Celtics roll the dice with West
Basketball Betting Lines
09/02/2010 -
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat may have dominated the
offseason headlines, but the Boston Celtics are still the top dogs in the East.
After taking the Los Angeles Lakers to seven games in the NBA Finals last
season, the veteran-laden Celtics could have gone in two different directions.
Coach Doc Rivers' contract was up, while veteran sharpshooter Ray Allen was a
free agent and All-Star forward Paul Pierce could have opted out of his deal.
Basketball chief Danny Ainge could have pulled the plug and got started on the
inevitable rebuilding process, or convinced the band to get back together to
take one more stab at capturing the franchise's 18th NBA championship.
Ainge made his decision, booked the Hard Rock and convinced Rivers to return,
while re-signing Allen and securing a still formidable but declining Pierce
for another four seasons.
With his core four of Allen, Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo back in the
fold, Rivers certainly knows he has a contender but his club has already
forfeited the make-believe mantle of favorite in the much-improved East. That
now belongs to Pat Riley and the Heat, who brought in LeBron James and Chris
Bosh to play alongside Dwyane Wade.
To fend off the Heat and solve the Lakers puzzle, the C's needed to sure up a
shaky bench. Ainge has brought in veteran big men Shaquille O'Neal and
Jermaine O'Neal to hold down the fort in the middle while Kendrick Perkins
recovers from tearing the medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments
in his right knee during Game 6 of The Finals.
Meanwhile, his latest move was bringing back troubled veteran guard Delonte
West, the 24th overall by the Celtics back in 2004.
The 27-year-old West, who signed a non-guaranteed deal, spent the last two-
plus years in Cleveland with James but was limited to 35 games in 2009-10 and
64 games a year earlier while dealing with an array of personal problems that
included depression, along with legal issues stemming from an arrest on weapons
charges in September of 2009.
After being stopped for a traffic violation while riding a 3-wheeled
motorcycle, police found a Beretta pistol, .357 Magnum and a Remington 870
rifle in a guitar case West was carrying.
An underrated swing guard, West originally blamed the indiscretion on his
failure to take his prescribed medication for bipolar disorder. He eventually
pleaded guilty this past July to traffic and weapons charges, and was
sentenced to electronic monitoring, unsupervised probation, and 40 hours of
community service as well as psychological counseling.
The NBA piled on, suspending the St. Joseph's product for 10 games.
"I think we're getting Delonte at a good time in his life," Rivers wrote on
Twitter. "He knows who he is now."
Rivers also understands bringing West in could go boom or bust. A healthy,
well-adjusted West could provide solid minutes behind both Rondo and Allen,
giving Boston one of the most impressive three-guard rotations in the league.
On the other hand, a brooding, distant West could upset the balance of a
delicate locker room.
"Chemistry is a delicate thing. I understand that, and I'm as cautious as
anyone with it. I guarantee you, I'll be keeping my eye on it,"' Rivers told
AOL FanHouse on Wednesday. "I don't know yet if we can make it work. It is
going to be interesting, that's for sure."
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Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.
Bet on NFL Football
Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.
Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.
Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.
All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.
A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.
2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1
Ron Brace (NE) 25/1
Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1
Darius Butler (NE) 40/1
Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1
Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1
Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1
Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1
Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1
Larry English (SD) 15/1
Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1
Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1
Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1
Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1
James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1
Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1
Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1
Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1
Roy Miller (TB) 20/1
Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1
Fili Moala (IND) 30/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1
Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1
B J Raji (GB) 7/1
Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1
Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1
David Verkune (CLE) 20/1
Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 6/1
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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.
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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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