NBA Spreads and ATS Pick and Preview: Hawks vs. Lakers Basketball Handicapping

OffshoreInsiders.com Senior Sports Handicapper Matt Rivers has a winner Tuesday on the Atlanta Hawks (+7.5) at the LA Lakers.

Sure I’ll grab around a touchdown with the boys from Hotlanta. The Hawks are good enough to compete with anybody in this league, and that includes the Lakers at Staples. I’m not really afraid of Kobe and the struggling big, bad Lakers.

With three straight losses, something is just off right now with Phil Jackson’s squad. Los Angeles has played some questionable games of late, and after all of the hoopla of the All-Star game—including Kobe earning another MVP award—I can see some of fatigue plaguing the defending champs.

The Hawks aren’t going to win the championship, but they are a tough squad that very well may better the 53-win season from a season ago. Joe Johnson and Al Horford were All-Stars, and throw in a guy that plays like an All-Star in Josh Smith plus Jamal Crawford and a few others? I 100 percent expect the visitors to come after the defending champions.

Teams get up for big games like this. Therefore, I can see the Hawks hanging up a little extra giddy in the tank. This is the Lakers in front of all of the celebrities and stars in LA. What more motivation can a team draw? Maybe playing at Madison Square Garden, but that is about it.

Kobe and the gang have dropped three in a row, and that included the shocking upset loss in Cleveland to end the first half. One could say that the break came at a right time for the champs, but I’m not so sure. I believe this team may be just a little bit off and, break or no break, will continue to be a little bit off.

Top expert pick on this game: Atlanta from Matt Rivers

For more information: It was a terrible call on UTEP on Monday, no excuses. I was as wrong as wrong could be in that thing. It happens. Moving forward and continuing the domination of the Crookie here and now as I Raise that Bar with a 400,000* major release from Minnesota in this semi elimination game between the Spartans and Golden Gophers. Both squads have struggled and one more loss for either could spell doom. Who shows up? One team for sure that I can tell you. Also get a bonus 300,000* from the Big East involving Louisville and Rutgers. 2-0 sweep and another 700,000* of profit, end of story! Rivers redemption comes tonight

Now to the rest of the NBA odds:

Toronto Raptors	+7 -110	OVER 195.5 -101
Charlotte Bobcats	-7 +100	UNDER 195.5 -109
Indiana Pacers	-1 -105	OVER 207.5 -105
Washington Wizards	+1 -105	UNDER 207.5 -105
Houston Rockets	-1.5 -105	OVER 201.5 -105
Detroit Pistons	+1.5 -105	UNDER 201.5 -105
Sacramento Kings	+13 -103	OVER 204 -105
Miami Heat	-13 -107	UNDER 204 -105
Los Angeles Clippers	+8.5 -101	OVER 208 -105
Oklahoma City Thunder	-8.5 -109	UNDER 208 -105
Minnesota Timberwolves	+8 -103	OVER 196 -105
Milwaukee Bucks	-8 -107	UNDER 196 -105
Memphis Grizzlies	-1 -107	OVER 204 -103
Denver Nuggets	+1 -103	UNDER 204 -107
Atlanta Hawks	+7.5 -107	OVER 188.5 -110
Los Angeles Lakers	-7.5 -103	UNDER 188.5 +100
Boston Celtics	-4.5 -103	OVER 198.5 -103
Golden State Warriors	+4.5 -107	UNDER 198.5 -107