Blazers invade LA to take on Clippers
Basketball Betting Lines
04/07/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Portland Trail Blazers hope to improve on their playoff
position in the Western Conference tonight when they invade Hollywood to take
on the lowly Los Angeles Clippers.
The Blazers won for the fifth time in six tries on Saturday when Brandon Roy
tallied game-highs of 24 points and six assists, as Portland topped
Sacramento, 98-87, at ARCO Arena.
Andre Miller put in 23 points, while Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge
scored 21 apiece for the Trail Blazers, who had already clinched a postseason
spot earlier last week and helped solidify the Western Conference playoff
picture with the win.
The triumph, coupled with Oklahoma City's win earlier that same night, dropped
Memphis from the race for the final spot, which was clinched by San Antonio.
Portland is now eighth in the conference but just a game behind both Oklahoma
City and San Antonio.
"We found the open man, that was big. There weren't a lot of forced shots,"
Roy said. "We're going to need our bench to get going if we want to make a run
in the playoffs."
The Clippers, meanwhile, dropped their fifth in a row on Sunday when David Lee
had 29 points and Al Harrington scored 26 to lead the Knicks to their first
win in Los Angeles against the Clippers in over 12 years, 113-107.
Baron Davis recorded 23 points and 11 assists and Chris Kaman posted 22 points
and 16 rebounds for Los Angeles, which has dropped 15 of 17 overall. Eric
Gordon and Drew Gooden each scored 17 in defeat.
"We hurt ourselves by not defending their bigs, we also hurt ourselves at the
free throw line," said Clippers coach Kim Hughes.
Portland center Marcus Camby, who pulled down 15 rebounds at Sacramento, will
be facing his former team tonight for the first time since the Feb. 16 trade
that sent him to the pacific northwest for guard Steve Blake and forward
Travis Outlaw.
The Blazers have won five of their past six games with the Clippers, including
two of three this season.
<< Blackhawks aim to extend win streak in clash with Blues
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Central Division champion Chicago Blackhawks will aim
for a fifth straight victory when they host the St. Louis Blues tonight at
United Center.
The Blackhawks clinched their first division title since 1992-93 on Sunday
<< Playoff-bound Avs visit Oilers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Now that they are headed back to the playoffs, the Colorado
Avalanche will try to build some momentum in the final week of the regular
season.
The Avalanche will also complete their road schedule tonight when they visit
t
<< Suns host Spurs in the desert
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Western Conference contenders jockey for playoff
position in the desert Wednesday as the Phoenix Suns host the San Antonio
Spurs.
Phoenix lost for the first time in three weeks on Saturday in Milwaukee wh
<< Red Wings begin home-and-home set with Blue Jackets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With a playoff spot secured, the Detroit Red Wings will
focus on positioning when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at Joe
Louis Arena in the opener of a home-and-home series.
The well-rested Red Wings haven't pl
<< Rangers try to keep playoff hopes alive versus Maple Leafs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With time running out in their quest for a playoff spot,
the New York Rangers will try to bounce back from a poor performance when they
host the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers were pounde
Seattle Seahawks 2010 Draft Preview (Revised) >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pete Carroll's draft strategy will be laid bare twice in
the first 14 picks, as Seattle picked up an extra first-round pick thanks to a
2009 draft-day deal that helped Denver select cornerback Alphonso Smith in the
second-rou
Mavs, Grizzlies clash in Big D >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Dallas Mavericks hope to salvage the finale of a three-
game homestand and inch closer to the Southwest Division crown tonight when
they host the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Mavs are coming off a tough 121-116 loss to Ok
Coyotes try to clinch home-ice against Preds >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bankruptcy and ownership issues left many wondering how
long hockey would be around in Phoenix. A victory Wednesday night and the
playoffs will begin with a game at Jobing.com Arena.
The Coyotes will try to lock up the Wes
Bobcats eye playoff spot in New Orleans >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Charlotte Bobcats are on the verge of a couple of
firsts in franchise history. The team can inch even closer to its initial
postseason berth tonight by securing its first ever win in the Big Easy when
they ta
Jazz pay a visit to Rockets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Utah Jazz get back to work on improving their playoff
position in a crowded Western Conference race when they visit south Texas to
take on the Houston Rockets.
The Jazz are coming off a thrilling 140-139 overti
The NFL preseason is approaching. Time for players, coaches and teams to turn over a new leaf. General managers have hired some new coaches, while coaches have added some offensive and defensive assistants to try and improve things. Here’s a look at some changes to look for in the preseason.
New York Jets: The Jets were one of the surprise teams in the NFL last season, making the playoffs under hard-driving first-year coach Eric Mangini. Mangini rebuilt the offensive line with rookies D'Brickashaw Ferguson (the No. 4 pick in the 2007 Draft) and Ohio State center (the 29th pick in the first round). This season he upgraded the defense with rookie linebacker David Harris (Michigan) while the secondary picked up a much needed top-notch corner in Pitt CB Darrelle Revis (No. 14 overall).
The Jets have added balance to the offense for QB Chad Pennington with RB Thomas Jones, essentially stolen from the Bears. He will upgrade a New York ground game that was 20th in rushing with a weak 3.5 yards per carry. They have their first true feature back since Curtis Martin. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer prefers ball control, like his father Marty. In preseason, behind Pennington you’ll see second-year QB Kellen Clemens and mobile newcomer QB Marques Tuiasosopo.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The heat is on Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville as the Jaguars flopped last season despite a ton of talent. Keep in mind that under Del Rio the Jaguars have been outstanding in preseason with a 12-4 SU, 11-5 ATS August mark. online football betting Their defense is loaded, it’s the offense that has been stuck in first gear the last few years.
Enter a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter, the former Boise State and Arizona State pass-happy coach. He will try and upgrade a passing game that ranked 24th last season. Del Rio has criticized wide receivers and Matt Jones this summer, both of whom have battled injuries. It will be interesting to watch the “new” Jaguars passing game in preseason.
Arizona Cardinals: Word out of Arizona is that the players like new coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was the Steelers offensive coordinator last year. We think of Arizona as all-passing because their running game has been awful of late because of a poor offensive line. However, keep an eye on the running game in preseason as they’ve made a lot of changes.
The new coach brings in Russ Grimm to coach the offensive line (Grimm did a marvelous job building the Steelers line). They took Penn State OT Levi Jones in the first round and signed two offensive linemen, Mike Gandy and Al Johnson, to provide depth. Reggie Wells was moved from right tackle to left guard and they want more speed out of the offensive line for pulling and traps, a Pittsburgh staple under Bill Cowher.
Atlanta Falcons: While all the attention has been focused on QB Mike Vick’s off-field problems, new coach Bobby Petrino is revamping the Falcons from an all-running team to a more balanced one. Petrino likes the experience of backup QB Joey Harrington and he has veteran backup Chris Redman, who used to play for Petrino at Louisville and knows his offenses better than anyone. Petrino wants Vick to be more of a pocket passer.
The addition of FB Ovie Mughelli is a sign Petrino wants a power rushing attack behind a physical fullback and newcomer WR Joe Horn should upgrade what was a below average wideout corps. Petrino is changing their old zone-blocking scheme to a more traditional in-line blocking scheme and the offensive line is bigger. Rookie DE Jamaal Anderson was grabbed in the first round and the secondary got younger with former Auburn cornerback David Irons, who the Falcons think was a steal as a sixth-round pick.
Cleveland Browns: The 2007 Browns look like a double-edged sword. There was the excitement of the offseason, trading for RB Jamel Lewis, upgrading the offensive line with Wisconsin’s Joe Thomas (the No. 2 pick in the draft) and free agent LG Eric Steinbach, then trading for Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn when he fell to No. 22. GM Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel feel they have a talented, balanced offense with these new pieces, plus TE >Kellen Winslow and WR Braylon Edwards.
However, were these moves made in desperation? And were they foolish ones? The Browns gave up their 2008 first-round pick for Quinn and we all know QBs take time to develop. And even first-round QBs can be busts (Joey Harrington, Akili Smith). We also don’t know if the offensive line is that much improved (31st in rushing in 2007) and they did nothing to improve a defense that was awful against the run (142 yds pg allowed).
The Browns have a new offensive coordinator in Rob Chudzinski. This is a young offense and Quinn looked tentative, indecisive and inaccurate early in camp. Crennel will play Charlie Frye, Quinn and Derek Anderson in preseason. And there is a mixed bag for rookie QBs receiving significant starts: Tim Couch (14), Kerry Collins (13), Ben Roethlisberger (13), Vince Young (13), Joey Harrington (12), Matt Leinart (11) and Kyle Boller (nine). While all the focus will be on the Browns new-look offense, I’m more concerned with the defense.
Carolina Panthers: Coach Jon Fox loves the ground game, but Carolina has made some interesting changes for 2007. Fox fired offensive coordinator Dan Henning and brings in Jeff Davidson to run the offense. Davidson has brought in zone-blocking schemes to the Panther offense, a dramatic change for a system that's been built around a power-running style.
In zone-blocking, offensive linemen are responsible for blocking any defender who appears in their zone, instead of focusing on one defender. The Broncos and Falcons have had success with the system, which features smaller, more athletic offensive linemen and can create running lanes on the inside and outside. Keep an eye in preseason on how Carolina adjusts as it will take time to learn the system. Fox has been one of the top coaches in preseason, with a 15-5 SU, 12-7-1 ATS August record.
Dallas Cowboys: WR Terrell Owens is still here, but QB Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells are gone. New head coach Wade Phillips takes over, replacing Parcells. He ran the Chargers defense last season. Phillips was chosen by teary-eyed owner Jerry Jones partly because he is one of the best 3-4 coaches in football and the Cowboys have loaded up on players for that scheme.
Remember that Phillips was blitz-happy with the Chargers last season and early reports out of the Dallas camp have mentioned how the Cowboys have been blitzing a lot, a departure from Parcells. The theme of the 2007 Dallas defense appears to be one of attack.
MySportsbook is considered one of the finest football sportsbooks according to several surveys performed by independent industry analysts considering such factors as payout accuracy and timeliness, overall quality of website, and bettor satisfaction.
MySportsbook is a large company with strong financial backing. Considered the best sportsbook for betting football online You will find their customer service is second to none and their web site is extremely user friendly and easy-to-use. All major professional sports games are available. Once you signup with MySportsbook, you may never use another online sportsbook again.
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your nfl football betting needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.
Bet on NFL Football
Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.
Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.
Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.
All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.
A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.
2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1
Ron Brace (NE) 25/1
Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1
Darius Butler (NE) 40/1
Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1
Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1
Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1
Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1
Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1
Larry English (SD) 15/1
Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1
Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1
Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1
Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1
James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1
Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1
Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1
Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1
Roy Miller (TB) 20/1
Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1
Fili Moala (IND) 30/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1
Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1
B J Raji (GB) 7/1
Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1
Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1
David Verkune (CLE) 20/1
Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 6/1
NFL football gambling
To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.
|