NBA Betting Picks February 27 – New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Lakers
It looks like the Los Angeles Lakers got the short end of the Anthony Davis stick. Publicly expressing their desire to land the New Orleans Pelicans big man prior to the deadline, not only did the Lakers not get him, they’ve struggled to win games since, dropping further off the pace for a playoff berth in the Western Conference.
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The following article is courtesy of Bookmaker.eu
Time is running out for LeBron James to keep his streak of postseason appearances alive and The King is doing all he can, posting a triple-double last time out in a loss to Memphis. The teams met just a few days ago in the Big Easy with the Pels posting a 128-115 victory.
New Orleans Pelicans at Los Angeles Lakers
Date and Time: Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
Opening NBA Odds: Lakers -5.5, O/U 238.5
Pelicans at Lakers TV Coverage: ESPN
Odds Analysis
The transition has begun for the Pelicans, who are dealing with an awkward situation the best they can. Davis wants out but the team was unable to move him at the deadline, essentially making the All-Star a lameduck player. Davis will play if he’s able, but Alvin Gentry is limiting his minutes and not using him in the fourth quarter of games.
The Pels had thoughts of a playoff berth, but those were dashed with the AD fiasco. They are 4-6 over their last 10 games and 1-2 since the All-Star break with the lone victory over the Lakers. And playing on the road has been a problem for them with just a 9-23 mark away from the Smoothie King Center. One of those defeats took place earlier this season to the Lakers.
With LeBron’s playoff intensity activated, the Lakers have come up short. I guess The King needs to be a little more intense. The Lakers had a nice win over Houston out of the break, which silenced critics for, oh, about a day. They then went on to lose at New Orleans and most recently at Memphis, dropping them two games under .500 and three games behind San Antonio for the final playoff spot in the West.
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Pelicans
Getting a taste of life without Davis proved fruitful a few days ago when the Pels blasted the Lakers with AD in street clothes. Behind Jrue Holiday and former Laker Julius Randle, two cornerstones of the team when Davis is eventually moved, the Pels posted a convincing, 128-115, victory. Holiday dropped 27 hitting 5 of 10 triples and Randle had 24 points on 9 of 17 shooting.
Since Davis announced he wouldn’t sign a contract extension and demanded a trade late last month, the Pels have been maneuvering around his status. They failed to swing a deal at the deadline and have limited his playing time. The Pels are 5-7 since that day, which isn’t that far off from the record they obtained before Davis’ demand. In the minutes he does play, Davis continues to put up numbers. He scored 18 points with six boards in 22 minutes in a loss to Philly on Monday. But his presence will be missed in the fourth quarter.
Lakers
LeBron gets all the credit when things go well and none of the blame when they don’t. I guess you’re afforded that luxury when you’re the best player on the planet. It’s hard to argue against James when he puts up the numbers, like the 24-point, 12-rebound, 11-assist triple double he had against the Grizzlies on Monday. But the Lakers have struggled since his return from a groin injury that cost him 17 games.
A virtual lock for a postseason berth following a win over the Warriors on Christmas Day, the season took a turn for the worst when James was hurt. They went 6-11 in the games he missed falling down the standings. His return sparked an overtime win over the Clips at the end of January and all appeared to be back in form. He skipped the next game, which the Lakers lost, and has played every contest since. However, the Lakers are just 2-5 and have dropped two in a row, putting them two games below the break-even point for the first time since early November.
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Bet Pelicans at Lakers at BookMaker.eu
I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but the Lakers miss Lonzo Ball. And time is running out on LeBron to carry his new club into a playoff spot. The absence of Ball, who was playing the best ball of his career at the time of his injury, has been noticeable, and it’s a loss even James can’t overcome. The playoff intensity is there, though, and James has to lead his club like a player and not a management figure. James has been outspoken regarding his mates and some may not like that. His desire to play with Davis probably didn’t sit well either. He has to keep his mouth shut and play basketball, and the others will follow. A win can put the drama to rest and James will lead his herd this time.
NBA Score Prediction: Lakers 117, Pelicans 112
