Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns: NBA Free Pick

LA did get back on track with a 25 point win last night against the Detroit Pistons in which it just did not take its foot off of the gas pedal, and we can’t help but wonder if Head Coach Phil Jackson has his team poised to go on one incredible run in the coming weeks. As always, when you’re talking about Lakers basketball, you have to talk about the play of Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Bryant is the team’s leading scorer once again at 25.2 points per game, and he is once again going to be up for MVP consideration by the time the season is said and done with. Gasol is still averaging a double-double per night at 15.7 points and 10.7 boards per game, but he has absolutely dropped off the face of the earth in recent weeks. The Spaniard only has two 20+ point performances since December 15, and he hasn’t scored more than 21 points in a game in that stretch. He also only has two double-doubles in this stretch to boot. Andrew Bynum is back to join him in the post, but this really isn’t helping all that much either. He has averaged just 9.0 points and 6.6 boards per game, and he hasn’t had a single double-double since coming back into the lineup.

The “new look Suns” really haven’t played up to their potential this year by any stretch of the imagination. They have dropped five out of six games SU and are just 1-4 ATS in their L/5 as well. They have yet to string two straight wins together since being assembled, and a defense which is allowing 108.4 points per game just isn’t improving. Steve Nash has to wonder when he is going to get his free pass out of town, as this is clearly a team that is going nowhere fast, and the Suns would probably love to unload him to get some young players and draft picks in return. Nash is the team’s leading scorer at 17.1 points per game, and he is also tops on the team in assists at 10.6 per night. The additions of Mickael Pietrus and Vince Carter are helping just a bit, as they are averaging 18.0 and 12.0 points per game respectively since coming into the Phoenix fold. However, Marcin Gortat just hasn’t gotten his act together yet at 9.6 points and 5.8 boards per game.

This Phoenix team just doesn’t have the bodies in the paint, even with Gortat out there, to be able to compete with the Lakers. Things really started to fall apart for this team a few nights ago, but the purple and gold seem back on track. They’ll make for great NBA picks on Wednesday night on the road to win by at least five.