College basketball fans begin to fall in love each March with teams that seem to come from out of nowhere to play the role of Cinderella in the NCAA Tournament. Bettors don’t have the luxury of waiting around to find out which teams that will be each season.
Betting
Without seeing Andrew Wiggins play, most media pundits are assuming the Kansas freshman will be the No. 1 pick in next summer’s NBA Draft. That might turn out to be true, but remember to always wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle and jumping to conclusions.
Those who play the NBA will find few uncontested layups. How do you handicap pro basketball? Here are five points of emphasis.
The Lakers hosted a preseason game Thursday night at the MGM Grand Garden, but there was no Bryant and a definite lack of buzz. Imagine the E Street Band showing up to play without Bruce Springsteen.
Sometime Friday , Dwight Howard is expected to announce his dramatic free-agent decision, and one lucky NBA team will feel compelled to throw a party and maybe shoot off some fireworks.
At this point, despite the agony of another defeat, LeBron James has to like his chances. The Miami Heat are headed home, and only their margin for error has been eliminated.
It was turn-back-the-clock night for Dwyane Wade, and as a result, a wild series is right back where it started. But maybe it’s not that wild, because this is what was expected.
NBA commissioner David Stern and ABC have to be happy with the NBA Finals matchup that pits LeBron James and the Miami Heat against the San Antonio Spurs. The only matchup that might have been more appealing would have been a healthy Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers against the Heat.
If the San Antonio Spurs are going to beat the odds and win four more games, Tony Parker will need to be the best player on the floor in the NBA Finals.
Without fanfare and media hype, Paul George took his talents to South Beach, became a star and put a scare into the Miami Heat.
Everything is coming so easily for LeBron James. When he records a triple-double, it seems routine. When the pressure intensifies late in a playoff game, he now shines in the spotlight instead of shrinking in it.
When a couple of young guns from Oakland make headlines, it’s not always good news. But these shooters have the best intentions, and Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are the hottest thing going in the NBA.
In the NBA, reputations are made in the playoffs. Carmelo Anthony is an exception because he entered the league with star status and never has lost it despite rarely winning in the playoffs.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Rick Pitino became a Hall of Famer and an NCAA champion on the same day. Now the Louisville basketball coach is positioned to become a Kentucky Derby-winning owner if Goldencents wins on Saturday.
It took a magic trick by sophomore point guard Trey Burke to get Michigan to the Final Four. To win two more games, he might need to mimic a great escape artist.