Bucks host Celtics in possible playoff preview
Basketball Betting Lines
04/10/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics efforts to lock down the third seed in
the Eastern Conference took a big hit last night. Things don't figure to get
any easier for Doc Rivers' club, which invades Brew City to take on the
Milwaukee Bucks in a possible first round playoff preview.
The C's suffered a hiccup at the worst time on Friday when Andray Blatche
poured in 31 points and came down with 11 rebounds as the hapless Wizards
snapped a six-game skid against Boston with a 106-96 triumph at TD Garden.
The loss left the Celtics a game behind Atlanta for third place in the East
with just three games left for each team. The Hawks beat Toronto, 107-101, on
Friday and Atlanta also holds the tiebreaker over Boston by virtue of sweeping
the season series.
"They scored every time and you know honestly I thought we had decent shots,
just nothing went in," Rivers said. "And I thought we kind of hung our heads a
little bit. I told our guys I really took the blame for this loss. I gave our
guys yesterday off and shoot-around off today. I forbade anybody from going to
the gym today because we need our rest. And I thought it really killed our
rhythm."
The Celtics were a woeful 12-of-40 from the field in the first half and fell
behind 52-31 at the break. They never recovered even though a pair of Nate
Robinson three-pointers late made it a six-point game.
Rajon Rondo ended with 17 points and 12 assists, while Robinson scored 13 for
Boston, which lost for the fifth time in seven games.
The Bucks, meanwhile, won their fourth straight game in Philadelphia last
night when Carlos Delfino hit five three-pointers on his way to 23 points, as
Milwaukee held on to top the 76ers, 95-90.
Luke Ridnour shot 8-of-12 and had 18 points for the Bucks, who now hold sole
possession of the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference. They were tied with
Miami, but the Heat lost to Detroit on Friday to fall a game behind.
Brandon Jennings added 16 points, seven assists and a career-high five steals
while John Salmons played just 24 minutes and scored seven points while
battling the flu.
"We've just talked about winning as many as we can and getting as high a seed
as we can," said Bucks head coach Scott Skiles. "That's what we're trying to
do."
These two teams have split a pair of meetings so far this season with each
holding serve on its home floor. They will also close the regular season next
Wednesday in Boston.
<< Grizzlies host struggling Sixers
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two teams headed for the NBA Draft Lottery face off in
Memphis Saturday when the Grizzlies host the Philadelphia 76ers.
Memphis snapped a three-game skid last night and played the spoiler, topping
playoff-bound San Antonio
<< Nets and Pacers collide in Indy
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of teams hoping to finish the NBA season strongly
meet in Indianapolis Saturday when the New Jersey Nets visit the Pacers.
Indiana has been playing much better recently and won its third straight game
over the LeBro
<< Bobcats and Pistons tangle in Charlotte
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Charlotte Bobcats continue their march to the
postseason Saturday when they welcome the Detroit Pistons to Time Warner Cable
Arena.
Two days after clinching the first postseason berth in franchise history the
Bobcats
<< Hawks hope to snap road skid in Washington
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third seed in the Eastern Conference is still up for
grabs and the Atlanta Hawks seized control of it on Friday. Tonight, the Hawks
hope to move closer to securing that goal when they visit the hapless
Washington Wizards.
<< Sabres visit Senators in battle of playoff teams
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of playoff teams will meet tonight in Canada's
capital city as the Ottawa Senators host the rival Buffalo Sabres at
Scotiabank Place.
The Northeast Division champion Sabres have secured at least the third seed in
t
Mavs jockey for playoff position in Sacramento >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Fresh off clinching the Southwest Division title, the
Dallas Mavericks get back to work on securing the Western Conference's second
seed in Sacramento tonight.
Dirk Nowitzki scored 23 of his 40 points in the second half on
Warriors visit Clippers in Pacific Division tilt >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A few nights after becoming the all-time winningest coach
in NBA history, Don Nelson will guide his Golden State Warriors into Hollywood
tonight for a showdown with the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center.
The Warriors
Nuggets host Spurs in key Western Conference matchup >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets hope to inch closer to a Northwest
Division title and the second seed in the Western Conference tonight when they
welcome the playoff-bound San Antonio Spurs to the Rocky Mountains.
The Nuggets are comin
Host Lightning open home-and-home set with Panthers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Though they are going to miss the playoffs for a third
straight season, at least one player on the Lightning has something to play
for over the regular season's final weekend.
Steven Stamkos will try to stay in the hunt fo
Habs hope to punch postseason ticket against rival Maple Leafs >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Montreal Canadiens aren't playing like a team bound for
the playoffs. That's because after their last performance, they aren't yet.
The Canadiens will try to fix that tonight at the Bell Centre in a meeting
with the To
Pacific-10 Conference odds
Teams that should be in: Stanford
 Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.
Should be in:
Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.
| Southeastern Conference odds |
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State
 It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.
Work left to do:
Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.
Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.
Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.
Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile. |
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