Dallas at Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Lakers have a reputation for being an offensive team. It may be the presence of Kobe Bryant, but this version is more about defense. The Lakers got a sudden wakeup call from the Hornets in game one who hung 109 on them. But going forward in the final five games, the Lakers hunkered down on the defensive end and held the Hornets to 85.4 points per game in the last five. Dallas really clamped down on Portland in their six-game opening round series, never letting the Blazers touch the century mark, holding them to an average of 88.2 points per game. Both of these teams defined their success with defense, and I would expect both to come out in the first half of game one putting a defensive signature on this series. Since last season, the Lakers are 25-13 UNDER in the first half after a 15+ point blowout win. This season, they own an identical 25-13 UNDER mark in the first half when facing teams that like the long ball (teams averaging 18+ 3-point shots per game). The Mavs have failed as a playoffs dog of 5-10.5 in each of their last four, while the Lakers have gone 4-1 ATS in their last five conference semifinals games. The Lakers claim the opener and the first half stays UNDER.