Wednesday News and Notes

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

 

Here are news and notes from OffshoreInsiders.com  private clipboard.  They are compiled from hometown newspapers and the team’s own press releases.

CBB

Brown-Michigan State

Michigan Live

Because they are young and generally inexperienced, the 2006-07 Spartans find themselves in an unfamiliar role, and they’re none to happy about it. Michigan State has been picked to finish in the middle of the conference pack and doesn’t appear on the ESPN-USA Today preseason Top 25. Izzo has been trying to figure out how to replace 77.6 percent of the scoring, 69.2 percent of the rebounding and 59.5 percent of the minutes played from last season after MSU lost Maurice Ager, Paul Davis and Shannon Brown to the NBA. The only thing Izzo knows for sure about his team is that junior guard Drew Neitzel will be MSU’s primary playmaker and No. 1 scoring option. Izzo learns a little bit more about the rest of the team every day, and not all of it’s good. Travis Walton, who averaged 18.7 minutes per game last season as a freshman, will play point guard when Neitzel’s trying to supply points from the shooting guard position. However, Walton has made Izzo uncomfortable by committing too many turnovers -- 12 of MSU’s 38 in two exhibition games and dozens in practice. MasterLockLine.com has the top plays from the top sports service in their highest ranked sports.    

NBA

76ers-Raptors

Globe and Mail

When Toronto Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell initiated his plan to grade players on their defence this season, he might have had nights like tonight in mind.The Raptors are playing host to the Philadelphia 76ers at the Air Canada Centre and are eager to gain some momentum on their early season homestand before their five-game Western Conference road swing. The problem is the 76ers aren’t playing down to their preseason projections as a team on the decline. With a 3-1 record after last night’s game against the Indiana Pacers, the 76ers are a National Basketball Association early season success story despite losing last night 97-86. Iverson has traditionally played well against the Mitchell-led Raptors. He averaged 31.3 points on 47-per-cent shooting last season and 32.5 points a game on 45-per-cent shooting in 2004-05, and the Raptors are 2-6 against the 76ers the past two seasons. The Raptors are winless in both games this year in which their opponents have shot more than 50 per cent from the field. Joe Duffy’s sports betting selections are at www.GodsTips.com

 

Bobcats-Celtics

Boston Herald

Boston’s Theo Ratliff ran through his second straight practice yesterday without anything beyond the expected back stiffness. Rivers’ hope for Ratliff’s effect is obviously geared to the defensive end, where players like Emeka Okafor, Sean May and rookie Adam Morrison will pose quite a challenge for a Celtics team that has struggled on the defensive interior. Stevie Vincent’s BetOnSports360.com is pioneer in forensic handicapping and part of OffshoreInsiders.com    

Jazz-Nets

New York Daily News

Tonight when the Nets play host to the Jazz, Cliff Robinson will be eligible to play for the first time this season after finishing a five-game suspension that dated back to last year’s playoffs for violating the league’s drug policy. Without the 6-10 Robinson, Nets coach Lawrence Frank had been using Mikki Moore as the first big man off the bench. Upon Robinson’s return, Frank said that Moore did a good job, but that Robinson will move right back into his old role. Last year in 80 games, Robinson averaged 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds. He also provides a strong veteran presence. Approved sportsbooks are at www.linetrackers.com   

Suns-Spurs

Arizona Central

It’s still early November, and the Suns’ roller coaster has just taken another crazy turn.
Amaré Stoudemire, benched Saturday night throughout the second half of a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers as the Suns fell to 1-3, is expected to make his first start of the season tonight against the San Antonio Spurs in the Alamo City. The Spurs won 63 games last season but seemed to fall off the radar thanks to a second-round loss to Dallas in the playoffs. Reportedly, though, Tim Duncan is healthier than he’s been since back-to-back MVP seasons in 2002 and 2003, and that isn’t good news for the rest of the league. Duncan is averaging 19.8 points, nine rebounds and four assists per game. The Spurs are 3-1 but still looking for their first home victory this season. Stevie Vincent’s BetOnSports360.com is pioneer in forensic handicapping and part of OffshoreInsiders.com     

 

Lakers-Blazers

TSN Canada

Portland Trail Blazers rookie Brandon Roy will miss Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers because of a heel injury.Roy, the sixth overall pick in the June draft, is averaging 14.5 points through his first four games. The guard played 14 minutes in Monday’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers before telling coach Nate McMillan that he couldn’t go any longer. Approved sportsbooks are at www.linetrackers.com