Heat hope to stop slide vs. Warriors
Basketball Betting Lines
03/02/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dwyane Wade is back from a calf injury, but the Miami Heat
are still struggling. Tonight they'll try to put the brakes on a four-game
losing streak versus the Golden State Warriors in the opener of a three-game
homestand at AmericanAirlines Arena.
Miami dropped a 96-80 decision to the division-rival Orlando Magic on Sunday,
as Wade returned from a four-game absence because of a left calf strain and
had a team-high 21 points in defeat.
"It felt good to be out there and I wanted to be aggressive," Wade said. "I'll
see how I feel tomorrow and hopefully don't take a step backwards."
Jermaine O'Neal and Rafer Alston added 16 and 15 points, respectively, for the
playoff-hopeful Heat, who will also host the Lakers and Hawks, and are 14-14
in south Florida this season.
Meanwhile, the Warriors will try to stop a six-game slide as the visitor when
they kick off a five-game road trip tonight against Miami, Orlando, Atlanta,
Charlotte and New Orleans. They haven't won on the road since January 6 at
Minnesota and sport a lowly 4-23 mark away from Oakland this season.
Golden State completed a six-game homestand with a 3-3 mark and is coming off
Saturday's 95-88 victory versus the Detroit Pistons at ORACLE Arena. Anthony
Tolliver provided a big lift with 19 points and 14 rebounds off the bench,
while rookie Stephen Curry totaled 27 points for the Warriors, who rallied
from a 14-point deficit and played without leading scorer Monta Ellis because
of a balky back. Ellis is questionable for Tuesday's game and center Andris
Biedrins, who suffered a strained groin against Detroit, is doubtful.
C.J. Watson added 17 points in the comeback victory for the Warriors.
"That is just a typical thing of the Warriors, since I've been here," Watson
said of the rally. "We go down by 20 points and end up coming back and winning
the game or getting it close to getting back in position to win. It's just a
thing we keep fighting, we never give up and it's a good thing for this team
especially with our record and how many people we have."
Miami defeated Golden State, 115-102, on January 13 this season by the Bay, as
Wade netted 35 points on 10-of-15 shooting. The Heat have won three straight
and 15 of the past 20 matchups in this series.
Golden State has lost two of three and 12 of its last 14 at Miami.
<< Celtics and Pistons battle at The Palace
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics hope to put an embarrassing loss behind
them when they pay a visit to the Detroit Pistons Tuesday night at The Palace
of Auburn Hills.
Boston just went 1-2 on a three-game homestand and suffered a 104-96
<< Iverson will not return this season
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers announced Tuesday
that Allen Iverson will not return to the team this season.
Iverson had missed the team's last four games and also sat out five games
before the All-Star bre
<< Gordon helps Clippers hold off Jazz
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eric Gordon scored 24 and the Los Angeles
Clippers nearly blew a 17-point lead in the final quarter before holding off
the Utah Jazz, 108-104, at Staples Center.
All five starters finished in double
<< Georgia Tech QB Shaw to transfer to Georgia Southern
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Georgia Tech's back-up quarterback Jaybo Shaw
will transfer to Georgia Southern at the conclusion of the current semester.
Shaw has been Georgia Tech's top backup for the past two seasons. In 2008 as
a tru
<< Report: Iverson will not return to Sixers this season
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Allen Iverson will reportedly not return
to the 76ers this season. Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia reported Monday night
the Sixers are expected to make a formal announcement in the next day or two.
On F
Thunder finish homestand vs. Kings >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NBA's most improved team, the Oklahoma City Thunder
hope to finish up a three-game homestand in perfect fashion tonight when they
welcome the Sacramento Kings to Ford Center.
The Thunder improved to 2-0 on their reside
Pacers aim for first win at Staples Center vs. Lakers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers close out a
brief three-game homestand on Tuesday by hosting the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers have never beaten the Lakers at Staples Centers, dropping 10
straight games in the b
Struggling Wildcats seek turnaround in Queen City >>
Cincinnati, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The ninth-ranked Villanova Wildcats will try
to get things straightened out tonight, as they take on the desperate
Cincinnati Bearcats in Big East play at Fifth Third Arena.
In one of the most anticipated ma
Miners set sights on C-USA crown >>
Huntington, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With a chance to claim the outright title in
the Conference-USA on the line, the 24th-ranked Texas-El Paso Miners will
tangle with the Marshall Thundering Herd at the Cam Henderson Center.
The Miners current
Zags close out regular season against Roadrunners >>
Spokane, WA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With the West Coast Conference title already in
hand, the 18th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs close out their regular season with a
non-conference bout against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunner.
The Bulldogs ran th
Pacific-10 Conference odds
Teams that should be in: Stanford
Oregon and USC get their tickets punched after taking care of business this weekend. Yes, the Trojans' computer numbers aren't great, but there's no way the third-place team in this league is getting nixed. Grudgingly, I added Arizona after consultation with our Bracketologist. I don't know that Arizona will lose its last three (including a Pac-10 quarterfinal game), and even if the Cats do, I still can't see how they'd be left out, given the overall profile. That said, it bears watching, as three more L's would leave them at 18-12 (9-9) and on a 6-11 skid entering the Dance. It would be nice to see the Wildcats get at least one W in the Bay Area next week, as Cincinnati (albeit without Armein Kirkland and with a worse profile) was axed after a similar slide last season. I just couldn't rationalize having some of the other teams as locks and not having Arizona in that category -- there just aren't enough good teams behind the Cats to threaten their spot, it seems. Stanford has its fate in its own hands with the Arizona schools coming to the Farm to close out the regular season next weekend.
Should be in:
Stanford [17-10 (9-7), RPI: 40, SOS: 21] No shame in not getting a win in L.A., but that makes the home game against Arizona State a must-win ahead of what could be an intriguing meeting with Arizona should the Cats lose at Cal. Getting to 11 Pac-10 wins would make Selection Sunday much more comfortable, but 10's probably more than enough this season. The Cardinal have nonconference wins over Texas Tech and at Virginia to lean on, although they also lost badly to Air Force and Santa Clara at home.
| Southeastern Conference odds |
Work left to do: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Mississippi State
It looks more and more possible that no one from the SEC West will make the NCAAs. How weird is that? Tennessee and Vandy move into the locks category after more good work this weekend. Kentucky stays there, although it would be smart for the Cats to handle Georgia at home Wednesday ahead of a trip to the Swamp. Could a disaster scenario (two more L's and a first-round SEC tourney exit) somehow dislodge the Cats despite their incredible computer numbers? Still unlikely, but not worth chancing it.
Work left to do:
Alabama [19-9 (6-8), RPI: 43, SOS: 47] The tough L at Tennessee was understandable, and even created some hope. Unfortunately, that hope was dashed by a home loss to Auburn, which leaves the Tide in some real trouble. There's still no signature win on the profile (no, Kentucky doesn't count), and the computer profile is weakening rapidly. The Tide conceivably could beat Ole Miss and win at Miss. State to get to 8-8 and clinch at least a share of the West crown, but that's probably not enough right now. The Tide will need to do some work in the SEC tourney.
Georgia [16-10 (8-6), RPI: 52, SOS: 23] This is the team with the best chance to make it from this section right now. The Bulldogs rebounded from a terrible performance at Ole Miss to beat down Miss. State. Now they are at Kentucky (king of the RPI 51-100 win) and home to Tennessee. That would be worth a lot of computer points to get both (which is doable), as both teams are in the top 11 in RPI. Finishing at least 9-7 is an absolute must, and I would feel much better about the Dawgs' chances if they got both to get to 10 SEC wins. They also beat Gonzaga, but lost to ACC bubblers Georgia Tech and Clemson.
Mississippi [18-10 (7-7), RPI: 63, SOS: 79] Like everyone else in this division, Ole Miss gacked up a chance to stake a claim, losing by double figures at South Carolina. Even 9-7 likely is not nearly enough with a nonconference profile devoid of anything notable.
Mississippi State [16-11 (7-7), RPI: 66, SOS: 37] With a chance to get in the mix, these Bulldogs were leashed by their Georgia counterparts. Could they get to 9-7? I guess -- although winning at Arkansas, then beating Alabama is no lock -- but would that mean all that much for a team with this overall profile? Probably not. There's nothing of note (on the good side) in the nonconference profile. |
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Big East Conference odds
Work left to do: Villanova, Syracuse, DePaul, West Virginia, Providence
Notre Dame and Louisville appear to have done enough to make the move, so we'll make them locks. The Cardinals, despite a modest RPI, are trending way up and have clinched at least a tie for third in the Big East, which should be more than enough with their pair of big road wins. Villanova got back to .500 and gets back to more solid footing. Syracuse got a very important road win and crippled a fellow contender in the process. West Virginia's fate could be in its hands Tuesday at Pitt.
Work left to do:
Villanova [18-9 (7-7), RPI: 21, SOS: 5] Pounded Rutgers to get back to .500. If Cats can get their last two (at UConn, vs. Syracuse), that should be enough with strong computer numbers and a host of wins away from The Pavilion. The Cats have beaten Texas and swept the Big 5 (never easy in Philly), but have a couple of losses to bubble teams (Xavier, Drexel), too. I still think they'll be OK, possibly even at 8-8.
Syracuse [20-8 (9-5), RPI: 53, SOS: 62] History says 10 wins will be plenty, but it might be hard for the Orange to get that last one with a final two vs. G'town, which is trying to win the league title, and at Villanova, which will be desperate for a W. The relative lack of nonconference heft and the weak computer numbers are still concerns, but the Orange have won four in a row and got a very, very big win at Providence on Saturday.
DePaul [16-12 (8-7), RPI: 54, SOS: 18] Beat Cincy and should get past South Florida to get to 9-7, but then what? They have beaten Kansas and Cal (right after the DeVon Hardin injury) earlier this season, but also have lost to Bradley and Purdue, among others. They'll likely need a couple of BE tourney wins, too, but we'll see ...
West Virginia [19-7 (8-6), RPI: 58, SOS: 125] The game at Pitt on Tuesday night could decide the Mountaineers' fate (barring a deep tournament run). They can still get to 9-7 in the Big East without it by beating Cincinnati, but the nine wins would be against UConn, Villanova, St. John's, South Florida, DePaul, Rutgers, Seton Hall twice and the Bearcats. Beating bubble foes is fine, but where's the beef? Outside of beating PG-less UCLA in nonconference play (still a top quality win), there's not a lot to fall back on (besides maybe NC State). WVU vs. Syracuse would be an interesting debate, as the teams don't play in the Big East regular season. WVU has the best win, but Cuse has played the much better schedule.
Providence [17-10 (7-7), RPI: 70, SOS: 33] The Friars likely saw their at-large hopes die at home in the four-point loss to Syracuse, barring an unexpected run to the Big East semis or more. The RPI, bad already, won't be helped by playing St. John's and South Florida in the final two league games.
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