Monday, May 21st, 2012
A new NBA season will begin as Chris Paul and the new look LA Clippers will travel up north to face the Golden St Warriors in an NBA pro basketball game on Christmas Day on Sunday night.
Tip off from Golden St is scheduled for 10:30PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by ESPN.
The point spread reveals the home team Golden St Warriors opening as a -2 point betting favorite with an over under of 212 points.
Money early from the NBA wagering public has steamed on the road team as the LA Clippers are now favored by -5 points.
The total has moved down to 210 ½ points.
LA Clippers money line supporters will lay -200 odds with the home underdog Golden St Warriors bringing back +170 odds to post the upset win with no need for points on their side.
The big NBA trade during the offseason sent all-star point guard Chris Paul to the LA Clippers.
The Clippers gave up shooting guard Eric Gordon and plenty of depth on their bench.
Acquired in free agency was forward Caron Butler and 35 year old Chauncey Billups claimed off waivers from the New York Knicks.
Paul a six year NBA veteran point guard is coming off a year last season where he hit on 46.3% of his shots with nearly 16 points and 10 assists per game in 80 appearances during the regular season.
The Clippers will sport superstar Blake Griffin at the forward position.
In his rookie year last season Griffin had a 22.5 point per game average with over 12 rebounds and only 64% shooting from the line.
Griffin hit on over 50% of his shots from the field a season ago.
Their impact player defensively is center DeAndre Jordan.
At issue with the Clippers are their bigs off the bench.
Opposing teams will try and get Jordan in foul trouble and if that is the case there is a huge drop in talent for the Clips off the bench.
The Golden St Warriors were an improved team last season as they finished at 36-46.
The game will mark the debut of head coach Mark Jackson for the Warriors.
The Warriors are hoping for a healthy year from Mona Ellis as he led the team with 24 points a game a year ago.
He played 80 games last year after playing just 91 in the two years previous.
Third year guard Stephen Curry averaged 18.6 points with 48% shooting from the field a season ago.
Curry sprained his ankle in the teams exhibition game on Tuesday night and will not play in the teams Christmas night game against the Clippers.
Down low for Golden St will be big men David Lee, Ekpe Udoh, Andris Bierdrins and Kwame Brown.
Rookie Klay Thompson the Warriors first round pick has looked impressive in the exhibition season and seems to not be fazed a bit by the step up in class in the NBA.
Trend: Golden St Warriors are 5-2 ATS in their past seven meetings with the LA Clippers
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Tags: betting, december 25th 2011, espn tv, golden st warriors, la clippers, nba, Odds, pick, preview, pro basketball, sunday
