Los Angeles Lakers 2010 Preview & Predictions

Los Angeles Lakers 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds

With the NBA Basketball season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 30 teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best NBA Basketball Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2010 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the NBA in our recommend sportsbooks. View the rest of our 2010 NBA Season Previews here.

Los Angeles Lakers 2009-2010 NBA Record: 57-25, 1st in Pacific Division

Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends & Betting Angles:
• 8-2 SU & ATS past 10 at Golden State
• 1-5 ATS past 6 games vs Clippers
• Played 8 straight home OVERs vs Kings
• 7-1 SU & ATS past 8 games at Sacramento
• 6-0 SU, 5-1 ATS past 6 at home to Suns
• 3-12-2 ATS past 17 as fave or 2 or less pts
• 8-0 SU, 1-7 ATS past 8 as fave of 8+ points

Los Angeles Lakers 2010 Preview & Prediction

No sooner had one dreaded rival been vanquished than a new, even glitzier one appeared. Now that the two-time champion Los Angeles Lakers finally have dispatched the Boston Celtics, they can look forward to the new, three-headed monster rising in Miami. Kobe and Pau, say hello to LeBron, Dwyane and Chris. The challenges never stop, do they? The Lakers are still the defending champs, and even if Las Vegas oddsmakers already have established Miami as the preseason favorite, the new NBA season still has to travel through downtown Los Angeles first. Although there was some doubt for awhile, coach Phil Jackson is back to try for his fourth – yes, fourth NBA three-peat, Derek Fisher turned down what was probably more money to stay with Kobe and the guys and, maybe most important of all, this Lakers team could be considerably healthier than the one that struggled with various key injuries a year ago. Bryant had arthroscopic surgery on his tender knee and was planning to address the broken finger on his shooting hand. Andrew Bynum will have a surgically repaired knee and hopes he won’t have to limp in and out of the lineup all season. Pau Gasol took the summer off and should come back rested and fresh. Heat or no Heat, this is still the deepest roster in the NBA, and even James, Wade and Bosh can’t match the size and length of the Lakers’ front line. Veteran Steve Blake gives them a new, steady hand in the backcourt, and two other free agents, Matt Barnes and Theo Ratliff, could add a couple new gritty riffs to the defense. Then, of course, there is still Mr. Bryant to consider. Widely considered the game’s best closer, Bryant loves nothing more than elevated competition. Well, don’t look now, but Miami has just gift-wrapped it for him.

Los Angeles Lakers Coach: Phil Jackson (11th season)

Los Angeles Lakers Projected Starters: PG Derek Fisher, SG Kobe Bryant, SF Ron Artest, PF Lamar Odom, C Pau Gasol.

Los Angeles Lakers Key Additions: F Matt Barnes, G Steve Blake.

Los Angeles Lakers Key Losses: G Jordan Farmar.

2010 Los Angeles Lakers Point Guards:

He turned 36 in August. He’s lost a step. Maybe a step and a half. He’s not even close to the pressure defender he used to be. And even back in the day there were those moments when he could be exposed. And not just a little. Sometimes he could be exposed badly by really quick young guards. And the league today is nothing but quick young guards. Derek Fisher guard Rajon Rondo? John Wall? Derrick Rose? You can hear the chops slurping at nearly every stop around the league. No one else can do all the things that Fisher does for the Lakers. And absolutely no one can do them in the heat of the biggest battles, which is what Fisher has done time and again. He has proved himself every single day of his career, ever since he came out of the University of Arkansas/Little Rock as a late first-round draft pick back in 1996. Fisher has delivered so many big moments in so many games that … Oh, why go on? We could spend all day adding them up here. The team signed Steve Blake, another guy in the character mold like Fisher. Blake will see lots of minutes. He’s tough, can shoot and is a decent ball-pressure guy, which the Lakers sort of demand in their point guards.

2010 Los Angeles Lakers Off Guards:

It’s hard to believe the NBA’s boy wonder turned 32 in August. Yes, he’s a step slower too. But he’s spent his entire life preparing to compete at this moment. He’s arguably the best conditioned, best prepared 32-year-old in the history of the game. And yet Game 7 of last year’s championship series did something that few thought could happen. It humbled Kobe Bryant. And that brought him closer to his team. Which can only be good for the future of the Lakers. Shannon Brown turned down more money to remain in the fold. And Matt Barnes can play here a bit too.

2010 Los Angeles Lakers Small Forwards:

Ron Artest took a lot of crap last year because his adjustment to the complex triangle offense took time. It always does take time for players to adjust. In fact, Artest will still be getting used to it this season. But he’ll be much better in it. There’s no better indication of that than his offensive heroics in Game 7 of the championship series. Adding Matt Barnes to this equation is mind-blowing. It means the Lakers will be able to defend across the roster in big ways. He, Attest and Bryant give the club three stoppers.

2010 Los Angeles Lakers Power Forwards:

Pau Gasol is so versatile offensively. He’s a gem. And he spent last season improving his rebounding and defense. He can play the four position on the wing in the triangle offense, and he can slip down low into me post to play the five spot. Lamar Odom is a starter on most teams at this spot. He’s a fine rebounder and floor leader. He, too, still has his moments with the triangle, but the Lakers more and more go with the flow. They still use the triangle format, the two-guard front, etc., but they go to screen-and-roll out of that format more and more. Odom is great there as well. Nobody in the league matches up with LA’s two guys at this spot.

2010 Los Angeles Lakers Centers:

The conventional wisdom is that, if Andrew Bynum stays healthy, no team matches up with the Lakers and they win another title. The CeItics will have a thing or two to say about that. But there’s no question that Bynum’s size makes this a different, difficult team to face. Gasol plays here, and the addition of veteran defender Theo Ratliff is pretty much bomb material.

Los Angeles Lakers 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Los Angeles Lakers will finish 1st in the NBA Pacific Division .

Los Angeles Lakers Betting

Los Angeles Lakers NBA Championship Odds: +250
Los Angeles Lakers Eastern Conference Odds: -125

Los Angeles Lakers 2009-2010 Betting Stats

Los Angeles Lakers Straight Up: 57-25
Los Angeles Lakers ATS: 34-46-2
Los Angeles Lakers Home ATS: 16-24-1
Los Angeles Lakers Away ATS: 18-22-1
Los Angeles Lakers Record As Favorite: 54-16
Los Angeles Lakers Record As Dog: 3-8
Los Angeles Lakers Over/Under: 34-46-2

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