James Patrick Sports
5* SA Spurs
LPW Sports Forecast
25 Unit Special Situation - Rutgers +10.5
Dr Bob
Charlotte in a 3-Star Best Bet at -1 or better and for 2-Star up to -2 points.
KELSO
10 Units Rutgers Scarlet Knights +10.5
10 Units Rutgers Scarlet Knights Over 42.5
5 Unit Rutgers Scarlet Knights +10.5 & OVER
25 Units Denver Nuggets -4
5 Units Sacramento Kings +5
4 Units Atlanta Hawks -10.5
3 Units Charlotte Bobcats +2.5
Street Rosenthal
*200 Rutgers +10
O.C. Dooley
Kings +5
Of course the reason why this particular contest is being televised as the second-half of ESPN’s national doubleheader has to do with the defending champion Lakers who are off to a sensational start and already lead the league (114 points per game) in average offensive production. Not only did Kobe Bryant and company tally 124 points in a victory last night, the bench contributed with 50 big ones. The last 16 times that the Lakers have opposed Sacramento, the offense has averaged 114 points per pop so one would think Los Angeles should have been asked to lay much more than this particular five-point impost. One of the reasons why tonight’s line has been kept in check has to do with the recent resiliency of the Kings who have recovered from massive 16-and-17 point deficits to win the last pair of outings. Not only is Sacramento off to a solid start (3-1), a pair of those triumphs came on the road which is stunning for a franchise that has been a model of mediocrity. To give you an idea how futile things have been for a once-proud franchise, Sacramento has only ONE winning month in the past 17 months of action (only 42 victories the past two years combined). We have already seen one wretched franchise rise from the ashes in baseball (Tampa Rays) after stockpiling wise draft picks and that is exactly what is happening out west in pro hoops. Sacramento has the league’s “2009/2010 rookie of the year” as Tyreke Evans averaged 20 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds per game. Evans actually was suspended for this year’s regular season opener, but that did not affect his overall numbers (39 points, 13 assists, 11 rebounds) in the next pair of outings where he has been sensational. Sacramento used the #5 overall pick in the 2010 draft to nab 6’9” Demarco Cousins who actually took it as a “snub” as he felt he was #1 overall material. Cousins instantly gives the Kings a large presence down low in the paint and is coming off his first professional “double double” (14 points, 10 rebounds). On Monday Sacramento finally played their home opener and drew a SELLOUT crowd to a venue (Arco Arena) that traditionally has been one of the loudest in the league. What caught my attention in Monday’s home opener was what veteran Samuel Dalembert did off the “bench” hauling down 14 rebounds. Before being sent out to the west coast, Dalembert compiled the second most blocked-shots (1,131) in Philadelphia history right behind a legend by the name of Julius Erving. To put this late night ESPN affair in proper perspective, an upset victory tonight would give Sacramento their best start (4-1) in “nine” long years. There was a rare victory parade in Northern California today (San Francisco Giants) and on a much quieter scale we have another “event” going on late this evening also in Northern California
Erin Rynning
Playmaker - SA Spurs OVER