Indiana looks for its first season sweep of Golden State since 2005-06 on Monday night when it faces a Warriors team coming off its worst home loss in three seasons.

The Warriors are showing excellent value as a small home favorite Monday against the 6-8 Indiana Pacers, who are allowing 103.8 points/game on the road this season.  The Warriors are putting up 110.2 points/game at home this year where they have played solid basketball.  Coming off a bad loss to the Lakers, I look for the Warriors to rebound.  Golden State is 11-2 ATS in home games after allowing 120 points or more over the last 2 seasons.

The Pacers are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games as an underdog of 0.5-4.5 points, and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games as an underdog overall.  The Warriors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. loss.
Golden State is 15-5-1 ATS in their last 21 vs. Eastern Conference.  The home team is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings, and the favorite is 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings.
I see a strong bounce back for GS tonight after the ugly defeat against LA, so :

Our free NBA tip for tonight is :

Take Golden State -2 @ 1,90 only at Pinnacle

* If you want , you can modify the actual spread line by adding or retrieving points , option available at Pinnacle a very useful way to maximize your sportsbetting profit *

Montreal (-9.5) vs. Saskatchewan  in Calgary, Alberta [6:30 pm EST Sunday]

This is essentially a home game for the Green Riders. Of the 40,000+ fans expected at this game, I suspect 30,000+ will be sporting the Riders’ Green complete with the watermelons on their heads. But as popular as it will be to support the Riders in the stands, the game is still being played on the field and that game is against the CFL’s most dominate team – the Montreal Alouettes.2009 Results between Montreal and Saskatchewan:

07/18/09 MONT 43 – SAS 10 MONT -4 U 57.5  and  08/21/09 SAS 25 – MONT 34 SAS 12 O 54.5

Montreal only lost 3 of 19 games this season and were head and shoulders above the rest of the League. I believe the most telling stat that jumps out at me is the average offensive points scored to defensive points allowed. Montreal averaged 33.3 pts. per game while only giving up an average of 18.0 for a differential of 15.3 on average per game. Conversely the Riders differential was only 1.7 (28.6 / 26.9) which gives the Als a two TD edge on average per game.

Montreal’s QB Anthony Calvillo quite simply has the best 3 step drop in professional football today – in any league. It’s 1.5 seconds and bang that ball is out of his hand, and on target, and on time. That is going to be extremely difficult for SK to defend, and watching game film from last week’s Eastern Final is not going to help them. BC was absolutely destroyed by their inability to do anything to disrupt Calvillo’s timing. That game was literally over early in the 2nd Quarter.

The weather could play a factor in this game, but only for the total as I see it. Sunday afternoon’s forecast for kickoff has temps around 3C/35F with clear skies. The wind however could play a factor. 20+ kph winds are expected with gust to 40+ kph. This could cause some issues in the kicking game, and I’m hoping just enough to push the number (55.5) Under.

I think the wind/wind chill and cold temps will be more of a factor on receiver’s hands trying to pull in passes.

Under is 4-0 in Roughriders last 4 playoff games.

Under is 4-1 in Alouettes last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.

Under is 9-1 in the last 10 meetings in Montreal.

The free tip for the Canadian Grey Cup is :

Play under 55,5 @1,88 only at Pinnacle

What is a teaser?

It’s a bet in which you take two or more teams and add a set amount of points to the lines of each team. In the NBA the most common teasers are 4.5, 5, and 5.5 points, with both higher and lower point totals available from some betting shops.
Let’s say we have a game LA Lakers vs Charlotte Bobcats, where Lakers are favorites by 7 points. So, if you only play the spread staright Lakers need to win by 8 points. If you were to bet a 4.5 point teaser then those lines would become Los Angeles -2.5 and Bobcats +11.5. A teaser needs to contain at least 2 games. You aren’t limited to just two games, either – you can add more games, and your greater risk is rewarded by a greater monetary return. Some books also have a super teaser that allows you even more points (often seven or more) at a lower payoff. Teasers are great to play when there’s a game between two close games and the points you buy can make a big difference.

Usually most of the sportbooks pay a 2 teams teaser (4,5 points) at odds of 1,90 (-110).

One area to concentrate on when betting that NBA teaser is to look at a team you really like to win that is around a 5-7 point favorite. Then basically all you need them to do is win the game. Another one to look at is a small favorite of 1-2 points. You then can get them at a plus three points.
There’s  specific situations where a teaser could be attractive. For example, that your handicapping has led you to identify two solid favorites that you like, but which you are lukewarm about. If both teams were favored by seven, and you figure that they will win by somewhere between five and eight points, then you won’t feel confident betting on them on the point spread, but you also wouldn’t feel confident betting on their opponents. You could confidently bet the moneyline, but the return would be low given the size of the spread. By using a four-point teaser you could adjust both point spreads down so that the spreads are below your predicted score. That might be the best way to confidently maximize profit potential given your suspected result.

Some places will also let you bet totals on your teasers. There are also places that offer different pointspreads. It can vary as much as 3 or 4 points per place, so be sure and check the rules when you bet your NBA teaser. Don’t forget when you bet your teaser to concentrate on the same things that you do normally. Sometimes people forget the basics when they are getting extra points. Don’t be lulled into that. The extra points are a type of security blanket for you. Don’t let the extra points get you into playing games that you would not normally play. Concentrate on your strengths. Look at the situation. Are you playing on a strong home team that rarely loses but doesn’t always cover? They would be a good choice for your teaser. What about an underdog you really like? Those extra points sure are nice to have when you are already a nice dog. I really like those added points when everyone expects a competitive game. You know that when the Lakers play the Spurs, those games are generally close. Those extra points give you a nice feeling when the game is likely to end right around the pointspread number. This is also very helpful in playoff games.

The NBA teasers can be really helpful to your bottom line when playoff time rolls around. You know the games are usually close and teams rarely give up. Near the end of the game the pointspread is usually in doubt. Getting those extra 4 or 5 points can turn your loser into a winner.

We’ll follow up on this strategy and demonstrate if and how profitable can it be . We’ll play NBA teasers only at the recommended sportbooks .

Allen Iverson was the most dominant 6 foot player to ever play the game. At times, hes competitive nature got the best of him but many times that same drive made us all appreciate his style as his moves made us cover our mouths. He took the cross-over dribble to another level. “We talking about practice” remarks brought him negative attention, however he became the first rookie in history to score 40 points or more in four consecutive games. When the game was on the line AI was, “The Answer” .

Allen Iverson announced his retirement to Stephen A. Smith earlier in the day and we’ll discuss the legacy that A.I. leaves behind.

Stephen A. Smith just announced on ESPN that Allen Iverson had informed him of his upcoming retirement and we’ll discuss the career of A.I. before making our personal call on whether this was the right time for the scorer to hang them up.

It appeared earlier in the week that the New York Knicks were going to sign Allen Iverson but after it was announced that New York has no interest it appears that the retirement process is ready to begin.  Iverson will end his career as the 5th all-time leader in points scored per game at 27.1.  Allen also won the MVP award in the 2000-2001 season in which he lead his Philadelphia 76ers into the NBA Finals where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.

This seems like a perfect time for Allen Iverson to finally make the retirement jump despite the fact that he still has some gas left in the tank.  Teams want to use him in a reserve roll but Iverson believes he still deserves to be a starter and he’s apparently just not happy coming off the bench of help a team in that fashion.

Iverson is an excellent scorer but he’s never been the type of player that helps teams win championships and has shown he’s more interested in his personal statistics than anything else.  He’d love to have won an NBA championship before his retirement but the fact that he’s been unwilling to play a reserve roll or help his teammates in practice seems to indicate that he hasn’t figured out all the nuances of being a team player.

AI is one of the most misunderstood figures in sport. I appreciate his passion and love for the game, which you don’t see in all players. He sacrificed his body every game and played with so much heart. I hate to see him walk away so prematurely but I believe he’ll be back. Whatever criticism people have about AI, no one can say he doesn’t love the game.

It’s sad that Allen Iverson was forced into retirement when he still has tread left on the tires but many GMs are wising up and realizing that it is not in the team’s best interest to give minutes to me-first players like this.

After last night’s cooler, I’ll continue to choose teams from the bottom side of the table only because this game looks like a good opportunity for a nice winner. The Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors will both be gunning for a victory on Tuesday when they meet at Air Canada Centre.

With four losses in five games, Toronto (6-8) desperately needs a spark from somebody. The Raptors backups did the best they could without guards Marco Belinelli (groin) and Antoine Wright (ankle) on Sunday, but were outscored 37-22 in a 104-96 loss to Orlando. Toronto’s bench has struggled with injuries to Belinelli and Wright but I would expect the bench players to step it up a notch in front of their home crowd.

Last year home teams won each of the matchups between these too and in todays expect nothing different. Considering Indiana’s injuries and players who are just getting back, they will have hard time containing Bosh, Bargnani and Calderon, these combo of players will allow Toronto to get shots from every spot and Indiana is going to have a headache defensively. Expect Toronto to have a huge game today.

Marco Belinelli will be a game-time decision after getting hurt in Friday night’s 120-113 win over Miami. He was beginning to give the Raptors consistent scoring, averaging 15.3 points and going 11 for 22 from 3-point range in four games prior to facing the Heat. Most probable , he will be on the court tonight .

The Raptors won five of their last six home games against the Pacers even though Bosh was limited to 17.5 points per contest during that span.

The Pacers have lost three straight after winning their previous five, and appear to be lacking cohesion as they try to work injured players back into the lineup.

Jeff Foster returned after missing more than three weeks with a sprained ankle, but the center was scoreless and picked up three fouls in nine minutes. Veteran forward Troy Murphy had seven points and eight rebounds in his second game after missing six due to a back injury.

Toronto and Indiana each won twice at home in last season’s series. Toronto is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Indiana. Toronto is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Indiana. Toronto is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home. Toronto is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games at home.

Bottom line, today’s free NBA tip is :

Play Raptors -5 @1,93 ~ best odds only at Pinnacle

* If you want , you can modify the actual spread line by adding or retrieving points , option available at Pinnacle a very useful way to maximize your sportsbetting profit *

Another match up from the bottom of the table, and yes Clippers are there … This time against the “mighty” Wolves
Bookies were not sure if high-scoring Clippers SG Rick Gordon is returning from injury, so odds came later. He is not, but is expected to be back for next Clippers game at Wednesday.

The Wolves couldn’t find a way to pull out a close game with Los Angeles on Nov. 2, losing 93-90 after Eric Gordon made the go-ahead layup with 1:32 to play. The Clippers committed 18 turnovers and shot 42.7 percent, but were able to beat the Wolves for the second time in the teams’ last seven meetings.Chris Kaman had 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead Los Angeles. Kaman and Baron Davis have been carrying most of the Clippers’ scoring load, combining to average 36.7 points a contest.
The duo, though, got plenty of help in a 106-99 victory over Denver on Friday night. Rasual Butler had 27 points off the bench and Al Thornton added 18.

Minnesota has lost 12 straight since winning its season opener 95-93 against New Jersey on Oct. 28. A loss to the Clippers (5-9) would match the Timberwolves’ longest skid from last season, set from Nov. 29 to Dec. 23.
Minnesota has lost its last eight games by double digits and has surrendered 113.0 points per contest en route to going 0-6 on the road, including a 106-78 loss to Portland on Saturday night.
Point guard Jonny Flynn is averaging 3.2 assists per game so team averages awful 17.8 assists per game. Starting center Al Jefferson was injured near end of last season and is not fully recovered yet, his averages compared to previous season are down by 7.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks.

No wonder, I don’t think that betting on a lost ship like Minnesota is an option here, so today’s free NBA tip is :
Play Los Angeles Clippers (-5) @1,86 only at Pinnacle

* If you want , you can modify the actual spread line by adding or retrieving points , option available at Pinnacle a very useful way to maximize your sportsbetting profit *

Who can imagine that Milwaukee will win 4 games in a row without Michael Redd ? I’m pretty sure not too many people. But, amazing happens in NBA.

  Brandon Jennings, the 20-year-old point guard scored 55 points and shot 21 of 34 in 40 minutes of a 129-125 win over Golden State on Saturday night, in his seventh NBA game. Jennings, averaging 25.6 points on the season, has scored a combined 87 in his last two games while shooting 32 of 53 from the floor. Thanks largely to their rookie’s heroics, the Bucks are 4-1 in the games Redd has missed.
Off to its best start since winning five of the first seven during its last playoff season of 2005-06, Milwaukee now tries for a third consecutive home win over Dallas (7-3). Last season, in January, the Bucks won against the Mavs with an amazing performance 133 to 99 .

Dallas is coming to the end of a road trip. They won last night in Detroit by 5 points. Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points and Drew Gooden added 11 with 11 rebounds in place of starting center Erick Dampier, who was scratched due to illness. The Mavericks shot 43.9 percent, but outscored the Pistons 46-36 in the paint.
Nowitzki is averaging 25.7 points on the season and 27.1 in his last 14 games against the Bucks. He had 30 in Dallas’s 133-99 loss at Milwaukee on Jan. 21, but 14 in a 116-96 home win over the Bucks on Feb. 25.

Overall, I see the Mavs a bit tired and Nowitzki playing at his best in the last quarter but I see a Bucks team driven very well by the rookie Jennings and it’s hard to believe that right now something can stay in their way.

So tonight’s NBA free tip from Dallas to Milwaukee is :

Play Milwaukee Bucks -1.5 @1,91 only at Pinnacle

* If you want , you can modify the actual spread line by adding or retrieving points , option available at Pinnacle a very useful way to maximize your sportsbetting profit *

  Stephen Jackson was traded to  Charlotte Bobcats in a deal that everyone knew it’s gonna happen. He’s averaging 16.6 points in nine games this season, after averaging 20.7 points and 6.5 assists last season.
The Bobcats sent shooting guard Raja Bell and forward Vladimir Radmanovic to the Warriors for Jackson and guard Acie Law.
Charlotte takes on Jackson’s contract, which has three years and $28 million left after this season. Golden State inherits Radmanovic’s deal, worth about $13.5 million over this season and next. Bell and Law are in the final year of their contracts.
With the worst offense in the league and failing to reach 80 points in five of its nine games so far, the Bobcats are averaging an NBA-low 82.4 points per game . Charlotte has been exchanging proposals with Golden State for some time. But the Bobcats were determined to make the deal without parting with playmaking big man Boris Diaw.

“He’s happy about the trade, delighted about the trade,” Jackson’s agent, Mark Stevens, told Sheridan. “This is what he wanted, a new start, and this gives him a chance to compete. Plus, he’s a huge fan of that team’s president, Michael Jordan.” Stevens also said Jackson was expected to be in uniform for the Bobcats on Monday night against Orlando.

Well, we heard this before – let’s for how long Jackson will stay in Charlotte, given that one of his motivations for asking out was the chance to play for a contender. .

  Interesting match up tonight between two teams in different conditions. Monitoring tonight’s games in NBA, we think there’s a good opportunity for a winning pick on this one .

Charlotte (3-5) lost 98-75 loss at Detroit on Friday for its third straight loss after winning three of its first five. Nazr Mohammed led the team with 13 points in 15 minutes off the bench in the latest woeful offensive performance for the Bobcats, who are last in the league with 83.5 points per game.
Gerald Wallace added 12 for Charlotte, which shot 4 for 15 from 3-point range and was outscored 29-12 in the third quarter.

Portland (7-3) won 86-78 at New Orleans on Friday to improve to 3-0 on a five-game road trip that concludes Monday at Atlanta. The Trail Blazers have won five in a row since losing three of five to open the season. Portland, averaging 99.6 points and giving up only 83.6 during its five-game winning streak, won Friday despite shooting 37.9 percent. The Blazers outrebounded the Hornets 60-40 and finished with a 22-3 advantage in second-chance points.

A few trends to consider:
Portland is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Portland is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Portland’s last 7 games when playing Charlotte
Charlotte is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Charlotte is 18-7 ATS in its last 25 games at home
Charlotte is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Charlotte’s last 7 games when playing Portland
I’m pretty sure that Charlotte will bounce back tonight and we’ll see a close game . The teams will score better than the previous games after such a low percentages.

The NBA free tip of the day is :

Total Points OVER 171 for Game @ 1.855 only at Pinnacle

* If you want , you can modify the actual spread line by adding or retrieving points , option available at Pinnacle a very useful way to maximize your sportsbetting profit *

Joe Cada outlasted 6,493 other entrants to take down the 2009 World Series of Poker championship early Tuesday morning.
With his victory, Cada becomes the youngest player to ever win the World Series of Poker main event breaking the record of Peter Eastgate.

Despite entering heads-up play with a large chip deficit, Darvin Moon battled valiantly, actually taking over the chip lead for a short period of time before eventually giving it back for good.

The final hand of the tournament went down like this:

Cada had the button (and the chip lead) and raised to 3 million pre-flop.
Moon re-raised up to eight million, which led Cada to push all-in.
After a bit of deliberation, Moon made the call. The two players showed:
Moon – Qd Jd
Cada – 9c 9d
The board ran out:

8c-2c-7s-Kh-7c

Cada, with his pair of nines, had taken down poker’s biggest prize after a long and drawn-out battle.
Moon, who had battled very hard, ended up walking away with a second place finish.

For his victory, Joe Cada received $8,547,042, as well as the coveted World Series of Poker bracelet. Moon ended up taking home $5,182,928 for his second place finish.

The final table ended up taking a grueling 364 hands to complete, which translated into approximately 24 hours of play.

With that, the 2009 World Series of Poker has finally come to an end, despite beginning over five months ago.

Here is how the final table finished out:

1. Joe Cada, $8,547,042
2. Darvin Moon, $5,182,928
3. Antoine Saout, $3,479,670
4. Eric Buchman, $2,502,890
5. Jeff Shulman, $1,953,452
6. Steven Begleiter, $1,587,160
7. Phil Ivey, $1,404,014
8. Kevin Schaffel, $1,300,231
9. James Akenhead, $1,263,602

Cada has no one else to beat. With a tear in the corner of his eye and his lips pursed to hold back obvious emotion, Cada lifted his new bracelet above his head and accepted his role of ambassador to the poker world.
Congratulations to Joe Cada on the victory !