NBA Betting Preview: Lakers Look To Regain Swagger Versus Magic

The Los Angeles Lakers have been to two consecutive NBA Finals, and they won the title last season. This year, however, it looks at times as though L.A. is bored with the regular season, and that lack of motivation could cost them home court advantage in the West.

The Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets have played second fiddle to the Lakers for the entire season. Now, the Mavericks are on a long winning streak, and have cut the Lakers lead in the conference to just four games.

Los Angeles has lost two consecutive games on the road, an overtime thriller to Miami, and a blowout loss to Charlotte. In both games, it looked as though Lakers players were simply going through the motions.

If they do so again on Sunday against a Magic team that has revenge on their minds, the Lakers may return home with zero wins on their three game road trip. That does not bode well for L.A. who plays the majority of the rest of their games this season away from the Staples Center.

Kobe Bryant spoke after Friday's loss to the Bobcats about the team being "flat." He claims that he would say something to his teammates, and when he gets to this point, one can only assume that those words will not be kind.

Frustration seemed to be all over the Lakers locker room Friday night. Andrew Bynum spoke of the team being angry, and Pau Gasol looks to have reverted back to the form that caused him to be labeled "soft" a few years ago.

Sunday Los Angeles gets a chance to right the ship and make a statement in the process. Win in Orlando and analysts will consider the two game losing streak just the effects of a long NBA season. Lose, however, and Dallas and Denver will gain confidence that this may be the year the Lakers run in the West ends.

March 6, 2010
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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