Celtics and Pistons clash in Beantown
Basketball Betting Lines
03/15/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics hope to bounce back from a tough loss in
Cleveland on Sunday when they welcome Eastern Conference also-ran Detroit to
Beantown.
In a possible playoff preview the C's came up short against the Cavs when
LeBron James ended with 30 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to lead
Cleveland to a convincing 104-93 victory over Boston at Quicken Loans Arena.
Ray Allen led the Celtics with 20 points, while Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett
each netted 18 for the Celtics, who have lost three of four following a four-
game winning streak. Rajon Rondo had 16 points, eight boards and six helpers
in the setback.
"We couldn't get over the hump," Garnett said. "We fell back, we felt like we
were right there, but we couldn't turn that corner."
The Pistons continue to play out the string and are coming off a 112-99 loss
to Atlanta in Dixie on Saturday. Joe Johnson finished with 26 points in that
one, as the Hawks used an efficient offensive performance to take the win.
Jason Maxiell had 19 points and 12 boards for the Pistons, who are virtually
assured of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2000-01. Will Bynum,
who had a career-best 20 assists vs. the Wizards last Friday, ended with 16
points and seven assists.
Richard Hamilton scored 18 points, but Detroit had just 12 points in the first
quarter and never caught up.
"I think that's what hurt us," Pistons head coach John Kuester said. "I
thought we were trying, but we were not taking care of the basketball, and
they were making us pay on that in the first half."
Bynum is in the starting lineup for Rodney Stuckey, who missed his fourth
straight game after collapsing on the bench during a loss in Cleveland on
March 5. Extensive cardiac tests last Wednesday provided some good news for
Stuckey, who is averaging a career-best 17.1 points per game. He has been
allowed to resume exercising but there is no timetable for his return to the
floor.
Meanwhile, rookie forward Jonas Jerebko injured his shoulder against the Hawks
and is questionable for tonight's contest.
These team teams have split a pair of meetings in Auburn Hills so far this
season.
<< Sixers, Knicks meet in Philly
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Third place in the Atlantic Division is on the line tonight
in Philadelphia.
Of course, third place doesn't mean all that much if you are entering the
contest at 23-43 like the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.
Ne
<< Streelman carries 3-shot lead into final round
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Streelman finished off an
eight-under 64 in the third round Monday to carry a three-shot lead into the
final round of the rain-delayed Puerto Rico Open.
Streelman made five birdies in
<< Playoff-hopeful Flames, Red Wings square off in key battle
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The last time the Flames took on the Red Wings, they walked
away with two points and the eighth spot in the Western Conference.
Calgary will hope for similar results tonight at Pengrowth Saddledome versus
Detroit, which wi
<< Blue Jackets host Oilers in meeting of disappointing clubs
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With both clubs headed towards disappointing finishes to
the 2009-10 season, the Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets face each
other for the final time this year tonight at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus made the postsea
<< Devils hope to get on track versus Bruins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Devils learned last time out that they can't take any
opponent lightly. New Jersey will keep that in mind tonight when it shoots for
a third straight win against Boston, while the Bruins try to avoid losing
their grip on
Jazz return home to face hapless Wizards >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Utah Jazz hope a return to Salt Lake City against a
hapless Washington team will get them back on the winning track as the
postseason approaches.
The short-handed Jazz dropped the final two games of a four-game road tr
Fading Hornets resume road trip vs. Clippers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The fading New Orleans Hornets resume a five-game road trip
at Staples Center tonight hoping for their 13th straight win over the Los
Angeles Clippers.
The Hornets dropped the opener of their trek in Phoenix last night whe
Lakers shoot for another season sweep of Warriors >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pacific Division foes square off for the last time this
season on Monday when the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers head up
the California coast to take on the Golden State Warriors.
The Lakers - Warriors rivalry h
Nuggets press on without Karl; meet Rockets >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Denver Nuggets continue their push toward the
postseason without head coach George Karl tonight against a desperate Houston
Rockets team.
The Nuggets have played without Karl, who is undergoing radiation and
chemother
Rachel Alexandra absence does not affect Zenyatta >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The hoped for meeting next month at
Oaklawn Park between 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra and champion mare
Zenyatta has been put on hold.
Rachel Alexandra's majority owner Jess Jackson an
“You play to win the game!”
Those are the words of notoriously intense head coach Herman Edwards. Unfortunately, from a bettors’ perspective, most coaches don’t feel that way about the NFL preseason. August is a time to evaluate young players, finalize the depth chart and pray your star players stay healthy.
The trick to making money during the exhibition schedule is identifying coaches – like Edwards – who can’t stand losing even when there's nothing on the line.
The New York Jets betting won 15 of 21 preseason games and went 14-7 against the spread (ATS) during Edwards’s five-year tenure with the club. In his first season as the Kansas City Chiefs field boss, the team improved from 0-4 to 2-2.
Identifying win-a-holics like Edwards is a good start if you plan betting the preseason – even though most say you shouldn’t ... but what the hell do they know anyway?
Here’s a brief rundown of two teams that have a habit of winning during the second-stringers’ season, and another club that has a good chance of exceeding this year.
New York Giants betting lines
Playing in the media hub of North America can be stressful but the press can’t write anything negative about the way Tom Coughlin’s boys play in the preseason. The Giants won and covered all four games last summer, improving their record to 7-1 both straight up (SU) and against the spread over the last two years.
Coughlin has shown he’s not afraid to give his starters more time in the second preseason game than most of his colleagues, no doubt one of the reasons his team has been so dominant.
Dallas Cowboys betting lines
Bettors can count on America’s team early on. The Cowboys are 14-6 both SU and ATS since 2002 in warm-up contests. Former coach Bill Parcells, the coach of the team the last four years, has an intimidating, in-your-face presence – surely a reason Dallas has had so much early success.
The Big Tuna won’t be strolling the sidelines with looks of disgust, but new coach Wade Phillips will be anxious to make a good first impression for owner Jerry Jones.
Dallas plays the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos before things get serious. They then face the Houston Texans in their third contest (the game starters see most game time) and finish off with the Minnesota Vikings.
Expect a Dallas team able to walk away with another 3-1 preseason record.
Oakland Raiders betting lines
This team scored a league-worst 12 offensive touchdowns last season, so the rookies and veterans each have something to prove. There’s a bounty of first-unit jobs up for grabs and plenty of bodies competing for those slots.
First-time head coach Lane Kiffin will be eager to impress an owner who employs the philosophy, “Just win, baby!”
The 32-year-old Kiffin has to command respect from a locker room full of players older than him. All of these factors should lead to purpose in preseason.
Don’t forget: before playing like a team that belonged in NFL Europe, Oakland went 4-1 (both SU and ATS) in exhibition games.
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