Bulls welcome Warriors to Windy City
Basketball Betting Lines
02/28/2007 -
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chicago is seeing its chances at a division title slipping
away. The Bulls will try to rebound tonight when they host the Golden State Warriors at the United Center.
Chicago has lost two straight, including Monday's 94-87 setback to Orlando,
and is now six games behind Detroit for the top spot in the Central Division.
The Bulls are third place in the standings and fifth overall in the East.
Ben Gordon registered 32 points against Orlando for the Bulls, who opened up a
three-game homestand against the Magic. Luol Deng added 23 points, six
rebounds, six steals and six assists in the loss.
Chicago will conclude its brief stand on Friday against the Hornets and is a
conference-best 22-8 as the host this season.
While Golden State has won its last two meetings with the Bulls, including a
123-121 overtime win at home on February 9, Chicago has won five in a row over
the Warriors at the United Center.
Golden State kicked off a five-game road swing in Milwaukee on Tuesday and
fell by a 122-101 score.
Monta Ellis led six Warriors in double figures with 17 points and Al
Harrington donated 15 points in the loss. Kelenna Azubuike tallied 14 points
in defeat for the Warriors, who have dropped three in a row.
The team played without guard Stephen Jackson, who missed the game because of
a small fracture in his left big toe. He is questionable for tonight's game.
Also, Josh Powell was forced out of last night's game with a neck injury after
diving for a loose ball.
The Warriors have lost four straight on the road and 11 of the last 13 as the
visitor. The club, which is 6-22 on the road this season, will also visit New
York, Washington and Detroit on its current swing.
Golden State is fourth overall in the Pacific Division but is just two games
out of a playoff spot in the West.
<< Hornets aim to sting visiting Hawks
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets will try for their
sixth straight win at home this evening when they welcome the Atlanta Hawks to
the Ford Center.
The Hornets were on the road last night and fell to the Clevelan
<< Wizards try to turn down Heat in D.C.
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat close out a brief two-game road trip tonight
when they take on the Southeast Division-rival Washington Wizards at the
Verizon Center.
Miami has dropped three of its last four games, including Monday's
<< Jazz visit Grizzlies in Memphis
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Northwest Division-leading Utah Jazz open a three-game
road trip this evening when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies at the
FedExForum.
Utah, which owns a 9 1/2-game lead over Denver in the Northwest standin
<< 76ers continue homestand vs. Suns
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Philadelphia 76ers resume a six-game homestand this
evening when they welcome the Phoenix Suns to the Wachovia Center.
Philadelphia opened the homestand with an 89-82 win over the Sacramento Kings
on Monday night.
<< Celtics, Knickerbockers square off in Beantown
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics try to make it two straight wins
this evening when they host the division-rival New York Knicks at TD Banknorth
Garden.
Boston hasn't won consecutive games since ripping off five straight wins f
Rockets in flight vs. Raptors >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Toronto Raptors conclude a three-game road trip tonight
when they travel to Houston and the Toyota Center to battle the Rockets.
The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors fell to 1-1 on the trek Monday when they
were down
Bobcats, Kings set for battle at ARCO >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Sacramento Kings return home after going 1-3 on a four-
game road trip, as they welcome the Charlotte Bobcats tonight to ARCO Arena.
On Monday, Samuel Dalembert posted 20 points and 17 rebounds, as the
Philad
LA aims to clip visiting Sonics >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Clippers try to make it three wins in a
row, as they welcome the Seattle SuperSonics tonight to the Staples Center.
This is the first of a home-and-home set between the clubs. The SuperSonics
will ho
Nuggets try to foil Magic in Denver >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Orlando Magic play the second of a tough four-game road
trip when they visit the Denver Nuggets tonight at the Pepsi Center.
All-Star Dwight Howard scored 21 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to overcome 11
turnovers, as
Steelers, Smith officially agree to extension >>
Pittsburgh, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Pittsburgh Steelers signed defensive
end Aaron Smith to a four-year contract extension Wednesday.
Financial terms of the deal were not released, but the deal, which will keep
him with the team thr
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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