Lakers vs Bucks, Can Kobe Overtake Clippers for First Place in Pacific Division?

After snapping their longest losing skid of the season, the (11-8) Los Angeles Lakers [-5] will embark on a brutal road trip that begins at the Bradley Center against the (7-11) Milwaukee Bucks [+5] tonight. This Lakers vs Bucks game has a scheduled opening tipoff slated for 8:30 PM ET and it’ll be broadcasted live on FSNWI and K-CAL. According to NBA Odds makers, the OVER/UNDER between LA and Milwaukee is set at a combined total of 183½ points.

For the Lakers, the Purple and Gold will have a great opportunity to overtake the Clippers for the top spot in the Pacific Conference. Trailing CP3 and Lob City by ½ game, a Lakers win tonight over the Bucks would put Kobe Bryant & Co. two games head of the Clips on the win column, compensating the differential that exists between these teams under the loss column.

According to The Black Mamba, the Lakers huge victory over the Clippers Wednesday night could be accredited to a change in attitude. The Lakers played hard, they played physical and they were tough against a Clippers team that’s trying to embarrass them in front of the whole city. The Lakers were led by Kobe’s 24 points, as well as a great first half effort from Pau Gasol, who was as aggressive as we’ve seen him all year with 23 points.

“Everybody played with the right attitude, and guys did what they do best,” Bryant said. “They had the right temperament. Everybody did what we do best. Metta was being himself. You have to be who you are.”

The Lakers next challenge has to be to improve their play away from the Staples Center. As they begin this trip, LA is just 1-6 on the road, which is very uncharacteristic of Lakers teams. Mike Brown will have to get this team to start gelling, as eight of their next nine games will be on the road.

After Milwaukee and Minnesota on back-to-back nights, the Lakers will return hoe to host the Bobcats. From there, LA will play its next five games at: Denver, Utah, Philadelphia, Boston, New York and Toronto. It’s going to be interesting how this team reacts to such a taxing schedule. This will certainly make or break this team. I truly believe that of the Lakers fail during this trip, it would trigger the trade for Dwight Howard in return for Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

“We needed to get some momentum for the road. We’re going to be tested during this trip,” Bynum said. “We need to do way better than .500.”

What’s going to happen in the rematch of this game? I like the Lakers to clamp down and win this one by double-digits! Take the Lakers at +5 tonight, thanks in part to huge games from the twi towers: Gasol and Bynum! But don’t just take my word for it, and certainly don’t go against the bookies by yourself! Sign up right now and get Free NBA Picks first and become a winner over night! What do you have to lose when the picks are FREE???