 |
 Basketball Betting |
 |
||||
|
 |
||||
|
||||
D'Antoni: 'Our big date is circled as July 1'Basketball Betting Lines06/24/2010 - GREENBURGH, N.Y. (AP) -Draft day is a bit anticlimactic for Mike D'Antoni. ``Our big date is circled as July 1,'' the New York Knicks coach said Thursday, not exactly revealing a franchise secret. For two years team president Donnie Walsh has maneuvered to slash salaries, freeing up cap room in anticipation of this summer's glittery free agent class. For two years D'Antoni has presided over undermanned, losing squads as fans fantasized about LeBron James - or at least some other All-Star - signing and returning the club to glory. ``We'll set a course for the franchise for the next 10 years,'' D'Antoni said. No pressure. The Knicks only had two second-round picks Thursday. What would've been their first-round slot - No. 9 - belongs to Utah, surrendered way back when they acquired Stephon Marbury from Phoenix. When D'Antoni contends the Knicks have a good hand to attract a marquee player, it goes without saying that they're all in when it comes to resting their hopes on free agency. There's always the chance they won't land a single big name, losing out to other teams who have also aggressively cleared cap space. ``That's why we won't sleep a whole lot the next week,'' D'Antoni said. While acknowledging that ``we have to win,'' D'Antoni insisted that the Knicks' roster was no less attractive a destination than that of other suitors. ``Almost all the teams have cleared everybody out, so we're all the same,'' he said before the start of the draft. ``Everybody's got this space, and you're trying to fill it up with other people. I think our core of young players can be put up against anybody.'' D'Antoni then warned reporters not to smirk at that last assertion. Just in case the Knicks don't reel in one of the top few free agents, D'Antoni seemed to be laying the groundwork for possibly having to sell the signing of several lesser names. ``We have some pieces that are very interesting. We have a lot of room, and we're able to find players that complement each other and that play off each other and that are the best fits,'' he said. ``We think we can come out with the best team.'' For now, the Knicks will make their sales pitch to the biggest stars of the free agency class. ``We're selling the best place in the world to come live and play,'' D'Antoni said. Asked if he was worried about other teams making moves to clear cap space, he shot back: ``As long as we keep the Empire State Building where it is, I think we'll be OK.'' The Knicks are mired in nine straight losing seasons, though the last two have been more palatable for fans convinced there was a LeBron at the end of the tunnel. Now after all those months of talk, the big day is just a week away. ``We've gone through two years of not a whole lot of fun,'' D'Antoni said. ``This is what we all signed on for, and this is what we'll try to realize, and I'm excited about it. At the same time, obviously everybody is a little nervous about it. That's because there's high stakes out there.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Morrow, Wells shine as Blue Jays blank Cardinals
Toronto, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brandon Morrow pitched eight strong innings, and Vernon Wells slugged a pair of home runs, as Toronto avoided a three-game sweep by the Cardinals with a 5-0 win. Morrow (5-5) allowed just five hits, walke
<< Nets take G Crawford with No. 27th pick in draft
<< Washington's Pondexter headed to Hornets
<< Blazers take Williams of Memphis with 22nd pick
<< Grizzlies draft South Florida's Jones at No. 25
Jazz take Hayward at No. 9 in NBA draft >>
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -The Utah Jazz have selected Butler forward Gordon Hayward with the ninth overall pick in the NBA draft.Hayward helped lead Butler on its run to the NCAA championship game this spring, which included a win in Salt Lake City that
Blazers take G Armon Johnson with No. 34 pick >>
Tomasulo leads suspended Mexico Open >>
Mavs get Dominique Jones from Grizzlies >>
Tigers edge Mets to avoid sweep >>
Huskers' Lucky hospitalized for undisclosed reason LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky was hospitalized Monday for undisclosed reasons after Lincoln police responded to a call at his residence. The Nebraska athletic department said in a release Monday that Lucky was admitted Sunday night. MySportsbook.com has the Cornhuskers listed at +2500 to win the BCS National Championship odds. A nursing supervisor at the hospital said all questions about Lucky were being referred to the athletic department. The athletic department said there would be no further comment from the department or Lucky's family. A Lincoln Police spokesman said officers responded to a call at Lucky's residence 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The spokesman said he didn't know Lucky's condition at the time he was taken to the hospital. Lucky, from North Hollywood, Calif., started six games last season as a sophomore and was the team's second-leading rusher, with 728 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 383 yards. He averaged 19.1 yards on eight kickoff returns. To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards. |
|
