12/30/2006 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Superstar Allen Iverson is long gone, but the Philadelphia 76ers hope their other A.I. can become the break-out player they had anticipated a few years ago.
Andre Iguodala has the athleticism, the build and the determination to be the new leader of the Sixers, but it will only come with time. He is slowly and surely emerging as Philly's go-to guy and posted a career-high 32 points in a win over Portland on Friday night.
Iverson can post 32 points every night if he wanted to because of his unbalanced shot selection. However, Iguodala must not fall into that frame of mind where he thinks every shot he takes will help his team win. Iverson was able to do that because he is a superstar.
More often than not, though, the Sixers seem to have more solidarity on the court now that Iverson is in the Western Conference. Iguodala won't fill the stands like he fills out his jersey, but head coach Maurice Cheeks has a future All-Star on his squad.
The former Arizona stud has started and played in every game of his NBA career (193 games) and has also reached double digits in scoring in 28 of the 29 games this season.
Iguodala is a better athlete than Iverson, but not a better basketball player. But that doesn't matter if Iguodala is making himself and teammates better at the same time. Iverson once questioned how practice can make his teammates better during a popular press conference a few years back. Now that he is in Denver playing under the strict George Karl, Iverson will soon learn the answer to his question.
Philadelphia is 3-3 since dealing Iverson to the Nuggets and won for just the third time in 17 games with Friday's 98-95 victory over the Trail Blazers. Iguodala has been playing very well on the Sixers' current seven-game road trip which resumes Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Iverson and the Nuggets are next, followed by games at Utah and Minnesota.
The 76ers are a disgraceful 8-21 this season and 5-21 over their previous 26 games. Another big reason besides lack of talent is that the Sixers have scored less than 100 points in 14 straight games, the longest such streak since the 2003-04 squad failed to reach the century mark in 25 straight games.
<< Knicks trade fists for wins
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Since the melee at Madison Square Garden against Denver,
the New York Knicks have been playing more cohesive basketball.
Whether it's because of the job security of head coach Isiah Thomas or just
the plain fact the
<< Nets caught up in streaky season
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The way the Atlantic Division is unfolding right now, I
wouldn't be surprised if the division champion finishes the season with a
losing record.
New Jersey and New York are both currently tied at a game behind t
<< Celtics continue downward spiral
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics certainly miss Paul Pierce, and their
recent road record is living proof.
Boston has dropped five in a row since winning five straight, including the
first three installments of a five-game road
<< United increases lead to six as Ronaldo continues to shine
Manchester, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cristiano Ronaldo continued his
brilliant run of play with two second-half goals to lift Manchester United to
a 3-2 win over Reading at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Ronaldo has now scored six goal
Raptors hope to avoid extinction >>
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Don't look now but the Toronto Raptors are atop the
Atlantic Division standings almost midway through the 2006-07 season.
Who would have guessed that the Raptors would be leading the Atlantic by
January?
B
Aponavicius' late FG lifts BC over Navy >>
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Steve Aponavicius made up for a missed extra
point by drilling a 37-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give
23rd-ranked Boston College a 25-24 victory over Navy in the Meineke Car Care
Bowl.
West Virginia hands UConn first loss >>
Morgantown, WV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Frank Young scored 22 points and Da'Sean
Butler added 16, as West Virginia handed 12th-ranked Connecticut its first
loss with an 81-71 decision at WVU Coliseum.
Darris Nichols chipped in 14 points
PSV returns to winning form >>
Eindhoven, Holland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Eredivisie-leading PSV Eindhoven
returned to its winning ways on Saturday with a 2-1 victory over visiting ADO
Den Haag at the Philips Stadion after its run of 12-straight triumphs came to
an end
MySportsbook.com Posts Heisman Trophy Odds
With 3,919 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a mere seven interceptions last season, combined with a powerful South Bend Heisman legacy, odds makers at MySportsbook.com have given Notre Dame senior quarterback Brady Quinn the best Heisman Trophy odds at 5-2.
Quinn isn’t the only big man on campus this season. Oklahoma junior running back and 2004 Heisman runner-up Adrian Peterson, listed at 7-2, rushed for a combined 3,033 yards in his first two years as a college player and will give Quinn a run for his money.
This online sportsbook has also listed Troy Smith, Ohio State senior quarterback, as another strong favorite to win the 72nd Heisman Trophy. A 7-1 bet, Smith threw for 2,282 yards last season and also led the Buckeyes to a convincing 34-20 victory over Quinn and the Fighting Irish in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.
Current betting odds Heisman trophy are:
| Brady Quinn (QB, Notre Dame) Adrian Peterson (RB, Oklahoma) Troy Smith (QB, Ohio State) Michael Bush (RB, Louisville) Steve Slaton (RB, West Virginia) Brian Brohm (QB, Louisville) Chris Leak (QB, Florida) Mike Hart (RB, Michigan) Ted Ginn (WR, Ohio State) Darius Walker (RB, Notre Dame) Drew Tate (QB, Iowa) Marshawn Lynch (RB, Cal) Kenny Irons (RB, Auburn) Chad Henne (QB, Michigan) Kyle Wright (QB, Miami) Drew Stanton (QB, Michigan State) Kenneth Darby (RB, Alabama) JaMarcus Russell (QB, LSU) Drew Weatherford (QB, Florida State) Blake Mitchell (QB, South Carolina) Reggie Ball (QB, Georgia Tech) |
5-2 7-2 7-1 10-1 10-1 12-1 12-1 18-1 18-1 20-1 30-1 35-1 35-1 40-1 50-1 50-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 60-1 |
For complete NCAA Football odds visit MySportsbook.com.
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