U.S. set to kick off Worlds
Basketball Betting Lines
08/26/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The United States National Team will kick off the 2010 FIBA
World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey on Saturday when they take on Croatia
in Group B play.
Team USA, which is led by defending NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant of
the Oklahoma City Thunder, along with veterans Chauncey Billups of the Denver Nuggets and Lamar Odom of the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers, is attempting
to avenge the team's bronze medal performance during the 2006 Worlds in Japan.
Piloted by Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski, this group probably has
the least amount of star power since the professionals started playing for USA
Basketball in the early 1990s. Most of the NBA superstars who restored order in
the hoops world back at the 2008 Beijing Olympics took a pass this time around.
The "Redeem Team," featuring Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo
Anthony, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Chris Bosh all helped bring back the
gold medal to the United States for the first time since 2000 in China but
decided against an encore performance, forcing USA Basketball chairman Jerry
Colangelo, along with Krzyzewski and his assistants, Jim Boeheim, Mike
D'Antoni, Nate McMillan and Jay Triano, to cobble together what can best be
described as an NBA B-team.
The only true superstar in the bunch is Durant but that didn't stop Team USA,
from finishing its preparation for the Worlds undefeated after a 87-59 rout
over a highly-regarded but shorthanded Greece team in Athens on Wednesday.
The Americans also topped France, Lithuania and Spain in the Global Community
Cup during their prep for the Worlds.
"Coach K" has been starting Durant along with Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala,
and either Odom or Dallas' Tyson Chandler in the frontcourt depending on the
opposition's size. Billups and Chicago's Derrick Rose handle the backcourt.
Depth, however, is what differentiates the U.S. from the rest of the world and
Krzyzewski's bench is made up of Warriors sharp-shooter Stephen Curry, Indiana
scorer Danny Granger and rising stars Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City,
Kevin Love of Minnesota and Eric Gordon of the Clippers, along with swingman
Rudy Gay of Memphis. Boston point guard Rajon Rondo was the final player left
off the roster when he withdrew on Tuesday.
"I think this group is really a good group," Krzyzewski said in New York
earlier this month. "I can tell you intangible-wise it's off the charts with
attitude, team, hard work, 'I'll do anything', all that. That's a good place
to start."
Gordon was the star against Greece, coming off the bench to lead the U.S. with
18 points and shooting 4-of-7 from 3-point range as the second-ranked American
men closed out the pre-FIBA exhibition schedule with a perfect 4-0 mark.
"We're getting more comfortable, since that first game against France," Durant
said. "It's starting to get easier playing with everybody. Everybody's coming
out and playing hard. I think that's the best thing about it."
"The thing we need to do is understand that we're a group that's just coming
together so we have to improve game by game," Chandler added. "We are
competing against ourselves. We want to the best that we can be in this short
period of time we are together."
Twenty-four teams will compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship, divided
into four preliminary round groups consisting of six teams each. The United
States was drawn into Group B back in December with Brazil, Croatia, Iran,
Slovenia and Tunisia.
The U.S. has never faced Croatia in World Championship play, but is 3-0
against the club in Olympic action. Led by Roko Ukic, a former NBA player with
Toronto and Milwaukee, and Ante Tomic, Croatia is currently ranked 15th in the
world by FIBA. The country won a bronze medal at the 1994 FIBA World
Championship but dropped off until a bit of a comeback at the 2008 Olympics
and EuroBasket 2009 with sixth-place finishes in both.
Team USA will follow its bout with Croatia by facing its second European
team in as many days on Aug. 29 when it meets Slovenia, a team it defeated
114-95 in 2006 World Championship preliminary play.
Slovenia, ranked 20th in the world, is without a few key players like
Sacramento's Beno Udrih, who decided to quit the team because of lack of
playing time, and Erazem Lorbek. Despite the setbacks, Slovenia has enough
talent with Goran Dragic and Bostjan Nachbar to make them a threat in the
tournament.
FIBA Americas Zone champion Brazil will then challenge the U.S. on Aug. 30.
The USA-Brazil World Championship series stands at 6-5 in favor of the United
States, with the two teams last meeting in the 1998 World Championship.
This version of the Brazilians, led by Toronto's Leandro Barbosa, Cleveland's
Anderson Varejao, San Antonio's Tiago Splitter along with new coach Ruben
Magnano, should be the United States' toughest test in Group B but is only
ranked 14th in the world by FIBA.
Following a day off on Aug. 31, the USA resumes play Sept. 1 against Asia Zone
champ Iran, a team it has not faced previously in World Championship play,
then closes out preliminary play with a contest versus Tunisia on Sept. 2,
another team that the Americans have not met in World Championship action.
Led by head coach Veselin Matic, who previously had coached the Polish
national team, Iran saw great success immediately by defending its FIBA Asia
Championship title last year. Memphis' Hamed Haddadi, the first Iranian to
play in the NBA, headlines the club.
Tunisia, meanwhile, will be participating in the World Championships for the
first time after earning a berth with a bronze medal performance in the 2009
FIBA Africa Championship. Star guard Amine Rzig can fill it up from outside
but Tunisia lacks depth and defensive skills.
The real competition for the Americans figures to come later in the tournament
against teams like Argentina, Spain and a healthier Greece team.
The Argentines are ranked No. 1 in the world by FIBA and feature Houston Rockets power forward Luis Scola, Milwaukee swingman Carlos Delfino and
Philadelphia forward Andres Nocioni. The real star, San Antonio swingman Manu
Ginobili, is not participating, however and the Sixers have advised Nocioni to
withdraw due to an injured left ankle.
Even without Ginobili and the possible absence of Nocioni, Argentina figures
to have one of the most balanced and fundamentally sound teams in Turkey, but
may not have the go-to-guy down the stretch to build on its recent success that
has included a silver at the 2002 FIBA World Championships, gold at the 2004
Olympics and bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games.
Spain, the defending world champion, is also toiling without its biggest name,
Lakers power forward Pau Gasol. Pau's brother, Marc of the Memphis Grizzlies,
highly-touted Minnesota draft pick Ricky Rubio and Portland sharp-shooter Rudy
Fernandez are on hand, however, as the team hopes to build on its silver medal
performance at the 2008 Olympics.
Greece, meanwhile, figures to be much tougher with Sofoklis 'Baby Shaq'
Schortsanitas, who was injured during warm-ups before Wednesday's exhibition
game against the U.S., and Yiannis Bourousis back in the lineup.
"Greece did not have its two big guys (Schortsanitas and Bourousis) inside,
but for us it was good to play another international game against a great
country, a good atmosphere, and it just gives us more experience," Krzyzewski
said after that win. "We're happy that we got a chance to play everyone and I
think they played all their healthy players. The score is insignificant really
because they didn't have their complete team against us."
Held every four years, the FIBA World Championship is considered international
basketball's crown jewel event. The U.S. has had mixed results in World
Championship play. The same players that won the gold in Beijing, minus Bryant,
were only able to take home a bronze in the 2006 World Championship, and the
U.S. hasn't won a gold since 1994 in Toronto, when Shaquille O'Neal was in his
prime and dominating for the Americans.
All told, the USA has compiled an overall 105-27 win-loss record in the World
Championships and won 10 medals - three gold medals (1954, 1986 and 1994),
three silver medals (1950, 1959 and 1982) and four bronze medals (1974, 1990,
1998 and 2006).
The winner of the 2010 FIBA World Championship automatically earns a berth in
the 2012 London Olympics.
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MySportsbook.com : Fortune Favors Favorites in March Madness betting?
Just like Day 1 of the “Sweet 16”, Friday’s games are chock full of some of the nation’s elite. Unlike Thursday’s games, there is a little bit more of a “Cinderella” feel as #7 seed UNLV and #6 seed Vanderbilt will attempt to move on to the Elite Eight. With powerhouses Florida, UNC and Georgetown looking to continue their momentum against lesser known teams, it isn’t surprising that once again the “betting public” is backing most of the favorites. As the early coin rolls in, 56% of Sportsbook.com bettors prefer Georgetown (-7.5) as they take on Vanderbilt; 84% of the early money is backing Oregon (-3) as they square off against UNLV; and a slight majority (52%) of the early cash is on Florida (-10.5) against Butler as the Gators continue their quest for another National Title. The only favorite the public don’t seem confident in is UNC, as 59% of the cash is backing the underdog Trojans (+8).
Midwest
#1 Florida vs. #5 Butler
The defending National Champs have been on a mission since last April. Joakim Noah and Al Horford turned down millions of dollars for one reason, to REPEAT. After a late season hiccup which saw them lose three out of four, the Gators have won six straight by an average of 20.3 points. More importantly, they covered in five of those six games. Behind their stymie defense that yields only 56.9 PPG, Butler has been a very pleasant surprise this season. As their 20-11 ATS record will indicate, “surprise teams” like Butler are often good bets for gamblers. Playing in an average conference, Butler wasn’t and underdog too often but when they were, they covered (6-0 ATS). Butler’s defense will have its hands full against a Gators offense which averages 80.1 PPG on an amazing 52.9% shooting from the field. With Florida’s tournament experience over the last few years, it isn’t surprising that they are 5-1 ATS this season, 20-4 ATS over the last three seasons and 38-20 since 1997 in tournament action.
#3 Oregon vs. #7 UNLV
As a #7 seed, UNLV is the closest thing to a “Cinderella” we have this year. If you bet on UNLV this season with any regularity, you most likely cashed in. Behind their guard oriented attack, the Rebels are an impressive 20-11 ATS this season. As an underdog they covered in 8 out of their ten games which isn’t surprising since they are 52-30 ATS as a ‘dog since 1997. The Rebels have been a consistent cover during the month of March as well. This March they are 6-0 ATS, 11-3 ATS over the last three seasons and 24-11 since 1997. Their impressive ATS trends don’t end there; versus teams with a winning record they are 15-6 ATS this season and 41-21 over the last three seasons. Although Oregon hasn’t been as generous to gamblers as UNLV this season, they have been covering consistently as of late. There is no question that they are playing their best ball of the season having won their last 8 straight up (SU) by an average of 14.5 points. Not surprising they covered in 7 of those games. It is interesting to note how similar these teams are in regards to scoring and scoring defense. UNLV averages 75 PPG while giving up 66.5 PPG and Oregon scores 75.8 PPG while yielding 65.5 PPG.
East
#6 Vanderbilt vs. #2 Georgetown
“Hoya Paranoia” is officially back! After a decent start, Georgetown has rolled through the second half of the season. Over their last 18 games, they are 17-1 SU. They have definitely improved ATS as the season has progressed as well. After opening the season 1-4-1 ATS, the Hoyas have covered 78.3% of their games. With their great interior play of Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert, the Hoyas as a team shoot 50.5% from the field. Like the Georgetown teams from years ago, they also excel on defense. Hoya opponents averaged only 56.8 PPG on 38.2% shooting from the field and an extremely low 30.4% from beyond the arc. The last stat could be of some concern to Vanderbilt considering they shoot 37.7% from long-range. Ranking second to last in the SEC in rebounding margin, Vanderbilt will have its work cut out for them against the Hoya trees. As far as covering is concerned, Vanderbilt has been almost a “sure thing” (7-1 ATS) versus good defensive teams that allow less than 64 PPG.
#1 UNC vs. # 5 USC
The Tar Heels are as talented and as deep as any team in the country. Going ten deep and chock full of HS All-Americans, UNC averages 86.1 PPG and scored 100+ seven times. Led by All-American forward, Tyler Hansbrough (18.6 PPG 7.9 RPG) UNC has a very balanced attack which can kill you on the inside as well as on the perimeter. UNC only real concern is their youth as eight of their rotation players are either sophomores or freshmen. UNC was a reliable cover this season going 20-13 ATS. An intriguing covering trend for the Tar Heels in recent years has been how they fared after non-conference games. This season they are 11-3 ATS after non-conference games and over the last three seasons they are 31-13 ATS. USC is also a pretty deep team which is loaded with swingman types. An match-up to keep an eye on will be freshman forward Taj Gibson (12.1 PPG, 8.6 RPG) as he squares off against the AA Hansbrough. USC has been a covering machine this season achieving a 21-10 record ATS. They have thrived in the underdog role, having covered 10 out of 12. When playing a team with a winning record, the Trojans are an incredible 20-6 ATS. Keep in mind, USC dedicated their season to former star to Ryan Francis who passed away before the season so as they get closer to the ultimate goal, emotion could definitely be on their side.
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 this sportsbook “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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Bonds nearly hits HR 751, SF wins
4 and drove in
a pair of runs, and Barry Bonds nearly hit homer No. 751 as San Francisco beat
1, in the middle contest of three at AT&T Park.
6) allowed five hits and one run over 6 2/3 innings, fanning
eight and walking three.
game slide.
Bonds, who came within five homers of Hank Aaron's record on Friday, went
1 with three walks, an RBI double and scored twice. The double ...
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