James shines for Cavs in Game 1 win over Bulls
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04/17/2010 -
Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - LeBron James scored 24 points and got plenty
of help in a well-rounded opening performance, as the Cleveland Cavaliers
began their quest for an NBA Championship with a 96-83 win over Chicago in
Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
James added six rebounds, five assists and four blocks and was buoyed by
double-double outings from Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison. Williams scored 19
points and handed out 10 assists, while Jamison grabbed 10 boards and recorded
15 points.
Shaquille O'Neal checked in with a dozen points and Anderson Varejao posted a
game-high 15 rebounds and added eight points for the Cavs, who were the NBA's
best team during the regular season at 61-21. Cleveland was even better at
home, going 35-6 at Quicken Loans Arena.
The Cavs had the league's best record entering last year's playoffs as well,
but tasted bitter defeat in a six-game series loss to Orlando in the
conference finals.
Derrick Rose had 28 points and 10 assists but accounted for seven turnovers.
Luol Deng made just 5-of-15 attempts from the field to finish behind Rose with
12 points for the eighth-seeded Bulls, who ended the regular season on a
three-game winning streak to narrowly beat out Toronto for the final Eastern
Conference playoff berth.
As a seven seed last year, Chicago took the then-defending champion Celtics to
a Game 7 in the first round before falling.
<< Seattle, Fucito stun Kansas City with late goal
Seattle, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Fucito scored his first MLS goal in the
92nd minute and Kasey Keller made a great save seconds later, leading Seattle
Sounders FC to a 1-0 win Saturday over the Kansas City Wizards at Qwest Field.
Fuci
<< Burnett, A-Rod lead Yankees over Rangers
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A.J. Burnett struck out seven in seven
shutout innings, and Alex Rodriguez hit his first home run of the season in a
7-3 Yankees win over Texas.
Rodriguez finished 2-for-4 and passed Mark McGwire
<< Saunders impressive in Angels' win over Blue Jays
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Joe Saunders threw eight solid innings and
Howie Kendrick went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, as the Angels downed
Toronto, 6-3, in the middle installment of a three-game series.
Saunders (1-2) allo
<< Hernandez tosses first shutout since 2004 in Nats' win over Brewers
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Livan Hernandez was spectacular on the
mound, allowing just four hits en route to his first shutout since 2004, as
the Washington Nationals dominated the Milwaukee Brewers, 8-0, in the middle
install
<< Bruins rally in third to top Sabres, even series
Buffalo, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Michael Ryder and Zdeno Chara scored two
minutes apart early in the third period to put Boston ahead, and the Bruins
held on to beat the Buffalo Sabres, 5-3, in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference
quarter
Marseille maintains five-point lead in Ligue 1 >>
Boulogne, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Taye Taiwo converted a penalty kick in
stoppage time, and Marseille edged Boulogne 2-1 at Stade de la Liberation on
Saturday to maintain a five-point lead in France's Ligue 1.
Mathieu Valbuena scored
Exhi gallops to victory in Lexington Stakes >>
Lexington, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Exhi, ridden by Robby Albarado, led every
step of the way in winning Saturday's $300,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.
The three-year-old colt covered the 1 1/16-miles in 1:44.38 on Keeneland's
synthet
Furyk tops crowded Heritage leaderboard >>
Hilton Head Island, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seeking his second victory in a
month, Jim Furyk birdied the 18th hole Saturday to shoot a four-under 67 and
take a one-shot lead at the Heritage.
Fresh off a missed cut at last week's Masters, Furyk
Zvonareva, Stosur to vie for Charleston title >>
Charleston, SC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Russian Vera Zvonareva gained a spot
in the final with top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki retiring due to a sprained
ankle and Aussie Samantha Stosur defeated Slovakian Daniela Hantuchova in the
semifin
Houston rolls to 3-0 win over Chivas USA >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Geoff Cameron, Lovel Palmer and Dominic Oduro
scored, and Pat Onstad posted his first shutout of the season, as the Houston
Dynamo defeated Chivas USA 3-0 on Saturday at Robertson Stadium.
Cameron and Palmer
Problem with Bears?
Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.
"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."
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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.
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Elite 8 NCAA Tournament Betting at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com
In what should be an outstanding Saturday of March Madness betting action, the top four teams in the South and West Regions square off in what should be extremely close match-ups. Three of the four teams are coming off extremely close games on Thursday evening, only UCLA won semi comfortably over Pitt 64-55.
Ohio State is coming off their second game in a row where in all reality they should have lost. Of course that doesn’t matter now since the name of the game is “survive and advance” but as the tournament continues, they can’t afford to keep getting down to their opponents early. Kansas also avoided a scare by holding off a scrappy Southern Illinois squad. In the third thrilling game of the evening Memphis pulled off the minor upset (+3.5) despite being the higher seed to Texas A&M.
Although the spreads are fairly small for Saturday’s games, MySportsbook.com continue to bet against the underdogs. Despite OSU’s two scares, 86% of the “betting public” feels the Buckeyes (-1.5) have what it takes to make the Final Four. In fact, so much of the early money is on OSU that the line has already moved from -1 to -1.5. In the second game of the doubleheader, Kansas and their high-powered offense are 2 point favorites as they take on UCLA and their effective defense. About 63% of the early money thus far is once again backing the favorites. If those percentages stay that high, don’t be surprised if this line moves as well. If you like Kansas (-2) you might want to jump on it early.
Memphis vs. Ohio State
Both squads were involved in thrillers on Thursday evening and should come out fired up. OSU can ill afford to get behind early like they did versus their previous two opponents (Xavier, Tennessee). Greg Oden needs to stay out of foul trouble; the Buckeyes are a completely different team when he is on the court. Memphis definitely has the athleticism and length to match-up with OSU. Of Memphis’ five leading minute earners, the shortest of the bunch is 6’5”. Each team has a very effective defense; Memphis surrenders 62.3 PPG whereas the Buckeyes give up only 61 PPG. With those type of numbers, it isn’t surprising that Memphis covered the UNDER almost 69% of the time this season. As a favorite, OSU has covered the UNDER almost 66% of the time over the last three seasons. The major concern for Memphis which is magnifies this time of the year is their brutal foul shooting (62%). This season, OSU is 17-11 ATS versus teams with a winning record and 7-2 ATS in all tournament games. Memphis has been an extremely reliable cover in tournament play in recent years with a 23-8 ATS record over the last three seasons.
UCLA vs. Kansas
In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, UCLA will play in a role which they are very unfamiliar with that of the underdog. Only twice this season have they been getting points from the handicappers and both times they covered. Over the last three seasons UCLA is a reliable 23-7 ATS in this unfamiliar role. UCLA has not fared well against Big 12 opponents recently going 1-7 ATS since 1997. Giving up only 59.6 PPG, UCLA will definitely look to do what they do best: keep this game as low scoring as possible. Their defense has been especially tough during the tournament. UCLA opponents have been able to muster up only 48.7 PPG while shooting a combined 34.5% from the field. UCLA definitely has a challenge at hand with a Kansas team that is capable of putting points on the board in bunches. As a team, they average 79 PPG and shoot an impressive 49.6% from the field and 39.4% from beyond the arc. During the tournament Kansas has been “lights out” from the field having shot 56.2%.
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 MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”. By doing so, you have the best chance of predicting a possible line change, thus getting the best value for your wager.
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