NBA Betting Preview: Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Clippers

Added on Nov 28, 2010 by Jack Thurman in

NBA

Sunday NBA betting takes us to Los Angeles where we’ve got a matchup of one of the best and one of the worst teams in the Western Conference. The Utah Jazz are coming off a home court victory over L.A.’s other team–the Lakers–and have moved 1/2 game in front of the Oklahoma City Thunder atop the Northwest Division. The Clippers have the worst record in the Western Conference at 3-14 SU.

Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Clippers
November 28, 2010 12:30 PM Pacific

The Clippers have some promising individual talent but they’ve yet to put it all together into a consistent and coherent team effort on a nightly basis. Injuries haven’t helped–they’ve been without Baron Davis and Chris Kaman for some time now–but the bottom line is that they’ve lost 10 of their last 12 games. Both players are getting close to a return, but there’s not been any specific indication they’ll be back in the lineup here. They have been more competitive in recent games, winning 2 of 3 SU and covering three straight including outright home victories over Sacramento and New Orleans.

This is a very bad tactical matchup for them, however, and that starts in the backcourt. Its hard to beat Utah without very good pointguard play and its difficult to see how the Clippers are going to come out on top in an Eric Bledsoe vs. Deron Williams matchup. Kaman gives L.A. some good interior defense and toughness, but even if he does make a surprise return here its hard to see this as anything but the opportunity for Paul Millsap to have a huge day. Ultimately, its about execution and in this component of the game the Jazz against the Clippers is a ‘men against boys’ matchup. Utah is 7-1 SU/6-2 ATS over the Clippers in the past three years and if anything this Jazz team is better and more focused on a nightly basis now with the Carlos Boozer situation resolved. Look for LA to scrap for awhile, but the superior depth and talent of Utah to wear them down in the second half.

Bet Utah Jazz -6 over Los Angeles Clippers