Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics
Betting Prediction: Boston Celtics -3.5 -110 odds (February 9th 2012)
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Healthy at last, Boston is playing its best ball winning nine of its last 10, including a season-high five in a row. The Lakers are not the elite team of past vintage. Kobe Bryant remains great and Los Angeles’ tall front line can cause matchup problems, but the Lakers have depth issues and backcourt problems, particularly at point guard. Until the Lakers prove otherwise, they are a fade on the road where they are 3-9 straight-up and ATS. The Lakers are giving up 97.2 points on the road, which is 12 more per game than they allow at home.

The Celtics have the defense to take advantage holding foes to a league-low 86.5 points per game, while also ranking No. 1 in defensive field goal percentage at 41.8. Maybe the Lakers can end their road woes here. They’ve been idle since Monday when they failed to cover as four-point road ‘dogs to the 76ers losing by five.

But I doubt that happens considering the Celtics are rested – having been at home since the start of the month and idle on Wednesday – at full strength and playing well. The Lakers have failed to cover nine of the past 11 times they’ve been a road ‘dog. They also are 3-9 ATS when playing on two days rest and are 4-10 ATS when taking on opponents with a winning mark. If you enjoyed this Lakers vs. Celtics prediction, be sure to buy Stephen’s premium NBA picks today!