8/29/20 Best Bet: Handicapping is not strictly numbers and statistics. Sure, those are very important but not the be all, end all. In today’s resumption of the playoffs after the strike, I’m on Portland. This is strictly a qualitative handicap. Yes, the Lakers are better. Yes, once they decided to focus, they’ve killed the Blazers. But, with what has transpired the last week, I do not believe the Lakers catalyst, Lebron James, is going to be focused here. He’s been busy talking with Obama about social justice and protests. The Lakers, as a team, voted to end the season. They were ready to walk away. Combine all this with the fact that the Lakers are up 3-1 and this is not a must win. AND you’re gonna give me 13.5 with a Blazers team where Dame Lillard can go off at any team. Portland +13.5 tonight.