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Free NBA Picks- (covers.com). nba hardwood handle.
Sometimes the NBA actually makes me physically ill.
The latest incident to warrant such a response from yours truly was the report that Pau
Gasol has demanded a trade from the Memphis Grizzlies.
Are you kidding me?
Let’s get this straight; you’re 26-years old, making $13.3 million this year and as much as
$17 million in 2010 but you’ve never led your team to a playoff win, let alone a
second-round appearance, and now you want out?
Disgraceful.
Worse yet, this is exactly what the Grizzlies don’t need right now. First of all, they are
young and impressionable and are already struggling along at 10-32 straight up and 18-24
ATS.
As well, they have already dealt with a near-sale of the club, a coaching change and now
this latest episode. I think it’s safe to say this won’t help their focus.
“Of course it`s a distraction,” interim coach Tony Barone Jr. told the Memphis Commercial
Appeal. “It`s tough on Pau. It`s tough on the players. It`s tough on the franchise. It`s
tough on Memphis.”
But as with anything there may be a silver lining for bettors.
That’s because there is really no way for oddsmakers to factor a loss of morale into the
odds. All they can do is to make adjustments to their ratings and power rankings and those
aren’t usually felt for a couple of days.
Given that, there should be some value going against the Griz for the next little while.
Mile High hesitation
It will be interesting to see how the books react to the "reunion" of Allen Iverson and
Carmelo Anthony in the Denver Nuggets lineup.
Sure, they looked good putting up a combined 51 points in Denver’s 115-98 win over Memphis
as a 5-point favorite Monday.
That was against the Grizzlies though, a team which is already one of the worst defensive
teams in the NBA and (as mentioned above) playing with about as much focus as a pack of
college students during rush week.
In fact, I think this computer monitor I’m staring at could’ve played better defense than
Rudy Gay on that backdoor alley-oop that Melo threw down at the end of the game.
But the alley-oop is all the public will see and you have to think they’ll be heavy on the
Nuggets for the immediate future because of this. What they didn’t notice, however, was the
apprehension the two players showed as they tried to figure out how to play with each
other.
With that in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them take a dip ATS in the coming weeks
as oddsmakers give them more points than they should and the team tries to find its form
with the two superstars in the lineup.
A stupid mistake
Every once in a while I get some inkling the New York Knicks have some value.
Well, the next time that thought crosses my mind could somebody please slap me upside the
head; my wallet will thank you kindly.
I honestly thought the Knicks were a sure thing going into Miami Monday to play the Heat as
a 1-point underdog. They had everything going for them: they were playing well, Dwyane Wade
and Shaquille O`Neal O`Neal were out, and Miami was coming off a disappointing loss on
Sunday.
But wouldn’t you know they go in there and absolutely stink it up, going down 27-0 to start
the game and eventually losing 101-83. You’d think Isiah would’ve stressed to his players
the opportunity they had before them before the game started. Guess not.
It also would have helped if they could play some defense too because you know you’re not a
very good team when Jason Kapono and Udonis Haslem light you up for a combined 41 points.
A sure-fire future
I wish they had a future bet for the 2010 NBA championships.
If they did, I’d snatch the Toronto Raptors up in a second.
This is not a lie. Imagine an NBA team that had both Kevin Garnett and Dirk Nowtizki in
their starting five; if you can’t then just wait a few years.
That’s because Chris Bosh is the next best thing to K.G. right now, averaging 21.6 points
and 11.1 rebounds, while first-overall pick Andrea Bargnani is showing an inside-outside
game that is better than anything Dirk showed in his rookie year.
And of course the trump card is team president Bryan Colangelo.
No matter where the Raps draft or what their contract situation is going into the offseason
you can bet Colangelo will unearth some star from some far corner of the globe.
But since they don’t offer this future, I guess I’ll just have to live with betting the
Raps on a day-to-day basis. And it’s not like that is a money-losing venture either with
Toronto posting a league-best 26-16 ATS record this season.
NBA PLAYOFFS- (associated press): shaq still questionable.
Miami Heat center Shaquille O’Neal is questionable again for tonight’s game against the
Indiana Pacers. O’Neal has missed the Heat’s last 35 games because of a knee injury.
Oddsmakers have listed the Heat as 3-point underdogs and the total is set at 192.
Miami interim coach Ron Rothstein said Friday that Shaq is day-to-day and could return at
any time.
Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade should return to the Heat lineup tonight. Wade missed Monday’s win
over the New York Knicks because of a sprained ankle, but is listed as probable for today’s
game.
NBA PLAYOFFS- (associated press): lakers odom ready for return.
Lamar Odom flew through the air, caught Jordan Farmar`s perfect lob pass and stuffed it
through the basket.
The play elicited no response because it occurred during a scrimmage Tuesday. But it was a
positive sign for the Los Angeles Lakers.
``He looked great, he looked really good. I didn`t know what to expect,`` Kobe Bryant said
following Odom`s first practice with the Lakers since he sprained a ligament in his right
knee Dec. 12.
Not only did Odom get through practice with no glitches, he said afterward he expects to
play Friday night when the Lakers return to action against the Charlotte Bobcats at Staples
Center.
``Right now, I have confidence in my body,`` he said. ``I tried to push it at 100 percent.
That`s what you have to do in games. I tried to wait until my leg was stable and strong. It
felt good to get back on the court.
Oddsmakers have yet to release a line for that contest.
``Hopefully I can practice a couple more days in a row and play Friday.``
Odom was off to one of the best starts in his eight-year NBA career at the time of his
injury, averaging 17.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists - numbers that might have meant
a berth in the All-Star game had the 6-foot-10 forward remained healthy.
Meanwhile, the news wasn`t nearly as good regarding Kwame Brown, who was unable to get
through his first practice since spraining his right ankle Dec. 31. The 6-11 Brown,
averaging 8.7 points and 6.6 rebounds, had said before Monday night`s 108-103 victory over
Golden State that he hoped to return Friday night as well. But that won`t happen.
``It`s a little sore,`` he said. ``I practiced a little bit today, I couldn`t really jump.
It flared up on me. I have to take a few steps back. We`ll see what happens with some rest,
let it calm down. We`ve been real aggressive with it this week.``
The Lakers (27-15) have performed surprisingly well despite the injuries, going 12-9 since
Odom got hurt and 7-4 with Odom and Brown sidelined.
``We`ve missed them tremendously,`` Bryant said. ``That`s why we`ve been inconsistent. That
being said, we`ve played really well.``
Lakers coach Phil Jackson said he`s optimistic concerning Odom, but added: ``It`s always
about how it`s going to be between now and tomorrow morning.``
Odom didn`t appear to have any problems regarding conditioning during Tuesday`s scrimmage.
``It still takes some time, your timing is off,`` he said.
Jackson said he hopes Brown will return to action during the Lakers` eight-game road trip
that begins next Tuesday night in New York.
``I would love to have him for the San Antonio (home) game on Sunday,`` Jackson said.
``That would be a big advance for our team.``
The coach said a realistic target date for Brown`s return might be Feb. 2 at Indiana,
meaning he`ll probably miss at least four more games.
``It`s pretty swollen,`` Brown said. ``I just can`t get my range of motion in it that I had
before. Until I get that, I can`t play.``
NBA PLAYOFFS- (associated press): marbury doubtful against ex team.
The New York Knicks could be without starting point guard Stephon Marbury on Wednesday
night when they host the Phoenix Suns.
Oddsmakers have the Suns listed as 9 1/2-point favorites.
Marbury was unable to finish either of the last two games because of soreness in his left
knee. He did little more than shoot at practice Tuesday and said he would wait another day
before making a decision.
``It`s just part of basketball, it`s something that you go through,`` Marbury said. ``I`ve
been in the league, this is my 11th year, you`re going to have things like this.
``I can deal with the pain, it`s just right now it`s just at the point where it`s just
really sore and it`s just aggravated right now.``
Marbury has scored 20 or more points in six of the last eight games, raising his average to
14.6 per game. He leads the Knicks (18-25) with 5.5 assists.
Coach Isiah Thomas said he would probably consider Marbury doubtful for Wednesday.
``You`re definitely concerned any time a player such as himself takes himself out of the
game because he`s a guy who`s known for playing pretty banged up and playing with a lot of
injuries,`` Thomas said. ``When he complains, you definitely listen a little louder because
he never really complains.``
Marbury has been playing through tendinitis for some time, but hasn`t missed a game this
season. He had to play heavy minutes while the Knicks were short-handed because of
suspensions stemming from last month`s brawl with Denver and the absence of Steve Francis,
and that may have taken a toll.
Marbury was forced to leave in the closing minutes of New York`s victory at Indiana on
Saturday, then was limited to a season-low 16 minutes Monday night at Miami.
If Marbury can`t play, Jamal Crawford would probably return to the starting lineup for the
Knicks, who are still without Francis because of tendinitis in his right knee.
Thomas said he would let the medical staff determine Marbury`s availability. And even
though chasing Steve Nash and the speedy Suns would be taxing on Marbury`s knee, Thomas
wants him to play if he can.
NBA PLAYOFFS- (covers.com): ats records as of 1/24/2007.
1. TOR
2. MIN
3. PHO
4. IND
5, LAL
6, DAL
7, SA
8, GS
9, MIA
10, MIL
NBA PLAYOFFS- (associated press): memphis star wants trade.
Given Pau Gasol's play and the feelers his agent, Arn Tellem, have lobbed around the NBA
recently, the Memphis Grizzlies are suddenly forced to consider their future without
someone they have deemed the franchise player.
Gasol made trade overtures before and after Mike Fratello was fired, according to team
insiders. The Spaniard dodged the question when asked Sunday if he has demanded a trade at
any point this season.
"I don't want to comment on that right now because I don't want it to be a distraction to
me or the team," Gasol said. "It's not beneficial to anybody. Whatever happens is yet to be
seen."
Reached Sunday while traveling, team president Jerry West acknowledged a reported
conversation with the Chicago Bulls.
West characterized the discussion as cursory to reveal Gasol's availability on the trade
market. Bulls general manager John Paxson, however, never mentioned players that he would
offer for Gasol.
"The conversation was brief," West said. "But we're not giving him away. This franchise
won't give him away. Period."
Gasol, who has four years and more than $60 million left on a maximum contract, is one of
the few skilled post players in the league. Still, a Gasol deal with the Bulls could be
consummated if they were willing to part with guard Ben Gordon and forward Luol Deng.
Even Grizzlies majority owner Michael Heisley softened his past stance on keeping Gasol,
saying he seconded West's sentiment.
Gasol, like anyone on the roster, can be had at the right price.
"If we trade Pau we're looking to substantially improve the team for the future or we would
be looking to get more picks in this draft," Heisley said. "If we can improve the team, we
would trade Pau. But there's a difference when you've made up your mind like with Jason
Williams and Bonzi Wells. Pau Gasol is not available in that sense. I don't make trades.
But if Jerry came to me with a trade that would improve this team, Pau will be traded.
Jerry is always exploring possibilities."
Heisley also had this message for potential suitors.
"If you think Pau is on a fire sale list, you're crazy," Heisley said. "I like the young
man a lot. There's no question he's the only franchise-type player we've got. ... Whether
you trade Pau or not depends on what's brought to you."
Privately, the organization is growing dissatisfied with the effort Gasol has brought to
work. The perception is that Gasol's lackadaisical defensive and rebounding performances
coupled with inconsistent offense are by design to emphasize his desire for a trade.
Asked his thoughts on the team's direction, Gasol sounded concerned.
"I don't really know the direction of the franchise," he said before adding that he
ultimately wants to play for a winner.
"Everybody wants that," Gasol said. "Personally, to me, it's really important to be in that
situation and have a chance to grow."
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