Happy Holidays to all! To Celebrate the Holidays I have rounded up some great bonuses and some great picks for the great Christmas Day lineup!

Gift wrapped from BetMania.com

Free $55 Wager

Free $55 Wager from BetMania.com This wager is for new or existing members of BetMania.com and will be credited to your account just in time to bet on games today! Just sign up and tell them that Regaw sent you for the $55 Bonus!

FREE NBA Sports Betting Pick: Cavs @ Lakers

Lebron James and the Cavs take on Kobe and the Lakers on Christmas day.

Kobe Vs Lebron on X-mas

Last year the Lakers owned the Cavs winning both game and now the Cavs will try to get revenge. The Cavs are a different team now and bring Shaq with them to try and slow down the best team in the West. Cleveland has covered seven of nine versus teams with a winning percentage above .600 and nine of 12 against winning outfits. The Cavs are 11-6 on the road this season and play nine of their next 13 on the road. The Cavaliers are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games and today the meeting to watch will be Lebron against Ron Artest. If Lebron can take advantage of Ron Artest the Cavs have a shot of winning on the road again. The Cavs seem to rise to the occasion against the better teams in the league as evidence by this formula.

The Cavs have done some of their best work against elite competition: CLEVELAND is 15-4 ATS (+10.6 Units) versus excellent teams – shooting >=46% with a defense of <=43% over the last 3 seasons.

All signs point to Cleveland winning outright! Take the Cavs plus the points!

Cleveland +5

X-mas Bonus from Bet Jamaica

Deposit $100 and get $100 from the Top Rated Sportsbook: Bet Jamaica!

FREE NFL Sports Betting Pick:Chargers Vs Titans

The Chargers and the Titans meet on Christmas in a game that will affect the playoff race. The Chargers all but locked up the #2 seed in the AFC and the Titans have to win out to get the wildcard. With Chris Johnson chasing 2,000 yards they have a lot to play for. Tennessee has won five straight at home and the Titans are an imposing 17-4 as favorites of three points or less at LP Field. The Titans have injuries at linebacker that will pose a problem in the long run but not today as this is a huge revenge game and a grudge match for the Titans. The Titans have forced nine turnovers in last two games and are 7-0 ATS after consecutive games with a turnover margin of +1 or better over the last two seasons.Vince Young showed some flashes of his running ability in the Week 14 victory over St. Louis, but left after the 44-yard run because of a hamstring injury. He returned for last Sunday’s 27-24 overtime victory against Miami and played a more conventional game, rushing just twice for 24 yards. Young and the Titans are 5-2 SU & 4-2-1 ATS at home this season and 10-2-1 ATS in last 13 as hosts overall. The Chargers travel east and get beat on the road. The Titans are 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 games as a home favorite of 0.5-3.0 and get the win and cover today.

X-Mas Bonus from Diamond Sportsbook

Sign up and play at Diamond Sportsbook and enter Bonus Code:BCS100 and get a free $100 when you deposit $100

It was as ugly a first half as Miami had played all year. Boozer went off offensively but was subsequently silenced for the rest of the game. Luckily, the second half was Wade-time as he was able to step up and take the game over at a crucial juncture in the 3rd, extending Miami’s lead just enough for the team to be able to come up on top. Although Wade still shot around 43%, he was able to exert his will in the lane and was suitably dominant.
stats

Chris Paul, Steve Nash and even Rajon Rondo seem to garner more headlines than Utah’s Deron Williams, but that’s OK, he continues to be one of the best point guards in the league, quietly going about his business up in Salt Lake City. Take for instance, this kickass crossover he lays on Dwyane Wade before he just SLAMS one down over the Heat defense. That’s the play of a superstar.

What is less than inspiring is how Wade just completely gives up on the play almost instantly. That’s some fine hustle there Dwyane.

Today’s halfman award nominee is the Sacramento Kings.  Last night the Kings trailed the Chicago Bulls by 35 points in the 3rd quarter.  The Kings, led by rookie of the year candidate Tyreke Evans came all the way back to beat the Bulls 102-98.  This was the biggest comeback in the NBA since the Utah Jazz overcame a 36 point deficit against the Denver Nuggets in 1996.

NBA: Charlotte Bobcats – Utah Jazz

Pronostico: 1  (Charlotte)

Quota: 1,68

Risultato: 102-110

College football bowl games start this weekend and there is still time to join in on the $2500 Bowl contest. Don’t forget that the bowl games start next week and there is still time to get into the best contest if you want a chance at winning some cash!

ONLY a few spots are left! Deadline is Saturday!

2009 Regaw World: $2,500 Prize Contest – Bowl Games Contest

The top ten places will get paid out $2500 and first place will get $1000! Right now there are only 25 people in the contest so now is the time to join. You have to signup before the first game and make sure to read all the details and get a free$50 for just signing up to play! The contest is hosted by BetMania.com sign up and get a 100% bonus!

NBA Friday Night Free pick

Milwaukee @ Cleveland

Shaq and Lebron have been a hit in Cleveland

The Cavs are at home tonight for a meeting with the Bucks. The Bucks are off back to back over time games and will not have the legs to keep up with the cavs tonight. The Cavs have this game before heading out on the road so they want to win this game tonight to grab momentum before the road trip. The Bucks are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600 and 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a road underdog of 5.0-10.5. The Cavaliers are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 vs. NBA Central and 17-7 ATS in their last 24 Friday games. The favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings and all of those were big wins by the Cavs. Look for more of the same tonight!

Cleveland -9.5

Bet the NBA and Bowl games here! Enter Bonus code BCS100 and get a free $100 when you deposit $100 at Diamond Sportsbook

I have writeups, trends and winning picks on more games tonight and they are all for free! All you have to do is sign up with a sponsor and you can get all of my picks for free! Click a banner and email me at mregaw@yahoo.com and you will get all of the great picks and writeups on the following games:

Philly @ Boston

Denver @ New orleans

Kings @ T-Wolves

Want more Bowl contests? Sign up at BetUS.com and have a chance to win

thousands during bowl week just for betting at BETUS.com!

Twelve hour Jeopardy marathons do funny things to a man. First and most obvious, everything takes the form of a question. “What is, a mint julep and two shots of Goldschlager, please.” “Who was, that was my Dad on the phone.” “What is, don’t come in here!” Even other questions become Jeopardy questions. “What is, where are my pants?” “What is, should I get this looked at?” “What is, where am I?” Then of course there’s the unfortunate side effect of slipping into category-selection mode… “I’ll take ‘I’ll be in the shitter’ for $500.” “Give me ‘I think I’m gonna get this looked at’ for $1000.” “I’m gonna go ‘Ape Tit’ for $200.” Regrettable, that. And finally and naturally, everyone becomes Alex. “Don’t be like that… you know I love you, Alex.” “Don’t say a word to anyone about this, Alex!” “Oh yeah… that’s the spot, Alex.” Things of this nature. It’s a lamentable yet unavoidable situation.

And so, I did what I always do in those situations, I searched for the silver lining (once I was sure nothing was lined  with gold). It took some sophisticated investigating on my part… a touch of deconstruction, a dash of gist-twisting, a spoonful of sugar… but success was, as usual, eventually achieved.

I’ll take “The Reverse Mailbag” for free (this time), Alex.

A: Not so good.

- Juana Cuesta, San Elizario, Texas

Q: What are the Cowboys chances of winning in New Orleans this weekend? OK, yes, I’ve started off with a layup. Cut me some slack, will ya? I’ve never done this before. I need to get warmed up… and I’m sure you’ve all noticed how NBA teams get warmed up, right? Layups. In conclusion, I’m being very professional here.

A: Brett Favre.

- Chase DeGraddo, Hybla Valley, Virginia

Q: Who sucks and is stupid? OK, I’m starting off slowly, I’ll admit. I’ll get better as we go along. I’m just venting for all the Packers fans out there. That being said, he is at least overrated, thanks to his man’s man demeanor and “he looks like he’s having fun out there” attitude. He’s won one Super Bowl, on a team so loaded Bret Michaels could have quarterbacked them to a championship. He’s the NFL’s all-time leader in interceptions. Now, in a deft, pre-emptive strike against the hate mail, I’m not saying he’s a bad QB… well, I did say that he sucked and was stupid… hmmm… maybe I should retreat here while my dignity’s still intact. Backing away…. Backing away…

A: This team is failing to live up to preseason expectations and looks to have made some egregious personnel decisions.

- Ollie Blankenship, Seekonk, Massachusetts

Q: Who is Manchester City? Finding my groove now. The wealthiest squad in all of football/soccer was defeated 3-0 yesterday. They splashed £38 million on new center backs (Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott) who continue to demonstrate an allergy to stopping anyone, while former captain Richard Dunne (who they sold for £5 million) thrives at Aston Villa. Big money signing Robinho is a disappoinment, and former Chelsea man Wayne Bridge is proving aptly-named, as he is easily walked over and readily burned.

Until they bring in a gaffer who can handle players that are in it for the money (someone like Jose Mourinho, maybe), they’ll continue to struggle. I like Mark Hughes, but he’s out of his depth, better suited to guide overachievers than the opposite.

A: Ray Rice.

- Wyatt McNamara, Sammamish, Washington

Q: Who should I start this week between Rice, Fred Taylor, Ronnie Brown and Larry Johnson? Yes, I am the place to go for expert fantasy advice, such is my supremacy. You’re welcome, Wyatt.

A: This is the dumbest team nickname in all of American sport.

- Caleb Lettucetree, Hamtramck, Michigan

Q: What is the Utah Jazz? This is a tough one. When’s the last time you saw a lake in Los Angeles that wasn’t full of tar? How many Grizzlies have you seen in Memphis… alive? And the Houston Texans… if there’s a more marketing-based team nickname out there, I haven’t heard it. They even have a distorted University of Texas logo on their helmets… in red, white and blue. America! Texas! Go Houston!

But the Jazz takes the cupcake. Now, I know they moved from New Orleans… of course I know. And the New Orleans Jazz was a good name. The Utah Jazz, though? It’s an oxymoron. You wouldn’t have the Atlanta Yankees, or the Boston College Rebels, or the Dallas Islanders, or the Las Vegas Saints, or the Buffalo Maple Leafs, or the Kansas City Dolphins, or the Detroit Rockies, or the Boston Canadiens, or the Pittsburgh Phillies, or the Seattle Canucks, or the, um, Utah Brewers. Of course not. You’d change the name. Alas, it appears we’re stuck with this ridiculous misnomer.

A: I’m a stupid idiot who talks out his ass.

- Xavier Laurette, LaPlace, Louisiana

Q: Who are you? You didn’t think this one through, did you, Mr. Laurette? Clearly, you intended this to be a rather sophomoric insult towards me and my character, and it’s also clear that you didn’t fully grasp the format. It’s OK. These things take time. In the interim, enjoy this… the part where I reveal your foolishness to the world. Who’s the ass-talking from idiot now?! That didn’t come out right.

A: A spherical fullerene composed entirely of carbon.

- Dr. Drake Smart, Topanga, California

Q: What is… uh… a… uh… can you repeat the answer? Oh, it’s written right in front of me. What is… What kind of question is this? How’d this make it through the vetting process? Smithers! You’re trying to make me look like an idiot, aren’t you? Look at me… I’m Dr. Smart… Oh, that’s actually your name. I was attempting sarcasm there… and you should read it as such! Forget this… this reverse mailbag’s over, yo.

Is it a neutron? No? Well go to hell. Now, this reverse mailbag’s over, yo.

Wait… is it a chromosome? Hey! What did you call me?! A dilpadated what? How dare you! This reverse mailbag is officially over, yo!

Is it a quasar?

Aside from Utah’s famous NBA team – Utah Jazz, the place also has something else that they are very much proud of. Park City, one of the two major resort towns in Utah, has so much to offer. Not only was the town famous for silver mining in the past, it also became a world class mountain resort.

Park City is the place to live, visit and establish business. I’ll give you ten more reasons why.

10. Ease of access to all areas

It only takes around 30-45 minutes to go between Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley Resort and other attractions.

9. Top tourist destination

With wide variety of recreation, Park City offers a place where you can have your fitness opportunity with state-of-the-art equipments, relaxing pools and saunas, world class tennis courts, golf course and many other amenities like spas, child care and of course restaurants.

8. Skiing!

There are a lot of ski resorts in Park City to choose from, so if you decide to go with your family, here are the top choices: Deer Valley, Park City Mountain Resort and The Canyons.

7. Multi-surface

It’s always important that you can enjoy both home market and bedroom community. You’d like a versatile town won’t you?

6. Park City may very well be the fastest growing region in the U.S.

Park City’s economy is lively. The area never gets a break from establishing different kinds of businesses. If you’re looking for a place to start your own you might be looking for Park City real estate.

5. A Self-motivated Metro Market

This place is one of the fastest growing metropolitan in the US. It seizes every opportunity – small or big. That’s why Park City was known to develop a good metro market.

4. Low unemployment

Park City has continuous productivity and strong economy. It is one of the best tourist attractions when it comes to Ski resorts that are why employment continues to rise up.

3. 2002 Winter Olympics

Way back in 2002, Park City hosted the first Winter Olympics and the rest is history in ski tourism. If the place is good enough for the Winter Olympics, then it’s good enough for everybody.

2. Good weather and climate

Park City has moderate weather than other ski sites. This town has snow which is best for skiing and dry summer which is perfectly cozy.

1.  Best values for houses

Apparently, houses here cost lower than other towns in the United States. You can get the best deals here since it not only offers a great place to live in but also a place for recreation. Many tourist have gladly decided to call Park City home.

Park City also offers lodging and makes a perfect tourist attraction for you and your family’s recreation time. But, here’s the best advice I can give you about Park City, Utah houses: avail one while you can.

Everyone loves the All-Star push videos and promotions that teams do for their players, or players do for themselves.

One player that shouldn’t have to do any of that is Utah’s Deron Williams.

The last three seasons the guard has averaged over 10 assists per game, not to mention at least 18 points per night as well (that includes this season). The Jazz are always in the thick of the playoffs too. In his five seasons as a pro, Williams has career averages of 17 points and nine assists per game. His numbers are ridiculous.

Unfortunately, Williams has yet to make an All-Star Team, watching teammates like Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur get spots.

In the past, it’s been understandable, there is a logjam at the position out West, but now is Williams’ time. Averaging 20 points, 10 assists and four rebounds per game this year should be more than enough for D-Will to get his first All-Star nod — especially since he’s healthy this year, unlike the start of last season.

In an effort to get voters to realize he’s right there with Chris Paul and Steve Nash as the league’s top point guard, Williams’ crew put together a little video. Unfortunately, Tracy McGrady — whose been injured all season and made his debut yesterday — would currently be a starter for the West based on first ballot returns.

Williams is currently 10th in voting for guards. All-Star fan voting is awesome.

If Williams doesn’t make the All-Star Team, expect all hell to break loose.

Props, @themuhmeshow

Free Sports Betting Picks for Tuesday in the NBA

Don’t forget that the bowl games start next week and there is still time to get into the best contest if you want a chance at winning some cash! ONLY a few spots are left!

2009 Regaw World: $2,500 Prize Contest – Bowl Games Contest

The top ten places will get paid out $2500 and first place will get $1000! Right now there are only 17 people in the contest so now is the time to join. You have to signup before the first game and make sure to read all the details and get a free$50 for just signing up to play! The contest is hosted by BetMania.com sign up and get a 100% bonus!

Free pick in the NBA tonight

The Pistons take on the Houston Rockets tonight at 8:00. The Rockets have had a tough schedule in fact it is so tough it has led to the complaints of the head coach and the front office. It won’t get any easier when they face off against the Pistons. The Pistons are well rested heading into this game. The Rockets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as a favorite and 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 vs. NBA Central. The Pistons are 11-4-1 ATS in the last 16 meetings and 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 2 days rest. Take the Pistons and the points tonight.

Pistons +5

Looking for some great sportsbooks? I have two to sign up with right here and get top bonuses as you sign up with some of the best books in the business! Sign up today and get the best! Click a banner and sign up now!

A new #1 in the rankings. The Lakers win streak is over, so which of the NBA elite took their place? Let’s go to the rankings:

1. Boston Celtics (19-4) (previous ranking: 2)- 10 straight wins, playing great ball. With the Lakers’ loss to Utah, they take back the top spot for the first time in weeks.

2. Los Angeles Lakers (18-4) (previous ranking: 1)- One loss makes a difference. The loss in Utah, plus the Celtics 10 straight wins drops them to #2. They won’t be there for long.

3. Orlando Magic (17-6) (previous ranking: 3)- Not much room for Orlando to go with the Celtics and Lakers at the top spot. They remain at #3 for a second straight week.

4. Atlanta Hawks (17-6) (previous ranking: 7)- Excellent week from the Hawks, four straight wins moved them into a tie with the Magic for first in the Southeast Division

5. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-7) (previous ranking: 4)- Great week for the Cavs, but they were victims of the streaking Atlanta Hawks.

6. Denver Nuggets (17-7) (previous ranking: 5)- The Nuggets, like Cleveland. They had a good week, and still lead the Northwest, but they were victims of the streaking Hawks.

7. Dallas Mavericks (17-7) (previous ranking: 8]- Dirk is showing why he’s one of the best in the game. The Mavericks know how to win the close ones, reason why they lead the Southwest right now.

8. Phoenix Suns (16-8) (previous ranking: 6)- The Suns are slumping. Is it weird that the Suns started slumping after losing to D’Antoni, and the Knicks are rising after beating the Suns.

9. Utah Jazz (14-9) (previous ranking: 10)- Snapping the Lakers win streak is a very important thing, and the Jazz deserve a spot in the top 10.

10. San Antonio Spurs (12-9) (previous ranking: 13)- Just a matter of time before the Spurs were among the tops in the NBA. Everything looks like it’s coming together. Matt Bonner has been playing very well as of late.

11. Houston Rockets (13-10) (previous ranking: 11)- The Rockets are playing good ball without Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. We already know Yao’s out, but is McGrady ever going to come back to the team, and if he doesn’t, what team would take that massive salary?

12. Portland Trail Blazers (14-11) (previous ranking: 9)- The Blazers are not the same team without Greg Oden. The psyche of this team is off, and they are not the contenders they were at the start of this season.

13. Oklahoma City Thunder (12-10) (previous ranking: 14)- After three weeks at #14, the Thunder are finally moving up. It’s a matter of time to see if they will move up further or back down.

14. Milwaukee Bucks (11-11) (previous ranking: 16)- The Bucks were in a slump, but seems as if things are slowly turning around for them. It’s a matter of time if this is true.

15. Miami Heat (11-11) (previous ranking: 12)- The Heat are really showing that there is no real supporting cast behind Dwyane Wade. Michael Beasley has not been consistent as he should be.

16. Detroit Pistons (11-12) (previous ranking: 22)- The Pistons are playing improved basketball. Rip Hamilton is back, and Tayshaun Prince and Ben Gordon are on the mend. Perhaps all hope is not lost in Detroit

17. New Orleans Hornets (10-12) (previous ranking: 18)- 2-1 week puts New Orleans up a spot. Chris Paul is back to his old form, but can they get back to among the Western Conference elite?

18. Sacramento Kings (10-12) (previous ranking: 15)- The Kings are still two games off .500. They are going to be special when Kevin Martin returns.

19. Toronto Raptors (11-15) (previous ranking: 20)- Are the Raptors ever going to live up to their potential? Newsflash to Bryan Colangelo: fire Jay Triano.

20. Memphis Grizzlies (10-13) (previous ranking: 21)- How about the Grizzlies? They have beaten the Mavericks, Cavaliers, and Heat all this month. Iverson leaving was the best thing for this team.

21. Charlotte Bobcats (9-13) (previous ranking: 19)- The Bobcats should not be ashamed in their Texas road trip. They came back from double-digits against the Spurs before running out of gas, and then they lost a heartbreaker in Dallas to the Mavericks. They will get the road woes together eventually.

22. Los Angeles Clippers (9-13) (previous ranking: 17)- The Clippers have weathered the storm of not having Blake Griffin. It will be interesting to see how good they will be when they return.

23. Indiana Pacers (8-13) (previous ranking: 25)- No Danny Granger, the Pacers are in a world of trouble. Considering this team is not as great with him there, he does make them better.

24. Chicago Bulls (8-14) (previous ranking: 23) Vinny Del Negro came out and said that he is the right coach for the Chicago Bulls. If that is the case, why are the talented Bulls underachieving so much?

25. New York Knicks (8-15) (previous ranking: 27)- The Knicks have been playing some of their best ball in a long time… Still wonder how Jonathan Bender will fare after being away for three years.

26. Washington Wizards (7-14) (previous ranking: 24)- The Big Three in Washington is not working out. Must be time to blow this team up.

27. Golden State Warriors (7-16) (previous ranking: 26)- No true leader on this team since Stephen Jackson left. Curry’s a rookie and Ellis is nowhere near ready. Still a team that’s in disarray.

28. Philadelphia 76ers (5-18) (previous ranking: 28)- If the Nets or Wolves could string together some wins, the Sixers might be in the cellar. A.I. has not made much of a difference

29. Minnesota Timberwovles (3-21) (previous ranking: 29)- In reality they should be #30, but they did beat New Jersey on opening night. Have to keep them at #29.

30. New Jersey Nets (2-22) (previous ranking: 30)- Team’s getting it together. Still has a long way to go.

The month of December has not be a merry one for the Utah Jazz, and as a Jazz fan, it has been utterly frustrating watching them at times.  We all feel like the Jazz have the potential to be a really great team, but we are just seeing glimpses of it every other night.

Last night, the Jazz lost to the now 4-21 Minnesota Timberwolves.  That is bad in itself, but two of those four wins are against the Jazz, and last night’s loss was in Utah.  Last night’s game was one of the more frustrating games I have ever watched, with poor defense, lack of hustle at times, and of course letting the team with the worst record in the West, win.  And to top it all of, they gave up a career high 28 points to Jonny Flinn, a rookie.  Two of those points came with three seconds left to put the T-Wolves up for good.

I am always curious what Jazz team will show up to play.  Last Monday they beat the Spurs, then lost to the Lakers in Los Angeles.  In that Laker game, they only managed to score six points in the 4th quarter, not good.  The Jazz then come home and beat the Magic, and get revenge on the Lakers, both at home.  So what happens after that? They lose to the T-Wolves.  It doesn’t add up if you are a Jazz fan, and it is frustating as can be.

The Jazz play at New Jersey tomorrow, and I am honestly concerned about that game.  I have no confidence with their play right now.  Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer have been playing well, but the other guys needs to pick it up, and with Kyle Korver and C.J. Miles back from injury plus rookie Wes Matthews still playing well, it will be interesting to see what the rotation will be.  If they are a good team, they need to put the weaker opponents down, and I pray that they can do that against the Nets.

This week, Deron Williams hit a go-ahead field goal with 22 seconds left helping the Utah Jazz beat the San Antonio Spurs.  Williams had 15 second half points to help secure the  first season series win against the spurs since 1998.  Williams also threw in this nice dunk over Tony Parker.  Helping your team get its first series win against the Spurs in over ten years will get you this week’s halfman award.  Williams also lead the Jazz over the Magic and Lakers this week as well.

x

Matt Masterson asks the question on everyone’s mind: How ’bout those new green Jazz unis? Pretty snazzy, no?

Makes you think back to good old Adrian Dantley.

The amazing thing about that picture? He’s not even playing basketball! That’s him at home wearing his jersey as he jumps up and down on his trampoline. Look how happy he is.

That’s what so remarkable about the green Jazz jerseys. They’re good for any occasion.

In short: Green Jazz jerseys, good. Adrian Dantley, good. Trampolines, great.

Other brief NBA musings:

1. We’ll ignore the fact that when Utah last wore its green jerseys, it scored a mere six points in the fourth quarter en route to an ugly 101-77 road loss to the Lakers. The Jazz got some redemption at home on Saturday night when it rebounded with a 102-94 win to snap L.A.’s 11-game winning streak.

2. Speaking of the Lakers:

It is now clear how idiotic it was to pick anyone but them to win the West (if not everything). My first draft of the 2009-2010 NBA preview had them winning the Finals over the Celts. Then, partially because I believed it but mostly because I wanted it, I switched my pick to the Spurs. Wait, wait, you’re saying — you wanted the Spurs to win the West? Absolutely not. But I just couldn’t bring myself to pick the Lakers, even though I knew — anyone who has watched five minutes of NBA basketball this year would know — that the Lakers are the team to beat. The Spurs? The Spurs need walkers to get from their locker room to the parking lot. They are dinosaurs. You remember that old SportsCenter commercial about the young prodigy sportscaster who flips out one day about how old Jimmy Key was? Sure you do.

All the Spurs are like 45. Tim Duncan. Michael Finley. Theo Ratliff. Antonio McDyess. (Antonio McDyess!) Even the ones just out of college play like 45-year-olds.

I repent of choosing these guys to win it all. Yes, they’re still good. Old teams are wily and feisty and should never be counted out. But they can’t win a title. They can’t beat the Lakers. The only team that could beat L.A. in the West? Denver. And the Nuggets couldn’t do it in seven games. So there it is. I said it. I will now rend my garments and gnash my teeth.

3. Only four teams in the East have winning records right now. Meanwhile, four teams in Utah’s division alone have winning records.

4. Matthew Yglesias investigates how the Chinese are skewing All-Star balloting.

5. Why are coaches left out of the throwback fun? Why not have a Doug Moe Throwback Suit night and require that all coaches dress like this?

Who wouldn’t pay good money to see Vinny Del Negro in those duds? Bulls fans need something to live for.

6. Poor Greg Oden. Poor Blazers fans. Bill Simmons visited the Rose Garden earlier this season and wrote this about the crowd:

The best way to describe the crowd’s support for Oden: It’s like watching 15,000 parents rooting for their kid, only all 15,000 parents fathered the same kid. If he ever explodes for 30 points, 20 rebounds and eight blocks in a game, you’ll have to carry each deliriously passed-out Portland fan out of the Rose Garden individually like they were victims of smoke inhalation in a burning house.

What’s eerie about that remark is that, according to my brother, it was just as fitting a description for how Portland fans reacted when Oden went down for the season with a broken kneecap. The most heartbreaking paragraph from that link?

Brandon Roy said that Oden apologized and bowed his head as he was wheeled off the court. Once he learned his diagnosis, Oden told his teammates in the locker room he was sorry he let them down.

Sheesh. Somebody give that guy a hug.

]]> http://ibleedpurplengold.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/video-highlights/ Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:01:26 +0000 ibleedpurplengold http://ibleedpurplengold.wordpress.com/2009/12/10/video-highlights/

The Jazz were silenced last night as the Lakers beat them 101-77, and thats what they get for wearing green to KOBES house. I still dont own a shred of green. I winced at the sight of our Christmas tree this year. BLEH…

In better news, the boys thought they were globetrotters last night! Alleyoops, backwards bounce pass through the legs, behind the back, around the waist passes. Look at the ball movement on this play!

Of course a Laker victory wouldnt be complete without a dunk from SB! Deron Williams broke him off bad throughout the game tho. SB could not hang with the Jazz gaurd. But we dont give a flying fuck about Utah here @iBleedPurplenGold, so heres the OOP from Kobe instead =]

This is the best time of the season, with great basketball in full swing with both the NBA and college basketball. It is also a great betting time of the year because sportsbooks are all competing for your business so they have some of the best bonuses and specials just for you! I have found two very special ones that you need totake advantage of now.

The $55 FREE BET is back from BetMania.com. Bet Mania is giving away a free $55 bet with no strings. All you have to do is sign up and open an account with BetMania.com Then contact customer service via live chat or phone and tell them Regaw sent you for the FREE $55 Bet and its yours! No strings or deposits needed!

FREE NBA SPORTS BETTING PICK FOR WEDNESDAY

Cleveland @ Houston

Lebron James flies into Houston

The Cavs come to Houston and life is always tough when you take to the road in Texas. The Rockets know how to play at home and always step it up defensively. The Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference and 4-0 ATS in the last four games as a dog. The Cavaliers are 2-8 ATS in the last 10 meetings and 0-5 ATS in the last 5 meetings in Houston. Take the Rockets and the points.

Houston +3

If your looking for a sportsbook to use to bet all of the college football bowl games this is it! Diamond Sportsbook is the sportsbook to use for betting on all of the BCS Football games! Sign up now and use the BONUS CODE: BCS100 and you will get a free $100 when you deposit $100! Sign up today and get the free cash!

Last night, Deron Williams hit a go-ahead field goal with 22 seconds left helping the Utah Jazz beat the San Antonio Spurs.  Williams had 15 second half points to help secure the  first season series win against the spurs since 1998.  Williams also threw in this nice dunk over Tony Parker.  Helping your team get its first series win against the Spurs in over ten years will get you today’s halfman nominee.

Roy Williams’ recent comments and denimjersey’s recent post got me thinking, which NBA player’s game does most resemble John Wall’s?  Roy Williams says he’s the best he’s seen since Jason Kidd; I’ve heard others compare him to Derrick Rose.  I say neither.  Without further adieu, the candidates:

Jason Kidd

Similarities – quickness, advanced court vision, size (specifically, height), lack of an outside shot, intrinsic altruism.

The more I think about this one, the less sense it makes.  Kidd and Wall are (or were) both quick, 6’4’’ point guards with an outside shot that leaves a bit to be desired.  But even their similarities aren’t that close: Don’t get me wrong, Kidd used to be quick, but never in his life was he in the same league as Wall; Wall’s court vision is more advanced than most at this stage in his career, but he’s no Jason Kidd (it’d be tough to name five PG’s who ever lived that see/saw the court better than he does); neither shoots the ball especially well, and this is probably where they overlap the most—neither is atrocious from deep, but you wouldn’t bet your life on one of them winning any 3-point shooting contests anytime soon either.  I actually believe Wall has the potential to become the kind of threat from 3-point land that Kidd never did.  His stroke looks good, he’s got the reputation of a hard worker, and he looks confident when he puts one up (he doesn’t hesitate on open looks like Kidd once did or, say, Rondo does now).  Wall looks like the kind of guy who believes his shots are going in, even when his 31% 3-point efficiency says otherwise.  And I don’t care what anybody says, this is a good thing. You can’t teach confidence.  Another similarity of theirs is the desire to get their teammates involved early and often.   Wall has more of a scorer’s mentality than Kidd, but both seem preoccupied with getting everyone else their share of touches.

As far as differences go, they are plentiful.  The biggest separation in Wall’s game from Kidd’s (or from just about anyone’s, for that matter), is his otherworldly athletic ability.  Wall’s agility, vertical leap, and ability to stop and change direction on a dime are superior to just about everyone’s.  Kidd was, at one time, one of the best in the league at his position.  He was big, solid, strong, and quick, but he was never invited to any Dunk Contests or in the conversation of Best Athlete in the League, both of which Wall will be next year.

Derrick Rose

Similarities – explosive quickness, lack of an outside shot, Calipari/DDM products.

Rose and Wall are both super-athletic, but in slightly different ways.  Wall’s probably a tad quicker than Rose, but Rose is an inch shorter and roughly twenty pounds heavier.  Basically, Rose is noticeably stronger than Wall, and when you’re an NBA point guard that makes their living getting to the rim, that comes in handy.  However, with the exception of strength, there’s not a single athletic category that you’d give the edge to Rose—vertical leap, raw quickness, end-to-end speed, they all go to Wall.  On top of that, Wall is longer than Rose—6’4’’ with a lanky frame, Wall plays more like he’s 6’6’’ or 6’7’’.  I hate to write this, but with his length and quickness, he’d be hell in a Pitino or Donovan system that employs a full-court trapping system.

But Rose’s name will be the one you’ll hear most next summer when Wall’s being compared to current NBA players, shortly before he shakes David Stern’s hand as the first pick in the 2010 draft.  Both will have become number one picks after playing one year under John Calipari, within the Dribble Drive Motion offense, in a league where rule changes are becoming more and more friendly for elusive point guards (Rose, Rondo, Paul, D. Williams, Nash, et al).

Rajon Rondo

Similarities – superhuman speed, lack of an outside shot, ability to get to the rim, Kentucky products.

In my opinion, this is the guy that should be getting more comparisons to Wall. Starting next year, they might be the two fastest players in the league.  And really, in terms of raw athleticism, they’re almost clones; Wall is just much flashier.  Wall is also a much better ball handler at this stage than Rondo, who relied almost solely on quickness to get by people while at Kentucky.

But really, if I had to choose one statement that best describes Wall’s game at this point, it’d be this one: He’s Rajon Rondo with more upside.  And that’s nothing to scoff at, because Rondo’s potential’s always been steep.  But as skilled and athletically gifted as Rondo is, Wall surpasses him, almost across the board.  He’s just as quick, and I’m not sure if his leaping ability is more explosive (b/c anyone who saw Rondo play at Kentucky knows he can hop), but he tends to show it off more.  While Rondo is a bit craftier when he gets in the lane, with an array of floaters and creative layups, Wall is one of those who almost seek out opportunities to dunk on people.

And—if I may go off on a slight tangent here—he does so in amazingly ambidextrous fashion.  Have you noticed how he dunks with either hand, off either foot, and from any direction, with equal explosion and fluidity?  It’s a thing of beauty.  And I’ve never seen anybody (and I mean anybody) that does it (dunk w/either hand, off either foot) as well as he does.  Not even Jordan or J. Earving could take off/lead with their off foot (in Wall’s case, it’s his right), and get just as high as they would if they took off of/lead with their strong one.   Watch this highlight video and take notice of the different ways Wall dunks; now, watch other players dunk, doesn’t really matter who exactly, and notice the variety of ways Wall leaves the ground and finishes at the rim compared with other players.  I’ve never seen anything like it.

This one is my personal favorite.  Skip ahead to the end (the 10:25 mark, to be exact), and feel free to marvel at the way Wall shoots himself out of a cannon and elevates in transition.  He gets from the half-court to the rim in 2 dribbles and about 1.5 seconds.  He catches the outlet pass, sees he has Mark Krebbs in front of him, puts the ball down to his right, crosses over, kicks that manual V-12 of his into 6^th, then takes one power dribble with his left before picking it up, taking one last gazelle stride, then launches himself off his right foot (which, if you’re right handed, is supposed to be your weaker one), elevates until his hairline is level with the rim, before finally (or, if you’re watching it in real speed, all of the sudden) hammering one Shawn Kemp-style with his left (and supposedly weaker) hand.  Seriously, I could talk about this guy all night.

But back to Rondo.  Rondo’s biggest advantage over Wall is his defensive prowess.  He’s an excellent anticipator and has some of the quickest hands in the league.  More importantly, he has two things you must have in order to be a great NBA defender:

1)      A genuine enjoyment of locking people down.

2)      A nasty streak.

There’s a reason people are starting to call Rondo the next Isiah Thomas: He’s a dick.  He loves mixing it up, and once he knows he’s under your skin, you might as well throw the proverbial gas on the flames—it’s only going to get worse.  This psychological attribute has served Rondo as well as any of his physical gifts thus far, and not that I think it’s something Wall necessarily has to develop, but history has shown that it’s not easy to be the nicest guy on the court and a great point guard.  Isiah, Stockton, Magic…all those dudes were tough as nails and, depending on which NBA historian you’re talking to, dirty players.  Remember when Chris Paul punched that guy in the nuts when he played at Wake Forest?  That’s when we should’ve all known he was legit.

Baron Davis

Okay.  Even I’ll admit this one, at least at first, is a bit ridiculous.  Davis is, at least currently, a largely disappointing and occasionally overweight member of the worst franchise in professional sports.  He was the 3^rd pick of the 1999 NBA Draft, and has since terrorized and disappointed the citizens of Charlotte, New Orleans, Oakland, and, currently, Los Angeles.  All of that is why it’s so easy to forget that, in 1997, Davis was the Gatorade National Player of the year, and one of the most athletic prospects anyone had ever seen at his position.  He dominated the McDonalds All Star Weekend, winning the slam dunk contest at 6’2’’, then pretty much being a human highlight reel throughout the actual game.  Take a look at these highlights from his time at UCLA and tell me they don’t remind you a little of what we are currently seeing at Kentucky.  Dude was super athletic.  Does anyone remember that play from his freshman season, during the NCAA tournament, when he A.I.’d somebody (a reference to a crossover move that was popular in its day, but now deemed illegal, because, well, it was), went baseline, and dunked so hard he tore his own ACL?  Ridiculous.

Luckily, Wall doesn’t seem to have inherited the same fat gene that Davis has battled his whole career.  And I’m not trying to imply that Wall is the next B. Davis or even that B. Davis is terrible (he did make two all-star teams, after all) or could be a potential bust, but what I am saying is that if you don’t work in the NBA, you don’t excel.  Davis is living proof.  Fortunately for UK fans and NBA fans alike, Wall supposedly has a fantastic work ethic.  He is working hard to improve his game’s only glaring weakness (his outside shot), is the team’s vocal leader, and Calipari has publicly stated that Wall is ahead of both Rose and Tyreke Evans (his other DDM lottery pick) at this stage in their careers (although, what else is he going to say?  No, Tyreke and Derrick were both a little better).

So whose game compares best with Wall’s?  For my money, it’s Rondo’s.  Physically, they’re by far the most alike.  Both are long, lanky, explosive point guards with exceptional hops.  As far as skill sets go, Wall is a bit more developed than Rondo at this stage (ball handling and outside shot being where Rondo lacked most), but Rondo put himself on an accelerated learning curve once he got to the league; he got a lot better, ridiculously fast.  He went from borderline no-name to one of the top 5 PG’s in the league in three seasons.  Of course, a lot of that was a benefit of his situation, something Wall almost certainly won’t have.  He’ll likely be the first pick, and will inherit a crappy, poorly coached, skill-less team that will force him to try to do too much, too soon.  (Hilarious side note:  The Knicks, who, if you haven’t been keeping up, are giving it their all to surpass the Clippers as the laughing stock of the league. And, given their D’Antoni-lead run-n-gun offense, also happen to be the team that could use Wall the most next season.  However, they’re forced to give up their potential lottery pick in 2010, because of the terms of the ’04 trade that brought Stephon Marbury (speaking of PG busts) and Penny Hardaway to New York.  How funny would it be if the ping pong balls were to finally align in NY’s favor?  If David Stern has a sense of humor, and does indeed fix things such as the draft lottery, how could he not give New York the first overall pick in next June’s draft?  The potential for hilarity is through the roof.)

Final Verdict: Wall is a rich man’s Rondo, which, as Celtic and Wildcat fans already know, is saying a lot.

Reggie Miller, Tim Legler and Dale Ellis, those are three players that made a living in the NBA by playing one of the most underrated positions in the league; the shooter. Why is so important to have somebody that constantly hit from beyond the arc? Simple. The shooter is somebody who stretches the floor, doesn’t need to have the ball for much longer and requires a defender who is taller, otherwise the shooter can shoot on top of him, and smart enough not to foul him avoiding 4 point plays, and if you watch the NBA regularly you know there aren’t a lot of those.

Probably the best shooter of the late 90’s, early 2000’s, Peja Stojakovic became the face of the shooter position in this decade. During his run with the Sacramento Kings, team that drafted him in 1996 with the 14^th pick in the first round, his 31 games with the Indiana Pacers and his 3 ¼ seasons with the New Orleans Hornets, Stojakovic has hit 1613 of his 4015 shots and averaged 40.2% for his NBA career. Peja is defined for the word solid. He’s constant: except for his rookie season, when he averaged 32.0%, Stojakovic always shot 37.5+% from beyond the arc. Currently, Peja is the 4th all time in 3 point shooting.

In front of him is Ray Allen. Allen is currently the 2^nd all time behind Reggie Miller and is considered Miller’s successor. He hit 2327 of his 5864 shots from behind the line and averages 39.7% for his career. Since Allen’s game, just like Miller’s game, is not only constituted by the 3 point shot, it may be tough to see him as straight shooter but by revising his numbers we get that ⅓ of his FGs are 3 pointers. With the declining of Stojakovic’s game this season and the fact that since always he’s injury prone, Allen is considered the best shooter in activity.

Allen’s successor is already in line. He’s Antony Morrow. The Golden State Warriors suck as a team however there are a lot of reasons to watch them; Monta Ellis’ explosiveness, Stephen Curry’s ability to play off the ball, Antony Randolph’s weirdness and Morrow’s downtown shots. Right now Morrow is 3^rd in the league on 3 point shooting percentage behind Chris Paul and Mike Miller however he play twice as more as Miller and 7 games more than Paul. He has averaged 51.2% this season and 48.1% for his career. But when you watch him play it doesn’t look like he hits only half of his tries. He’s deadly beyond the arc.

When you think shooter on the NBA nowadays, it doesn’t take long to think on Kyle Korver. Besides his boyish good looks and the fact that he simply doesn’t look like a basketball player, Korver is known for being a sharp sniper. In his five and half seasons with Philadelphia and his season and half with Utah, Korver hit 837 of his 2073 3 pointers attempted, averaging 40.4%. Korver hasn’t played this season yet because of a knee surgery on the offseason and the Jazz sure miss him.

Besides those four, Jason Kapono, Danilo Galinari, Eddie House, Mike Miller, Channing Frye and Marco Belineli are others known for shooting 3 pointers exclusively. Except for Reggie Miller, no other shooter is or has been considered that important for their teams and only those who have an Al Harrington or a Mo Williams high jacking shots know the importance of having a 40% 3 point shooter in the line-up.