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Cavs can Mike BrownBasketball Betting Lines05/24/2010 - Cleveland, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Cavaliers have fired head coach Mike Brown on the heels of a second straight disappointing playoff run. Armed with two-time MVP LeBron James, the Cavaliers had been expected to contend for a championship, as the team won 61 and 66 regular-season games, respectively, the past two seasons. However, the Cavs were ousted by Orlando in the conference finals last spring and this year suffered a second-round loss to Boston. "After a long and deep analysis of all of the factors that led to the disappointing early ends to our playoff runs over the past two seasons, we concluded that it was time for the Cavaliers to move in a different direction," said Cavaliers majority owner Dan Gilbert. "The expectations of this organization are very high and, although change always carries an element of risk, there are times when that risk must be taken in an attempt to break through to new, higher levels of accomplishment. This is one of those times." The Cavaliers face the possibility of a bigger change this summer with the impending free agency of James. The move for a new coach could entice him to remain with the organization. Brown, the 2008-09 Coach of the Year, had spent the last five seasons with the Cavs and guided the team to a record of 272-138. He also had a mark of 42-29 in the postseason, which included a run to the NBA Finals in 2007. The Cavs were swept in that championship series by San Antonio. "I have truly enjoyed working with Mike Brown. Mike has played a huge role in turning around the Cavs organization," said Cavs general manager Danny Ferry. "Over the past five years, Mike established a work ethic, defensive identity and culture of winning that was not here previously." Brown took over in June 2005 and immediately helped Cleveland to the playoffs for the first time since 1998. The Cavaliers beat Washington in the first round of the 2006 playoffs for the franchise's first postseason series win since 1993. After the run to the NBA Finals, the Cavs were eliminated by Boston in the second round of the 2008 playoffs before the most recent failures the past two springs. The Cavs swept Detroit and Atlanta in the first two rounds of the 2009 playoffs before being eliminated by Orlando in six games in the conference finals. This spring, the Cavs knocked off Chicago in five games and had a 2-1 series lead against Boston before losing the last three games. Two of the four losses in the series against the Celtics came in blowout fashion at home, as Cleveland lost Game 2 by a 104-86 score and dropped Game 5 in 120-88 fashion.
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Football Betting LinesThe 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds have been released and Denver Broncos' running back Knowshon Moreno has been made the opening favorite. Moreno was selected in the first round of April's NFL draft and is expected to carry the rushing load for the Broncos this season. And with Jay Cutler now in Chicago, Moreno might be expected to be Denver's entire offense. Betting Lines from sports betting lines have made Moreno a 5/2 favorite to win this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Fellow running back Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals) is right behind Moreno at 7/2, while Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) and receiver Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers) are 5/1 to win. Quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) and Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions) are 7/1 and 8/1, respectively. A couple of players who present some value are Josh Freeman, Shonn Green and Darrius Heyward-Bey. Freeman needs to beat out Byron Leftwich to become the starting quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but if he does, he has a lot or raw talent and could use the weapons around him (i.e. Kellen Winslow Jr. and Antonio Bryant) to be very successful in his first season. Green enters a crowded backfield in New York, but considering both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are unhappy about their contract situations and might holdout, the former Iowa product could become the Jets' primary back. Everyone was shocked when Al Davis took Heyward-Bey with the eighth overall pick in April's draft, but the kid has a tremendous amount of talent and if quarterback JaMarcus Russell takes the next step this year, the former Maryland product could blossom. Plus, Heyward-Bey will be looking to prove the people wrong who said Oakland should have taken Michael Crabtree with the No. 8 pick. And if you're looking for a deep sleeper, check out Pat White at 30/1. He enters the Miami Dolphins vaunted “Wild Cat” offense and could be a big time playmaker. For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, see below. 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win Ramses Barden (NYG) 40/1 Andre Brown (NYG) 20/1 Donald Brown (IND) 5/1 Kenny Britt (TEN) 20/1 Glenn Coffee (SFO) 30/1 Chase Coffman (CIN) 50/1 Michael Crabtree (SFO) 5/1 Josh Freeman (TB) 14/1 Shonn Green (NYJ) 14/1 Percy Harvin (MIN) 10/1 Darrius Heyward-Bay (OAK) 18/1 Juaquan Iglesias (CHI) 30/1 Cornelius Ingram (PHI) 50/1 Rashad Jennings (JAC) 30/1 Johnny Knox (CHI) 40/1 Jeremy Maclin (PHI) 18/1 Mohamed Massaquoi (CLE) 30/1 LeSean McCoy (PHI) 12/1 Knowshon Moreno (DEN) 5/2 Hakeem Nicks (NYG) 18/1 Brandon Pettigrew (DET) 30/1 Brian Robiskie (CLE) 20/1 Mark Sanchez (NYJ) 7/1 Matthew Stafford (DET) 8/1 Jason Smith (STL) 40/1 Mike Thomas (JAC) 25/1 Patrick Turner (MIA) 50/1 Mike Wallace (PIT) 50/1 Chris Wells (ARI) 7/2 Pat White (MIA) 30/1 Field (Any Other Player) 9/1 To visit this sports betting site go to BettingExpress.com for all your football betting lines needs. For sports betting with credit cards site go to BettingExpress.com as well. |
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