LA Lakers TT (28.5)
It's hard to imagine the Lakers being worse this year. With Kobe Bryant coming back and Julius Randle from season ending injuries, the Lakers have to be better this year. The Lakers have some talent on this team and PG D' Angelo Russel can help them in the long term..I'm not sure he can in the short term because of his style of play. He can shoot, but lacks to involve teammates often. The mixed with Kobe Bryant can hurt the big guys down low. Lakers picked up Roy Hibbert and you never know what kind of game he will give on a nightly basis. Some nights he can shut down the inside, and some nights he can be almost invisible. I think the key is how much of an impact Julius Randle can have on this team this year. This kid has no doubt in his mind that he is the best player on the court. He is very hard to guard and you will see this with his one on one matchups in games. I worry about his overall attitude if he gets it going though. I think having a guy like Kobe on the team can help him dial it back if Randle finds out he is a true dominant force in this league. I like Randle for the record and i think he can help this team out this year and for years to come. If Russel and kobe can manage to work in the big guys and use them to the strengths they have, this team can win over 30 games. Depth is an issue and so is the defense as of right now. Lakers are in a rebuilding mode, but have pieces to be solid in almost every area. Jordan Clarkson can shoot the rock and i look for him to have a impact on offense. I have some concerns for him on defense though. i like the fact that the lakers kind of sold off some of the team and got rid of some old faces. Kobe will be with a young cast of characters and my gut feeling is he can mix right in here with the young boys. Kobe will still get his 20 points and on occasion bust out a big game.. Lakers have a few decent guys to come off the bench with Brandon Bass, Nick Young, L. Nance Jr and Lou Williams just to name a few. Key for the lakers is health this year. They delt with injuries from the 1st qtr of the first game last year. Guys went down for the year and the season got old real quick for this team. The Lakers have some issues to work out for this season for sure. They will have to do it on the court and in the locker room on a daily basis. If the lakers can hold it together and actually stay together in the beginning of the season, I think they can scratch and claw to a 30 win season. I don't see a playoff team here, but a improved bunch from last year.
OVER 28.5