Mavericks And Lakers Can Improve Betting Odds With Parker Hurt

Kobe Bryant's Lakers are heating up heading towards the playoffs.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks have fallen so far behind the San Antonio Spurs in the race for home court advantage in the Western Conference, that many experts have already penciled in the Spurs for the best record out West. That was until Tony Parker was injured.

Parker is expected to miss two to four weeks with a sore calf muscle. San Antonio has had no significant injuries this season so far and it has helped them build a cushion for the best record in the league.

With Parker out, the Spurs have given life to the Mavericks and Lakers. Dallas is the team closest to San Antonio, six games back, and the two-time defending NBA champion Lakers are eight back.

Los Angeles has come out of the gates on fire after the All-Star break. The Lakers have won four straight games to start the second half, and Los Angeles will be getting Matt Barnes back within the next two weeks.

Many analysts have predicted that the Lakers are getting too old and that they will have trouble in the Western Conference this post-season. Kobe Bryant and company have disputed those claims, and are starting to play like champions once again.

San Antonio used a spectacular first half to all but lock up home court advantage. The Spurs, however, also are getting up there in age, and any significant injury could derail their chances of being the first team in four years to defeat L.A. in the Western Conference playoffs.