L.A. Clippers at Golden State
Time: 10:30 PM ET, Jan 30, 2014
Spread: GSW -5.5
Total: 213
Betting odds courtesy of Bovada
The L.A. Clippers are 33-15 and have won its past four contests to pull within 4.5 games of Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City. The Clips are 12-10 on the road and will travel to Golden State to play in one of the toughest venues. The Warriors are just 13-8 at home this season though. NBA oddsmakers still favor the Warriors by 5.5 points.
Doc Rivers has done exactly what he intended to do with the Clips: maintain the high level of offense while adding a modicum of defense to a team which had previously shown almost none. The Clippers are limiting opponents to 100.1 points per game, while averaging 106.3 itself.
Center DeAndre Jordan has been instrumental in the defensive turnaround. The athletic seven-footer is averaging 13.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks, while also providing a little offense (9.6 points per game). Blake Griffin is improving as a defender, and Chris Paul is one of the best in the league at heading up the “D.” Paul is averaging 2.4 steals per game this season, and he’s consistently among the thefts leaders. Paul is out for a few more weeks with a separated right shoulder, so it will be up to Darren Collison to control Stephen Curry.
Golden State will provide a real challenge for the Clippers backcourt, though. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are the league’s best shooting backcourt, though the Clips can challenge that claim with J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford at the 2-guard spot. This game may turn into a bit of a shootout, as indicated by the NBA odds setting the total at 213. Thompson and Curry combine to average 43 points per game and the tandem can get hot in a hurry. This game should be a very entertaining, high scoring affair.
LAC Trends: OVER 4-0 in last 4 when starting five combines for more than 160 mites in previous day; OVER 6-0 in last 6 vs teams with winning SU records; OVER 8-0 in last 8 vs teams with winning home records.
GSW Trends: OVER 4-0 in last 4 Thursday games; OVER 7-0 in last 7 vs teams with winning SU records; UNDER 5-1 in last 6 when opponent allows 100 or more in previous game.
Head-to-head: OVER 4-0 in last 4 meetings In Golden State; OVER 7-0 in last 7 meetings; Clippers 4-12 ATS in last 16 meetings in Golden State.
