Sports Betting Tips and Game Handicapping Picks » NBA All-Star Weekend

James and Stoudemire in Cleveland?

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:46:05 +0000

That could make the Cavs heavy favorites to win the title. If they are not already.

With the second half of the 2010 NBA basketball season underway, the Cleveland Cavaliers are coming in with the best record in the league at 43-11, riding a league – best 13-game winning streak heading to their date with the Denver Nuggets this Thursday.

With all kinds of momentum going for the Cleveland Cavaliers right now, it seems they are not satisfied just yet. Rumors are claiming that the Cavaliers are going after Amar’e Stoudemire. And if these guys manage to sign a talent like Stoudemire to complement the already formidable tandem of LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal, you can just imagine what the Cavs can accomplish from here.

If the Cavs do trade for Amar’e Stoudemire, that would be their fourth major trade in two years. Yep, you read it, their FOURTH ONE.

Why have they been trading a lot the last few years? Well, they want to keep LeBron James in Cleveland and surrounding the hottest commodity in the league right now with all kinds of talent that might give this team its first championship in franchise history has been their top priority ever since they drafted James out of high school.

According to the rumors, the deal is on the table but both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns haven’t finalized anything yet. Although there are reports claiming that the deal is very close to being done, there are reports that say neither side is certain what will happen.

It’s probably because the Cavaliers can’t offer the best talent package the Suns are looking for, the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76ers can. However, what the Cavs can offer is for the Suns to get below the luxury tax, a move that could save the cash – strapped franchise around $10 million.

It would mean salary and tax savings plus...

Watch Durant in the All-Star Game

Jeffdstuff — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:04:42 +0000

Because he might just steal the shot this Sunday.

With the Oklahoma City Thunder surprising a lot of people this 2010 NBA basketball season, their main man, that’s Kevin Durant, is being included in the discussion for MVP honors this year. You read it, he’s right up there this year with the LeBrons, Kobes and Dwyane Wades. So how special has this guy been? Can he really take the MVP away from the more established players in the league today?

Listed at 6-foot-9 but closer to 6-11 according to those who try to defend him, Kevin Durant is doing it all for his team this season. He leads his team in scoring, rebounding and minutes (39.9). He has improved defensively while also increasing his scoring average, third best in the NBA, by four points over last season and by nine over his rookie season. His field goal percentage is up to 48.1 percent, better than last season’s 47.6 and well above the 43.0 percent he shot two years ago.

But perhaps the most impressive stat is that the Oklahoma City Thunder is posting a winning record so far. So good in fact that if the playoffs started today, the Thunder could enjoy homecourt advantage in the first round of the postseason.

Opposing players know that it is Durant’s combination of height, frame and extraordinary wingspan that makes him so rare in the game and a nightmare to defend. ”His capability of taking the ball off the dribble is very 2-guard-like, and getting to the rim,” Lamar Odom said. ”And, of course, he can get his shot over anybody. His jump shot, his step-back, it’s something you don’t really see.”

The closest comparison most make of Durant to anyone who has come through the league is silky Spurs great George Gervin and a young Tracy McGrady. Long and lean, Gervin was just 6-7 and a spry 185 pounds during his 12-year career in the 1970s and ’80s. McGrady, the player Durant said he has patterned his game after since an early age, is 6-8.

The Mavs’ head coach Rick Carlisle compared Durant’s game somewhat to that of fellow Baltimore native Reggie Lewis, who, at 6-7, 195 pounds, played on one All-Star team in a six-year career with the Celtics.

”He’s a different kind of cat. He’s taller than...''

Ready for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game?

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:30:30 +0000

We know the starters, now it’s time to find out who got snubbed and who should be there in Dallas.

Every year, the NBA’s midseason extravaganza snubs a few players who fans feel should be in the league’s annual celebration of the brightest stars in the NBA. The 2010 NBA All-Star Game in Dallas is no different.

Let’s start with this one guy who probably got snubbed from the All-Star game this year because of a mug you can’t market ANYWHERE. And in case you didn’t get that, I’m referring to Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman.

This will be the second time the Los Angeles Clippers star got snubbed for the All-Star game. For a guy who looks like a child molester, Kaman is quickly becoming one of the brightest stars in Hollywood. The guy is averaging 20.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game. He is arguably having the best season of any traditional center in the West and that is why the Clippers, despite all their struggles, are still hanging on for a playoff spot.

Another guy who definitely should be in the All-Star game in Dallas is Chauncey Billups. Having the All-Star game this year without Mr. Big Shot is a travesty, to say the least. He is probably the best point guard in the Western Conference at this point of the season. Hell, he should be there starting for the West instead of Steve Nash in my opinion.

But probably because of the injury that forced him to miss eight games this season, Billups failed to get the fans’ and the coaches’ votes.

”I’m sure it played a role,” Billups said, who just recently broke his career high when he led the Denver Nuggets to a win over the Lakers in Los Angeles. ”We have the second-best record in the West. If I didn’t miss the eight games we could be vying for the best record, the first spot. If we had the best record in the league, it could be...''

Robinson returns to Slam Dunk contest

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:35:49 +0000

Because he thought defending slam dunk titles is under NBA rules.

Either that or Nate Robinson is just trying to get everybody’s attention and hype up the All-Star slam dunk contest because the annual event right smack in the middle of the 2010 NBA basketball season has already lost LeBron James

Yup, we won’t be seeing LeBron James after just almost a year ago, he referred to himself in the first, second and third person all at the same time, saying, ”Right now I’m preliminary putting my name in the 2010 contest Saturday night. LeBron James is saying in 2010, in Dallas Stadium, he will compete.”

As far as reigning champion Nate Robinson is concerned, WILL BE because, according to him, ”the champion has to go back.”

Nate Robinson said, ”The NBA, they asked me, ‘Do you want to do it?’ And at first I wasn’t sure. This is my fourth time doing it, so I know people probably get sick of seeing me dunk, but like I said, the champion’s got to go back.”

”And I guess, hopefully, I mean if I don’t win it, it’ll be good because I don’t want to go back no more. But if I do [win], and they want me to go back again, I guess so. Keep going until I lose.”

However, while Robinson believes the NBA is requiring him to defend his title, NBA spokesman Mark Broussard says otherwise. Broussard says the league is NOT requiring Robsinon to participate in the slam dunk contest for the 2010 NBA All-Star Weekend. In other words, they want LeBron and they’re sick and tired of Nate.

”He was asked to come back and defend his title, and he agreed to do so. There is not a rule saying he has to,” Broussard said.

The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement requires players to compete in All-Star Saturday events only if they have been selected as All-Stars, or chosen to compete in the Rookie-Sophomore Game.

Players voted in as All-Stars by the fans...

What’s next for Iverson and Memphis?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:16:58 +0000

Uh oh, heeere we go again.

After all kinds of hoopla concerning Iverson’s move from Detroit to Memphis this 2009 NBA basketball season, A.I. Found out that he’s still coming off the bench, the very thing that led to his divorce with the Pitsons.

You read it, Allen Iverson, at least for the first weeks of the season, is still relegated to a bench warmer after refusing to come off the bench last season for Detroit and as far as A.I. is concerned, he ain’t happy.

According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Allen Iverson voiced out his displeasure with his nonstarting role with the Memphis Grizzlies, saying that he’s ”not a sixth man.” Iverson also said, ”I had no problems [with the hamstring]. I had a problem with my butt sitting on that bench for so long.”

”I’m not a bench player. I’m not a sixth man,” he continued. ”Look at my resume and that’ll show I’m not a sixth man. I don’t think it has anything to do with me being selfish. It’s just who I am. I don’t want to change what gave me all the success that I’ve had since I’ve been in this league. I’m not a sixth man. And that’s that.”

Haven’t we heard that when he was playing for the Detroit Pistons last year?

Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins has made it clear that Iverson is STILL coming off the bench, no matter how much the player complains about being utilized as a reserve. And since the team owner is backing up the head coach, Iverson better get on with the program or the Grizzlies will send him packing too.

”Lionel will handle it,” Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley said...

Can the LA Lakers win the title again?

Jeffdstuff — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:06:13 +0000

That's if Gasol can return in time for the Lakers.

In case you didn’t know, the 2009 NBA basketball season is here. And since we already have the NFL season underway and the MLB playoffs starting to heat up, it’s certainly nice to be a sports fan at this time of the year.

And as far as the NBA season is concerned, the Los Angeles Lakers will try to defend Kobe’s first ever title without Shaq, hoping that last June’s successful run to the title will be the first of successive championship seasons. After all, teams coached by Phil Jackson are known to win titles by threes. But do they have enough this season to win it all again?

With the departure of Trevor Ariza, mercurial stalwart Ron Artest should quickly fill that hole. At this point of his career, Artest just wants to win a title so hopefully, he won’t be a distraction to this Lakers team like he once was with the last few teams that he played for.

Back to back titles would virtually be a wrap if the Lakers could get steadier production from big guys Andrew Bynum and Josh Powell. The team’s Jekyll and Hyde play is still a concern but as long as Kobe Bryant keeps this team together, they will still be in the position to win a world title.

If there’s one team that can challenge the Lakers this season, it would have to be the very team they played in the conference finals last season, the Denver Nuggets. After acquiring a true floor leader in Chauncey Billups, the Nuggets tied their franchise record of 54 regular season victories back in the 2008-09.

Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony will continue to stand out, so it’s up to their big men Kenyon Martin, Nene and Chris Andersen to come through again if the team hopes to duplicate their Western Conference Finals stint and finally take the next step towards playing for the NBA championship.

Also looking for better things this year are...

Gilbert Arenas could play in the remainder of the NBA Regular Season

NBA Blogger B — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:35:35 +0000

Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards, who has been sidelined from the start of the 2008 – 2009 NBA Regular Season has been practicing full time with the team after getting knee surgery in the summer.

The participation time of Gilbert Arenas with the Washington Wizards was kept under the radar up until Gilbert Arenas himself put the news out earlier this week when he was interviewed.

“I’m out there feeling like the old Gilbert Arenas again.” Gilbert Arenas said “I’m running, jumping, dunking, feeling good. No pain, no swelling, My balance is back, my speed is back. The only thing I have to get used to again is being around other bodies out there on the court. I’m working on getting timing back. The only thing I’m not doing is playing in games.”

Washington Wizard team spokesman Scott Hall confirmed that Gilbert Arenas has already began practice sessions with the Washington Wizards last week, after the NBA All Star weekend Gilbert Arenas has progressively increased his practice hours ever since. Washington Wizards interim coach Ed Tapscott also said early this week that Gilbert Arenas had already started to have some shooting and some running up and down the court during practice sessions.

Gilbert Arenas has been...

NBA All-Star 09 starts with Rookies

Jeffdstuff — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:40:57 +0000

The NBA All-Star Weekend is here.

Since we have arguably, one of the best batches of rookies ever to hit the NBA this season, it is only fitting to have the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge to kick off the 2009 NBA All-Star Weekend.

This is when this year’s rookies face-off with the sophomores in their version of the All-Star game to culminate the midseason festivities. Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, the first overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, the reigning T-Mobile Rookie of the Year, banner this year’s 2009 NBA T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam.

Forward Jeff Green joins Kevin Durant on the Sophomore team, which also includes Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford, Los Angeles Clippers forward Al Thornton, Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young, New York Knicks forward Wilson Chandler, Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey and a pair of teammates from the Houston Rockets, guard Aaron Brooks and forward Luis Scola.

Joining Derrick Rose on the Rookie team are two sets of teammates, guard O.J. Mayo and center Marc Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies and center Greg Oden and guard Rudy Fernandez from the Portland Trail Blazers. Oklahoma Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon, Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley and New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez round out the Rookie team.

In last year’s T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson earned Most Valuable Player honors, making 11 three-pointers en route to a game-high 33 points, as the Sophomores cruised to a 136-109 victory.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay added 22 points and Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar tallied 17 points and...

NBA Basketball Betting Preview for the 2009 NBA All Star Game

NBA Blogger B — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:02:07 +0000

The 2009 NBA All Star Game which will be held at the US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona is just a few days away. The 2009 All Star Game would be yet another basketball gambling delight as this would feature the NBA’s top basketball players of the year with the exception of players that were left out of the fray.

Kobe Bryant would be appearing in his 11^th All Star Game and is a favourite to win this year’s NBA All Star game MVP award. With the way the Los Angeles Lakers are playing it would not be a surprise if Kobe Bryant goes home with the award.

On the other end of the court would be Kevin Garnett who would be playing in his 12^th NBA All Game, yet would not be a favourite to win the MVP award. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers is the reigning All Star MVP and is next in line on the polls to take the award.

Notable NBA Players are...

The 2009 NBA All-Star Game is Set

Jeffdstuff — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 08:58:20 +0000

The representatives for both the Eastern and Western Conference were finally determined.

With the 2009 NBA All-Star Game only a few more days away, we finally learned who among the league’s top players will be representing the two conferences for the mid-season classic.

And since this year’s All-Star game will be in Phoenix, let’s start with the two guys who’ll be representing the host city on February 15, Suns forward Amare Stoudemire, who was voted in as a starter, and Suns center Shaquille O’Neal, voted in as a reserve by NBA coaches.

You read it, Shaquille O’Neal is back in the All-Star game, moving past NBA greats such as Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Jerry West to land in second place in the all-time All-Star appearances made by an NBA player. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was selected 19 times, still leads everybody.

The 2009 NBA Western Conference All-Stars will be led by reigning NBA MVP Kobe Bryant. He will be joined by New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul in the West’s starting backcourt.

Rounding up the Western starters are Tim Duncan and Yao Ming, joining Stoudemire in the frontcourt.

Joining Shaq as a reserve for the 2009 NBA Western Conference All-Stars include Dirk Nowitzki, Pau Gasol, Chauncey Billups, Tony Parker, Brandon Roy and David West. The Western Conference will be coached by the Lakers’ Zen Master Phil Jackson.

For the 2009 NBA Eastern Conference All-Stars, defending NBA champions Boston Celtics will have two representatives with Kevin Garnett starting at the...