Nets at Clippers Over 208 1/2
The Clippers shouldn’t have any problem getting their share of points against the lowly Nets. Chris Paul is playing at a high level again averaging 26.7 points and 11.3 assists during LA’s past six games. If you don’t count an off-night against Denver two games ago, the Clippers are averaging 116 points in regulation during their last five games.
LA ranks seventh in scoring and fourth in field goal percentage and fourth in 3-point percentage. Brooklyn is 28th in defensive field goal percentage. The Clippers have scored at least 100 points in 10 of their last 12 games.
The key to making this over work is figuring out if the Nets will contribute their share of points. I believe they will. The Nets have always played with a quicker pace under interim coach Tony Brown and that tempo has increased and the floor has opened up more now that veteran Joe Johnson no longer is with the team.
Brooklyn is averaging 98 points a game, which ranks 28th. However, the Nets have averaged 104.9 points during its past nine games. That figure would rank eighth in the league.
There are a number of trends on the Nets’ side that point to an over such as: Brooklyn going above the total 13 of the past 16 times when playing on one day’s rest, Brooklyn being 6-1 to the over in its last seven Western Conference games and the over cashing in 12 of the Nets’ last 16 games. The two teams also have gone over eight of the last nine times when the Clippers have hosted. It’s clear the Nets are an over team when taking on teams from the more wide-open Western Conference.
There is the possibility of a Clippers blowout in this game. That could mean bench players getting extra minutes, which would throw a randomness into the total. But the feeling here is the Clippers don’t want to mail this one in. They scored only 81 points at home against Denver in their last game at Staples Center and host Oklahoma City on Wednesday. So they want to stay sharp and give their fans a better show than the last time. They know they have Tuesday to rest for their important test against the Thunder.
The Nets should hang around. They have lost by more than eight points only once in their last nine games.
(Please note that Stephen Nover is a documented 42-21 on his last 63 NBA premium and free plays and has his NBA Game of the Year going today.)
