King James Makes Lakers Debut Against Trail Blazers
The Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers meet on Thursday at Moda Center. TNT has the most anticipated debut game of any in recent memory of the NBA. Everyone in the world will be watching to see this game play out.
Tipoff is set for 10:30 pm EST.
Oddsmakers opened the Trail Blazers as -3-point favorites versus the Lakers, while the game’s total opened at 220. The line stayed steady, but the total is up to 223.5.
LeBron James makes his highly anticipated team debut in the season opener for both teams. James signed a four-year, $153.3 million contract as a free agent last July. King James looks to boost the fortunes of the once-proud franchise.
James has played in the NBA Finals in each of the past eight seasons but it seems highly improbable that the Lakers. The Lakers have five straight losing seasons under their belt.
A turnaround that includes getting past the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference seems unlikely.
Lakers Just Look to Improve in All Facets of the Game
The first task facing Los Angeles is figuring out how to beat the Trail Blazers. Portland has won the past 15 meetings and figure to be a playoff team again this season.
The Lakers were 35-47 last season and figure to be greatly improved. Becoming a playoff team is not that big of a reach with the talent they have brought in.
Los Angeles signed veteran point guard Rajon Rondo and center JaVale McGee. That adds some veteran presence into the starting lineup and perhaps shorten the time period it takes to win.
One young building block expected to take a step forward this season is Brandon Ingram. The small forward who was the No. 2 pick in 2016 and averaged 16.1 points last season.
Lonzo Ball begins his second season as a backup to Rondo. Much to his psychopathic daddy’s chagrin.
Trail Blazers Have Become Perennial Playoff Team
Portland finished 49-33 last season and look to get past the 50 win mark barrier this season.
Portland is looking to make the postseason for the sixth straight season. There still is a sense of regret over last season’s poor showing. The New Orleans Pelicans recorded a four-game sweep of the Trail Blazers in the first round.
That was the biggest shock of the NBA playoffs and has to leave a bad taste in the mouth of the players and coaches.
Damian Lillard has averaged more than 25 points per game in three straight seasons. C.J. McCollum has topped 20 in three consecutive campaigns.
The Trail Blazers won last season’s three meetings by an average of 3.7 points. This is not last years Lakers team so the jury is out.
SF Maurice Harkless (knee) is questionable for the opener.
PREDICTION: Trail Blazers 119, Lakers 111
| LA Lakers is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games |
| LA Lakers is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Lakers’s last 6 games |
| LA Lakers is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games on the road |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Lakers’s last 5 games on the road |
| LA Lakers is 2-11 ATS in its last 13 games when playing Portland |
| LA Lakers is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Portland |
| The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Lakers’s last 6 games when playing Portland |
| LA Lakers is 7-15-1 ATS in its last 23 games when playing on the road against Portland |
| LA Lakers is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Portland |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of LA Lakers’s last 5 games when playing on the road against Portland |
| The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Portland’s last 6 games when playing LA Lakers |
| Portland is 15-7 ATS in its last 22 games when playing at home against LA Lakers |
| Blazers are 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games |
| Portland is 1-8 SU in its last 9 games |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland’s last 6 games |
| Portland is 16-4-2 ATS in its last 22 games at home |
| Blazers are 2-3-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home |
| Portland is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games at home |
| The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Portland’s last 5 games at home |
| Portland is 11-2 ATS in its last 13 games when playing LA Lakers |
| Blazers are 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing LA Lakers |
| Portland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against LA Lakers |
| The total has gone OVER in 4 of Portland’s last 5 games when playing at home against LA Lakers |
Next up:
Los Angeles home to Houston Saturday, October 20
Portland home to San Antonio Saturday, October 20
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