Gambling website gives Lakers a projected victory total of 29 1/2 games
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) defends Los Angeles Lakers center Roy Hibbert (17) during the third quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game in Honolulu.
The Lakers will improve upon last season’s 21-victory total, but not by much.
According to gambling website Bovada, the over/under for Lakers’ victories this season is 29 1/2.
Bovada gave only five teams a lower mark than the Lakers, including the Philadelphia 76ers (21 1/2), Portland Trail Blazers (26 1/2), Minnesota Timberwolves (26 1/2), Denver Nuggets (27 1/2) and Brooklyn Nets (27 1/2).
The Charlotte Hornets weren’t given an over/under, with the team’s announcement that forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will undergo shoulder surgery.
The Golden State Warriors top the list at 59 1/2, followed by the San Antonio Spurs (58 1/2), Cleveland Cavaliers (57 1/2) and Clippers (56 1/2).
If the numbers prove accurate, the Lakers would finish 12th in the Western Conference with the Utah Jazz (41 1/2) returning to the playoffs as the eighth seed, beating out the Dallas Mavericks (37 1/2), Phoenix Suns (36 1/2) and Sacramento Kings (33 1/2).
Should the Lakers not reach the postseason, they’ll retain their 2016 first-round draft pick only if they finish with a top-three selection, otherwise it will go to the 76ers to complete the Lakers’ acquisition of Steve Nash from the Suns.
Nash was injured for most of his three seasons with the Lakers and has retired. The former All-Star is working with the Warriors’ coaching staff.
Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus.
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