Bucks eye playoff spot in visit to Bulls
Basketball Betting Lines
04/06/2010 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Milwaukee Bucks hope to clinch their first playoff
berth since 2006 when they visit the Windy City tonight to take on a Chicago Bulls team scratching and clawing for the final postseason spot in the East.
The Bulls are one game behind eighth place Toronto with just six games to
play. Milwaukee is currently the sixth seed in the East, five games clear of
Chicago.
The Bucks' playoff push has largely been fueled by a deal made with the Bulls
at the trade deadline. Milwaukee is a gaudy 18-6 since acquiring John Salmons
from Chicago and the veteran swingman has been brilliant since taking up
residence in Brew City, averaging 20.0 points in his 24 games with the Bucks.
Things aren't all rosy in Milwaukee, however. Center Andrew Bogut, perhaps the
team's best player, suffered a broken hand, dislocated elbow and sprained
wrist during a fall from the rim in a 107-98 win over Phoenix on Saturday
night.
The former No. 1 overall pick underwent surgery Monday and is expected to be
out up to six weeks, meaning he'll likely miss the rest of the season,
including the playoffs.
The Bucks inched closer to that postseason spot on Saturday when rookie star
Brandon Jennings posted 23 points as Milwaukee snapped the Suns' 10-game win
streak with a 107-98 victory at Bradley Center.
Carlos Delfino poured in 16 points and nine rebounds while Salmons scored 14
points for the Bucks, who stemmed a two-game slide and also erased a seven-
game skid to the Suns despite losing Bogut in the second quarter.
Bogut had 12 points and four boards before departing for Milwaukee, which
remained in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind Miami,
after the Heat topped Minnesota earlier Saturday.
"We had a lot of energy. Considering what we have been through; 11 games in 18
days and two really tough road losses and Phoenix winning 10 in a row," Bucks
head coach Scott Skiles said. "I was really proud of the guys tonight. You
could tell fatigue was setting in near the end of the game."
The Bulls, meanwhile, are fighting for their playoff lives and they have been
playing like it, winning for the fourth time in five games on Saturday to stay
on Toronto's heels.
Derrick Rose recorded a game-high 26 points in that one, as Chicago earned a
96-88 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats at the United Center.
Kirk Hinrich added 24 points and six rebounds for the Bulls. Taj Gibson
donated 14 points and 15 rebounds, while Luol Deng chipped in 12 points in a
winning effort.
"We understand the situation and have to keep fighting and keep fighting,"
center Joakim Noah told NBA.com. "I think everybody here really wants to make
the playoffs."
Milwaukee has lost eight straight in Chicago, last winning there on Jan. 2,
2006. If the Bulls lose tonight, Miami will clinch a playoff spot.
<< Spurs, Kings go at it in Sacramento
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - With a playoff berth already secured, the San Antonio Spurs
get back to work tonight in California's capital against the lottery-bound
Sacramento Kings.
Manu Ginobili scored 17 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter
<< Cavs host Raptors in possible playoff preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A possible playoff preview is on tap tonight at Cleveland's
Quicken Loans Arena, where the top-seeded Cavaliers will play host to the
playoff-hungry Toronto Raptors.
Cleveland, owners of home-court advantage throughout the
<< Celtics jockey for playoff position vs. Knicks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics are still fighting for playoff
positioning and will face a familiar foe tonight in the Atlantic Division-
rival New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Boston sits fourth in the Eastern Conference, jus
<< Nellie stands on the precipice of history as Warriors visit Wizards
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Golden State Warriors head coach Don Nelson is one win away
from becoming the NBA's all-time wins leader, as he guides his team into
Washington tonight for a showdown with the Wizards at the Verizon Center.
Nelson tied Len
<< Pistons, Sixers clash in Philly
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Two of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference playing
out the string get together tonight in the City of Brotherly Love, where the
Philadelphia 76ers play host to the Detroit Pistons at the Wachovia Center.
The Sixers h
Thunder shoot for series sweep of Jazz >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The jumbled Western Conference playoff picture will
continue to shake out tonight when the Oklahoma City Thunder visit Salt Lake
City to take on the Utah Jazz.
The Thunder, who are attempting to sweep the seaso
Zito hopes for a new beginning against Houston >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Barry Zito hopes for a fresh start this evening when the
San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros play the middle test of their three-
game series at Minute Maid Park.
Zito has been a bust for the Giants since signing his
Jackson makes D-Backs debut versus Padres >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Edwin Jackson makes his Arizona debut this evening when the
Diamondbacks play the middle tilt of their three-game season-opening set with
the San Diego Padres at Chase Field.
Jackson was acquired along with right-handed pi
Rox attempt to continue mastery of Milwaukee >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Colorado Rockies try to continue their recent mastery
of the Milwaukee Brewers and open a season with consecutive victories for the
first time in nine years when the play the middle test of their three-game set
at Miller
Kovalchuk, Devils head to Atlanta to battle Thrashers >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Ilya Kovalchuk will make his return to Atlanta tonight as
his New Jersey Devils visit the Thrashers for an important Eastern Conference
clash at Philips Arena.
Kovalchuk was traded to the Devils on Feb. 4 after spending hi
The NFL preseason is approaching. Time for players, coaches and teams to turn over a new leaf. General managers have hired some new coaches, while coaches have added some offensive and defensive assistants to try and improve things. Here’s a look at some changes to look for in the preseason.
New York Jets: The Jets were one of the surprise teams in the NFL last season, making the playoffs under hard-driving first-year coach Eric Mangini. Mangini rebuilt the offensive line with rookies D'Brickashaw Ferguson (the No. 4 pick in the 2007 Draft) and Ohio State center (the 29th pick in the first round). This season he upgraded the defense with rookie linebacker David Harris (Michigan) while the secondary picked up a much needed top-notch corner in Pitt CB Darrelle Revis (No. 14 overall).
The Jets have added balance to the offense for QB Chad Pennington with RB Thomas Jones, essentially stolen from the Bears. He will upgrade a New York ground game that was 20th in rushing with a weak 3.5 yards per carry. They have their first true feature back since Curtis Martin. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer prefers ball control, like his father Marty. In preseason, behind Pennington you’ll see second-year QB Kellen Clemens and mobile newcomer QB Marques Tuiasosopo.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The heat is on Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville as the Jaguars flopped last season despite a ton of talent. Keep in mind that under Del Rio the Jaguars have been outstanding in preseason with a 12-4 SU, 11-5 ATS August mark. online football betting Their defense is loaded, it’s the offense that has been stuck in first gear the last few years.
Enter a new offensive coordinator in Dirk Koetter, the former Boise State and Arizona State pass-happy coach. He will try and upgrade a passing game that ranked 24th last season. Del Rio has criticized wide receivers and Matt Jones this summer, both of whom have battled injuries. It will be interesting to watch the “new” Jaguars passing game in preseason.
Arizona Cardinals: Word out of Arizona is that the players like new coach Ken Whisenhunt, who was the Steelers offensive coordinator last year. We think of Arizona as all-passing because their running game has been awful of late because of a poor offensive line. However, keep an eye on the running game in preseason as they’ve made a lot of changes.
The new coach brings in Russ Grimm to coach the offensive line (Grimm did a marvelous job building the Steelers line). They took Penn State OT Levi Jones in the first round and signed two offensive linemen, Mike Gandy and Al Johnson, to provide depth. Reggie Wells was moved from right tackle to left guard and they want more speed out of the offensive line for pulling and traps, a Pittsburgh staple under Bill Cowher.
Atlanta Falcons: While all the attention has been focused on QB Mike Vick’s off-field problems, new coach Bobby Petrino is revamping the Falcons from an all-running team to a more balanced one. Petrino likes the experience of backup QB Joey Harrington and he has veteran backup Chris Redman, who used to play for Petrino at Louisville and knows his offenses better than anyone. Petrino wants Vick to be more of a pocket passer.
The addition of FB Ovie Mughelli is a sign Petrino wants a power rushing attack behind a physical fullback and newcomer WR Joe Horn should upgrade what was a below average wideout corps. Petrino is changing their old zone-blocking scheme to a more traditional in-line blocking scheme and the offensive line is bigger. Rookie DE Jamaal Anderson was grabbed in the first round and the secondary got younger with former Auburn cornerback David Irons, who the Falcons think was a steal as a sixth-round pick.
Cleveland Browns: The 2007 Browns look like a double-edged sword. There was the excitement of the offseason, trading for RB Jamel Lewis, upgrading the offensive line with Wisconsin’s Joe Thomas (the No. 2 pick in the draft) and free agent LG Eric Steinbach, then trading for Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn when he fell to No. 22. GM Phil Savage and head coach Romeo Crennel feel they have a talented, balanced offense with these new pieces, plus TE >Kellen Winslow and WR Braylon Edwards.
However, were these moves made in desperation? And were they foolish ones? The Browns gave up their 2008 first-round pick for Quinn and we all know QBs take time to develop. And even first-round QBs can be busts (Joey Harrington, Akili Smith). We also don’t know if the offensive line is that much improved (31st in rushing in 2007) and they did nothing to improve a defense that was awful against the run (142 yds pg allowed).
The Browns have a new offensive coordinator in Rob Chudzinski. This is a young offense and Quinn looked tentative, indecisive and inaccurate early in camp. Crennel will play Charlie Frye, Quinn and Derek Anderson in preseason. And there is a mixed bag for rookie QBs receiving significant starts: Tim Couch (14), Kerry Collins (13), Ben Roethlisberger (13), Vince Young (13), Joey Harrington (12), Matt Leinart (11) and Kyle Boller (nine). While all the focus will be on the Browns new-look offense, I’m more concerned with the defense.
Carolina Panthers: Coach Jon Fox loves the ground game, but Carolina has made some interesting changes for 2007. Fox fired offensive coordinator Dan Henning and brings in Jeff Davidson to run the offense. Davidson has brought in zone-blocking schemes to the Panther offense, a dramatic change for a system that's been built around a power-running style.
In zone-blocking, offensive linemen are responsible for blocking any defender who appears in their zone, instead of focusing on one defender. The Broncos and Falcons have had success with the system, which features smaller, more athletic offensive linemen and can create running lanes on the inside and outside. Keep an eye in preseason on how Carolina adjusts as it will take time to learn the system. Fox has been one of the top coaches in preseason, with a 15-5 SU, 12-7-1 ATS August record.
Dallas Cowboys: WR Terrell Owens is still here, but QB Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells are gone. New head coach Wade Phillips takes over, replacing Parcells. He ran the Chargers defense last season. Phillips was chosen by teary-eyed owner Jerry Jones partly because he is one of the best 3-4 coaches in football and the Cowboys have loaded up on players for that scheme.
Remember that Phillips was blitz-happy with the Chargers last season and early reports out of the Dallas camp have mentioned how the Cowboys have been blitzing a lot, a departure from Parcells. The theme of the 2007 Dallas defense appears to be one of attack.
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