Lakers vs. Suns Free Pick Game 3
This Lakers vs. Suns free pick for Game 3 is courtesy of PreGame.com. Be sure to visit PreGame.com for all your other free picks and sports handicapping needs here.
The Phoenix Suns host the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their Western Conference Playoff series. The Suns are facing a tall order, as they are down 2-0 to the defending champions. The Suns will need to play better defense if they are going to compete with the Lakers tonight. The Suns are 2.5 favorites, with a total of 219.5 points expected tonight. ABC will be televising this game at 8:30 EDT.
Phoenix faces a tall order, as they are down 2-0 in their best of 7 Western Conference Finals series with the Lakers. The Suns are attempting to become the 1st team in 47 tries to win a series after starting 2 games down to a Phil Jackson coached team. Phoenix must play better defense if they are going to win any games, much less a series against the Lakers. The Suns simply don't match up well with the Lakers, as they don't have the size in the paint to combat the Lakers. Phoenix has allowed Los Angeles to score 124 and 128 PTS so far in this series. 5 different Suns players are averaging double figures in PTS this postseason, led by G Jason Richardson. Richardson is averaging 21.8 PPG this postseason, shooting better than 50% from both the field and the 3 point line. Richardson and C Channing Frye need to be better against the Lakers, especially when playing at home. Frye is only 1 of 13 from behind the arc in this series. Phoenix is 62-32 SU and 56-37-1 ATS overall this season. The Suns are 36-10 SU and 28-16-2 ATS in home games this year. Phoenix is only 4-7 ATS in games following a double digit loss this year. The Suns are 31-14 ATS after allowing 105 PTS or more in their previous game.
The Suns are 16-4-1 ATS in their last 21 home games. The Over is 4-0 in their last 4 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600%. Point Guard Leandro Barbosa is listed as Probable with a head injury.
Los Angeles is feeling very good about themselves, as it seems that any style of basketball they play, they end up victorious. The Lakers are hitting their stride, playing their very best basketball of the season at the most opportune time. Coach Jackson is dominant when up multiple games in a 7 game series, exactly the situation the Lakers are in right now. Los Angeles has a dynamic height advantage against the Suns, and they are exploiting that matchup time and time again. F Pau Gasol is averaging 25 PPG in this series with the Suns, while Lamar Odom is doing his own thing. Odom has had consecutive double doubles against the Suns, dominating Phoenix off the bench. This scoring has freed up G Kobe Bryant to do his own scoring, and he's already had a 40 point game against the Suns in this series. The Lakers appear to be the team to beat as they attempt repeat as NBA Champions. The Lakers are 67-27 SU and 41-50-3 ATS overall this season. Los Angeles is 26-20 SU and 21-24-1 ATS in road contests this year. The Lakers are 7-8 ATS as the listed underdog this season, including 3-7 ATS as a road underdog of 3 PTS or fewer. The Lakers are 6-2 ATS this season when playing with 3 or more days of rest.
The Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games against a team with a winning percentage above .600%. The Over is 6-0-1 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game. Center Andrew Bynum is listed as Probable with a knee injury, and is likely to play limited minutes yet again tonight.
Pregame.ocm projects the final score to be 117-106 in favor of the Phoenix Suns. The Suns -2.5 is the Side of the Day!
Johnny Detroit, Gambling911.com
