Not a huge futures guy, but when I see value like this I take it and run. This is @ 5dimes, and most sites I have seen are +2000. IMO, this Celtics team is eerily familiar to the 2010 Celtics team (minus Sheed/Perk but add Bradley whose defensive presence is what could take Boston back to the glory land). Boston started their season off 16-17 playing like crap against mainly crap opponents. But now they are finally hitting their pace at about the right time. Yes, their offense is still pathetic. Nothing has changed about that and it might be what brings them down. But defense has always won championships and will always win championships. As long as KG, Ray, Rondo, & Pierce stay relatively healthy (which is a big IF), they have every chance to dethrone the Bulls & Heat & whomever comes out of the west.
Gotta throw 1 bill on the Cs this year.
Really? The Texans are 2.5 favorites over Peyton? Game was a pick'em a few months back. Are people expecting Colts to start slow? They lost last year to Texans opening day and in 2008 when Peyton didn't practice with the team until a week before the regular season opener and they started 3-4.
2008 was a little different as it dealt with his knee. Yes, there was the lockout, but Peyton got in a lot of time this off-season with his WRs and o-line before he had neck surgery.
I think he will be just fine to start the season. Like always, the Texans are over-rated IMO. If they are going to make the playoffs, they need to get rid of Gary Kubiak. Wade may help their D, but I think Foster will have trouble running the ball without Leach guiding him through the holes.
Anyone else have an opinion?
In the past 11 majors, there have been 11 different winners. Based on this and my gut feeling, this eliminates Rory and a lot of others. Taking this into consideration, lets get into the picks.
Im rather upset that I'm getting shitty odds on a few of these guys (Laird & Cabrera), but I'd rather take the risk of knowing that my book will pay, rather than having my funds appropriated to the US govt. Anyways, here are the picks.
Martin Laird 125:1 (saw other people got him at 200. I think this course sets up good for his long ball game) .2 units
Angel Cabrera- 70:1 (saw him at 90+) Had him on the US Open and I like him here as well. The cool handed Argentinian smokes em when he has em. I know that he can handle the pressure and won't buckle .3 units
Furyk- 90:1 Of all the people I've got, I believe this one has by far the most value. Yes, Furyk has not had the best year so far and has had past trouble in the open, although he has two top 5's in the past 5 years, I think this is incredible value. Nobody is talking about him. .25 units
Mick- 35:1 Okay, so this is the only bet that is coming straight from my heart, but I do believe there is some value in this one. Yes, Mick has his troubles at the Open, but you never know with Mick. He either contends or misses the cut. At 35:1, I'll take my chances on a small bet.
These are my 4 picks and I'll be back Wednesday night with Thursday matchup plays. Good luck to all and comments are appreciated!
So the Heat got by the Celtics in 5, but the Celtics could have easily won games 1 & 5 if they could have held on in the 4th quarter. For those who watched the Heat pass their first test, I expect them to have more difficulties with the Bulls.
Lets break down the differences in the Bulls & the Celtics FIRST.
1. O'neal vs Noah (obvious advantage to CHI with offensive rebounding and great on pick and roll D. His presence on both sides of the ball as a terrific screener will be felt much greater than Jermaine's weak ass.
2. KG vs Boozer (I was going to say a draw, but I give a slight edge to KG because of his Defensive presence, but KG also doesn't have Noah next to him to help him with that liability. Offensively, Boozer is a better shooter IMO than KG at this point in his career. I also believe that Boozer draws contact in the paint better than KG.
3. Pierce vs Deng (edge to Boston normally, but because Pierce was worn out in this series from guarding Miami's perimeter players, this edge is very slight. Deng is a very underrated player and can shoot the 3 better than Pierce. He also guards perimeter players very well.
4. Ray Allen vs Bogans (advantage to Boston, but not as much as people think. Bogans defense is as good if not better than Allen's, and he can make the 3 ball. Obviously Allen is a much purer scorer than Bogans, but unfortunately Allen could not propel Boston to a game 6.
5. Rondo vs Rose (considering that Rondo had 1 arm, this is a major advantage for the Bulls and will be a huge key to determining the series. Rose can pass like Rondo, drive to the rim better than him, shoot better than him, and play just as good of defense if not better.
Bench: West/Green vs Gibson/Korver/Brewer/Asik/Watson (another huge advantage for the Bulls considering all of their length on the bench and I'd much rather have CJ watson and Gibson over West/Green any day of my life. Kyle Korver is a knock down shooter and I'll take him to shoot the last 3 of any game. The celtics had one player on their team like that--- Ray Allen.
My point of this whole analysis is that Boston and Chicago are two completely different beasts. Yes, they are both defensive-oriented hard nosed clubs, but Chicago's ability to get offensive rebounds with Noah (which Boston NEVER was able to do during the entire series, even though Miami has a tendency to allow offensive rebounds) combined with their depth on the bench should propel the Bulls to victory.
Being Shaq's biggest fan since he entered the league in 1992, gives me the right to say all of this, and even if it doesn't, I could care less.
Dear Shaq,
I just saw that your fat ass has cost you to miss the first playoff game against the Knicks. To be honest, the Celtics don't really need you for this series. But, you need to get your fat ass in shape because the Celtics will need you EVERY OTHER STEP OF THE WAY. I can't believe its come down to this, but the Celtics went all in with you leading the way by trading Perkins for Green. Do you want to restore your legacy as the MDE (most-dominant-ever coined by that Phil Jackson guy after your 99-00 MVP season), or do you want fans to remember you for your massive ego that caused discourse in Orlando, Los Angeles, Miami, and Phoenix? Well I can't really blame you with Orlando since they had their minds set on Penny, so I'll let you off the hook on that one. I don't need to mention LA as Kobe is king and everyone has forgotten about you. The referees handed the Championship to you in 06 as the refs personal vendetta against Mark Cuban were blatantly proven as Wade carried the team at the free throw line. By the time you got to Phoenix, no one was expecting you to lead this team to a championship, but the Suns blew up their team for you and have really never been the same. Cleveland was more Lebron's fault than yours. At any rate, Shaq, the point is that the Celtics need you and if you can't deliver the championship to Boston, than your legacy will remain tarnished. As your biggest fan, I truly hope we can go out on a good note.
Get healthy and ready Shaq.