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Celtics and Pistons clash in BeantownBasketball Betting Lines03/15/2010 - (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.
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Online Sportsbook Football BettingColts give the ‘D’ its dueThe Indianapolis Colts know that winning the Super Bowl last season put a huge target on their backs, and they expect opponents to go all-out to knock them from the top of the mountain. They’ll get their first test from the New Orleans Saints this Thursday night. The defending champs had nothing but good things to say about the New Orleans defense this past week, praising their opponents’ pass rush and run-stopping abilities. "They play very aggressively," head coach Tony Dungy told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "They play a lot of man-to-man coverage, and they come after you. They have good pass rushers, and they're going to try to pressure us, I'm sure." Both center Jeff Saturday and quarterback Peyton Manning gave New Orleans’ front four props, admitting keeping guys like Will Smithand Charles Grant contained would be a tall task for the offensive line. New Orleans ranked second in total defense during the preseason at a sportsbook, allowing just under 233 yards per game. Last season, the defense finished 11th in the league after giving up 307.3 yards and 20.1 points per contest. Not so sound on the ground If Indianapolis' efficient offense has a weakness it has to be its running attack. The Colts one-two-punch of Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai is no longer, leaving the bulk of the carries to Addai, the second-year back out of LSU. Former Saskatchewan Roughrider Kenton Keith was named Addai’s backup this week after beating out DeDe Dorsey for the second-string position. Indy has only three backs on the roster right now, including fullback Luke Lawton, and coach Dungy is aware of the thinness of his ground game. Sports Betting lines on the game can be found at BettingExpress.com “We’ll continue to look. Luke Lawton’s done a good job for us too. So probably getting a third true tailback is something that we’d like to do,” Dungy told the Indiana Tribune-Star. Last season, Addai rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign and scored seven touchdowns on the ground. Brees says bring it on Opening the season on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions is not the way most teams would like to kick off their year – unless you’re the New Orleans Saints or their quarterback Drew Brees. This internet Sportsbooks had the Saints as the favorites. Brees told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he is excited to get the regular season started and the Colts are a great challenge for him and his teammates. The 28-year-old QB, entering his second season with the Saints, is expecting a wild environment in the RCA Dome this Thursday when the franchise celebrates its 2007-2007 championship. Brees said he sees the opening game scheduling as an honor and a testament to how well New Orleans did last season. The Saints missed facing the Colts in the Super Bowl by one game, losing to the Chicago Bearsin the NFC Championship game. "I mean, people think we can hang with these guys," Brees told reporters. "Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter what they thought because as a team we're very confident. We know what we can do. We're not satisfied where we finished the season last year. And we've been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time." SportsBooks ready for a shootout Oddsmakers are preparing for some fireworks this Thursday when the NFL season kicks off. online Sportsbooks have Thursday’s total set at a whopping 52 points, accounting for two of the league’s most explosive offenses. “This is like must-see TV,” Saints cornerback and former Colt Jason David told the Baton Rouge Advocate. “It’s two exciting offenses with great players. You’ve got a lot of star power on offense. At any given time a big play can happen. If I was a fan, I wouldn’t miss a snap.” New Orleans, who ranked No.1 in total offense last season, can go blow-for-blow with the Colts’ attack. Head coach Sean Payton’s offensive schemes will get even better production out of Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and receiver Marques Colston now that they’ve each had a season of playing together under their belts. The Saints and Colts were the top two passing teams in the NFL last year, but while Indianapolis managed to put up almost 27 points per game, New Orleans struggled to capitalize on their efforts. The Saints ranked fifth in points per game. “Yards are great,” running backDeuce McAllister told reporters, “but to be able to score more touchdowns would be important for us.” |
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