Ala Hann Sport picks

In Kentucky Derby odds, the early favorite, Eskendereya, was knocked out with a leg injury.  In the NBA playoffs, the West favorite, Los Angeles, looked hurt over the first four games of the series, especially on the road, but they showed why they’re the defending NBA champions in Game 5.  Look for them to put up an inspired effort in Oklahoma City on Friday night.

Lakers vs Thunder odds – Friday, April 30, 9:30 PM ET

Pau Gasol had 25 points and 11 boards to pace the Lakers’ attack in a 111-87 rout, while Andrew Bynum added 21 points and 11 rebounds, but Kobe Bryant’s defensive performance may have been the key to this game.  The Lakers were getting destroyed by Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook, who was having his way with Derek Fisher, but Bryant asked to switch onto the quick point guard and harassed Westbrook into eight turnovers.  Bryant also added 13 points, making four of his nine attempts, but with Bynum and Gasol dominating inside, all he really had to do was focus on shutting down Westbrook, to great results.  The Lakers also had 27 assists on 42 field goals.

The Thunder showed their inexperience by failing to deal with the Bryant switch on Westbrook, who had 15 points and six assists, but he shot 4-of-13 from the floor, and of course he had the eight turnovers, half of 16 by the Thunder.  Kevin Durant also struggled in the face of tough defense from Ron Artest, scoring 17 points on 5-of-14 shooting.  The Thunder shot 36.9% from the floor, and a lot of their offense comes from Westbrook’s ability to get into the lane and either finish or dish the ball off.  With Bryant cutting Westbrook off, the Thunder didn’t make any adjustments, and you know what they worked on Wednesday and Thursday in practice.

Basketball betting odds may favor the Thunder at home, where they beat the Lakers in both games of this series so far, but it won’t be by much, if at all.  The performances in Oklahoma City really seemed to wake the Lakers up, and they’ll need the big men, Gasol and Bynum, to play like they did in Game 5.  The Thunder can’t match up with the Lakers in the post, and it would slow the game down for the Lakers, while keeping the Thunder from getting easy baskets to get the crowd into the game.  But the biggest factor will be the ability of Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks, who just won Coach of the Year honors, to free up Westbrook from the clutches of Bryant.  Can he out-fox 10-time NBA champion Phil Jackson on the other bench?  We’re thinking no.  It’s been a phenomenal season for the Thunder, but you have to take the Lakers in your online sports betting book.