NBA Playoff Betting Preview – 5/4
Posted by Don Chino on May 4, 2010 · Leave a Comment
If the first round of the NBA playoffs was any indication, the Orlando Magic should have little trouble taking care of the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Magic and Hawks meet in Game 1 of their second round set on Tuesday night at Amway Arena. Orlando is priced as a 9-point favorite for the opener.
The Magic swept the Charlotte Bobcats in four straight games in the first round, going 3-1 ATS for bettors. Many thought Charlotte would give Orlando a push, but the Bobcats were no match for the Magic.
Vince Carter had 21 points in Orlando’s 99-90 win over Charlotte in the clincher last Monday, as the Magic covered as 4-point road chalk. With the victory, the Magic have won 10 in a row (9-1 ATS), and are an impressive 24-3 SU (19-7-1 ATS) in their last 27 games dating back to the regular season.
The Hawks had a hard time with the Milwaukee Bucks in the opening round, even if they finished the series strongly. Down 3-2 in the best-of-seven set to upstart Milwaukee, Atlanta won – and covered – on the road before taking down the Bucks 95-74 as 8.5-point faves at Philips Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Still, the Hawks should have had an easier go of it against the Bucks, who were without starting center Andrew Bogut for the series. Atlanta is afforded no such luck against Dwight Howard and Orlando, which went 3-1 SU and against the number in the teams’ four meetings in the regular season.
Later on Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers are 6-point favorites at Staples Center in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Utah Jazz.
The Lakers took the opener 104-99 on Sunday afternoon, but it was the Jazz that took home the payday as 7-point underdogs. Kobe Bryant led Los Angeles with 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting, while Deron Williams went for 24 points and eight assists for Utah.
Both teams are dealing with injury issues heading into Tuesday night, and it’s the Jazz on the short end of the stick. Mehmet Okur (heel) is out for the season, while Andrei Kirilenko (calf) is questionable for Game 2. Williams is expected to play after tweaking his ankle in the first half on Sunday.
Andrew Bynum (knee) played through a slight meniscus tear in the opener, and he’s slated to be in the starting lineup on Tuesday night. Sasha Vujacic (ankle) remains out indefinitely for the Lakers.
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Charleston Daily Mail September 30, 2011 WVU Saturday: vs. Bowling Green, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 8: vs. Connecticut, noon Oct. 21: at Syracuse, 8 p.m.
Marshall Saturday: at Louisville, 3:30 p.m. Oct. 8: at UCF, 4 p.m. Oct. 15: vs. Rice, TBD Charleston Saturday: at Fairmont State, noon Oct. 8: at Seton Hill, 1 p.m. Oct. 15: vs. UNC Pembroke, 1 p.m. W.Va. State Saturday: vs. Seton Hill, 1:30 p.m. Oct. 8: at West Liberty, 1 p.m. Oct. 15: vs. Glenville State, 1 p.m.
WVU Tech Saturday: vs. Virginia-Wise, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 8: at Virginia-Lynchburg, 1 p.m. Oct. 15: at Kentucky Christian, 1:30 p.m.
Logan to host HYCAT swim meet this weekend The HYCAT Chief Logan Kickoff Age Group and Senior Swim Meet will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Chief Logan Recreation Center natatorium in Logan.
The first meet held at the new 8-lane indoor facility will include Colorado Timing System and scoreboard.
Leading the 57 HYCAT swimmers will be 2011 Junior National participants Nate Carr and Tate Warden along with 2012 YMCA Short Course qualifiers Morgan Carr and Megan Clemens.
Admission is free to the public. The morning session is set for 10 a.m. with the afternoon session beginning at 2:20 p.m.
Wesleyan’s Jackson has interim taken off title BUCKHANNON – West Virginia Wesleyan College Director of Athletics Ken Tyler announced that interim head football coach Jonas Jackson has been named head football coach, effective immediately. in our site lincoln university pa
Jackson was named interim coach when Denny Creehan resigned this summer to become Director of Athletics at Alderson-Broaddus College.
Jackson has led the Bobcats to a 4-0 start this season and they are tied for first place in the West Virginia Conference. Wesleyan travels to Lincoln University (Pa.) this weekend for their final non- conference contest. They will host nationally ranked Shepherd University Oct. 8 in Buckhannon.
Pros win golf Challenge Cup at Edgewood The fourth WVGA-WVPGA Challenge Cup wrapped up this evening at Edgewood Country Club in Sissonville, where the professional golfers took back their title and increasing their lead in the series to 3- 1.
The amateurs were shut out by the pros in the four-ball matches, sweeping each match. The amateurs got away with just three victories (and one halved match) during singles, with 2011 State Amateur champion, Christian Brand, defeating his mentor, Evans. See Cup results, at left.
National sports NCAA cites infractions at Cincinnati CINCINNATI – The NCAA placed the University of Cincinnati on two years of probation Thursday for violating rules on calling recruits in its women’s basketball and football programs.
The NCAA said the university discovered the improper calls and reported them. The NCAA infractions committee found a major violation in women’s basketball and secondary ones in football and women’s basketball.
The university said the NCAA accepted its self-imposed sanctions, which it has completed. They include restrictions on making calls to recruits during certain periods and on the size of the women’s basketball staff and its recruiters this season.
White Sox receive two players in Guillen deal MIAMI – The Chicago White Sox have acquired right-hander Jhan Marinez and infielder Ozzie Martinez as part of the agreement that allowed the Florida Marlins to hire Ozzie Guillen as manager.
The Marlins acquired minor league right-hander Ricardo Andres in the deal announced Thursday.
Guillen was released this week from the final year of his contract with the White Sox and signed a four-year deal with the Marlins.
Marinez’s only major-league experience came in 2010, when he had a 1-1 record in four games with Florida. Martinez had a .258 average in 34 games over the past two seasons.
Beane hopes to hear on San Jose move soon OAKLAND, Calif. – Athletics General Manager Billy Beane says he expects to hear “very soon” from Commissioner Bud Selig about whether the club will be allowed to move south to San Jose and build a new ballpark.
The reigning World Series champion San Francisco Giants currently hold the territorial rights to San Jose, where the A’s hope to build a new ballpark and then relocate – something that could transform the blue-collar franchise into a bigger spender based on increased revenue. San Francisco likely would fight to protect its turf, too. here lincoln university pa
Pitt routs No. 16 South Florida in Big East opener PITTSBURGH -Junior Ray Graham ran for 226 yards on 26 carries and Pittsburgh pulled away from No. 16 South Florida in the second half for a 44-17 victory at Heinz Field.
Quarterback Tino Sunseri completed 22-of-33 passes for 216 yards and a score as the Panthers (3-2, 1-0 Big East) outgained the Bulls (4-1, 0-1) by a 523-425 margin.
COMPILEDFROMSTAFF, WIREREPORTS Manager Acta’s option picked up by Indians CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Indians have picked up manager Manny Acta’s contract option for 2013.
Acta kept the Indians in contention for much of this season before injuries overwhelmed the young club, which finished second in the American League Central. Cleveland went 80-82, an 11-game improvement over last season.
Acta was signed through 2012, and the Indians rewarded him by exercising the option for 2013. He’s 149-175 in two seasons with Cleveland.
Acta’s staff already has undergone radical change for next season. On Wednesday, bench coach Tim Tolman disclosed he has Parkinson’s disease and will not be back, and pitching coach Tim Belcher stepped down to spend more time with his family.
