NBA Playoffs Series Preview and Pick: Utah Jazz Vs LA Lakers

Series Preview and Pick:

Utah Jazz Vs LA Lakers

The Jazz advanced in the playoffs by beating the Nuggets but the reward is not a nice one as they have to face the LA Lakers in the next round. The Lakers advanced by taking care of the scrappy Thunder and are ready to face a Jazz team that they have eliminated the last two years in the playoffs. Since they have met so often the teams are very familiar withone another. “No scouting report necessary for either team,” Kobe Bryant said. “We know their offense inside-out. They know our offense inside-out, as well as the defense. We’ve played each other so many times, including preseason. We’re just extremely, extremely familiar with each other.” That should make for an interesting series.

Odds: Just Bet.com have installed the No. 1-seeded Lakers as a -420 favorite to win this series, while the No. 5-seeded Jazz are +340. Sign up at Just Bet.com to bet the game and get a 60% Bonus!

Injuries are the Key Concern: The Lakers and the Jazz have plenty of great storylines heading into this one but injuries have gotten the most attention. For the Lakers it is Drew Bynum that is injured again in the post season. Bynum underwent a MRI on Saturday that revealed he has a small tear of the anterior horn of his lateral meniscus in his right knee, the team said. As much as he will be missed if he sits out any games, the Jazz are in a world of hurt.

Jazz center Mehmet Okur ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the first round against Denver and is out for the rest of the season. Jazz forward Andrei Kirilenko likely is out for at least the first two games while he recovers from the strained left calf that sidelined him late in the regular season. Finally Deron Williams is a game time decision with a bruised elbow. This hurts the Jazz in a big way, but they have great depth on the bench and get help from role players to make up for the losses.

Carlos Boozer is one of the best players that Utah has but he struggles against the Lakers. During the regular season, Boozer averaged 19.5 points per game on 56.2 percent shooting from the field. In the four games against the Lakers this season, Boozer averaged just 13.5 points on 42 percent shooting. This is a drop off mainly due to the tight defense that the Lakers have down low. The Jazz are 0-14 SU and 3-11 ATS in their last 14 meetings at the Lakers. Los Angeles eliminated them in the playoffs the last two years, going 6-0 SU (3-3 ATS) at home.

The Injuries are just too much to overcome for the Jazz

Bet on the Lakers -420 (in 5 games)

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