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Cavs resume lengthy homestand vs. reeling Pacers

Basketball Betting Lines

02/15/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Cleveland Cavaliers will play their fourth game on a lengthy nine-game homestand tonight, when they entertain the Central Division- rival Indiana Pacers from Quicken Loans Arena.

Cleveland is in the midst of the longest homestand in franchise history, and the last team to have a residency of nine or more games was the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1999-00 season. After opening the homestand with a win versus the LA Clippers, Cleveland has dropped consecutive contests to Milwaukee and Philadelphia.

In Saturday's 99-84 loss to the 76ers, Antawn Jamison paced the undermanned Cavaliers with 20 points, while Ramon Sessions and Alonzo Gee had 19 and 17, respectively, in Cleveland's fifth loss in seven tries. Cleveland was playing its third straight game without its No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving because of a concussion. The Cavs were also without guard Anthony Parker (lower back spasms) and center Anderson Varejao (broken right wrist).

"Like I told the guys, this is the NBA, guys get hurt. It provides opportunities for other guys and you just have to be ready to play," Cavaliers head coach Byron Scott said. "Hopefully, we'll get over this little hangover tonight and be ready to play Wednesday."

Irving was cleared to resume playing by Cavaliers Team Physician Dr. AJ Cianflocco early Wednesday morning. Scott has also said center Semih Erden will start Wednesday against Indiana.

Scott's team is 5-7 in the Forest City this season and will also welcome the Heat, Kings, Pistons, Hornets and Celtics to town on the current homestand. Sessions has filled in for Irving and is averaging 12.9 points, 9.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds in his last seven games. Over his last six games, Jamison is averaging 23.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.

Gee is posting 14.5 points per game in his previous eight. Cleveland has lost its last five games against Eastern Conference opponents.

Indiana hopes to put the brakes on a season-high four-game losing streak and is coming off Tuesday's 105-90 home loss versus Miami.

Despite outscoring the Heat by a 32-15 margin in the final stanza, the Pacers put themselves in a big hole early on and trailed 33-16 after the first 12 minutes of action and never recovered.

David West had 14 points, Paul George and A.J. Price both had 12 and Dahntay Jones and Roy Hibbert added 10 points apiece for the Pacers, who have lost five of six games and allowed 60-plus points in the first half for the second consecutive game.

"They came out and jumped all over us. There was no way that we could battle back from the hole that we dug for ourselves," said Jones. "They're one of the better teams in the NBA and they're not going to let you back in when they get you down the way they got us down tonight."

The Pacers, who are 10-7 away from home, will open a fairly easy three-game homestand versus the Nets, Bobcats and Hornets following tonight's game.

Indiana defeated the Cavaliers, 98-91, in overtime on Dec. 30 this season at home and has won six in a row in this series. Cleveland is still 13-7 in the previous 20 matchups with Indiana, which has won three straight after losing its last 10 trips to the Q.

<< Panthers give D Strachan one-year extension
Sunrise, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Panthers signed defenseman Tyson Strachan to a one-year contract extension on Wednesday. Strachan has one goal and two assists in eight games this season for the Panthers. The 27-year-o

<< Magic welcome 76ers to Amway Center
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic eye a third straight win this evening when they welcome the Philadelphia 76ers to Amway Center. Orlando has started to play its best basketball of the season, yet the last two games it hasn't had

<< Thunder make a stop in Houston
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Oklahoma City makes a quick trip down to south Texas on Wednesday to take on the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. The Thunder improved to an NBA-best 22-6 on Tuesday in OKC, topping Utah for the second time in four

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<< Hawks continue road trip at Phoenix
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Atlanta will resume a five-game road trip tonight in the desert when it takes on a Phoenix Suns team finishing up a tough three games in three nights stretch. The Hawks, who will also visit Portland, Chicago and New

Wildcats and Hoosiers mix it up in Big Ten action >>
Bloomington, IN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Big Ten Conference rivals square off in Bloomington this evening, as the Northwestern Wildcats have come calling on the 18th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers. Northwestern comes in sporting a 15-9 overall record, wh

Lions visit Gaels in pivotal WCC clash >>
Moraga, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 21st-ranked Saint Mary's-CA Gaels put their perfect home record on the line for the final time this season, as they entertain the Lions of Loyola Marymount in a West Coast Conference clash tonight at McKeon Pav

Lobos head to San Diego to take on 13th-ranked Aztecs >>
San Diego, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Entering the week there were three teams tied atop the Mountain West Conference standings and two of those programs go up against each other tonight, as the 13th-ranked San Diego State Aztecs entertain the New M

Oklahoma State and Missouri battle in Big 12 brawl >>
Columbia, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The third-ranked Missouri Tigers continue their quest for a Big 12 regular season crown, as they welcome the Oklahoma State Cowboys to Columbia this evening, for a conference showdown at Mizzou Arena. Frank H

ACC showdown pits Heels against 'Canes >>
Coral Gables, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The eighth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels take to the road in search of their fourth straight ACC win away from Chapel Hill, as they invade the BankUnited Center to take on the dangerous Miami- Florida Hurri

MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

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