 |
 Basketball Betting |
 |
||||
|
 |
||||
|
||||
Lakers center Bynum says he'll play in Game 5Basketball Betting Lines06/12/2010 - BOSTON (AP) -Andrew Bynum is altogether clear on this: He'll play in Game 5 of the NBA finals. Beyond that, the key to the Los Angeles Lakers' interior defense - and perhaps the team's championship chances - can't make any promises. ``I'm 100 percent sure that I'm playing come Sunday,'' the Lakers' 7-foot center said Saturday. Bynum had fluid drained from his right knee after Boston evened the series 2-2 with a 96-89 win Thursday night. He was encouraged that the swelling had not returned since then. He had fluid drained from the same knee just before the series and the swelling reappeared. He knows that will happen again. ``It's going to come back after Game 5, for sure,'' Bynum said. ``It's guaranteed. But as long as I'm able to be out there and be effective, that's what counts. And I know this game is the biggest game because it can change the whole series.'' Bynum played 28 minutes in the opener, 39 in the second game and 29 in the third. He had 40 points and 22 rebounds as the Lakers opened a 2-1 series lead. But he played just 12 minutes in Game 4 and sat out the last 14 minutes. His totals: 2 points, 3 rebounds, no blocks, Without him, the Lakers let a 62-60 lead after three quarters slip away as Boston power forward Glen Davis took advantage of Bynum's absence to score 9 points in the fourth quarter. Two of Davis' baskets helped turn a 64-all tie into a 70-64 lead. ``It's rare that you see an NBA game won by one six-point run and that's kind of what happened,'' Bynum said. ``The whole game was real slow, real nasty. We had the lead and we kind of, so to speak, choked.'' Had he played, it would have been much tougher for Davis to grab rebounds and make layups. Bynum's health could be the difference between the Lakers successfully defending their title or the Celtics reclaiming it after beating Los Angeles in 2008. ``I embrace'' the responsibility, he said, ``because I know what I'm able to do out there on the court and just want to go out there and just be effective. If I do that, if I give us some good minutes out there, then we'll have a great shot at winning the game.'' Bynum doesn't know how long he'll play Sunday. That depends on how he feels. He does know he wouldn't be able to play if the fluid had not been drained. ``I'm going to be able to play with the pain. That's not the problem,'' he said. ``It's when the swelling's in there ... it shuts the muscle down and then that's when you're really vulnerable to more injury.'' Bynum has a torn meniscus and bone bruise in his knee. Surgery is scheduled for July with an expected rehabilitation period of two to five weeks, he said. Meanwhile, he plays on. ``He's made the ultimate sacrifice and tried to pay the ultimate price,'' Lakers guard Derek Fisher said. ``As a professional basketball player, your commodity is your body. So for him to take the steps that he's taking to try and help us win, I think that says a lot about who he is and what his purpose is with our team.'' Bynum, 22, was 17 when the Lakers made him the youngest player ever drafted in the first round. His scoring average has increased in each of his five seasons, to 15.0 this season along with 8.3 rebounds. Without him, the Lakers only consistently effective inside player is 7-foot Pau Gasol. ``He's been a factor when he's been out there,'' Gasol said. ``It also helps me to have him there just because of his presence and his length, his size, just rebounding, defending. Those two things are keys at this point because they've been the difference in the series.'' Bynum planned to have more treatment on Saturday and be ready for the Celtics to test him on Sunday. ``That's what they're supposed to do,'' Bynum said. ``They're supposed to attack, but I think we'll be ready.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Harden placed on DL
Milwaukee, WI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers placed starter Rich Harden on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a left gluteal muscle strain. To fill the roster spot, Texas recalled pitcher Alexi Ogando from Triple-A Okla
<< Halladay, Kendrick to switch spots in rotation
<< Posada's slam, Jeter's offense stoke Yanks over Astros
<< Champion Blackhawks know changes are ahead
<< Ray Allen misses media session for NBA finals
BoSox put Dice-K on DL minutes before start >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Just prior to Saturday's contest against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Red Sox placed starter Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain. Scott Atchison got the start for
Rachel Alexandra garners first win of 2010 >>
Cubs swap out relievers with promotion of Atkins >>
Rays put OF Kapler on DL >>
Group C favorites England, USA battle to draw in Rustenburg >>
Kurt Warner to start, Matt Leinart to watch Despite the debate that's swirling , Kurt Warner will remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, coach Dennis Green said today. The Arizona Cardinals are the +7 point underdog at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com for this Sunday's game. Green's comment came in a statement released by the team following an ESPN report that Green decided that rookie Matt Leinart would replace Warner as starter for Sunday's game at Atlanta. "Generally talking about the starting lineup is not something we do," Green told the AP. "However, given the speculation that was out there we want to make it clear. We're disappointed after last week, but we still expect to be a playoff football team and we fully expect Kurt Warner to be the quarterback that leads us. That has not changed." To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on football needs. Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture. Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet). For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot. The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win. TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures. Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash. Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs. |
|
