NBA summer leagues shed more light on the draft
Basketball Betting Lines
07/16/2010 -
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - This year's rookie crop got its first taste of
the NBA in the recently completed Orlando Summer League and the one in Las
Vegas which concludes on Sunday. Though it's not the competition the player
will see in the regular season, you can still get a good feel of the skill and
talent level in this setting.
In watching these games, it wasn't difficult to come away with some of the
steals and blunders of the draft. Here's some of the talent that stood out to
me in good and bad ways:
WASHINGTON WIZARDS: John Wall exhibited the talent that earned him the first
overall pick, but the point guard will have to cut down on the high turnover
totals that plagued him in college along with working on his perimeter game.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS: Evan Turner, by his own admission, struggled pretty badly
in Orlando. He was used to controlling the ball at Ohio State and didn't
seem comfortable playing off the ball with Jrue Holliday running the offense.
Holliday, by the way, looks like he's really ready to make a real impact this
season.
NEW JERSEY NETS: Power forward Derrick Favors looked like the project he was
labeled before the draft. He needs a lot of work on his post-up game and mid-
range jumper. I think DeMarcus Cousins would've been a better choice at this
spot. New Jersey's second pick of the first round, Damion James, was very
impressive and looks like he's ready to make more of an impact than Favors in
his first season.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES: Wesley Johnson had problems creating his own shot off
the dribble, which is something you definitely don't want to see from the
fourth overall pick in the draft. I have a strong feeling the T-wolves will
regret this selection.
SACRAMENTO KINGS: Sacramento has to be thrilled with the play of Cousins, its
first-round pick. He scored inside and out, rebounded and passed the ball
extremely well while showing a really good feel for the game. The former
Kentucky center could turn out to be the second-best player in the draft.
DETROIT PISTONS: Greg Monroe did not look comfortable working in the low post.
He appears to have a small forward's game in a power forward's body.
UTAH JAZZ: A lot of people questioned Utah's selection of Gordon Hayward with
the ninth overall pick, and his play in Orlando showed why. He struggled to
get his shot off and his lack of foot speed hurt him on defense. I thought
Paul George would have been a much better choice than Hayward.
INDIANA PACERS: Speaking of George, he was clearly one of the standout players
in the summer league. His athleticism, size and length will be assets along
with his excellent basketball skills. George was selected 10th overall, but
looks like he should have gone a bit higher. And speaking of going
higher, Indiana's second-round pick (40th overall), Lance Stephenson, looks
like he should have gone much earlier in the draft. Character questions scared
off a lot of teams, but there doesn't seem to be much doubt about his skill
set.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS: The defending champs didn't select until 43rd and 58th
picks overall, but it looks like they came away with some NBA talent in small
forward Devin Ebanks and power forward Derrick Caracter. Ebanks showed good
play on both ends of the floor, while Caracter's play had me wondering how
this kid lasted until the third-to-last pick in the draft. He can score with
either hand around the basket, has a nice mid-range touch and showed the
ability to pass the ball out of the post, which is helpful in the Lakers'
triangle offense.
BOSTON CELTICS: Luke Harangody was one of the standouts in summer league play
and looks like one of the draft's big steals after being taken 52nd overall.
The Notre Dame power forward showed the willingness to bang inside and the
ability to step outside and hit 3-pointers.
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Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Celtic have completed the signing of
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The 27-year-old joins fellow Bhoys newcomers Charlie Mulgrew, Joe Ledley and
Cha Du-Ri in Neil Lenn
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Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - There is an adage in politics - never
let a serious crisis go to waste.
In these tough economic times, rank and file workers across America have
never been more suspicious of management.
Most agree that
Podolski claims he is committed to Cologne >>
Cologne, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cologne's Germany international forward
Lukas Podolski has vowed to stay with his current club this summer, despite
links with a possible big-money move abroad.
The 25-year-old enjoyed a fine Worl
NL East: With playoffs in sight, Braves make a switch at short >>
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waiting for Yunel Escobar.
The Braves dealt the 27-year-old shortstop to the Blue Jays on Wednesday in a
five-player trade that sent 33-year-old Alex Gonzalez to the Bra
Hamburg completes signing of Diekmeier >>
Hamburg, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Hamburg have completed the signing of
right back Dennis Diekmeier for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract
from Nurnberg.
The 20-year-old has played for Germany at three junior levels and m
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Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.
Bet on NFL Football
Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.
Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.
Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.
All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.
A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.
For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.
2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award
Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1
Ron Brace (NE) 25/1
Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1
Darius Butler (NE) 40/1
Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1
Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1
Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1
Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1
Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1
Larry English (SD) 15/1
Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1
Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1
Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1
Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1
James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1
Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1
Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1
Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1
Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1
Roy Miller (TB) 20/1
Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1
Fili Moala (IND) 30/1
Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1
Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1
B J Raji (GB) 7/1
Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1
Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1
David Verkune (CLE) 20/1
Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1
Field (Any Other Player) 6/1
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