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Gasol to Make Laker Debut Tonight in New Jersey
Pau Gasol will make his Laker debut tonight in New Jersey. (AP Images)
It was the trade that sent shockwaves throughout the National Basketball Association this past weekend. And now, we'll get to see what it all looks like.
Tonight at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the new-look Los Angeles Lakers - complete with newly-acquired PF Pau Gasol - will take on the New Jersey Nets in a most intriguing contest.
At 30-16, the Lakers are one of the surprise stories from the Western Conference. After getting off to a white-hot start thanks in no small part to the efforts of sophomore sensation Andrew Bynum, the Lakers were hit with the news that Bynum would miss up to six weeks with a knee injury. Not wanting to ruin an impressive (and surprising) quick start, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak rolled the dice on picking up another big man while Bynum was on the shelf.
Enter Gasol.
The 7-foot Spanish All-Star is averaging 18.9 points and 8.8 rebounds while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and a career-best 81.9 percent from the free-throw line. He'll immediately beef up the Laker frontcourt and makes them a serious contender. Currently, the Bodog Sportsbook has the Lakers at 7/1 to win the 2007-08 NBA Championship.
For tonight's contest, the Lakers are 7.5-point road favorites in Jersey. The total is currently set at 209 points and it should be noted that bettors can wager up-to-the-minute on this game, courtesy of Bodog Live.