How Injuries Affect the NBA in this Shortened Season
One of the problems with this year's shortened NBA season is that teams are playing more games in less time to make up for the months-long lockout. Predictably, this has resulted in players being injured more often for longer periods of time, and players just looking tired at certain points of the season. The Boston Celtics are a perfect example, especially as they rely on some older players for heavy minutes. Last night, the Celtics were crushed 89-73 by the Dallas Mavericks, so Boston has lost four games in a row and six of their last seven total. But they were without a large number of players. Rajon Rondo was serving a two-game suspension and Kevin Garnett missed the game to attend to a family matter. But Brandon Bass is injured, and Jermaine O'Neal and Chris Wilcox both left the game with injuries in the third quarter. Get more information on sports odds and Hockey wager here. The Chicago Bulls have also suffered a number of injuries, including two five-game absences of their star player Derrick Rose. As the second half of the season begins, it will be important to watch for any other injuries, especially during long stretches of three games in three days or weeks-long road trips. If you need to save money on services like Pool services Coconut Creek, FL, see this website today.
Will Hillman Be Able to Be Contained? Preview of R+L Carriers Bowl
The Louisiana Superdome will come to life on December 17th when the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl kicks off. The San Diego State Aztecs face the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns in a battle for the championship. The Aztecs come into the game with an 8-4 record and a 4-3 record in the Mountain West Conference. The Aztecs average 29.8 points per game on offense while allowing 24.4 points per game on defense.
The Aztecs are led by senior QB Ryan Lindley (2,740 yards – 52.5 completion pct – 20 td's / 8 int – 122.9 rating). The running game is in great hands with phenom sophomore RB Ronnie Hillman (287 carries – 1,656 yards – 19 td's). Hillman had a 99-yard touchdown run in a losing effort against Wyoming on October 29th. Hillman reminds some watchers of former Aztecs star and newest NFL Hall Of Famer Marshall Faulk who also ran up and down opposing teams in the early 1990's.
The Ragin' Cajuns defense will have their hands full in trying to stifle Ronnie Hillman on the ground. Both defenses will surely get a workout in this shootout of two impressive teams. The two-way threat of Gautier versus the running game of Hillman will be a spectacle. Both teams will work to put a lot of points on the board in this game.
NBA Finals – Mavericks Tie Series with 95-93 Win in Game Two
A fifteen point lead over the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter means nothing; in fact, it means less than nothing.
And it is always a very bad idea to start celebrating a huge lead over the Mavericks late in the game – just ask the Thunder and Kevin Durant about that.
But that is exactly the situation the Miami Heat and their fans found themselves in last night in Game Two of the NBA Finals – the Heat blew a 15-point lead with less than eight minutes to play, and the Mavs walked out with the win.
Conference Semifinals Heating Up in NBA Playoffs
This weekend and going into early next week, a lot of questions will be answered in the NBA Playoffs as we go through Game Three and Game Four for many of the teams.
After two games, a couple series are tied, one favorite is winning easier than expected, and one underdog is dominating.
But with one game, a series can turn around and momentum shifts can easily take place.
Wager on the Kentucky Derby
The crowds are starting to gather for the upcoming Kentucky Derby, both in person and online on different types of online gambling websites.
This year's Kentucky Derby is the 137th annual event and is usually considered the biggest horse race of the year.
Trainers and jockeys prepare for decades in some cases to get ready for this one event, and the world is watching as the line of the world's fastest horses get ready to run for the roses.
How to Play the Early Position in Texas Holdem
You are going to be in early position every single day that you play Texas Holdem. How do you play from early position?
If you want to keep it as simple as possible then only play from early position with aces or kings and fold everything else.
Most people won't do and that is why most players lose when playing from early position.
Professional Poker Players Now Able to Deduct Expenses
If you are a professional poker player then you got some good news recently when it was announced that business expenses can now be deducted on your tax return.
Professional players can now deduct things like travel and lodging expenses.
The courts made a ruling recently and for once, poker players actually came out on top.
First Four Game Preview – USC and VCU
On Wednesday night, USC basketball head coach Kevin O'Neill will return to the bench after being suspended during the Pac-10 conference for an argument he got into with a fan.
The USC Trojans play the Virginia Commonwealth Rams, with the winner of tonight's matchup going on to face No. 6 Georgetown on Friday.
Will the Heat Drop Their Sixth Straight Against the Lakers?
When the Los Angeles Lakers visit the Miami Heat later tonight, the contrast between the two teams will be heavy in the air.
The Lakers are on fire right now, having won their last eight games in a row, while the Heat have gone cold, dropping five straight.
Can the Lakers keep the momentum going on their road trip, or will fatigue and the Heat's motivation to end their losing streak be the deciding factor?
Knicks Favored in Friday Game Against Cavs
Now that the New York Knicks have vastly upped the talent of their program, their odds for making the playoffs just got that much better.
With Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups coming from Denver to join Amare Stoudemire in New York, many of the pieces are in place for a very strong Knicks team, one which may rival the other elite teams in the Eastern Conference in a year or two.
Kevin Durant’s Ankle Injury to Keep Him Out of Hawks game
The Oklahoma City Thunder may be playing Friday night in Atlanta without their star Kevin Durant. Durant, the NBA's top scorer, sat out practice on Thursday with a sprained ankle and is questionable for Friday night's game.
Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said that it is doubtful that Durant will play against the Atlanta Hawks.
Dallas Cowboys Looking at Cam Newton
With a star like Tony Romo at quarterback, one might think that Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys would be concerned with looking to draft other needed positions, but Jones claims that he will keep all options open come draft day.
"I wouldn't dismiss any player that's going to be in that draft and wouldn't express interest," commented Jones on Friday. With the ninth pick in the draft, it is entirely possible that Newton will still be available, and even though they have Romo signed through 2013, aging back-up Jon Kitna, 38, is at the tail end of his career. The question is whether Newton would want to come in and be number two because he would be until he proved otherwise.
After Carmelo Anthony Trade, Knicks Still on Hunt for Talent
A day after their huge deal with the Denver Nuggets, the New York Knicks are continuing to hunt for talent to fill out their depleted reserve situation. While head coach Mike D'Antoni has already penciled in his starting line-up, which includes Stoudemire, Anthony, Billups, Fields, and Turief, team president Donnie Walsh has claimed that the Knicks are not doe and will pursue other players before the Thursday deadline. The depleted bench will consist of Shawne Williams, Toney Douglas, and Corey Brewer, with Shelden Williams likely to be the go to guy to get Stoudemire and Anthony a rest.
With the trade, the Knicks actually add much more experience, including playoff experience, to their starting line-up. Anthony will be replacing Gallanari at the small forward position, and besides his nearly 26 points per game, Carmelo also brings much more game experience, 564 starts to Gallanari's 124 career starts. The veteran Billups, while maybe not the best fit for the up-tempo Knicks, brings nearly 865 NBA starts, which includes plenty of playoff and NBA Finals experience.
Penn Fighting for Continued Relevancy in UFC 127 Bout
In Saturday night's UFC 127 showdown, BJ Penn will not just be fighting against Jon Fitch. He will also be fighting against his own possible irrelevancy if he loses the match. For Penn, winning UFC 127 is a must in order to remain important to the sport and an elite fighter after nearly a decade in the spotlight. But Fitch will not be an easy win by any means.
Up to now, Penn's record, while not being perfect, is a perfectly respectable 16-7-1. This is even more remarkable considering that half of those matches were championship bouts. And most of the bouts were against fighters ranked in the top 10 of their respective divisions. In fact, if Penn had spent his entire career in the lightweight division, he may have been considered one of the legends of the sport.
Impressive Win for Cardinals Over Huskies
Despite the Cardinals' top shooters having an off night on Friday, Louisville easily defeated the UConn Huskies 71-58. This is an impressive win by the Cardinals, who had not been expected to win the game by such a lopsided margin. Add the fact that their best shooters were struggling throughout the game, and the win becomes even more impressive.
Louisville's usual top scorer, Preston Knowles, suffered a terrible shooting night, going 2 for 13 from the field. The first half of the game was also a struggle for Kyle Kuric, who only had 6 points before halftime. In fact, the Cardinals' three top scorers, Knowls, Kuric, and Terrence Jennings, only combined for 20 points total.
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