khandor’s sports blog

No major team sport has a post-season which is more physically gruelling than the NHL’s.

At the moment, the Detroit Red Wings [i.e. the defending champs] are -141 to re-capture the championship vs the Pittsburgh Penguins. At that price, and given their defensive prowess, the Red Wings are an extremely attractive proposition to win this series.

Yesterday’s action finished with the following results:

W-L: 1-0
Units: +2.00

which is a step in the right direction.

Overall, after Day 39:

W-L: 32-31
Units: +20.80

Hopefully, things continue this way today.

================================================

Sat May 30 2009

Game 1 – MAGIC vs Cavaliers

This will be the biggest game in the history of Orlando’s franchise. They have what it takes to win outright this evening to close out this series.

Cleveland +114
ORLANDO -124
Call: ORLANDO [4 units]

Just before half-time of this evening’s Nuggets vs Lakers game …

[speaking about what it takes to win Game 6, at home, vs the No. 1 Seed in the Western Conference, while trailing in the series, 2-3]

“Going home is NOT The Answer. Being carried by The Energy of The Crowd is NOT The Answer. There is ONLY One Answer. Play Hard. Play Together. And, EXECUTE.” – Jeff Van Gundy

———-

Box Score: Denver 40, Los Angeles 53

———-

Ranking NBA Colour Commentators

1. Hubie Brown [i.e. exacting with his X's & O's]
2. JVG [i.e. solid with his X's & O's, plus highly entertaining]
3. Bill Walton [i.e. highly entertaining]
4. Everybody Else

Understanding the demise of the Toronto Raptors, since the end of the 2006-2007 season to where the team stands today, means starting with a simple review of their personnel, Then vs Now:  

Then

47-35/.573
1st place, Atlantic Division
1st Round Playoff Loss
General Manager – Bryan Colangelo
Head Coach – Sam Mitchell 
Main Players – TJ Ford/PG, Anthony Parker/OG, Morris Peterson/SF, Jorge Garbajosa/PF & Chris Bosh/C
Support Players – Jose Calderon, Darrick Martin, Juan Dixon, Joey Graham, Andrea Bargnani, Kris Humphries & Rasho Nesterovic,

Now

33-49/.402
4th place, Atlantic Division
Failed to qualify for the Playoffs
General Manager – Bryan Colangelo
Head Coach - Jay Triano 
Main Players - Jose Calderon/PG, Anthony Parker/OG, Shawn Marion/SF, Chris Bosh/PF & Andrea Bargnani/C
Support Players - Roko Ukic, Marcus Banks, Quincy Douby, Jason Kapono, Joey Graham, Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Kris Humphries, Nathan Jawai, Jake Voskuhl & Patrick O’Bryant

Italics – “New” Personnel

If you compare the two teams individual-by-individual, this is what you should be able to see:

Those who think that the current version of the Raptors is somehow lacking “Leadership” from Chris Bosh & Jose Calderon, or that CB4 is somehow NOT worthy of consideration as a legit “Franchise Player” in the NBA, or that El Matador is somehow “Too Conservative With The Ball & NOT Dynamic Enough”, as a main-frame PG, etc., to form The Core of a contending team in the Eastern Conference are displaying an overall lack of Basketball Acumen, when it comes to Understanding How Exactly the NBA Game Works.

Instead of BUILDING UP the remainder of the team’s personnel AROUND Chris Bosh [C] and Jose Calderon [PG], since the end of the 2006-2007 season, what Bryan Colangelo has done is DECREASED/LOWERED the actual Ability Level & Functionality of the other key pieces to the Raptors puzzle.

Until the Raptors re-stock their barren shelves with Additional Players to provide them with INCREASED Ability Level & Functionality, in terms of QALITY DEPTH, overall, they will remain a Treadmill Team, in the Salary Cap-driven NBA. 

———-

Q1. How many of the current Raptors would rank in the top half of all the players in the League at their respective positions?

A1. Excluding Chris Bosh [C] & Jose Calderon [PG] … very few, if any.

Yesterday’s action finished with the following results:

W-L: 0-1
Units: -2.08

which is a step in the wrong direction.

Overall, after Day 38:

W-L: 31-31
Units: +18.80

Hopefully, things improve again today.

================================================

Fri May 29 2009

Game 1 – NUGGETS vs Lakers

Denver has the ability to win this game by double-digits, make no mistake about it. That said, however … the Lakers getting more than 4 points this season, when they are the best team in the NBA, is an attractive proposition.

Los Angeles +5.5/-103
DENVER -5.5/-103
Call: Los Angeles [2 units]

The date for this entry should read January 1, 2010.

——————————————–

Looking back on the first phase of the 2009-2010 season, it’s clear that the Raptors failed to address their major problems adequately during the off-season when Bryan Colangelo [GM] could/SHOULD have:

i. Not hired Jay Triano, as their permanent head coach;
ii. Traded Down from #9;
iii. Signed/acquired a veteran Back-up PG, or re-signed A-Parker in that role;
iv. Traded Jason Kapono; and,
v. Traded Andrea Bargnani.

Making a series of coordinated personnel moves like that would have significantly altered the Raptors list of assets this season, as the team struggles to qualify for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, avoid the Draft Lottery for a 2nd consecutive year, and retain its franchise player, Chris Bosh.

——————————————–

Time will tell how accurate this assessment actually is … 7 months in advance … regarding the Raptors plight in the EC.

Yesterday’s action finished with the following results:

W-L: 1-0
Units: +3.03

which is another solid step in the right direction.

Overall, after Day 37:

W-L: 31-30
Units: +20.88

Hopefully, things continue in this way today.

================================================

Thu May 28 2009

Game 1 – CAVALIERS vs Magic

This is definitely a dangerous game for Orlando. As was mentioned yesterday, historically, if you pick the outright winner correctly in a NBA playoff game, more frequently than not, you will also end up selecting the team which covers the number for that game, in terms of available wagering propositions. That said … in tonight’s Game Five, while the Cavs should be able to secure the outright victory, the correct side to play is still Orlando.

Orlando +7.5/-104
CLEVELAND -7.5/-104
Call: Orlando [2 units]

Five things that need to be understood about the Eastern Conference Finals which moves toward Game Five tomorrow night, at Quicken Loans Arena:

Game One: CLEVELAND 106, Orlando 107
Game Two: CLEVELAND 96, Orlando 95
Game Three: ORLANDO 99, Cleveland 89
Game Four: ORLANDO 116, Cleveland 114 [OT]

#1. The No. 1 seeded Cavaliers [66-16] should have been eliminated already from the post-season, swept away [4-0] by the No. 3 seeded Magic [59-23].

#2. Lebron James is an all-time great basketball player. Of this, there is little doubt.

So, too, however, was the incomparable Michael Jordan, during the first 5 seasons of his career with the Bulls, prior to the ascension of Phil Jackson into the Head Coach role for Chicago:

1984-1985, Kevin Loughery [38-44/.463]
1985-1986, Stan Albeck [30-52/.366]
1986-1987, Doug Collins [40-42/.488]
1987-1988, Doug Collins [50-32/.610]
1988-1989, Doug Collins [47-35/.573]

#3. Orlando is the better TEAM in this ECF series, not Cleveland.

#4. Danny Ferry [GM] still has a lot of work to do … e.g. re-vamping the Cavaliers’ roster and coaching staff … if Cleveland is going to win a NBA championship with King James at the center of its roster.

#5. Basketball is a TEAM game, most of all; and, in general, it’s the Best Team, overall, that triumphs in a 4-out-of-7 playoff series in the NBA. 

Yesterday’s action finished with the following results:

W-L: 1-0
Units: +6.24

which is a solid step in the right direction.

Overall, after Day 36:

W-L: 30-30
Units: +17.85

Hopefully, things continue in this way today.

================================================

Wed May 27 2009

Game 1 – LAKERS vs Nuggets

The Lakers have split their two previous home games in the series, but failed to cover the number both times [i.e. Game One, -6.5/+100; Game Two, -5.5/+103]. With this series now tied, 2-2, whichever team wins this evening’s match-up will, in all likelihood, eventually advance to the NBA Finals. Historically, if you pick the outright winner correctly in a NBA playoff game, more frequently than not, you will also end up selecting the team which covers the number for that game, in terms of available wagering propositions. To this point, in this series, results of this nature have been as follows:

Game One, LOS ANGELES won but failed to cover -> Incorrect
Game Two, Denver won and covered -> Correct
Game Three, Los Angeles won and covered -> Correct
Game Four, DENVER won and covered -> Correct

which means a 75% [3 of 4] accuracy rate, thus far.

Under these circumstances, the Lakers should have what it takes this evening to win this tilt outright AND get the cover.

Denver +6/-109
LOS ANGELES -6/+101
Call: LOS ANGELES [3 units]

PS. If the foul/free throw situation should begin to favour the Lakers at some point, it should come as no surprise at all to see [i] the Nuggets lose their composure and [ii] the Lakers win by a significant margin. Q1. Why not risk more than only 3 units then? A1. Phil Jackson doesn’t always operate his team in the same way as other elite level coaches would in similar circumstances. Better safe than sorry, when dealing with a PJ-coached team giving up this many points to a dangerous opponent with solid spurtability.

Yesterday’s action finished with the following results:

W-L: 0-0
Units: -2.04

which is a step in the wrong direction.

Overall, after Day 35:

W-L: 29-30
Units: +11.61

Hopefully, things will improve today.

================================================

Tue May 26 2009

Game 1 – MAGIC vs Cavaliers

When a specific wagering line is set at a number like this, it gives reason for close NBA observers to consider the possibility that all is not on the up and up in the operation of this league. How come?

Orlando is ahead in this series, 2 games to 1.
Orlando is playing at home for Game Four.
Orlando won Game Three by 10 points.
Orlando was a small favourite in Game Three [i.e. -1.5/-104].
Yet, in this evening’s game, with Cleveland facing the prospect of a 1-3 deficit with a loss, it’s the Cavaliers who have been installed as the betting favourite?

Hmmmm ….

Despite the best efforts of the NBA’s officials in tonight’s game to ensure that Cleveland goes home for Game Five with the series tied, 2-2, it says here that Orlando is the better team in this specific match-up and SHOULD be able to win Game Four outright.

The WRONG team is favoured in this game and you will never get a more profitable situation to play into than the one which is available here … unless, of course, “the fix” is in, and it’s the Cavaliers who are actually the guaranteed winners of this specific game, in cahoots with the League Office, as a ”trap number” is in place to attract an inordinate proportion of wagers on the Magic [i.e. as betting underdogs in this game] for nefarious reasons.

Cleveland -1/-110
ORLANDO +1/+104
Call: ORLANDO [6 units]

———-

PS. When a game like this one appears on the wagering board, Caveat Emptor, regardless how seemingly attractive it looks.