Houston @ Los Angeles picks
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HOU vs LAL Picks
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Houston’s offense has been on fire and it doesn’t look like anyone is capable of putting it out with Ime Udoka’s team seeing its season average of 114.2 PPG jump up to 119.3 in March while the team shoots a monthly high of 47.5% from the floor, while hitting 37.8% of its 3-pointers. Despite having a solid defense, the Los Angeles Lakers will have their hands full with their defensive drop-off this month. After allowing fewer than 108 PPG in January and February, Los Angeles hasn’t been able to stop anyone. The Lakers are allowing 116.6 PPG this month with opponents shooting 47.4% from the floor and 36% from beyond the arc. This defense is in a slump and taking on the worst possible team to try and break out of it.
The Los Angeles Lakers have played at the 10th-fastest pace-of-play in the league over the last 5 games. As a team, the Los Angeles Lakers have been terrific at getting to the foul line playing at home: best in the NBA this year with 24.3 free throws per game. Dorian Finney-Smith ought to see a spike in production in all stat categories due to controlling the home court advantage in this contest.
Rui Hachimura has attempted 5.6 treys per game over the last 5 games while playing at home, 1.6 higher than he's attempted in all games this season at home. Rui Hachimura has been on the court for an impressive 31.5 minutes per game this year, quite a bit more than his 26.9 minutes per game last year. The Los Angeles Lakers have played at the 10th-fastest pace-of-play in the league over the last 5 games. As a team, the Los Angeles Lakers have been terrific at getting to the foul line playing at home: best in the NBA this year with 24.3 free throws per game. The matchup vs. the Houston Rockets is a favorable one for getting to the charity stripe; the opposing team's starting PFs have attempted a colossal 5.4 free throws per game this year (2nd-most in the league).
Fred VanVleet has sunk 3.4 three-point shots per game over the last 5 games, 0.7 more than he's sunk in all games this year. Out of all players in the league, Fred VanVleet measures in the 96th percentile for playing time, compiling a whopping 35.3 minutes per game this year. The matchup vs. Los Angeles is a strong one for shot attempts from the field; when the Lakers have the home court advantage, opposing starting PGs have totaled the 7th-most field goal attempts per game in the NBA this year (15.6). The Los Angeles Lakers have played at the 10th-fastest tempo in the NBA over the last 5 games, which ought to raise possessions for the Rockets. Offensive rebounds continue possession and spark further chances for scoring and assists, and the Rockets rank best in in the league with 14.8 offensive boards per game this year.
The matchup vs. the Rockets is a difficult one for three-point attempts; the other team's starting SGs have averaged the least three attempts per game in the league over the last 20 games (4.7). The Lakers are expected to experience a decrease in opportunities in this contest from competing against the 8th-least up-tempo tempo road offense in the NBA over the last 15 games (the Rockets). Offensive rebounds lengthen possession and spark more opportunities for scoring and assists, but the Lakers grade out 4thworst in in the league while on their home court with just 9.7 offensive rebounds per game this year.
Dorian Finney-Smith has put up 1.8 offensive boards per game this year at home, placing him among the NBA's best in this category in recent games: 87th percentile. The Los Angeles Lakers have played at the 10th-fastest pace-of-play in the league over the last 5 games. Dorian Finney-Smith ought to see a spike in production in all stat categories due to controlling the home court advantage in this contest.
HOU vs LAL Consensus Picks
View all Consensus Picks75% picking Houston vs L.A. Lakers to go Over
Total PicksHOU 322, LAL 109
