When was the last time LeBron James, James Harden, Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Mike D’Antoni and Luke Walton all went to the same arena sporting losing records?
There are quant analysts who can probably figure that one out, but let’s just say this: It is a rarity.
So when the Lakers make their home debut at the Staples Center tonight — with James cautioning that the team is not going to come together as quickly as “instant oatmeal” — it’ll be one of the better marquee matchups that the national networks have aired during the first week of the NBA regular season.
The Lakers are 3 1/2 point underdogs in their own building, and after the performance — of lack thereof — that they put on defensively against Portland in their season opener, let’s just say that the task of defending James Harden and Chris Paul is going to be at least as tough as it was trying to stop Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum.
The over/under for the game is 234 1/2, and there are a ton of prop bets involving individual players:
- LeBron James points (28.5), rebounds (8.5) and assists (6.5) have over/under’s, as do James Harden’s points (30.5), rebounds (5.5) and assists (8.5).
- Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo both have their assists set at 7.5.
- Clint Capela’s points (12.5) and rebounds (11.5) are on the board, as are Brandon Ingram’s points (15.5) and (4.5).
For those looking for a big payoff that will take a lot of luck to have happen, let’s explain the double result.
In this wager you need two things to happen — one of which occurs at halftime, the other at the end of the game. Check out the chart below:
In order for the best payoff listed above to hit, the game would need to be tied at halftime and end with the Lakers winning. That pays 25-1. If the game is tied at halftime and the Rockets win, that payoff is 20-1.
Another way to hit at long odds is by going for the winning margin option. A guy I know who had a cat on his lap when he was writing yesterday learned the hard way that you do not count your winnings at halftime.
This particular fellow liked the Utah Jazz at home a whole lot last night went with this option, but then the Warriors outscored the Jazz by 13 in the second half, and Jonas Jerebko happened.
Swede revenge, eh?
The other big game on the board tonight is Boston-New York at Madison Square Garden. No disrespect to the Atlanta Hawks, but this game may involve the best team in the East vs. the worst team in the East. The line is Boston -9, and Red Sox fans can probably fatten their wallets for the World Series by giving those points.
If the Celtics have any sort of a Slaughterhouse Five on the court at any particular time, this could be a blowout of epic proportions, Alonzo Trier notwithstanding.
Among the individual prop bets:
- Kyrie Irving’s points (22.5), rebounds (5.5) and assists (5.5) are on the board, as are Jayson Tatum’s points (17.5).
- Tim Hardaway’s points (19.5) and Trey Burke’s points (14.5) have over/unders, as do Enes Kanter’s points (15.5) rebounds (11.5) and points/rebounds/assists (29.5).
But back to the Slaughterhouse Five operating theory, the one that states the Celtics will win this one easily.
Check out the winning margin props:
Yes, the longest odds on Boston are actually 9-1 for a 1-2 point win, and the best payoffs would necessitate a 14-20 point victory for The Green.
Groupies of JD & The Big Shot will not hesitate to take those 95-1 odds on the Knicks winning by 21 or more.
Good luck!
