Los Angeles Lakers vs New York Knicks | Odds & Picks

FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2010 — NBA BASKETBALL

Los Angeles Lakers (32-10) at New York Knicks (17-24) 8 p.m. EST, TV: ESPN

Lakers vs Knicks Odds & Lines

There are a few things that every NBA fan can agree on. But watching any time either Kobe Bryant or LeBron James plays at Madison Square Garden is one of them. Why is this a can’t miss? Try 50- and 60-point games, mass celebrity sightings, players brawling … and with Kobe headed to MSG to take on the Knicks, this one is a must-see if only to bear witness to one of the greatest players to ever put on an NBA jersey in one of the most hallowed venues in the world.

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The Lakers lead the season series 1-0, beating the Knicks 100-90 on Nov. 24 in Los Angeles.

The most amazing thing about the defending NBA champion Lakers this season has to be how well they have played amidst so many distractions, albeit those distractions are all things that go along with playing for the NBA’s marquee team. Now, with Pau Gasol and Ron Artest back and healthy the games leading up to the All-Star break will give us a better idea of how this year’s team will come together. But right now, it’s important to remember that the most important thing is to get Kobe’s shooting rhythm back and since he’s been off-rhythm the last couple of games, don’t expect anything except for him to absolutely fill it up.

Even with a new coach in Mike D’Antoni and a purge at the top, staring with Isiah Thomas, we knew this was going to be a rough year for the Knicks. That being said, the Knicks aren’t as bad as they’ve been the past couple of years, and most of that credit goes to D’Antoni for doing the best he can with a roster with a mouthy little malcontent (Nate Robinson), a bunch of nobodies and a star in the making in Italian rookie Danilo Gallinari. Most nights, if Gallinari plays good then the Knicks can be competitive, although the phenom runs pretty hot and cold and sometimes appears lost.

The odds-makers have the Lakers at -5½ point favorites.

Kobe hasn’t played great the last couple of games, although his final points tally might lead you to believe otherwise, as he almost always scores over 30 points. Check his stats in the second half of Friday night’s loss to Cleveland _ 4-of-15 shooting _ and you get the feeling he’s about to explode for a big game. His shouting match with Pau Gasol at Cleveland also says something, too: The Lakers better fall in line behind their leader, and expect them to do so post-haste. The Knicks shipping Nate Robinson to Boston (or somewhere else) seems imminent, and New York is doing its best to get what it can out of the diminutive slam-dunk champ while it can. As stated previously, there’s not a lot of talent in New York right now, and the Knicks are setting themselves up to make a giant splash in this summer’s free-agent bonanza. Whatever happens this year is irrelevant other than D’Antoni taking control and purging the roster.

Look for the Lakers and Bryant to get back on track and post a convincing road win by 10 points.

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