Crippled Clippers host Talented Trailblazers
by Ian James
Right around the mid-season mark is when you start to see players on many teams dropping like flies. The dog days of January in every Los Angeles Clippers have one-upped the Hornets as they expect to have both centers Marcus Camby and Chris Kaman as well as power forward Zach Randolph all wearing their NBA dress-code mandatory suits instead of uniforms. To say the Clippers will miss their presence is a drastic understatement. Randolph averages over 23 points per contest and Camby consumes rebounds like a fat kid at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Playing without these starters, the Clippers allowed 46 points and 15 boards against Portland in this game. Portland averages scoring 98.1 points per game, while allowing 95.1 points per game. Conversely the Clippers score 93.4 points per game and allow 100.5 points.
The BetUS line has Portland the favourite (-10.0) and the over/under at 188 points.
Portland are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 road games.
Over is 7-2 in LAC last 9 vs. Western Conference.
Over is 10-3 in LAC last 13 games as an underdog.
Over is 5-3 in LAC and Portland last 8 head-to-head.
The trend shows that Portland Trail Blazers games often end close, and that there tends to be a lot of points scored when these teams meet up. Expect over 188 points in tonight’s game.
NBA free pick: BetUS total points over 188
