Los Angeles at Charlotte

The last three years of the Kobe Bryant era in Los Angeles was painful to watch. The Lakers are now rebuilding their team and have some promising young players, but at 11-19 they have not arrived yet. The 11 wins are light years ahead of the pace set by last season's woeful 19-win campaign. The Lakers are fragile, and losing tends to breed losing with a young team. They recently lost eight straight, but are back mentally and emotionally now off two straight covers and one win. Charlotte started strong but have really struggled. They have twice run into four-game losing streaks over the past month, and while they are 15-13 they are just 7-10 in their last 17. The Lakers lost on average by nine points per game a season ago, and just six ppg this season. Outside their eight game slide, they are 11-11 SU. Make the play on LA.