2012 NBA Picks: New York Knicks @ LA Lakers Odds and Predictions – Free NBA Picks on Christmas Day 12/25/12 Two of the biggest markets in the NBA will face off on Christmas Day when the New York Knicks (20-7) visit the Los Angeles Lakers (13-14). The two teams have had very different seasons thus far with the upstart Knicks owning the second-best record in the Eastern Conference while the super team the Lakers assembled in the offseason is currently outside the playoff picture in the Western Conference. That being said, Los Angeles recently welcomed Steve Nash and Pau Gasol back from injury and have won four games in a row. Playing at home, the Lakers are 3 ½-point favorites.
New York’s fast start has been fueled mainly by its offense. Carmelo Anthony is currently second in the NBA in scoring, and the Knicks are currently sixth as a team. The backcourt of Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd has helped New York become the best 3-point shooting team in the league. Defensively, center Tyson Chandler protects the rim for an otherwise small frontcourt, and the Knicks are a different team defensively when he is on the court. New York has struggled with rebounding as a team, but it compensates by creating plenty of turnovers.
From firing coach Mike Brown a few games into the season to a rash of injuries, the retooled Lakers have had issues getting off the ground. That being said, Kobe Bryant is leading the NBA in scoring for the league’s fifth-best scoring offense. The numbers should only be rising now that Mike D’Antoni has the Lakers making the third-most 3-pointers per game in the league. Meanwhile, Dwight Howard has helped Los Angeles become the top rebounding team in the NBA. On the flip side, Howard has done little to help a Los Angeles defense that ranks outside the top 20 in points allowed.
The Knicks Win If:
The crucial matchup for New York will be Chandler versus Howard. With little in the way of size, the Knicks can’t afford to have Chandler leave the game early with foul trouble. Chandler doesn’t necessarily have to shut down Howard, but if he helps New York hold its own on the boards, it will go a long way to helping their cause. Meanwhile, Anthony and the Knicks’ perimeter players need to take advantage of a Los Angeles backcourt that is mainly over the hill or inexperienced. If the Knicks are knocking down 3-pointers on the offensive end and making sure Howard and company don’t kill them on the offensive boards, the speed and firepower of New York should neutralize the size advantage of the Lakers.
The Lakers Win If:
While a back-and-forth shootout between Bryant and Anthony would be fun to watch, the Lakers need to take advantage of their muscle in the middle against New York. Yes, Chandler is one of the best defensive centers in the game, but Los Angeles has a pair of potentially dominant big men in Howard and Gasol. If the Lakers make a commitment to pounding the ball into the post, they are either going to get Chandler in foul trouble or find some easy scores off offensive rebounds. Defensively, the Lakers need to stay home on the New York 3-point shooters and force them to score by attacking the rim. If Los Angeles owns the paint and the glass in this one, the Lakers will outmuscle the 3-point happy Knicks.
Bottom Line:
This game will be a major clash of strengths as the Knicks’ perimeter firepower will go up against the frontcourt size of the Lakers. The Anthony versus Bryant showdown is a nice undercard, but these two are likely to cancel each other out more than anything else. With that in mind, the inconsistent play of Howard and Gasol this season is a major concern. Even with Nash back in the mix, both big men are still trying to find their specific roles in a D’Antoni’s system that rarely slows the pace and pounds the ball inside. Not to mention the fact that neither player is 100 percent healthy. Meanwhile, New York’s perimeter offense is the perfect weapon to take advantage of the Lakers’ thin backcourt. Outside of Bryant, Los Angeles doesn’t have a guard with the speed and athleticism to lock down a hot shooter. New York has plenty of shooters waiting to make the Lakers pay.
Prediction: New York Knicks (+3 ½) Cover the Spread
New York Knicks @ LA Lakers
Spread: LA Lakers -4
Total: 212
Time: 3 PM EST on ABC
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