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06/10/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce now hopes the NBA Finals return to Los Angeles.
The braggadocios star had incensed Lakers fans by proclaiming "We ain't coming back to LA" after the Celtics Game 2 win in Hollywood. Well, Pierce may still turn out to be right for all the wrong reasons. By bouncing back to win Game 3, 91-84, on Tuesday night, it's the Lakers who have a chance to lock things up in Boston, starting with tonight's contest at TD Garden.
Veteran Derek Fisher was the unlikely star in Game 3 of the set, scoring 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter. Kobe Bryant poured in 29 points despite shaky 10-of-29 shooting, and Pau Gasol added 13 points and 10 rebounds for the defending NBA champions, who grabbed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Fisher, like Bryant, going after his fifth championship ring, made 5-of-7 shots from the field in the final quarter.
"We saw some things we could accomplish by playing a little two-man game between Kobe and myself," Fisher said. "When Kobe sets a screen, his man is going to be very reluctant to help off of him, so it allows somebody else to get into the interior of their defense, and a couple times I made a pass or two, and a few other times I was able to knock down shots."
Ray Allen, who set an NBA Finals record by making eight shots from beyond the arc on the way to a 32-point night in a 103-94 Boston win Sunday in LA, missed all 13 of his attempts from the field in Game 3 and had just two points. He also missed all eight from long range, a sharp contrast from his 8-of-11 effort in Game 2.
Allen fell one miss shy of the all-time finals record of futility for worst percentage without a field goal. Dennis Johnson went 0-for-14 for Seattle against Washington in Game 7 of the 1978 Finals
"I thought he was pressing early on some of them, and honestly, I thought all of his shots looked flat," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "I didn't think he had any legs. Of the 13, I think eight of them were great looks, and all of them were short, all of them were flat. It happens to the best of us."
Kevin Garnett scored 25 points for the Celtics, who also received 15 points from Paul Pierce. Boston had six turnovers in the last quarter after having just four combined over the first three periods.
Rajon Rondo, who had a triple-double on Sunday, was limited to 11 points and eight assists for the Celtics, who now face an uphill battle to win their record 18th championship. The NBA Finals has been tied at a game apiece 32 different times and the winner of Game 3 has gone on to take 28 of those series.
Lakers center Andrew Bynum, who suffered a slightly torn meniscus against Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs and had his knee drained before the finals started, suffered some swelling after Game 3 but is expected to play tonight.
"It was real swollen right after the game, but it's come back down to normal, Bynum said at practice on Wednesday. "It hurts when I do certain movements, like quick-twitch stuff or running really hard, It's just something I have to deal with. I'm going to play."
The 2010 finals marks the Lakers' 31st trip to the championship series and Boston's 21st appearance with 12 of those overlapping in clashes between the NBA's two most storied franchises.
Their finals history dates all the way back to the 1958-59 season when the Lakers still called Minneapolis home. Boston and the game's ultimate winner, Bill Russell, dominated the early years of the rivalry. The Red Auerbach-era Celtics took the Lakers all seven times they met in the finals, although the Jerry West, Elgin Baylor-fueled LA clubs did manage to take Boston to seven games on three different occasions.
The rivalry lay dormant for 15 years until Larry Bird and Magic Johnson "saved" the NBA by bringing their own storied college rivalry to the pros. Bird avenged his loss at Indiana State to Magic's Michigan State Spartans in the 1979 NCAA Finals when the Celtics got past the Lakers in seven games to win the 1983-84 NBA title.
Johnson and his Lakers responded the next season as LA finally beat Boston in the finals for the first time. Magic also won the rubber match two years later before the rivalry went cold again, this time for 20 years as the Celtics struggled mightily in the post-Bird era.
Boston basketball chief Danny Ainge re-ignited things by acquiring both Garnett and Allen before the 2007-08 season. The two All-Stars teamed with Pierce to create the "Boston Three Party" and the Celtics were relevant again. A 17th Boston championship was the result as Garnett and his Celtics got the best of Bryant's Lakers.
A rematch could have been in the offing last season but a knee injury to Garnett derailed any hopes of a Celtics repeat. Instead, LA earned its 15th championship by taking Orlando in five games.
The Lakers and Celtics have combined to win 32 of the NBA's 63 titles coming into this series.
Game 5 is Sunday, again at TD Garden.
<< Packers CB Underwood issues apology
Green Bay, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Packers cornerback Brandon Underwood issued
an apology Wednesday to his teammates for being a distraction in light of
facing possible sexual assault charges stemming from an incident over the
weekend
<< Report: USC to get two-year bowl game ban
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The University of Southern California will
reportedly be slapped with a two-year bowl ban by the NCAA and will also lose
more than 20 football scholarships when violations within the athletics
program
<< Chicago to host parade for Blackhawks Friday
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Blackhawks will celebrate their
Stanley Cup title with a ticker-tape parade in the Windy City on Friday.
The parade will mark the first title for Chicago's four major sports teams
since the
<< Blackhawks captain Toews wins Conn Smythe Trophy
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Jonathan Toews won the Conn Smythe Trophy
as the captain helped the Chicago Blackhawks end a 49-year Stanley Cup title
drought on Wednesday in a 4-3 overtime win in Game 6 over the Flyers.
At the age of
Cubs, Brewers set for rubber match at Miller Park >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs will try for their third series win over
the NL Central-rival Milwaukee Brewers this season when the two foes get
together tonight in the finale of a three-game series from Miller Park.
Since dropping four
Padres, Mets hope to play two at Citi Field >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mother Nature played a role in major league baseball last
night and both the Mets and Padres fell victim to rain in the New York area.
Both clubs are slated for a day-night doubleheader Thursday at Citi Field.
The first co
Twins aim for sweep of Royals >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Twins shoot for their seventh straight win at
home and a three-game sweep of the AL Central-rival Kansas City Royals tonight
in the series finale from Target Field.
The AL Central-leading Twins are coming off
Halladay, Phillies set for perfection rematch with Marlins >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Florida's Josh Johnson and Phillies ace Roy Halladay were
able to get an extra day of rest with last night's postponement due to rain,
and will go at it again Thursday at Citizens Bank Park.
Wednesday's second contest of t
Matt Kenseth And Kevin Harvick Favorites To Take NASCAR Nextel Cup Championship
(September 15)—The NASCAR season has hit the homestretch with the opening event on this year’s Chase for the Cup taking place this weekend at the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. With 10 races remaining to determine the Cup Series champion, leading online sportsbook MySportsbook.com today announced odds on all 10 Chase qualifying drivers capturing the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.
One of the largest sportsbook sites on the Internet, MySportsbook.com currently lists the top two drivers in the point standings as the early favorites to win the Nextel Cup. Entering the Chase for the Cup with a slim five-point lead in the point standings, 2003 NASCAR champ Matt Kenseth has been made a slight favorite to win his second Cup at 7/2 betting odds. 2001 Cup Rookie of the Year Kevin Harvick has betting odds listed at 5/2 and four-time NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon is listed at 6/1 to capture the Nextel Cup this year.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his legendary father who won six NASCAR titles, Dale Earnhardt Jr. stands at 8/1 to breakthrough with his first Cup victory. Staying with the family theme, MySportsbook.com lists 2005 Rookie of the Year Kyle Busch at 14/1 to succeed big brother Kurt’s 2004 NASCAR title. While Kasey Kahne was the final driver to qualify for the Chase with a third place finish last week, the oddsmakers give him a fighting chance at 10/1 mainly due to several mile-and-a-half tracks remaining on the schedule. Despite going winless on the NASCAR circuit this season, Jeff Burton enters the Chase at 5/1 to capture the Cup title. Meanwhile, rookie Denny Hamlin is 4/1 to win the championship, while veteran driver Mark Martin enters the Chase for the Cup as a 15/1 long shot to win his first NASCAR title in his 24th and final season.
MySportsbook.com will offer comprehensive Nascar betting lines on every race remaining on the Nextel Cup series including driver match-ups, props and odds to win each race. For a complete list of NASCAR odds, please visit www.MySportsbook.com.
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Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.
NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."
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