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Kobe proves any rumors of his demise 'overrated'Basketball Betting Lines04/21/2010 - Kobe Bryant was already a three-time NBA champion when Kevin Durant was still in high school. But when they met Tuesday night in Los Angeles for Game 2 of the opening round of the playoffs, it was Bryant, not Durant, who still looked like the league's ``next big thing.'' His father, former NBA and Italian League journeyman Joe ``Jellybean'' Bryant was on hand to see his son play in person for the first time in five years - and he didn't go away disappointed. ``It was cool for me,'' Kobe said, ``like I was back in high school.'' And just like back then, Joe's pre-game instructions were simple. ``Make the damn free throws,'' his son recalled. Kobe did just that, making 13 of 15, in addition to 12 of 28 shots from the floor in Los Angeles' 95-92 win over Oklahoma City. He took over the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of his 39 points, twice restoring the Lakers' lead and - if nothing else - tamping down speculation for the time being that a handful of nagging injuries have rendered him ripe for the taking. ``He made the tough shots. He got to the free throw line and that's what great players do,'' said Durant, who led the Thunder with 32 points. Afterward, Bryant was asked whether he needed a commanding performance to prove something. ``No, not for myself,'' he told reporters, ``probably for some of you inkers.'' So he knew there were doubts. ``Well, yeah,'' Bryant replied, ``but after 13 years, you'd think they'd know better.'' You would, except that's not the way the NBA and its marketers like things to work. They have one eye always scanning the horizon. Think back to last year, when a barrage of entertaining Nike commercials featured puppet versions of Kobe and LeBron James engaged in a game of one-upmanship that seemed destined to meet in the finals. But that plotline was cut short when James' Cavaliers were derailed by the Orlando Magic. Given the way LeBron has raised his game this season, and taken on a more experienced, more versatile supporting cast - most notably, Shaquille O'Neal and Antawn Jamison - his place in the final is practically guaranteed. Bryant, on the other hand, has rarely looked more vulnerable, and Durant was the perfect candidate to knock him and the Lakers off. Just 21 years old, the third-year pro came into the playoffs after becoming the youngest scoring champion in league history and the likely runner-up to James when the MVP voting is announced. Bryant, 31, took four of the Lakers' last five regular-season games off to rest a variety of aches and pains - fractured right index finger, strained left elbow and right knee, sprained ankle, sore tendon and back spasms. On top of that, he hadn't had a good shooting night since April began. ``I put a lot, a lot of work over the last month or so fine-tuning things and trying to figure things out with the stroke,'' Bryant said, ``and trying to get it back to being consistent.'' Before the game, Lakers coach Phil Jackson sensed his star had something to prove. Bryant learned long ago not to use injuries as an excuse, but just for good measure, Jackson warned his team it couldn't win if Bryant continued taking most of the important shots without cashing in a fair share. ``What did Mark Twain say? Rumors of my demise are overrated, or whatever,'' Jackson conceded afterward. ``He had the game where he could control it.'' Good thing, too, since no one else on the Lakers except for Pau Gasol could provide much help. Teammates Ron Artest and Derek Fisher each shot 2 for 10. Lamar Odom was 2 for 9. ``I had to get something going,'' Bryant said. ``It's a mixture, kind of what the defense gives you, but also being creative and creating those opportunities. The fourth quarter is when I have to provide a spark, whether it's off a pass or scoring myself.'' Bryant has been flogged, alternately, for being too selfish or too passive when the Lakers don't win it all. His greatness has suffered in comparison to Michael Jordan, whose standard of excellence has so far remained beyond anyone's reach. Yet for all the ways that Bryant set out to be like Mike, he has been an unquestioned success in at least one. After 14 seasons in the league, he's still the one player that all the other players with designs on reaching the top have to be measured against. --- Jim Litke is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jlitke(at)ap.orgCopyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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Week 3 Pitcher Report >>
Kenosha, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Now that we are a couple of weeks into the season, it is easier to determine who is in the zone and who may be in some serious trouble. The important thing that you need to keep in mind right now is that
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FOOTBALL BETTING LINESNFL Football Sports BettingTwo playoff teams from 2007 take center stage on the NFL Network Sunday night in a Week 2 NFL betting match-up when the (0-1) New England Patriots betting head south to Florida for a contest with the (1-0) Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New England HC Bill Belichick couldn’t care less about the way his team plays in the preseason. With a chance to tie last week’s game with the Baltimore Ravens betting, He elected to go for the two-point conversion and outright victory. The conversion failed, and the Pats ended up falling to the Ravens by a 16-15 final count. New England rolled off twelve unanswered points to give it a chance at securing the victory, but it never threatened to cover the 3.5-point spread. NFL bettors saw this one coming, as they bet the Ravens down from +6 to +3.5 as the week progressed. QB Tom Brady didn’t take part in the Patriots first preseason clash, but could see action this weekend. His three replacements all put up embarrassing numbers. They went a combined 17 for 33, and threw three interceptions and no touchdowns. The New England defense was encouraging, as they held the Ravens to 2/12 third down conversions and surrendered just ten first downs. That ‘D’ should be bolstered with the addition of former Bucs and Denver Broncos betting safety John Lynch, who could make his Patriots debut on Sunday against his former mates. HC Jon Gruden had to be impressed with the way his Bucs played on both sides of the ball in their dominating 17-6 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Week 1’s NFL pre-season betting action. Bucs bettors were quite happy with the effort, as they made a mockery of the fact that they were underdogs in the game. The logjam at the quarterback position didn’t get any easier to separate for Gruden, as all four of his QBs had positive experiences in the first exhibition of 2008. The four combined to complete 28 of their 40 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown, and that was without starting QB Jeff Garcia in the lineup. RB Michael Bennett had 19 carries and four receptions, totaling 90 yards and a touchdown. Expect to see more of Bennett, Kenneth Darby, and Earnest Graham, as they all compete for playing time with Warrick Dunn in the backfield this season. Defensively, the Bucs recorded four sacks and held the Fins offense in check all day. First round draft pick Aqib Talib was impressive in the secondary, recording a tackle and two pass defenses in his debut. Don’t be surprised to see Talib in the starting lineup opposite Ronde Barber for the Bucs in ’08. The betting trends suggest that NFL bettors should be backing the Bucs in this intra-conference exhibition. These two teams hooked up last year in Tampa Bay, with the Bucs winning that game 13-10. The Buccaneers have only lost one preseason game at home dating back to the beginning of the ’05 preseason. The Patriots have had a mixed bag of results in their recent exhibitions. They have gone 2-2 ATS and SU each of the last three years. New England currently sits as modest 1-point favorites in this preseason showdown with the ‘total’ now sitting at 34.5. You can find these lines and all of the NFL betting lines , so be sure to login and get your wagers down before kickoff! Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines .
MySportsbook.com week 1 NFL linesNow that the 2008 NFL schedule is finally out, it is only matter-of-course for lines on “Week 1” to follow. Of course MySportsbook.com is the first to churn out odds for the NFL’s inaugural week for the upcoming season. Expect a lot of fireworks the first Thursday night of the season as the defending champion Indianapolis Colts face off against the surprise of the 2008 season, the New Orleans Saints. These teams were ranked #1 and #3 in the NFL respectively a season ago so a high scoring affair could be in order. As of now, the Colts will be giving 6 points to the Saints; keep in mind the Saints were one of the better road teams last season going 6-3 SU and 7-2 ATS. The first Monday night of the season will again provide a “double feature”. Coming off a disappointing season, the Cincinnati Bengals will look to get back to playoffs and improve their public image as they take on the AFC North favorite Baltimore Ravens. The second game features a couple of teams that haven’t had too much success recently but each could make some noise if the NFC is as weak as it was last year as the San Francisco 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals. The most interesting game of the opening week will feature the NFC champion Bears as they hit the road to take on the NFL’s top team during last year’s regular season, the San Diego Chargers. MySportsbook.com Week 1 odds: Saints +6 @ Colts -6 Falcons @ Vikings (pick ‘em) Panthers @ Rams (pick ‘em) Broncos -3.5 @ Bills +3.5 Chiefs -1 @ Texans +1 Dolphins +3 @ Redskins -3 Patriots -5 @ Jets +5 Eagles -3.5 @ Packers +3.5 Steelers -4 @ Browns +4 Titans +6 @ Jaguars -6 Bears +6 @ Chargers -6 Lions +3 @ Raiders -3 Bucs +6.5 @ Seahawks -6.5 Giants +4 @ Cowboys -4 Ravens +3 @ Bengals -3 Cardinals +3 @ 49ers -3 Super Bowl line (2008) NFC +6.5 vs. AFC -6.5 MySportsbook is a large, publicly traded company with strong financial backing. You will find their customer service is second to none and their web site is extremely user friendly and easy-to-use. All major professional sports games are available. Once you signup with MySportsbook, you may never use another online sportsbook again. To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your football sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards. |
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