Basement brawl: Woeful Nets visit lowly Sixers

Basketball Betting Lines

03/17/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The bottom two teams of the Atlantic Division will go head- to-head for the final time of the 2009-10 campaign this evening at the Wachovia Center, where the homestanding 76ers aim for a season sweep of the dismal New Jersey Nets.

Both clubs enter tonight's clash mired in five-game losing streaks, with the Sixers suffering their 10th defeat in 11 outings with Monday's 94-84 home setback to the New York Knicks.

Philadelphia saw an 11-point halftime lead evaporate in their latest loss after being outscored 29-14 by the Knicks in the third quarter. The 76ers shot a woeful 27.3 percent from the field in the second half and just 38.4 percent for the game.

"You get open shots and just can't make it," said Philadelphia head coach Eddie Jordan afterward. "That was the story of the game for me."

Jrue Holiday was one bright spot for the Sixers, with the rookie logging 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Andre Iguodala and Samuel Dalembert each posted double-doubles in a losing cause, with Iguodala amassing 14 points and 17 rebounds and Dalembert finishing with 11 points and 18 boards.

Philadelphia played Monday's contest without second-leading scorer Louis Williams due to back spasms, while forward Thaddeus Young fractured his right thumb in the loss and will be sidelined indefinitely. Williams, who's averaging 14.7 points and 4.1 assists this season, will be a game-time decision for tonight's tilt.

Even short-handed, the 76ers figure to have a solid chance of stopping their current slide, considering they've won all three previous meetings with the lowly Nets in 2009-10. In addition, New Jersey is an NBA-worst 7-59 for the season and owns a brutal 4-31 mark on the road.

The Nets' struggles continued last night in East Rutherford, where the league doormats were dealt a 108-84 defeat by Atlanta. New Jersey shot just 38.5 percent as a team and played without standout guard Devin Harris, who sat out because of a upper respiratory infection that is expected to force him to miss tonight's game as well.

"We've sustained runs before in previous road trips since the All-Star break," said center Brook Lopez, who led New Jersey with 21 points. "We just didn't do that tonight."

Forward Josh Boone racked up 13 points and a career-high 20 rebounds against the Hawks and has averaged 8.8 boards in five games since replacing the injured Yi Jianlian (sprained left ankle) in the starting lineup.

The Nets, whose three losses to the Sixers this season have all been by four points or fewer, have prevailed in two of their last three visits to the Wachovia Center.

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Football Betting: Defensive Rookie of the Year Awards

Oddsmakers have released the odds for the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry has been made the opening favorite.

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Seattle took Curry with the fourth overall pick in April's NFL draft and plan on inserting him into its starting lineup right away. The Hawks traded linebacker Julian Peterson in the offseason, so Curry is expected to have a significant role in Seattle's defense next year and that's one of the primary reasons he is the favorite to win the NFL ROY Award.

Oddsmakers from online sportsbook MySportsbook.com have made Curry a 5/1 favorite to win this year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Given that he was the best defensive prospect in this year's draft and how he'll have plenty of opportunities to make plays in '09, Curry offers a ton of value at 5/1.

Another thing working for Curry is the position he plays. A linebacker has won the defensive ROY award six straight times and eight of the last nine years. Jerod Mayo, Patrick Willis, DeMeco Ryans, Shawne Merriman, Jonathan Vilma, Terrell Suggs, Kendrell Bell and Brian Urlacher were the most recent linebackers to take home the award.

Following Curry at 5/1 are Tyson Jackson (Chiefs) at 7/1, James Laurinaitas (Rams) at 8/1, Brian Orakpo (Redskins) at 10/1, Rey Maualuga (Bengals) at 10/1 and Jerry Peria (Falcons) at 10/1.

All the players mentioned above are expected to start for their respective teams, but Jackson and Peria are going to have a tough time being recognized on a national level given they're both defensive linemen. D-linemen rarely put up the numbers that it takes to win an individual award like the ROY.

A couple of players with some value are Clay Matthews (Packers) at 12/1 and Larry English (Chargers) at 15/1. Matthews is expected to start at outside linebacker in Green Bay's new 3-4 defense and could rack up a ton of tackles. English, who was an impressive player at Northern Illinois, is expected to be a situational pass rusher for the Chargers and could rack up a ton of sacks.

For complete odds on the 2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, see below. And for complete odds for the 2009 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award, click the link provided.

2009 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award

Robert Ayers (DEN) 12/1

Ron Brace (NE) 25/1

Everette Brown (CAR) 16/1

Darius Butler (NE) 40/1

Patrick Chung (NE) 30/1

Aaron Curry (SEA) 5/1

Brian Cushing (HOU) 12/1

Vontae Davis (MIA) 30/1

Louis Delmas (DET) 30/1

Larry English (SD) 15/1

Evander Hood (PIT) 25/1

Tyson Jackson (KC) 7/1

Malcolm Jenkins (NO) 25/1

Paul Kruger (BAL) 50/1

James Laurinaitas (STL) 8/1

Sen'Derrick Marks (TEN) 20/1

Clay Matthews (GB) 12/1

Aaron Maybin (BUF) 15/1

Rey Maualuga (CIN) 10/1

Roy Miller (TB) 20/1

Michael Mitchell (OAK) 45/1

Fili Moala (IND) 30/1

Brian Orakpo (WAS) 10/1

Jerry Peria (ATL) 10/1

B J Raji (GB) 7/1

Clint Sintim (NYG) 35/1

Alphonso Smith (DEN) 40/1

David Verkune (CLE) 20/1

Jason Williams (DAL) 30/1

Field (Any Other Player) 6/1

NFL football gambling

To visit this internet sportsbook go to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.