As this is being written the Milwaukee Brewers are losing the rubber match in their three game series against St. Louis, not exactly the start they had in mind with Ryan Braun popping off about how this team is better without Prince Fielder.
With their solid play as of late the Suns are now only 1 game behind the Nuggets for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference and they have a good chance to gain more ground facing a Timberwolves’ team that has lost 5 straight.
NBA Basketball Matchup: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Milwaukee Bucks
8:00 PM EST
NBA Gambling Odds from Bovada
NBA Betting Favorite: Oklahoma City -3
Over/Under: 210
Oklahoma City has owned the top spot in the Western Conference by themselves almost all year, but the Spurs 11-game win streak has helped them tie the Thunder at the top spot. Milwaukee is battling hard with New York and Philadelphia for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Both teams have plenty to play for in this one.
The Thunder took care of an undermanned Toronto team on Sunday, but the task will be more difficult Monday night in Milwaukee.
Oklahoma City is so tough to stop because they have three guys who can take over a game at any point. Kevin Durant is the team’s leading scorer at 28.7 points per game. He shoots 50.5% from the floor. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Russell Westbrook is averaging 24.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.5 rebounds per game. James Harden has taken his game to another level this year, and I expect him to be named the Sixth Man of the Year. Oklahoma City has improved this year largely due to their defense. The Thunder are allowing opponents to shoot just 42.5% from the floor.
Before the season, Scott Skiles decided it would be beneficial for his Milwaukee team to push the tempo and score in transition. When the team picked up Monta Ellis at the trade deadline it helped them find a whole new gear on offense.
With Brandon Jennings and Ellis in the backcourt, the Bucks have two guards who can fill it up consistently. Ersan Ilyasova is having a breakout season for the team. Ilyasova averages 12.9 points and 8.9 boards per game. Drew Gooden does a lot of the dirty work in the paint as well.
Gooden averages 13.9 points per game, and he is a solid post defender. The Bucks have scored 100 points or more in seven of their last ten games.
Oklahoma City has the better defense, and I think they’ll come up with a big stop or two at the end to pull out a close win.
Prediction: Oklahoma City 109 Milwaukee 106
The Pacific Division-leading Los Angeles Lakers will look to get back on track without the help of Kobe Bryant who is suffering from inflammation in his left leg when they take on bottom division dwellers New Orleans in the Big Easy on Monday night.
The Celtics snapped the Pacers 4-game winning streak in their last game, but they still trail Indianapolis by 2.5 games for the 4th playoff seed in the East.
The Houston Rockets are coming off a huge win at Staples Center in Los Angeles against the Lakers Friday night.
We are still several months away from the start of the 2012 college football schedule, but here at Caperspicks.com, we never stop looking at some of the best NCAA football odds on the internet.
The start of a new MLB regular season brings renewed hope to all 30 teams in terms of their chances to go out and win this year’s World Series. Behind all these teams is a manager that will take the fall his club falters or the accolades if it succeeds.
The 2011 NL Rookie of the Year Award went to Braves’ phenom closer, Craig Kimbrel, and it would figure that a couple of Atlanta’s pitchers will be there again to try and keep the title in the organization.
However, this award conversation starts with the guy that everyone has been talking about for the last couple of years now it seems–Bryce Harper.
More than capable, the youthful Harper will no doubt be chasing Kimbrel who came in and replaced former closer Billy Wagner in the most impressive way possible. He saved 46 games a year ago, which was second in all of baseball. He also had a K/9 of 14.84, also second among relievers. And finally, to top it all off, sported the best WAR of all relievers at 3.2, and was 42nd among all pitchers which is incredible.
Bryce Harper
Washington’s Bryce Harper made three stops a season ago. He struggled in the most recent one while only hitting .256 in 147 plate appearances. Nevertheless, that should not deter anyone from thinking the world of this kid, who will play this entire season at the tender age of 19. And although he was just sent to Triple A Syracuse by the Nats’, he will still get to the big leagues at some point this season. I don’t think anyone will hold that up, and this award has been won many times by a mid-season call up. Take 2010 as an example when then-rookie Buster Posey accepted the honors.
Randall Delgado
The big talk has been all about Julio Teheran and Arodyz Vizcaino for the Braves, but the Padres’ Randall Delgado came in and just flat out produced a season ago. He never threw out any gaudy stats in the minors, but he always had the stuff to be a more than serviceable starter for a big league club. Delgado made seven starts a season ago, and he posted a 2.83 ERA. While the rest of peripherals weren’t all there, he has the stuff to make it big in majors, and winning a ROY award would be the perfect start.
Yonder Alonso
The centerpiece of the deal that sent Mat Latos to the Reds brought this guy over to the Padres. Alonso can just flat out belt the ball, and has hit at every stop along the way. His first trip with the Reds left everyone a little disappointed with just a .207 average and zero home runs, and that led to another minor league start in 2011. The second go around last season was a completely different experience, as he hit .330 in 98 plate appearances with 5 home runs. Alonso also cut his strikeout totals by 13 percent. If he can continue that development, he will be the next star in San Diego.
Anthony Rizzo
The Cubbies Anthony Rizzo was downright awful in his big league debut a season ago, so not really the guy you would expect to be here–right? However, he has hit very well throughout his minor league stints though, and something he does well is hit for power. In 413 plate appearances a season ago in Triple A, Rizzo hit 26 homeruns. He still has time to develop his discipline too, but those power numbers alone will put him into contention for the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year Award.
Drew Pomeranz
The guy that turned out to be the main figure in a deal that sent Ubaldo Jimenez to the Indians. Drew Pomeranz will open this season in the Rockies rotation unless something major happens between now and April. Last year was just his first as a pro, and he was impressive just about everywhere, as he made his rapid ascension through the Indians organization. Pomeranz was eventually dealt to the Rockies where he was placed at AA. He lasted all of two starts there before he made his big league debut, going 2-1 in his 4 starts. He will be expected to be a major piece of this season’s Colorado team, and with enough starts, will have plenty of opportunity to lay claim to this year’s NL Rookie of the Year Award.
*** We can’t find any Updated Odds at Presstime ***
ODDS TO WIN 2012 NATIONAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD
If moving in the fences was supposed to spark offense at Citi Field the visiting Atlanta Braves certainly didn’t get the memo.
No team in the NBA has had more drama lately than the Orlando Magic. Stan Van Gundy and Dwight Howard certainly aren’t on the same page right now, but for now they must continue to try working together.
Oklahoma City has the best record in the Western Conference, but after two straight losses they are just one game ahead of the San Antonio Spurs.
In this shortened NBA season there haven’t been many chances to get an extended break, but the Rockets have had three straight days off coming into this one.
The Detroit Pistons have won two in a row and as this is being written they are beating up on Washington so a third is likely.
The Memphis Grizzlies are having a tough mini road trip facing both teams from last year’s NBA Finals back to back.
The Kansas City Royals are heading into this season with a great deal of optimism.
