NBA All-Star Weekend - Vegas Style

Basketball Betting Lines

02/16/2007 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 56th NBA All-Star Game will be played this Sunday night. The East has won the last two and six of the last 10 overall. Most of these "exhibition style" games go down to the wire and last season was no exception, as the Eastern Conference returned home with a 122-120 victory.

The East trailed by 21 in the third quarter but stormed back to take a 117-107 lead with a little less than 3:30 to go. The West then went on a 17-3 run and tied the game at 120 with 32 seconds left. Dwyane Wade nailed the game-winning shot, but it was LeBron James who stole the show.

King James, who became the youngest player to win the games MVP Award, finished with 29 points and gave coach Flip Saunders his second All-Star Game victory. Unfortunately for Saunders, he wont have the chance for a three-peat since NBA coaches are not allowed to be behind the bench in consecutive seasons. Washingtons Eddie Jordan will coach his own Gilbert Arenas and 11 other Eastern stars against Mike DAntoni of Phoenix and 12 superstars from the West.

The East has 34 wins to the Wests 21, but most of those victories (14) came during the first 20 years. The Eastern Conference has won eight of the last 15 although the West leads 4-3 in the games played this decade. Regrettably, there arent too many handicapping angles to delve into in these types of match-ups. Last season was a bit of an exception, as four Pistons made the roster and Flip Saunders used them at the same time, especially in the second half when the famed Pistons defense limited the West to just 50 points.

For the second straight year, the final tally fell under 250. The 242 total was two points more than the 240 back in 2005. With so many injuries knocking out key players (Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, Yao Ming) in the West, the East has to be given the slight edge. One other interesting note, six of the top nine players favored to win the games MVP Award are from the Eastern Conference.

Four points or less have decided half of the games the last six years with one other contest going into double overtime. So it pays to grab the points if one desires to wager money on this exhibition affair.

Take the East plus the points and the UNDER.

PROP BETS

Speaking of the MVP, Dwyane Wade is the 4-1 favorite to win the award. Miamis guard played over 30 minutes in last years game and hit 9-of-11 from the field for 20 points. LeBron James was awarded the honor after posting a team- high 29 points on 12-21 shooting. James took more shots than anyone on both rosters except for Tracy McGrady, who hit 15-of-26.

The last time there was a repeat winner was way back in 1958-59 when Bob Pettit took the honors. Even so, he had to share the award with Elgin Baylor in 59. Can James stop the trend? If he dominates the court as he did last year, there is no reason why he cant. In addition, 6-1 is a healthy price.

Go with King James for back-to-back MVP Awards and take a flyer at 8-1 on Chris Bosh.

Which player will score the most points? Kobe Bryant is the current choice at 2-1, while Gilbert Arenas is close behind at 2.30-1. For some reason, LeBron isnt getting much credit as hes listed at 7-2. If James is not the leading scorer, it will be someone from the Western Conference, probably an outside shooter since Nash and Iverson wont be available. Kobe is tough to take at the price and Ray Allen is in the Field where theres not much value at 7-2.

The pick: Dirk Nowitzki at the juicy odds of 5.5-1

SATURDAY SHOWDOWNS

What most people care about these days are the events leading up to Sunday nights contest and thats the Three-Point Shootout and the ever-popular Slam Dunk Contest.

Nowitzki looks to make it two straight victories in the "bombs away" shootout as the Mavericks sharpshooter defeated Gilbert Arenas to take the crown. Surprisingly, neither is favored this season. Miamis Jason Kapono is the 2-1 choice mainly due to his 47% career three-point percentage. However, those numbers are from just a short sample of attempts since the UCLA product has been in the league only a few years.

Kapono is the only member of the field to attempt less than 2,000 treys. In fact, hes put up less than 500. Hell get his props if he continues at that pace for another five years or so. Still, one cant argue with his success hitting an amazing 56% this season from beyond the arc!

Nowitzki has stated that its one thing to be able to nail three-pointers, but its another to do so in a time-controlled setting. Experience plays a big part in these contests as one can plainly see from the list of previous winners. The three-point show has been around for 20 years and there has already been five repeat winners, with the latest coming back in 2002-2003 when Peja Stojakovic won in back-to-back seasons.

Stay away from the Kapono at 2-1 and set your sights and money on Nowitzki at 5-2.

Longshot play: Jason Terry at 6-1.

The Slam Dunk Contest has lost a ton of luster from the days of Michael Jordan and Dominque Wilkins. The Knicks Nate Robinson became just the second player under six-feet to win the battle when he defeated Philadelphias Andre Iguodala last season. (Spud Webb was the first back in 1986.)

Unlike the Three-Point Shootout, the Slam Dunk Contest rarely produces back- to-back champions. In the previous 21 match-ups, there have been just two players to win consecutive titles: Jason Richardson and Michael Jordan. Its safe to say there are no Jordans in this years event.

Robinson is 5-2 to join that twosome but the public has jumped all over Gerald Green. Bostons first-round pick in 2005 is even money so theres no value there. Tyrus Thomas will not win it in his first NBA season so that leaves Dwight Howard. He might be too big to take the crown and history suggests the Slam Dunk Contest is a guard-swingmans show. However, Larry Nance did win the inaugural "SDC" back in 1984.

Go with Howard at the huge price of 5-1.

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MySportsbook.com: NBA Championship Odds

With the playoffs about two months away, the top two teams in the Western Conference are the clear cut leaders to win the NBA Championship. The Dallas Mavericks have the best record in the NBA (44-9) and have been absolutely scorching since the second week of the season.  What makes the Mavs’ record more impressive is the fact that they dropped their first four games of the season.  Currently they have won 17 out of their last 18 and are MySportsbook.com’s favorite (2-1) to win it all.  Right behind the Mavs are the Pacific leading Phoenix Suns (39-13).  Last season, the Suns lost in the Conference Finals to non-other then the Mavericks four games to two.  Of course the Suns were without center Amare Stoudemire who has is averaging 19.9 PPG and 9.5 RPG since coming back from his knee injury.  Unlike the Mavs, the Suns have struggled a bit lately having lost their last three and four out of their last seven.  Of course the main reason for their three straight loses is due to the absence of two time MVP Steve Nash, who is out with a shoulder injury.  Heads-up, the Mavs have beaten the Suns in both of their meetings this season.

In the Eastern Conference, the Pistons (32-19) are the favorites to win it all at 6-1. The addition of Chris Webber seems to have been a good move for the Pistons.  Since coming over from the 76ers, Webber has averaged 13.1 PPG and 7.3 RPG and the Pistons are 11-4.  Even though the defending champion Heat are currently on the playoff making cusp, they are the Eastern Conference team that is getting the most action to win it all (9-1).  The fact that Shaquille O’Neal is back in the starting lineup after missing 39 games probably has something to do with this.  No doubt, Shaq makes a difference when in the lineup as their winning six out of their last seven would indicate.

Just because it is the All-Star break doesn’t mean that you can’t bet on NBA hoops this weekend.  Be sure to log onto MySportsbook.com to bet on who you think will cut down the nets this July. Also, be sure to check out all of the lines and props for All-Star weekend.  With the highest credit card acceptance rate in the industry, there are plenty of ways to cash in on the NBA this weekend.

MySportsbook.com’s NBA Championship odds:

Atlanta Hawks 1000-1

Boston Celtics 5000-1

Charlotte Bobcats 5000-1

Chicago Bulls 20-1

Cleveland Cavaliers 20-1

Dallas Mavericks 2-1

Denver Nuggets 25-1

Detroit Pistons 6-1

Golden State Warriors 250-1

Houston Rockets 12-1

Indiana Pacers 60-1

Los Angeles Clippers 45-1

Memphis Grizzlies 5000-1

Miami Heat 9-1

Milwaukee Bucks 1000-1

Minnesota T-Wolves 200-1

New Jersey Nets 50-1

New Orleans Hornets 150-1

New York Knicks 150-1

Orlando Magic 75-1

Philadelphia 76ers 1000-1

Phoenix Suns 5-2

Portland TrailBlazers 1000-1

Sacramento Kings 250-1

San Antonio Spurs 9-1

Seattle Sonics 5000-1

Toronto Raptors 35-1

Utah Jazz 20-1

Washington Wizards 25-1

About MySportsbook.com:


MySportsbook.com  is the largest sportsbook and casino on the planet, where millions of adult Americans bet on sports, play poker and enjoy blackjack and other casino games online in a regulated and licensed jurisdiction. Named the "Best online Sports Book" by the industry's top magazine, eGaming Review, MySportsbook.com has been leading the online gaming industry since 1996. Dwarfing its nearest competitors in the US, MySportsbook.com has been the first to achieve every significant industry milestone, from record turnover to active users to number of bets--achieving a peak of fifteen bets per second. As the US online gaming leader, the firm and it's products have been featured on CBS 60 Minutes, CNN, ESPN, Wall Street Journal, Barrons, Financial Times, USA Today and in every major newspaper in the US.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com - this sportsbook accepts credit cards.

Eastern Conference Playoff Betting Trends

We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
 New Jersey has covered four games in a row while Toronto has failed to cover their last four games.
When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

About MySportsbook.com MySportsbook.com  is the largest sportsbook and casino on the planet, where millions of adult Americans bet on sports, play poker and enjoy blackjack and other casino games online in a regulated and licensed jurisdiction. Named the "Best US Sports Book" by the industry's top magazine, eGaming Review, MySportsbook.com has been leading the online gaming industry since 1996. Dwarfing its nearest competitors in the US, MySportsbook.com has been the first to achieve every significant industry milestone, from record turnover to active users to number of bets--achieving a peak of fifteen bets per second. As the US online gaming leader, the firm and it's products have been featured on CBS 60 Minutes, CNN, ESPN, Wall Street Journal, Barrons, Financial Times, USA Today and in every major newspaper in the US.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your basketball sportsbook needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.