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Hawks, Magic kick off Eastern semis in OrlandoBasketball Betting Lines05/04/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The well-rested Orlando Magic finally will get back to work on defending their Eastern Conference championship when they kick off the second round of the postseason against their division rival, the Atlanta Hawks. The second-seeded Magic have been idle since finishing a sweep of the overmatched Charlotte Bobcats back on April 26. Orlando had little trouble disposing of the Bobcats despite All-Star center Dwight Howard being in constant foul trouble throughout the set. It was the first sweep in a best-of- seven series in Magic franchise history. "When you write it down in the books it's a sweep, but that was a very difficult series," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. "It was physical, tough and they made it very tough on us. We just struggled to score points and get shots. I thought they had a great defensive game plan in the series." Howard was able to play in just 105 minutes in the entire series and averaged a pedestrian 9.8 points and 9.3 rebounds, although he was his usual disruptive self on the defensive end, swatting away 20 shots, an average of 5.0 per game. "Regardless of us winning with him in foul trouble throughout the series, we still need him on the floor," Orlando forward Vince Carter said. "He's a big part of what we do. We can go as far as he takes us. Our job is to help him." The All-Star center and two-time reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year fouled out of the final two games in the series with Charlotte and committed five fouls in each of the first two contests. Howard was so upset with the officiating, he was fined $35,000 for using his personal blog to criticize the referees a day after the sweep. "I'm not looking to say anything to get myself in trouble with the league, but I just don't see other star players getting called for fouls the way I get them," Howard's blog read. "No star player in the league is outta games the way I am." Van Gundy and forward Matt Barnes also were fined $35,000 apiece last week for criticizing officials earlier in the series. The Hawks, meanwhile, had to fight tooth-and-nail to fend off a Milwaukee Bucks team that was missing star center Andrew Bogut. After falling behind 3-2 in the set, Atlanta routed the Bucks in Brew City during Game 6 and repeated that with an emphatic Game 7 win in Dixie on Sunday. "These guys didn't stop believing," Hawks head coach Mike Woodson said. "We got beat in Game 5 and it was tough to swallow because we controlled that game. But to bounce back like they did and go back into Milwaukee and bring it back home and win it is unbelievable." On the injury front, Magic swingman Mickael Pietrus sprained his left ankle during practice on Sunday but is expected to play tonight. Meanwhile, star point guard Jameer Nelson, who averaged a team-best 23.8 points and 4.5 assists against the Bobcats, is battling a stomach virus but is also expected to go. Orlando, which has won 10 straight games dating back to the regular season, took three of four games from the Hawks this year and won the Southeast Division by six games over Atlanta. The two teams have met just one time in the postseason, however, a 4-1 Magic win in the 1995-96 Eastern Conference semifinals. Game 2 in the series is scheduled for Thursday in Orlando.
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(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Utah Jazz will try to avoid falling in a 2-0 series hole when they face the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers tonight in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals at Staples Center. Los Angeles survived in Game 1 when Ko
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Pro Football Odds : NFC SOUTH BETTING ODDSNFL betting action is back! At MySportsbook, all of the pro football odds are posted for the NFC North. Check out how we see the four teams in this cloudy division stacking up this year in the chase for the playoffs! Green Bay Packers (+125) - With QB Aaron Rodgers leading the offense and DC Dom Capers working his magic on defense, the Packers are a real force to be reckoned with. Virtually nothing changed on this offense for Green Bay from last year to this year, save for the addition of rookie OT Brian Bulaga to the bunch. Expect more huge numbers from the Pack, and a relatively favorable schedule should get them over the hump and into the playoffs once again this season. My NFL Betting Predictions: 11-5, 1st place in NFC North Minnesota Vikings (+130) - There are still too many unknowns about the Vikes this year. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. There is a huge difference between QB Brett Favre and either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels under center. Plus, is Favre comes back, is he really going to be able to keep his pick total under double digits again? Depth at running back looked like it might have been an issue with RB Chester Taylor fleeing in free agency, but drafting RB Toby Gerhart should pick up the difference. This defense is still suitable, but with a first place schedule, making the playoffs is going to be very tough regardless of whether #4 comes back or not. Play this weekly NFL Football Contestto see if you can win. Chicago Bears (+350) - The Bears are probably a bit of an overhyped team once again this year.No, we don't think it is plausible for QB Jay Cutler to have as bad of a season as he did last year, and we do think the additions of RB Chester Taylor and DE Julius Peppers are going to help immensely, but there's still something in the water in the Windy City that we aren't so sure about. Maybe Chicago finds its way to .500... but then again, maybe it doesn't. If Favre comes back, Cutler might be the worst quarterback in this division this year. Detroit Lions (+1500) - The Lions are probably once again going to be the whipping boys for the rest of the teams in the NFC North, but they aren't just going to roll over and die once again. There is some real talent amassing on this team offensively, as the combination of QB Matt Stafford, RB Jahvid Best, WR Calvin Johnson, and TE Brandon Pettigrew should put a bunch of points on the board if the offensive line can even remotely hold up. The questions really lie on defense, where it feels like DT Ndamukong Suh is going to be trying to stop opposing teams all by himself. This year should show some marked improvement in the Motor City. The Patriots will make NFL betting fans a lot of money this season, get in early and enjoy the cash. To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your NFL football betting needs. |
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