LA Clippers @ Cleveland Cavaliers
United States: NBA Basketball
Wednesday 8 February 2012 - Tip Off 7pm ET
Midnight (British Standard Time)

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Preview

The LA Clippers (15-7) made one of the biggest moves just before the season began when they traded for Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets, and his arrival has changed this club from annual losers into one of the contenders in the Western Conference.

Many people expected Paul would be a significant piece of the puzzle for the Clippers, complementing Blake Griffin, and it has proved that way as they lead the Pacific Division ahead of their City rivals the LA Lakers.

However, all the early season positive vibes took a major hit on Monday night as Chauncey Billups tore his achilles and has been ruled out for a year at least. Billups has provided veteran experience and added 15 points per game and 4 assists and his absence will be tough to overcome for the rest of the season. Mo Williams is the likely starter for this game, while I also think the Clippers will step up their pursuit of JR Smith once his contract in China is concluded later this month.

LA have won their last 4 games on the road and this franchise will be looking for their first 5 game winning run since 1974 when they were still based in Buffalo. They will fancy their chances of hitting that goal, despite Billups' absence, as they visit the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers (9-14).

Cleveland are only a year removed from Lebron James leaving the franchise to join Miami, but they have already made some really solid steps behind rookie Kyrie Irving, and are not far from the Play Off picture in the Eastern Conference.

However, they only dressed 11 men in a defeat to the Miami Heat last night, and will still be missing Daniel Gibson, Tristan Thompson and Anthony Parker tonight, and they have been averaging just 90 points per game in their last 11, 8 of which have ended in losses.

Head to Head

Cleveland have beaten the Clippers 9 times in a row at home, and had won 8 in a row overall before falling the last time they met at the Staples Center last season.

The Cavaliers are 8-2 against the spread in the last 10 games of the series. They are also 8-1 against the spread in their last 9 home games against LA.

Cleveland are 5-4 against the spread in their home games this season, LA are 4-4-1 on the road.

Cleveland are 11-7 against the spread as the underdog, the Clippers are 9-3-1 as the favourites.

Other Interesting Trends

Cleveland are just 1-4 against the spread in their last 5 games as the home underdog being given between 5 and 10.5 points.

They are 4-12 against the spread in their last 16 games against a team with a winning record on the road.

LA are 8-1 against the spread in their last 9 games as the road favourite of between 5 and 10.5 points.

They have won their last 5 games against the spread when playing teams from the Eastern Conference.

Prediction

I am going to back the LA Clippers to win this game and cover the spread for the following reasons:

First, Cleveland had a tough loss last night in Miami and they are short-handed for this game. The Cavaliers are 3-3 against the spread in the second of back to back games.

Second, there is the potential that the Cavaliers are looking ahead to the game with Milwaukee which is next on the schedule- the game against the Bucks is much more important when it comes to Play Off implications in the Eastern Conference.

Third, while the loss of Chauncey Billups could have major implications for the rest of the season, I think this group will band together on this road trip and win this one for him.

The Pick :

Cleveland Cavaliers 94-103 LA Clippers

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back the LA Clippers - 6.5 Points @ 2.00