New Jersey Nets 2010 Draft Preview

Basketball Betting Lines

06/21/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After a disastrous 12-win season the New Jersey Nets have undergone a makeover, starting with billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov and new head coach Avery Johnson.

Prokhorov is hell-bent on turning around this thing quickly and it may be easier than people think. No, the Nets probably aren't going to land LeBron James but they do possess a promising young core of players, including point guard Devin Harris (27 years old) and center Brook Lopez.

For Harris and Lopez to be most effective, the Nets needs more shooters on the floor with them but the team also needs defense and rebounding. New Jersey fell from first to third in the lottery, giving it the first real decision in the draft.

Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins probably has a bigger upside than either Georgia Tech power forward Derrick Favors or Syracuse wingman Wesley Johnson, but the Nets already have an All-Star type center in Lopez so look for them to go with Favors, a prototypical four in the mold of Kenyon Martin.

At No. 27, Lance Stephenson, a tough, athletic shooting guard from Cincinnati with an NBA-ready body has the power and quickness that could cause a lot of trouble on the blocks in a few years.

Players under contract: G Keyon Dooling; G Devin Harris; G Courtney Lee; C Brook Lopez; G-F Terrence Williams; F Yi Jianlian

Free Agents: C Tony Battie (Unrestricted); F-C Josh Boone (Restricted); F-G Chris Douglas-Roberts (Team option); F-G Trenton Hassell (Unrestricted); F Jarvis Hayes (Unrestricted); F Kris Humphries (Player option); G Chris Quinn (Unrestricted); F-G Bobby Simmons (Unrestricted)

Draft picks: 1st round (3rd overall, 27th overall); 2nd round (31st overall)

Www3sex Basketball Betting News

<< Minnesota Timberwolves 2010 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - You name it and the Minnesota Timberwolves likely need it. Kurt Rambis' Wolves are among the very worst in the NBA at both ends of the floor. Outside of Al Jefferson and Kevin Love up front and a solid developmental point

<< Milwaukee Bucks 2010 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Bucks hit a home run with the 10th overall pick in last year's draft, taking dynamic point guard Brandon Jennings. Jennings teamed with the improving Andrew Bogut and veteran John Salmons to get Milwaukee over the hum

<< Zenyatta continues to lead national poll
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Undefeated mare Zenyatta remains atop the NTRA Thoroughbred Poll for the week ending June 20. The six-year-old champion has never lost in 17 career starts. Zenyatta, who won the Vanity Handicap on June 1

<< Greece faces huge challenge against Argentina
Polokwane, South Africa (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Greece was impressive in the final 57 minutes of its victory over Nigeria, scoring twice to overturn a deficit in its first-ever FIFA World Cup victory. Dimitris Salpigidis notched Greece's first-e

<< Miami Heat 2010 Draft Preview
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Miami Heat have just four players under contract right now but their plans are clear. Pat Riley hopes to re-sign All-Star guard Dwyane Wade and bring in another top-tier free agent to team with his superstar, with most

Missouri State's Martin gets extension >>
Springfield, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Missouri State has extended the contract of men's head basketball coach Cuonzo Martin. The deal was approved by the University Board of Governors on Friday. Martin will earn a base salary of $140,000

New York Knicks 2010 Draft Preview >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Well, this is it. Donnie Walsh has waited patiently for two years, creating roster flexibility with the intent of convincing Cleveland superstar LeBron James to take up residence in the Big Apple. The Knicks' cupboard i

Harman and Clemson handle Arizona State >>
Omaha, NE (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Casey Harman worked six-plus solid innings and five different players drove in a run, as Clemson knocked off Arizona State, 6-3, in first round action at the College World Series in Omaha. Clemson tallied t

Mauer still leads AL All-Star balloting >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer remained the top vote-getter among American League players in the latest fan balloting results for this year's All-Star Game, which will be played July 13 at Angel Stadium

In the FCS Huddle: App State QBs under microscope >>
Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - It is hard to imagine that there are bigger shoes to fill in the FCS than what Appalachian State's starting quarterback faces in replacing Armanti Edwards this season. What Jamal Jackson and DeAndre Presle

Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting

So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.

Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?

If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)

Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).

In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.

Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.

The Bubble Breakdown
CONFERENCE LOCKS SHOULD BE INS AT-LARGES TAKEN
(assuming no auto bid outlier)
ACC Betting Odds 6 0 5
Big East Betting Odds 5 0 4
Big Ten Betting Odds 2 2 3
Big 12 Betting Odds 3 0 2
Pac-10 Betting Odds 5 1 5
SEC Betting Odds 4 0 3
MVC Betting Odds 1 1 1
MWC Betting Odds 2 1 2
TOTAL 28 5 25

As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.

(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)

If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.

Atlantic Coast Conference

Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech

The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.

 

Work left to do:

Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.

Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).

Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.

For more College Basketball betting lines go to MySportsbook.com

Additional basketball lines can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com

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