Lakers vs Pacers Picks and Odds – August 8
- Despite a mixed start to the bubble, the Los Angeles Lakers are eight-point favorites over the Indiana Pacers
- LeBron James is questionable after sitting out the Lakers’ last game with a sore groin
- Get the odds, betting discussion and a pick below
The Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers matchup on August 8. Always the center of attention, the Lakers have come in for some criticism in the early days of the NBA bubble. With the top seed in the Western Conference tied up, they have little to play for. Their games are about preparation for the playoffs.
Things are different for Indiana. Sitting fifth in the East, they are obviously guaranteed a playoff spot, but they could yet finish in fourth, fifth or sixth.
The Los Angeles Lakers vs Indiana Pacers odds have the Lakers as heavy favorites.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Indiana Pacers Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline Odds at FanDuel | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | -8 (-110) | -340 | N/A |
| Indiana Pacers | +8 (-110) | +275 | N/A |
Odds taken August 8.
Lakers’ Offensive Struggles
The Lakers are shooting under 24% from three as a team in the bubble. Their offensive rating is just 95.7 over that span, by far the worst of any team. Danny Green has gone 4-of-20 from the perimeter in competitive games in Orlando, Alex Caruso has struggled on the offensive end. This Lakers offense is powered by LeBron James and Anthony Davis, but they need scoring from others. Too many opens threes have been missed.
Getting the open shots is obviously a good sign, and it’s reasonable to expect that Green, Caruso and others will start knocking them down before long. With James questionable, however, the offense becomes clunkier and the burden on Davis is greater still. This was evident in the loss to the Rockets – Davis was held to 17 points in over 29 minutes of action.
Yes but also he’s old and his team is shooting a bubble-worst 23.4% from deep and not giving him any space. https://t.co/Ks62UUzSj8
— Josh Eberley🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) August 7, 2020
The Pacers are an above-average defensive team, and that’s been reflected in their 110.2 defensive rating in the bubble. Just as they struggled with Joel Embiid a few games ago, they are have limited options to throw at Davis. Double teams are to be expected, making perimeter shooting all the more important.
TJ Warren Mania
T.J. Warren has been one of the stars of the bubble so far. The 6’8 forward was lights out in his first three games, and despite struggling a bit against the Suns, he’s averaging 33.8 points per game in Orlando. Unfortunately for Indiana, Warren is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game with a sore right foot.
Whether Warren plays or not, the Pacers have the offensive firepower to test this Lakers team. Malcolm Brogdon, Victor Oladipo and Myles Turner (who is questionable with an ankle injury) have been getting up to speed in the bubble – Brogdon dropped 25 against Phoenix and Turner has been shooting the ball well. Oladipo has been up and down, but there have been flashes of the player that was an All-NBA selection in 2017-18.
Given his performances in Orlando so far, Warren sitting out would clearly be a major loss for the Pacers, but this is a deep roster, even with Domantas Sabonis and Jeremy Lamb sidelined. Aaron Holiday, in particular, has been playing good basketball of late.
Back Indiana
Indiana’s 15-point loss to the Suns contributes to the spread here. The Pacers dropped to 3-1 in the bubble, and the uncertainty over Warren is obviously a factor to consider, but they look a good bet at +8 for this one.
TJ Warren just had 17 (6-6 shooting) in the 1st QUARTER 🔥 (via @Pacers) pic.twitter.com/vNoj6DUbLm
— Overtime (@overtime) August 4, 2020
There’s no reason for LeBron to play if he’s dealing with discomfort. Davis is listed as probable. Frank Vogel will be keen for his team to rediscover some form before the post-season starts, but there’s no rush. They have two games to come.
The Pacers are a good team. They play above-average defense and have plenty of scoring options. The moneyline at +275 represents great value considering the respective status of the two teams.
Pick: Indiana Pacers Moneyline (+275)
Sam Cox is a freelance writer and sports junkie, who has spent the past several years immersed in the online gaming industry. He has worked with 888sport, Oddschecker, and Colossus Bets to name a few. Based in the UK, Sam also runs Franchise Sports with his brother.
