Thunder-Lakers Pick
The Oklahoma City Thunder will have their hands full when they meet the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs. We take a look at this best of seven series and hand out our free pick.
After compiling a 57-25 record during the regular season, the Lakers earned the top seed in the Western Conference. They had a dazzling 34-7 home record this year and also finished with a winning mark on the road at 23-18.
Led by youngster Kevin Durant, the Thunder finished an impressive 50-32 this season to secure the eighth seed in the West. They posted winning records both at home (27-14) and on the road this season (23-18), while also finishing 6-4 down the stretch.
According to oddsmakers at online sports book Sports Interaction, the Lakers are a massive –800 money line favorite to beat the Thunder in the teams’ best of seven series. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, is a heavy underdog at +500 to win the series.
While the Lakers certainly have plenty of unanswered questions coming into the playoffs, this series comes down to experience. The entire Thunder starting lineup has just 24 career playoff games under their belt and head coach Scott Brooks has yet to coach in the playoffs.
Conversely, Los Angeles played 23 playoff games as a team last season during its championship run and has loads of experience in its backcourt in Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher (who each have four rings apiece). Where Brooks lacks in experience, Phil Jackson has won an astounding 10 titles.
The Thunder’s speed may give the Lakers trouble, but Oklahoma City will have issues matching up with L.A.’s size. Of course, Ron Artest has to be able to man up against Durant or else the Thunder could pull off the shock of the NBA playoffs.
At the end of the day, the Lakers are too good, too talented and have too much experience to lose to the Thunder in the opening round. The Lakers are a little banged up, but it shouldn’t hinder them in the first round. The series price on the Lakers doesn’t come cheap at –800, but they’re a safe bet to beat the Thunder and move on to the next round.
Our NBA Playoff Series Free Pick for this matchup is: LOS ANGELES LAKERS -800
(Note: This free pick is for the entire seven game series and is not to be confused with our daily NBA picks, which are for individual games.)
Top Trends for this game.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 48-34 ATS (+10.6 Units) in all games this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 59-40 ATS (+15.0 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 26-15 ATS (+9.5 Units) in road games this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 28-17 ATS (+9.3 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
OKLAHOMA CITY is 32-22 ATS (+7.8 Units) versus good offensive teams – scoring 99+ points/game this season.
LA LAKERS are 34-46 ATS (-16.6 Units) in all games this season.
LA LAKERS are 29-38 ATS (-12.8 Units) as a favorite this season.
LA LAKERS are 12-22 ATS (-12.2 Units) second half of the season this season.
LA LAKERS are 146-184 ATS (-56.4 Units) after a division game since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
OKLAHOMA CITY is 6-5 against the spread versus LA LAKERS over the last 3 seasons
LA LAKERS is 10-1 straight up against OKLAHOMA CITY over the last 3 seasons
7 of 11 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
OKLAHOMA CITY
[C] 04/15/2010 – Nenad Krstic is upgraded to probable Sunday vs. LA Lakers
[F] 04/12/2010 – Matt Harpring out for season ( Ankle )
LA LAKERS
[C] 04/17/2010 – D.J. Mbenga "?" Sunday vs. Oklahoma City ( Concussion )
[F] 04/15/2010 – Ron Artest probable Sunday vs. Oklahoma City ( Ankle )
[G] 04/15/2010 – Jordan Farmar probable Sunday vs. Oklahoma City ( Hamstrin
[F] 04/17/2010 – Luke Walton is upgraded to probable Sunday vs. Oklahoma Ci
[G] 04/15/2010 – Sasha Vujacic out indefinitely ( Ankle )
(!)[C] 04/15/2010 – Andrew Bynum is upgraded to probable Sunday vs. Oklahoma
Oklahoma City Thunder (Series Price) +500
Los Angeles Lakers (Series Price) -800
Posted: 4/18/10 8:00AM ET