Spurs part ways with Finley

Basketball Betting Lines

03/01/2010 - San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The San Antonio Spurs announced on Monday they have released veteran guard Michael Finley.

Finley requested to be waived since his playing time waned upon his return from a sprained ankle in late January. In 25 games this season, the 36-year- old has averaged career-lows of 3.7 points and 1.5 rebounds over 15-plus minutes per contest.

"Michael Finley was an outstanding professional during his time with the Spurs," said Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. "Both on and off the court he was great example for all to follow."

Over 15 seasons in the NBA, which has included stints with Phoenix and Dallas, the University of Wisconsin product has averaged 15.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 1,082 games.

Wwwwin365casino Basketball Betting News

<< Wozniak reaches second round in Mexico
Monterrey, Mexico (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Seventh-seeded Aleksandra Wozniak was a first-round winner Monday at the $220,000 Monterrey Open tennis event. The Canadian Wozniak was tied with Laura Granville at 3-3 in the first set on Day 1 when the

<< Timberwolves waive C Blount
Minneapolis, MN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Minnesota Timberwolves waived center Mark Blount on Monday. The T'wolves received Blount in a trade with the Miami Heat for Quentin Richardson last August, but he has not appeared in a game

<< Patrick has much more to learn in NASCAR before her return
Las Vegas, NV (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Danica-mania in NASCAR is over...for the time being, anyway. The Nationwide Series received more attention than ever during the month of February due to the hype surrounding Danica Patrick's foray into stock

<< Richmond adds Trott and Coleman to coaching staff
Richmond, VA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - University of Richmond football coach Latrell Scott announced the additions of Bob Trott and Roy Coleman to the coaching staff. Trott will serve as the defensive coordinator, while Coleman w

<< Skiles and Brooks named top coaches for February
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Scott Skiles of the Milwaukee Bucks and Scott Brooks from the Oklahoma City Thunder were selected as the NBA's top coaches for the month of February. Skiles led Milwaukee to a 10-4 record in the ye

Wizards buy out G James >>
Washington, DC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Washington Wizards waived guard Mike James on Monday after coming to a mutual agreement on a contract buyout. James has played just four games for Washington this year, averaging 4.5 points and

Wagner fires head men's basketball coach Deane >>
Staten Island, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wagner College fired head men's basketball coach Mike Deane on Monday following a 5-26 season. In his seven years as head coach of the Seahawks, Deane guided the program to a 95-113 record.

James, Boozer take February honors >>
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James and Utah Jazz forward Carlos Boozer were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month, respectively, for the games played in February. James led th

Blue Jackets acquire C Moore from Islanders >>
Columbus, OH (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired center Greg Moore from the New York Islanders in exchange for defenseman Dylan Reese. The trade is pending both players passing a physical. Moore has spent the season with

Earnhardt Jr. contributes $1M to Victory Junction camp >>
Randleman, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., announced on Monday he is donating $1 million to build and maintain The Dale Jr. Corral and Amphitheater at Victory Junction -- a camp for children with se

Betting Football

NFL Football Betting Online

Is there such a thing as a trap game in the NFL?

I once asked that question to Pete Korner, who at the time was office manager and a senior linesmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

Korner almost ripped my head off. There is no such thing as a trap game, he loudly berated me. It’s a myth. The numbers are made using power ratings, he said.

There are trap games, though. They just might not be what you think. The perception is of a good team, say Philadelphia, laying a small number against New Orleans.

Using the highly-respected power ranking from The Gold Sheet, you’d find the Eagles with a power rating of 4 and the Saints at 8. When you factor the game being played in New Orleans, you could see why the line opened so short at less than a field goal.

For some, this makes it enticing to take the Eagles. That’s not a real trap game, though.

A real trap game, says professional gambler Dave Malinsky, is thinking you’re getting value betting a bad team, which brings us to the Oakland Raiders-Denver Broncos matchup.

The Raiders are +15 in this long-standing division rivalry. Denver is on a short week having dispatched Baltimore Monday. However, the Raiders haven’t covered the spread their last 10 games.

Many bettors don’t trust the Raiders to give a full effort. Few think much of Art Shell and his Oakland’s coaching staff.

So oddsmakers have to do something to make Oakland attractive if they hope to get equal action.

Now Malinsky is a value shopper. But he won’t touch the Raiders even getting more than two touchdowns.

“I try to eliminate the undisciplined, unfocused teams because they’re the ones most likely to suffer the bad beats,” he said.

Near the top of Malinsky’s list of stay-away teams is the Miami Dolphins, who have yet to cover a spread this season.

“Whatever you think of Nick Saban, you have to look at the penalties and turnovers,” Malinsky said.

It’s easy to point out the Dolphins failed to get the money this past week against New England because Olindo Mare missed a field goal and had another field goal blocked. But even though the Dolphins outgained the Patriots, 283-213, they committed eight penalties.

Bad teams not only cost themselves victories, but pointspread covers as well. The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are two more examples.

The Cardinals couldn’t have been in a better position this past Sunday, up 14-0 at home against a mediocre Kansas City Chiefs squad. But they couldn’t hold it. The Packers got a push against St. Louis, but also could have won losing by three when Brett Favre fumbled at the St. Louis 11-yard line with 44 seconds left.

“The Packers were in a position to beat Philadelphia, too,” Malinsky said. “But they couldn’t even cover double digits.

“These teams just make mistakes and it costs you … they always will look good from a value standpoint. They really will. But that’s the trap.”

Houston and Tennessee rank among the six-worst teams. Malinsky wouldn’t be afraid to take either of these teams, however, if the price were high enough.

The Texans are bad, Malinsky said, but they have some discipline. The Titans showed they could not only come up with an outstanding game plan, but execute it as well, losing by one to the Colts on the road as an 18 ?-point underdog this past Sunday.

“Jeff Fisher is a worker,” Malinsky said of the Titans coach. “I’m not sure how hard Art Shell wants to work when he gets out of bed.”

Fisher, though, could be out as Tennessee coach after this season. Is he still worth backing in the right spot, with the right price, as a lame duck coach?

“It’s in his nature to keep working hard and not worry about any possible lame duck status,” Malinsky said. “He’s coaching for his resume.”

Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting lines.