NBA: Los Angeles Lakers VS Indiana Pacers Pick and Predictions 02/02/2023

Game: 7:10 PM ET,  Thursday, February 2nd, 2023

Venue:  Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana

TV: NBA League Pass

Lakers: 24-28, 13th place Western Conference

Pacers: 24-28, 10th place Eastern Conference

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Lakers -1.5, O/U 240.5

PointsBet: Point Spread: Lakers -2.5, O/U 240.5

Fanduel: Point Spread: Lakers -2, O/U 240.5

Lakers: PG Dennis Shroder, SG Patrick Beverley, SF Troy Brown Jr, PF LeBron James, C Anthony Davis

Pacers: PG Andrew Nembhard, SG Chris Duarte, SF Buddy Hield, PF Aaron Nesmith, C Myle Turner

An NBA mismatch with equal records.  Odd, but these teams have the same record yet entirely different visibility.  The Indiana Pacers are not visible except as a trade target for other teams. They just signed C Myles Turner to a 2-year $60 million extension… and all that was done to satisfy a player’s worry for his financial future… and signal to other teams who exactly is available on the market.  The answer to that question is SG Buddy Hield, SG Chris Duarte (who are both being displayed), PG TJ McConel, SG Kendall Brown, and picks.. They will also pitch in salary filler like PF Jalen Smith, PF James Johnson, and SF Terry Tyler.. Even though no one really wants those guys… Why?  Because the Pacers are set for years to come at the guard spots and desperately need forwards.  This team routinely plays shooting guards at the Power Forward and Small Forward spots.  They are particularly vulnerable against the Lakers because PG (and franchise player) Tyrese Halliburton is on the injury list until after the trade deadline. The Lakers on the other hand should be HUGE favorites in this matchup…. The Lakers are slowly returning to life after being a chaos filled dumpster fire for the first half of the season.  C Anthony Davis is returning from his vacation home (the injury list).. Where he spends about half of every season.  He is joining OF LeBron James (you may have heard of him)... They are adding in Forward Rui Hachimura whom they just picked up in a trade… AND they will soon get Austin Reaves back from injury… Austin is the best of the nobodies.  This is all important because from here on in the Lakers will actually be contenders trying to qualify for the postseason.  They have greatness on tap… and they are refilling the kegs.  The Great Betting opportunity here is found in the lack of roster flexibility for the Pacers… The Pacers do not have a single player that can stop LeBron and may not have anyone that could stop Rui Hachimura.

The Los Angeles Lakers have won 5 of their last 10 games.  They snapped a 2-game losing streak with a win over the New York Knicks 129-123 in overtime.  In the win they got a massive 28 point, 10 rebound, and 11 assist triple double from PF LeBron James, 27 points & 9 rebounds from C Anthony Davis in 36 ½ minutes. New Guy Rui Hachimura plowed in 19 points & 9 rebounds in 40 minutes AND had a big game changing block!  This is the formula for the Lakers from here on in… These three are supported by the dreck they call the rest of the roster.

The Indiana Pacers have been plummeting with only 1 win in their last 10 games.  The sudden abrasive losses was directly caused by the loss of PG Tyrese Haliburton to a month long stint on the injury list.  When Tyrese returns he is hoping to find an entirely different roster… of that does not happen at least the Pacers will be in the NBA Draft Lottery… with multiple first round picks and cap space AND a starting Center going forward.  They are on a 3-game losing streak and lost their last game 112-100 to the Memphis Grizzlies. In the loss SG Ben Mathurin had 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists OFF THE BENCH in 31 minutes.  Ben is all the team has right now except the occasional good game from C Myles Turner. In the loss Myles was decidedly average with 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in 26 minutes.  PF Aaron Nesmith had a good game considering he is really just another 6’5 shooting guard playing out of position. Also you could add Aaron to the list of guys available in trade if the return is worth it?... They would like to keep him.. BUT THEY NEED FORWARDS!!!

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The Lakers are 5th in scoring with 117 points per game, 6th in rebounds with 45 per game…. On defense they rank 28th in defense of points while allowing 118.3 points per game to opponents.  The -1.3 points per game will have to be rectified now or there will be no postseason.

The Pacers are 10th in scoring with 115.1 points per game, 24th in rebounds with 42 per game.  On defense the Pacers rank 25th while giving up 117.2 points per game to opponents.  They have FALLEN to -2 PPG.  That is why they have been losing at a drastic rate since earlier in the season when this team was +4 ppg when Tyrese was in the lineup. The bad defensive numbers is what happens when you play multiple shooting guards at BOTH forward spots.

Our prediction for Thursday, February 2nd is…. Lakers 128 - Pacers 100

Bet on the Lakers!  Blow out alert.  The Pacers are featuring Chris Duarte for the trade deadline and missing PG Tyrese Haliburton.  The entire team is devoid of quality forwards of any type.. So the guy playing defense on LeBron James will be a shooting guard naturally.. The guy offering help will also be a shooting guard naturally. Look for LeBron to cut the 89 points he has left on the all-time scoring record IN HALF!

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Indiana is 16-11 ATS versus the Lakers in Indiana since 1996.

Both games in this series at Indiana have gone OVER the last 3 seasons.

Lakers: PF LeBron James.  With just 89 points left to go before LeBron attains the status of “All Time Scoring Leader”... we all should watch every point.  Why? Because you will see the grave before you see it again.  So will your children.  The chances of ANOTHER guy lasting as long at a level this high is beyond an equation.  The next guy will not have to beat the Kareem Abdul Jabbar scoring record… They will have to beat a record set by a 38 year old that could easily play another 3 years while still scoring a great level… and if he wanted to rub it in… He could conceivably play a few years as a mentor on the floor who keeps piling the points in the books.  (you know.. Like Jabbar did his last 4 seasons).  LeBron is the greatest of all time.  You can still wear the Jordans… but they aint nothing like this guy’s shoes.

Pacers:  SG Ban Mathurin.  Ben is a solid NBA 2 guard.  He will be an easy close candidate for ROY though the award will go elsewhere based on minutes played.  Ben should also be a sixth man of the year candidate.. Because he is.  The trade deadline will decide if Ben gets to play with a few actual forwards on his roster this season… but the future is bright!  Not LeBron bright, but maybe Donovan Micthell bright?

Lakers: Darvin “Don’t call me Hammy!” Ham

Pacers: Rick “Please Call Me” Carlisle