Scott Spreitzer
NBA TOM
Lakers/Jazz Under 207
These two have hooked-up seven times already this season, with tonight's total being the highest of all seven meetings, at the time of this release. In fact, the previous high came in the first meeting back in December. The total was 206 1/2, and the teams combined to score just 178 points. The first three games in this particular playoff series saw totals of 198 1/2 in the first two games, and 202 in the third. Thanks to higher scoring games than expected, there has now been an over-adjustment, thanks to faulty public perception. As far as the matchups are concerned, Utah's only chance to win is to get extremely aggressive on the defensive end. Meanwhile, the Lakers big-time size advantage inside, will deny Utah's ability to score in the paint. These two have gone Under the total in seven of their last 10 meetings, and the Lakers are on a 12-5 run to the Under as an underdog. Despite all three playoff games going Over the total, Jerry Sloan-coached Jazz teams are 70-47 to the Under in postseason play, with an average combined point total of 189.2, almost 18 points less than tonight's number. You can't say it's a "wrong" total from the linesmaker's perspective. The public has forced the high number. What you can say is that the public is wrong. Let's take advantage, just like the books do. I'm playing the Under between the Lakers & Jazz on Monday.