NBA's brightest to shine in Las Vegas
Basketball Betting Lines
02/18/2007 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NBA's best take center stage on Sunday, as the
Western Conference and Eastern Conference clash in the 56th annual All-Star
Game at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
In the 2006 annual event, Dwyane Wade's follow shot in the lane with 16.6
seconds remaining rallied the East past the West, 122-120, at the Toyota
Center. LeBron James had 29 points and six rebounds for the East and at 21-
years-old was named the youngest MVP in the history of the contest. Wade ended
with 20 points for the East, which rallied from a 21-point third-quarter
deficit to win the contest for a second straight year.
The East has won six of the last 10 All-Star contests overall.
Miami's Shaquille O'Neal, Cleveland's James and Toronto's Chris Bosh
makeup the starting frontcourt for the Eastern Conference, while Wade of the
Heat and Washington's Gilbert Arenas combine to give the East a strong
starting backcourt.
Shaq is a 14-time NBA All-Star and has been selected to the All-
Star Game 12 times by the fans (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000,
2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007). However, this will be just the 11th game
that he has played in. The monstrous center did not play in the contest in
1997, 2001 or 2002.
James, who was the 2003-04 NBA Rookie of the Year, will be playing in his
third NBA All-Star Game, while Bosh is participating in his second. Wade, who
was the MVP of the 2006 NBA Finals, and Arenas are both appearing in their
third contest. Arenas and Bosh are both in the starting lineup for the first
time in their careers.
The bench for the Eastern Conference is filled with plenty of talent.
Detroit's dynamic backcourt of Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton headline
the reserves for the East. The Pistons All-Star duo has earned their way into
the contest for the second time in their careers in as many years. They are
joined by Atlanta's Joe Johnson, Orlando's Dwight Howard, Caron Butler of
the Wizards, New Jersey's Vince Carter and Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal, who was
voted in as a starter for last year's contest but did not play because of a
groin injury.
Butler, Howard and Johnson are all making their All-Star debuts, while Carter
has been selected to his eighth All-Star team and Jermaine O'Neal has earned
his way on to his sixth squad, including 2006.
New Jersey guard Jason Kidd was originally named as a reserve to the East
squad, However, Kidd is sidelined with a back injury and will not play in the
contest. He would have played in his eighth All-Star Game (1996, 1998,
2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007), The versatile Kidd has been voted
as a starter three times (1996, 2000, 2001) and as a reserve five times.
Washington's Eddie Jordan is the head coach for the Eastern Conference All-
Stars. Jordan is in his fourth season with Washington. He has guided
the Wizards to two straight playoff appearances.
The Western Conference is feeling the injury bug for this year's contest, and
will try to halt a two-game losing streak. The starting frontcourt for the
West was supposed to consist of Houston center Yao Ming and forwards Tim
Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs and Kevin Garnett of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tracy McGrady of the Rockets and the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, who
won the MVP of this contest in 2002 at Philadelphia, makeup a very athletic
backcourt.
Yao, who leads the Rockets in scoring (25.9 ppg) and rebounding (9.4 rpg),
suffered a non displaced fracture in a bone under his right knee during a
98-93 loss on December 23rd to the Los Angeles Clippers. The 7-6 Yao, who had
been in the starting lineup four straight years for the West, is expected to
be sidelined at least until early March and will not participate in the mid-
season classic.
Duncan, who shared MVP honors with Shaq in the 2000 contest in Oakland, is
making his ninth All-Star appearance, while Garnett will play in his 10th
All-Star Game and was the MVP in the 2003 contest in Atlanta. McGrady
will take the court for his seventh All-Star contest, sixth as a starter,
and Bryant, who won the MVP of the 2002 contest, is making his ninth
straight All-Star appearance, all as a starter.
Two-time reigning NBA MVP Steve Nash of the Suns, Denver's Allen Iverson and
Carlos Boozer of the Jazz were all supposed to be reserves for the West.
However, the three All-Stars are all dealing with injuries. Nash has right
shoulder inflammation, Iverson is hampered by a sprained right ankle and
Boozer, who would have made his All-Star debut, has a hairline fracture in
left fibula.
Boozer is averaging team-highs in points (22.1 ppg) and rebounds (11.8 rpg)
for the Jazz, while Nash, who would have played in his fifth All-Star contest,
leads the league in assists (11.8 apg) and Iverson, who was acquired by Denver
from Philadelphia in a blockbuster deal on December 19th, is averaging 28.7
points and 7.6 assists in 35 games for Sixers and Nuggets. Iverson has won the
MVP twice (2001, 2005) for this event and had played the previous seven All-
Star contests for the East, all as a starter.
The healthy bodies on the bench for the Western Conference are very
versatile and athletic. The frontcourt has Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki and Josh
Howard, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire of the Suns, and Utah's Mehmet
Okur.
Seven-time All-Star Ray Allen of Seattle and Tony Parker of the Spurs are
the backups for Bryant and McGrady. Allen, who made the East squad
three times as a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, is playing in his fourth
consecutive All-Star Game as a member of the Sonics, while Parker is
playing in his second-career mid-season classic in as many years.
Anthony, who served a 15-game suspension earlier this season for his
participation in the infamous brawl with the New York Knicks on December 16th
at Madison Square Garden. Josh Howard and Okur will both be appearing in
their first All-Star Game, while Nowitzki will play in his sixth, Marion his
fourth and Stoudemire in his second.
Phoenix' Mike D'Antoni, who makes his All-Star coaching debut, will be calling
the shots from the West bench. D'Antoni has led the Suns to back-to-back
Pacific Division titles and two straight appearances in the Western
Conference finals. He was named the 2004-05 NBA Coach of the Year.
The starters for tonight's contest were determined by the fans' votes, while
the 30 head coaches in the NBA voted for the reserves in their
respective conferences after the starting players for each squad were
finalized.
Head coaches for the East and West All-Star teams are based on teams with the
best winning-percentage in each conference following the games on February
4th. Dallas Mavericks head coach Avery Johnson and Detroit Pistons head coach
Flip Saunders were not eligible to coach in this seasons contest because they
coached in last year's game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
This could be Wade's year to grab MVP honors. Wade can do it all and has
proved many times that he is capable of taking over a game single-handidly.
The defending world champions All-Star guard showed what he is capable of
against Dallas in the 2006 NBA Finals and will be ready to showcase his
talents on a different stage.
Stoudemire is definitely back and looks like the dominant force he used to
be. The 6-10 Stoudemire, who averaged 26.0 points and 8.9 rebounds during
his first All-Star season in the 2004-05 campaign, played just three
games last season because of a serious knee injury. He underwent
successful left knee microfracture surgery in October 2005 and had a tough
road back to the court. The Suns star forward wants his peers and all of
the NBA fans to see first hand how he can dominate against anyone who gets in
his way.
NOTABLE
This is the first time the mid-season classic will be played in Las Vegas.
Anthony, Bosh, James and Wade are all members of the 2003 NBA Draft Class.
James was selected first by Cleveland, Anthony third by Denver, Bosh went No.
4 to Toronto and the Heat grabbed Wade with the fifth overall pick.
Allen, Anthony, Josh Howard and Okur were the four replacements for Boozer,
Iverson, Nash and Yao on the Western Conference roster.
Johnson replaced the injured Kidd on the East squad.
Duncan (U.S. Virgin Islands), Nowitzki (Germany), Okur (Turkey), and
Parker (France) are the four international players who will participate in
this year's contest. The 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 NBA All-Star Games all had
a record-tying six international players on the respective rosters.
<< Ilonen takes the title in Indonesia
Jakarta, Indonesia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Despite a bogey on the final hole,
Finland's Mikko Ilonen shot a one-under 70 on Sunday to earn his first
European Tour victory at the Indonesia Open. He finished at nine-under-par 275
and won by a single s
<< Sterling wins Jacob's Creek Open
Lockleys, Australia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Unheralded American Scott Sterling only
managed a one-under 71 on Sunday, but it was enough to collect his first
Nationwide Tour victory at the Jacob's Creek Open Championship.
Sterling got to t
<< Perry scores in shootout to lift Ducks over Kings
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Corey Perry scored in the fifth-round of
the shootout to lift Anaheim past Los Angeles, 3-2, in the opener of a home-
and-home set at the Staples Center.
Teemu Selanne had a goal and an assist while
<< Flames burn Avalanche
Calgary, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kristian Huselius had a pair of goals and added
an assist to lead the Calgary Flames to a 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche
in the second of three meetings between the teams in a six-day span.
Jarome Iginla
<< Cal beats Oregon State in double-OT
Corvallis, OR (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ashley Walker scored 18 points to lead 22nd-
ranked California to a 67-61 double-overtime win over Oregon State.
Walker hit two free throws, right after Devanei Hampton's layup gave Oregon
State the lead
Buckeyes on the road to take on Golden Gophers >>
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The nation's second-ranked team has
traveled to Minneapolis, as the Minnesota Golden Gophers host the mighty
Ohio State Buckeyes in Big Ten Conference action.
Ohio State owns its highest
Trojans seek clean sweep in the desert >>
Tempe, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Winless in Pac-10 Conference play so far
this season, the Arizona State Sun Devils try to cure their ills
tonight as they face the 22nd-ranked USC at Wells-Fargo Arena in Tempe.
Not
Stars host Sharks in important Pacific clash >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two Pacific Division powers will collide this afternoon at
the American Airlines Center, where the Dallas Stars host a San Jose Sharks
club looking to stop a two-game losing streak.
San Jose currently resides in sec
Wounded Rangers look to regroup against Blackhawks >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - One day after suffering a devastating home loss, the New
York Rangers will try to rebound when the Chicago Blackhawks enter Madison
Square Garden for a Sunday matinee.
New York's fading playoff hopes took a seriou
Young stars face off as red-hot Penguins entertain Caps >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NHL's two brightest young stars will go head-to-head as
Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals attempt to cool down Sidney
Crosby's scorching Pittsburgh Penguins in an intriguing matinee from Mellon
Arena.
MySportsbook.com : Fortune Favors Favorites in March Madness betting?
Just like Day 1 of the “Sweet 16”, Friday’s games are chock full of some of the nation’s elite. Unlike Thursday’s games, there is a little bit more of a “Cinderella” feel as #7 seed UNLV and #6 seed Vanderbilt will attempt to move on to the Elite Eight. With powerhouses Florida, UNC and Georgetown looking to continue their momentum against lesser known teams, it isn’t surprising that once again the “betting public” is backing most of the favorites. As the early coin rolls in, 56% of Sportsbook.com bettors prefer Georgetown (-7.5) as they take on Vanderbilt; 84% of the early money is backing Oregon (-3) as they square off against UNLV; and a slight majority (52%) of the early cash is on Florida (-10.5) against Butler as the Gators continue their quest for another National Title. The only favorite the public don’t seem confident in is UNC, as 59% of the cash is backing the underdog Trojans (+8).
Midwest
#1 Florida vs. #5 Butler
The defending National Champs have been on a mission since last April. Joakim Noah and Al Horford turned down millions of dollars for one reason, to REPEAT. After a late season hiccup which saw them lose three out of four, the Gators have won six straight by an average of 20.3 points. More importantly, they covered in five of those six games. Behind their stymie defense that yields only 56.9 PPG, Butler has been a very pleasant surprise this season. As their 20-11 ATS record will indicate, “surprise teams” like Butler are often good bets for gamblers. Playing in an average conference, Butler wasn’t and underdog too often but when they were, they covered (6-0 ATS). Butler’s defense will have its hands full against a Gators offense which averages 80.1 PPG on an amazing 52.9% shooting from the field. With Florida’s tournament experience over the last few years, it isn’t surprising that they are 5-1 ATS this season, 20-4 ATS over the last three seasons and 38-20 since 1997 in tournament action.
#3 Oregon vs. #7 UNLV
As a #7 seed, UNLV is the closest thing to a “Cinderella” we have this year. If you bet on UNLV this season with any regularity, you most likely cashed in. Behind their guard oriented attack, the Rebels are an impressive 20-11 ATS this season. As an underdog they covered in 8 out of their ten games which isn’t surprising since they are 52-30 ATS as a ‘dog since 1997. The Rebels have been a consistent cover during the month of March as well. This March they are 6-0 ATS, 11-3 ATS over the last three seasons and 24-11 since 1997. Their impressive ATS trends don’t end there; versus teams with a winning record they are 15-6 ATS this season and 41-21 over the last three seasons. Although Oregon hasn’t been as generous to gamblers as UNLV this season, they have been covering consistently as of late. There is no question that they are playing their best ball of the season having won their last 8 straight up (SU) by an average of 14.5 points. Not surprising they covered in 7 of those games. It is interesting to note how similar these teams are in regards to scoring and scoring defense. UNLV averages 75 PPG while giving up 66.5 PPG and Oregon scores 75.8 PPG while yielding 65.5 PPG.
East
#6 Vanderbilt vs. #2 Georgetown
“Hoya Paranoia” is officially back! After a decent start, Georgetown has rolled through the second half of the season. Over their last 18 games, they are 17-1 SU. They have definitely improved ATS as the season has progressed as well. After opening the season 1-4-1 ATS, the Hoyas have covered 78.3% of their games. With their great interior play of Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert, the Hoyas as a team shoot 50.5% from the field. Like the Georgetown teams from years ago, they also excel on defense. Hoya opponents averaged only 56.8 PPG on 38.2% shooting from the field and an extremely low 30.4% from beyond the arc. The last stat could be of some concern to Vanderbilt considering they shoot 37.7% from long-range. Ranking second to last in the SEC in rebounding margin, Vanderbilt will have its work cut out for them against the Hoya trees. As far as covering is concerned, Vanderbilt has been almost a “sure thing” (7-1 ATS) versus good defensive teams that allow less than 64 PPG.
#1 UNC vs. # 5 USC
The Tar Heels are as talented and as deep as any team in the country. Going ten deep and chock full of HS All-Americans, UNC averages 86.1 PPG and scored 100+ seven times. Led by All-American forward, Tyler Hansbrough (18.6 PPG 7.9 RPG) UNC has a very balanced attack which can kill you on the inside as well as on the perimeter. UNC only real concern is their youth as eight of their rotation players are either sophomores or freshmen. UNC was a reliable cover this season going 20-13 ATS. An intriguing covering trend for the Tar Heels in recent years has been how they fared after non-conference games. This season they are 11-3 ATS after non-conference games and over the last three seasons they are 31-13 ATS. USC is also a pretty deep team which is loaded with swingman types. An match-up to keep an eye on will be freshman forward Taj Gibson (12.1 PPG, 8.6 RPG) as he squares off against the AA Hansbrough. USC has been a covering machine this season achieving a 21-10 record ATS. They have thrived in the underdog role, having covered 10 out of 12. When playing a team with a winning record, the Trojans are an incredible 20-6 ATS. Keep in mind, USC dedicated their season to former star to Ryan Francis who passed away before the season so as they get closer to the ultimate goal, emotion could definitely be on their side.
With Friday -105 juice on Basketball betting, MySportsbook.com is the place to bet on all of the “March Madness” action. Don’t forget to monitor who the public is backing at this sportsbook “Betting Trends”. By doing so, you have the best chance of predicting a possible line change, thus getting the best value for your wager.
To bet on March Madness games this online sportsbook accepts credit cards
About MySportsbook.com MySportsbook.com is the largest sportsbook and casino on the planet, where millions of adult Americans bet on sports, play poker and enjoy blackjack and other casino games online in a regulated and licensed jurisdiction. Named the "Best US Sports Book" by the industry's top magazine, eGaming Review, MySportsbook.com has been leading the online gaming industry since 1996. Dwarfing its nearest competitors in the US, MySportsbook.com has been the first to achieve every significant industry milestone, from record turnover to active users to number of bets--achieving a peak of fifteen bets per second. As the US online gaming leader, the firm and it's products have been featured on CBS 60 Minutes, CNN, ESPN, Wall Street Journal, Barrons, Financial Times, USA Today and in every major newspaper in the US.
your source for online betting
As the web was just getting it's footing in the business world in 1997, My Sportsbook was breaking new
ground in the online sportsbook arena. Offering over 20 Las Vegas Games and backed by Sporting Bet UK,
the largest publicly traded Internet gaming company in the world today, My Sportsbook offers betting lines
on every major sporting event in the world, including Online MLB Baseball Betting. With a wide array of bonuses including a 10% Free Money bonus
to all new customers, My Sportsbook is a top online sportsbook, poker room, casino and racebook -- join today!For those that feel that a site like My Sportsbook is only a sportsbook we would like to introduce you to
a place where a single login allows you to not only bet on every major sporting event in the world but also
to bet on horses at over 90 different tracks or play at over 20 Las Vegas style table games in their top online
casino. My Sportsbook has won many awards for it's site design and ease of use as well as it's 24/7
customer support. Get all your gaming done in one spot - try My Sportsbook Today!
|
Bonds nearly hits HR 751, SF wins
4 and drove in
a pair of runs, and Barry Bonds nearly hit homer No. 751 as San Francisco beat
1, in the middle contest of three at AT&T Park.
6) allowed five hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings, fanning
eight and walking three.
game slide.
Bonds, who came within five homers of Hank Aaron's record on Friday, went
1 with three walks, an RBI double and scored twice. The double ...
read more
|
online sportsbook and casino
Since 2000, Best eCasino has maintained a 98.5% payout rate on all their more than 20 Las Vegas style games.
Each of their award winning games including, blackjack (and blackjack super 7s), Baccarat, Roulette and Craps are
available as either a downloadable program or as java programs that can be played directly within your browser. Don't
know how to play a certain game? Read the details and strategy here and start with their Play for Fun section which
allows you to practice a game before taking on the casino. Let's see any Vegas casino do that... Best eCasino doesn't stop there, they now offer horse wagering and sportsbook lines to round off all the online
gaming industry have to offer. They are consistently at the forefront of the industry with new innovations consistently
starting with their site. These guys are the entrepreneur's of the online gaming world and they set the standard for others
to follow. So bet with a leader that's backed by the largest online gaming company in the world with 24 hour customer support,
Best eCasino.
|
