Toronto Raptors 2010 Draft Preview
Basketball Betting Lines
06/21/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Raptors figure to lose Chris Bosh in the offseason so they will need to acquire a big man to replace him.
Toronto would like to work a sign-and-trade with Bosh's prospective new team, where it could get an asset in return. However, if they need to make the move in the draft, Kentucky forward Daniel Orton has a significant upside at No. 13.
Orton's already got the NBA body and has impressive length but his offensive game needs a lot of work despite a very soft touch that is rare among young bigs today.
Other possibilities include Marshall center Hassan Whiteside and VCU forward Larry Sanders.
Players under contract: G Marcus Banks; C Andrea Bargnani; G Marco Belinelli; G Jose Calderon; G DeMar DeRozan; F Reggie Evans; G Jarrett Jack; F Hedo Turkoglu; G Sonny Weems
Free Agents: F Chris Bosh (Player option); F Amir Johnson (Unrestricted); C Rasho Nesterovic (Unrestricted); C Patrick O'Bryant (Unrestricted); F/G: Antoine Wright (Unrestricted)
Draft picks: 1st round (13th overall)
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After 13 Consecutive trips to the postseason and four rings, you can almost see the end of the road coming for a great San Antonio team. Injuries and age have taken a toll on Gregg Popovich's club for the last two seasons
<< Rachel Alexandra back to work in morning
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel
Alexandra put in her first workout at Churchill Downs on Monday morning since
her victory in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap. The four-year-old filly
breezed
<< Saints release DE McCray
Metairie, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Orleans Saints have released
defensive end Bobby McCray.
McCray, 28, signed with the Saints as an unrestricted free agent in 2008. The
Florida product started eight of 32 regular-season ga
<< Portland Trail Blazers 2010 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Kevin Pritchard has built the Portland Trail Blazers into a
contender in the Western Conference but he is reportedly not in the good
graces of team owner Paul Allen.
In fact, Pritchard has acknowledged he knows ownership i
<< Phoenix Suns 2010 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Suns rebounded nicely this year after the Terry Porter
debacle but that didn't stop Steve Kerr from announcing that he would not
return as president and general manager when his contract expires on June 30.
Kerr intend
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With her fourth win of the season on Sunday, Ai Miyazato took over the No. 1 spot in the world rankings for women's golf. Jiyai Shin, who slipped to No. 2, is scheduled to return to action thi
FC Dallas names Quinn president, CEO >>
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - FC Dallas announced that Douglas Quinn has been
named president and chief executive officer of the Major League Soccer club,
effective Aug. 2.
"We are thrilled to welcome Doug to FC Dallas, and look fo
Utah Jazz 2010 Draft Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The rich plan get richer, as Utah will use the New York
Knicks' pick to select a big man as insurance for the injured Mehmet Okur and
free agent power forward Carlos Boozer.
The Jazz must also make a decision on Kyle Korve
Villa's brace pushes Spain comfortably past Honduras >>
Johannesburg, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Spain used a David Villa brace
to top Honduras, 2-0, in FIFA World Cup Group H action at Ellis Park Stadium
on Monday.
With the win, Spain moves into a second-place tie with Switzerland
'Quakes acquire midfielder Cronin from TFC >>
San Jose, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Jose Earthquakes acquired midfielder
Sam Cronin from Toronto FC in exchange for allocation money, the Major League
Soccer teams announced.
"Sam is a good, young player who had big impact in the leag
Marlins could start season without No. 2 starter Johnson
JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.
FOOTBALL BETTING
After all the trouble that’s ensued since Braylon Edwards allegedly punched one of LeBron James’ homeboys in the face at a club, the Cleveland Browns have sent away their last remaining player of worth to the New York Jets. This is a great move for Dirty Sanchez and all, but it’s even better for the Knicks. Now Donnie Walsh can say, “You get to haunt Braylon Edwards with your posse if you sign here!” next summer.
Putting that aside for a moment, the move is a clear indication that the new-look Jets are gunning for the Super Bowl this year. I don’t think that New York thought that Dirty Sanchez was going to be such a rock star. With a 75.2 passer rating that was killed against the Jets, Sanchez is doing an admirable job of managing games and putting the Jets in a position to win. The defense has been the major story in New York thus far, but the acquisition of Braylon Edwards makes this offense loaded with talent that can dent any defense…as long as Dirty Sanchez continues his meteoric rise.
Thus far, Edwards has been a non-factor in the NFL piling up just 139 receiving yards on 10 catches. He has yet to find the endzone, and with the Browns mired in the most unsexy quarterback controversy of all time (Anderson vs. Quinn...yawn), there going nowhere fast. Edwards is two seasons removed from a career year which saw him catch 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns when the Browns were the spread killing monsters of 2007. In 2008, injuries slowed the receiver down to just 873 yards and three touchdowns though he played in all 16 games.
So that being said, we really don’t know if Braylon Edwards is just a flash in the pan, or a legit threat. At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he is a prototypical receiver. But he’s also shown a strange, and unwarranted, talent for dropping passes. Lining up opposite Jericho Cotchery, a speed demon with 23 catches, 356 yards and a single touchdown, may give Braylon the open looks he needs. A change of scenery may also rejuvenate the star receiver.
In return, the Browns will receive Chansi Stuckey, online football betting a special teams player you’ve never heard of and a pair of draft picks. That’s a tall order for a guy whose only real value right now is in his name, and it shows no promise to the Browns that they can rebuild around those acquisitions. Braylon was the only reason to hope for the Browns to go 3-14 SU this year. Without him, they don’t have a single guy on offense that can scare any team.
For the Jets, it’s a response to the pounding that they took at the hand of the Saints. Thomas Jones and Leon Washington have averaged around 4.0 yards per carry each on the ground, but striking a fair balance between the passing and rushing attacks in New York has been a struggle. You have to believe that the trio of Dustin Keller, Jericho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards will give Sanchez the weapons he needs to unleash through the air. Theoretically, that would open up holes for the rushing game. But the proposed public option health care plan works in theory too. We need to see the proof in the pudding before we start loading up mega bucks on the New York Jets to take the AFC.
The one wrinkle in this whole thing is that Braylon could very well be suspended by the league for disciplinary action due to his “brawl” with LeBron’s friend. If that’s the case, the Jets may have to bench him for a few games leaving them with a somewhat depleted receiving corps for a few games. Also, this is a guy who gets in fights with people at clubs. New York may not be the best place for him. Just sayin’.
The Jets have a long week before they meet the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football Betting in a virtual pick ‘em game. Braylon’s excess baggage may be a distraction, and his curiously low production may be what we should be expecting of him overall, but for the Jets, taking a chance to strike gold is well worth it. At the end of the year, they can simply just blame it on their rookie quarterback.
To visit this sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your college football betting needs.