NBA Championship Finals Betting – why nervous Magic will lose game 2
The online sports betting community had been hoping for a close series between the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers, but after just one game, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. The Lakers Magic odds for Game 2 are similar to what they were for Game 1 but at this point, there is no reason to trust the Magic to bounce back for Game 2.
Lakers Magic odds: Lakers -6.5 for Game 2
- Inexperienced Magic were nervous in Game 1
- Magic’s defense couldn’t slow Kobe, Lakers In Game 1
- Using same formula, Lakers will win Game 2
The sportsbook lines makers have increased the Lakers Magic odds for Game 2 of the NBA Finals - the Lakers were favored by six in Game 1, but after a 25-point blowout win, the Lakers are now favored by an extra half-point.
The Magic looked extremely nervous in Game 1, and even though they got All-Star guard Jameer Nelson back, they still were unable to capitalize. Orlando shot a paltry 29.9% from the floor, which is clearly unusual for them. But Lakers Magic betting handicappers noticed that it wasn’t just the Magic’s shooting that was off - it was their entire offense. The Magic had no rhythm offensively, acted very stationary and just didn’t move the ball. That led to a lot of bad shots, which is why the Magic finished with a poor shooting percentage.
The Lakers Magic odds makers did notice that Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu combined for 6-for-27 shooting but outside of that, they didn’t do much else very well. The Magic had only eight turnovers and managed to get 29 free throw attempts. Unfortunately, they had no answer for Kobe Bryant, who finished with 40 points, eight rebounds and eight assists.
The Lakers vs Magic odds handicappers should expect a better shooting effort from the Magic in Game 2, but that doesn’t mean they’ll win the game. Their defense was deplorable as they allowed the Lakers to score 82 points in the first three quarters. The biggest concern is that the unstoppable confidence that carried the Magic in their series against the Cavaliers was nonexistent in Game 1. Many of the best Vegas bettors recall that the Magic faced huge deficits quite regularly in their series against the Cavaliers and came back each time. Against the Lakers, they didn’t look like they had a clue.
The bottom line is that the Lakers were focused and ready to play in game 1, while the Magic looked like a team that wasn’t there. It will take them at least another game to find their feet but until they do, there’s no reason for basketball betting handicappers to put any faith in Orlando. The Magic have to find their rhythm and start moving the ball around to find easy shots. If they plan to play one-on-one basketball like they did with the Cavs, this won’t be a very long series.
Craig Parsons’ Pick: Lakers -6.5
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Craig Parsons is an avid sports fan, but his true love has always been basketball. Too short to realize his dream of playing in the NBA, he did the next best thing: sports betting and covering basketball for a living. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
