Bobcats make a stop in Houston
Basketball Betting Lines
04/09/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fresh off securing the first playoff berth in franchise
history, the Charlotte Bobcats get back to work in south Texas when they face
off with the Houston Rockets.
D.J. Augustin made a key three-pointer with 15.8 seconds left on Wednesday, as
the Bobcats clinched the postseason spot with a 104-103 victory over the New Orleans Hornets.
Augustin ended with 14 points for the Bobcats, who sit seventh in the Eastern
Conference and will be heading to the playoffs for the first time due to their
win and Toronto's loss to Boston. The Bobcats entered the league as an
expansion team during the 2004-05 season.
Stephen Jackson donated 29 points while Tyson Chandler chipped in 16 points
and 10 boards for Charlotte, which came into Wednesday with an 0-5 all-time
mark in the Big Easy.
"I'm happy for our fans. I'm happy for our franchise. I'm a coach. I always
say celebrate the wins because the losses hurt," Bobcats head coach Larry
Brown said. "I'm happy with the accomplishment, but a little angry with what
went on in that second half."
The Rockets, meanwhile, are the only NBA team playing above .500 basketball
that won't be making a trip to the playoffs but Rick Adelman's team played the
role of spoiler in its most recent outing against Utah on Wednesday.
Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks each scored 28 points in that one to lead
Houston past the playoff-contending Jazz, 113-96, at Toyota Center.
The Jazz entered the game in the second spot in the Western Conference and
tumbled all the way to fifth.
"You know they're playing for something at this time of year, and I think that
just shows the character of this team," Martin said. "We're out of the
playoffs and we come out here and scrap. So that's definitely a positive thing
for us."
In addition to Martin and Brooks, Luis Scola helped Houston take the win by
posting 24 points. Charles Hayes had 18 rebounds for the Rockets, who have won
two in a row.
The victory also made Adelman the 11th coach in NBA history to record 900
career wins.
"I've been fortunate, I've had four [coaching] situations and three of them
were great situations," Adelman said. "Sometimes you get fortunate in that
way. It's either that or you get really old and you're coaching a long time,
and I'm probably both. I'm glad to see it with our guys this year because
we've been struggling so much."
The Bobcats topped the Rockets in Charlotte earlier this season and will be
shooting for the home-and-home sweep of the series for the first time since
2004-05.
<< Bulls resume playoff push in New Jersey vs. lowly Nets
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Bulls are still alive for the final postseason
spot in the Eastern Conference and will hit the road for two straight games
starting with Friday's bout against the New Jersey Nets at the IZOD Center.
Chicago is
<< Hawks host Raptors in key Eastern Conference matchup
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third seed in the Eastern Conference is still up for
grabs and the Atlanta Hawks are in the running for it. Tonight the Hawks will
try to move closer to that goal when they shoot for an 11th straight win at
home versus th
<< Celtics jockey for playoff position against Wizards
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics are fighting for the third spot in the
Eastern Conference and will try to continue their recent dominance of the
Washington Wizards tonight from TD Garden.
Boston, which is tied with Atlanta for the thir
<< Cavs and Pacers clash at the "Q"
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It's understandable that the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers
would rest some of their players before the postseason begins next weekend,
but it's important to establish some sort of rhythm entering the playoffs.
Cleveland w
<< Heat shoot for 10th straight win; face Pistons
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat have been beating up on the also-rans of the
NBA during their nine-game winning streak and will try to stay on track
tonight against the lowly Detroit Pistons at AmericanAirlines Arena.
The Heat have beaten
Ginobili, Spurs welcome Grizzlies to Alamo City >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Star swingman Manu Ginobili got his new contract and he now
hopes to help his San Antonio Spurs free themselves of a log-jam in the
Western Conference playoff standings tonight when the Memphis Grizzlies visit
the Ala
Thunder host Suns at Ford Center >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of Western Conference contenders jockey for playoff
position in Oklahoma City tonight, when the Thunder host the streaking Phoenix
Suns.
The scorching Suns have won 11 of 12 and are now deadlocked with Dallas fo
Reds play host to Cubs in series opener >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of teams coming off their first victories of the
season clash tonight when the Chicago Cubs visit the Cincinnati Reds in the
opener of a three-game series between National League Central foes at Great
American Ball Par
LA tries again for West's top seed in tilt with Wolves >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Lakers need just one win in their final
four games to secure the top seed in the Western Conference. A matchup with
the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves tonight in the Twin Cities could be just the
tonic
Wells hopes to keep swinging hot bat in Jays battle with O's >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Vernon Wells has showed that when healthy, he is still an
offensive threat. Wells will try to homer in four straight games for the first
time in seven seasons this afternoon when the Toronto Blue Jays visit
Baltimore for the
MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South
In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South. Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC. The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game. For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft. Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.
1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign? New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1. Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT. Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.
Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami
2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season. With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round. LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems. If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.
Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU
3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season. The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach. The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub. High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career. With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson.
Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season. The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age. It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot. This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.
Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas
It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season. On the clock: the NFC North
Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2
Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1
Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1
To visit this sportsbook get to MySportsbook.com for all your online sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.
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