Chicago Bulls vs. LA Lakers Line at -2: Christmas Day Game 2011
The Chicago Bulls vs. LA Lakers line was coming in at -2 in favor of the Bulls for this Christmas Day game. You can bet this game at Sportsbook.com and receive up to $250 in FREE CASH here.
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Chicago -2 & 187.5
Opening Line & Total: Lakers -2 & 188.5
Two of the NBA’s title favorites meet up in Los Angeles when the Lakers host Chicago for the teams’ season opener on Christmas Day.
The Lakers are a team in flux. After missing out on Chris Paul, they seem to have taken a step backwards heading into the season. They sent valuable role player Lamar Odom to Dallas in exchange for a trade exception that should help them down the line, but won’t help them in this opener. And with C Andrew Bynum suspended, Odom would have come in handy in this game. Chicago comes in at full strength, and even added veteran SG Richard Hamilton, who looked sharp in preseason play. The Bulls were 25-16 ATS on the road during the regular season last year, and the Lakers were just 15-26 ATS at home (16-30 ATS including the postseason) a year ago.
The Lakers have some work to do to make up for the loss of Odom. PF Pau Gasol (18.8 PPG, 10.2 RPG), coming off a brutal postseason that landed him on the trade block, will have to handle the likes of Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer inside. Gasol also might have to take on a more significant offensive role with Kobe Bryant (25.3 PPG) suffering from a torn ligament in his wrist.
The young Bulls should have plenty of energy for this one, and their defense (tops in the NBA in defensive efficiency last year) should carry them against Los Angeles. While reigning MVP PG Derrick Rose (25.0 PPG) seemed to fade a bit down the stretch, he should thrive against a Lakers team that, with Bynum out, has no one to protect the basket. Noah (10.4 RPG) and Boozer (17.5 PPG, 9.6 RPG) figure to control the interior, and SF Luol Deng (17.4 PPG) is capable of containing Bryant. The arrival of Hamilton (14.1 PPG with Detroit) just makes their second unit that much better.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
