rebounds Per Game - DeAndre Jordan
Over / Under 8
Total Points Per Game - Lamar Odom
Over / Under 8.5
Los Angeles Lakers
Total Points Per Game - Kobe Bryant
Over / Under 25.5
Total Points Per Game - Dwight Howard
Over / Under 19.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Dwight Howard
Over / Under 12.5
Total Points Per Game - Pau Gasol
Over / Under 16.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Pau Gasol
Over / Under 9.5
Total Points Per Game - Steve Nash
Over / Under 13
Total Assists Per Game - Steve Nash
Over / Under 10.5
Golden State Warriors
Total Points Per Game - David Lee
Over / Under 18.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - David Lee
Over / Under 9.5
Total Points Per Game - Stephen Curry
Over / Under 17
Total Assists Per Game - Stephen Curry
Over / Under 6
Total Games Played - Stephen Curry
Over / Under 60.5
Total Points Per Game - Klay Thompson
Over / Under 15
Total Points Per Game - Andrew Bogut
Over / Under 11
Total Rebounds Per Game - Andrew Bogut
Over / Under 9
Total Games Played - Andrew Bogut
Over / Under 52.5
Total Points Per Game - Harrison Barnes
Over / Under 9.5
Phoenix Suns
Total Points Per Game - Michael Beasley
Over / Under 17
Total Points Per Game - Luis Scola
Over / Under 16
Total Points Per Game - Goran Dragic
Over / Under 15.5
Total Assists Per Game - Goran Dragic
Over / Under 6.5
Total Points Per Game - Marcin Gortat
Over / Under 14.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Marcin Gortat
Over / Under 10
Sacramento Kings
Total Points Per Game - DeMarcus Cousins
Over / Under 19
Total Rebounds Per Game - DeMarcus Cousins
Over / Under 10.5
Total Points Per Game - Marcus Thornton
Over / Under 17.5
Total Points Per Game - Tyreke Evans
Over / Under 16.5
Total Points Per Game - Isaiah Thomas
Over / Under 13.5
Total Points Per Game - Thomas Robinson
Over / Under 9.5
Total Rebounds Per Game - Thomas Robinson
Over / Under 7
Total Points Per Game - Jimmer Fredette
Over / Under 7.5
