Lakers vs Bobcats Betting Odds – Lakers Will Tame Toothless Bobcats

The Los Angeles Lakers are creeping up on the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the league while the Charlotte Bobcats are in risk of falling out of a playoff spot in the Eastern conference after losing six of 10 including five of their last six.

• What: NBA Betting
• When: Friday March 5 – 7:00pm EST
• Where: Time Warner Cable Arena – Charlotte, NC
• KeyStats: Despite being under .500, the Bobcats have a 20-8 home record.

The Lakers (46-15) are coming off a blowout win against the Pacers on Tuesday in which every healthy player on each team saw floor-time. They play the Miami Heat on Thursday night in the first of a three game road-trip but have not been in a really tough game in nearly a week. In their last meeting the Lakers barely escaped Charlotte with a 99-97 win to make Phil Jackson the winningest coach in Lakers history.

Those doing sports betting should know the Lakers have been on a tear since the All Star Break having won five of seven and own one of the best road records in the league at 17-10. They have one of the most potent line-ups in the league, scoring 103 a game, and can get points from four of their five starting positions. Boasting two All Stars and three former All Stars, there is no shortage of skill and experience to close out games.

Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson are the offensive leaders of Charlotte averaging 18.9 and 20.1 points respectively however both are coming off a game in Boston where they were held to eight points apiece while shooting a combined 5-15 in a 24 point loss. The Bobcats will be looking to rebound after scoring just 164 points in their last two games but will be in tough against a strong Lakers defence.

Betting Edge: Lakers

The Lakers are allowing only 96 points a game and holding teams to just 43 percent shooting from the floor. They are also disciplined in giving away the second to only the Bobcats in lowest number of free throws, just 21.7 per game. In the last 10 games, six without Kobe, the Lakers have held teams to just 91 points and should continue that trend against a Bobcats team that has struggled offensively as of late being held under 94 in each of their last six games.

Charlotte has held 10 of its last 12 opponents under 100 points and allows an average of 94.5 points a game on the season. They are the best team in the league in allowing only 21 free throws a game and will need all their discipline as the Lakers starters shoot 79 percent from the line and have a powerful offense that should not need the free points.

Betting Edge: Lakers

Kobe still has a broken finger and is wearing a sleeve over his strained calf but, even at less than 100 percent, he will be the best player on the court. Sasha Vujacic will be out for at least another week with a shoulder sprain. Having missed four games already, the Lakers are looking forward to getting his minutes back so they can rest Kobe down the stretch.

The Bobcats are being forced to play with a smaller line-up as they have four centers in street clothes as Nazr Mohammed, Tyson Chandler, DeSagana Diop and Alexis Ajinca are all injured. This is a bad sign as the Lakers are very big down low with two starting seven-footers, have size coming off the bench and are first in the league in rebounding.

Betting Edge: Lakers

The experts doing the sportsbook know that the Lakers should cruise to another easy win as the Bobcats are struggling and have already been beaten at home by the Lakers. Kobe was held to just 5 points in their last meeting but should be able to rebound as that was just the second time in three seasons that he has been held to single-digit scoring.

Pick: Lakers