Celtics start local events early vs. Memphis

Basketball Betting Lines

02/05/2012 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Celtics own an amazing 17 championships, the most by an NBA franchise.

Their neighbors across the way, the NFL's New England Patriots, can capture their fourth Super Bowl title Sunday night against the New York Giants at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.

Before possibly having some snacks and beverages watching the Patriots-Giants game, the Celtics have their own work to do and will host the Memphis Grizzlies in a matinee affair from TD Garden. The Celtics look to stay unbeaten on their current five-game homestand and improved to 2-0 on the residency thanks to a 91-89 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday in a rematch of a Christmas Day affair. New York won that game, 106-104.

Ray Allen scored nine of his 14 points in the fourth quarter of the most recent encounter with the Knicks and Paul Pierce ended with 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Boston, which has won 10 in a row at home over the Knicks and three straight overall. Pierce described the intensity of the Atlantic Division showdown.

"Both teams were just fighting for it," Pierce said. "Was like a summer game where whoever won the game would make the NBA."

Boston has fought for seven wins in its last eight games and got 15 points and eight boards from Kevin Garnett. Garnett also grabbed the 10,000th defensive rebound of his career early in the second quarter, becoming just the third player in NBA history to reach that mark. Rajon Rondo had seven points, seven assists and five rebounds in his return to the lineup after missing eight games with a right wrist injury. The Celtics are 8-6 at home and will also welcome the Bobcats and despised Lakers to Beantown.

The Celtics sit four games behind Philadelphia for the division lead and are winless against the Western Conference this season (0-4). On the milestone watch, Pierce is 30 points shy of tying Larry Bird (21,791) for second on the team's all-time scoring list. John Havlicek has a comfortable spot at the top with 26,395 points. Pierce is probable for today's game with a strained hip and so is center Jermaine O'Neal (sore knee).

Memphis was sent back to the loss column with Friday's 101-94 setback at Oklahoma City and had a two-game winning streak stopped. Thunder superstar Kevin Durant poured in 36 points and hit the go-ahead three-pointer in the final minute.

"He's a great player. I mean that's all you can say -- he's a great player. He made great plays and great shots down the stretch," Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins said about Durant. "He took over the game. He's going to be one of the all-time greats if he stays healthy."

Marc Gasol had 24 points and Rudy Gay ended with 23 for the Grizzlies, who have lost five of seven games since a season-high seven-game winning streak. Oklahoma City recorded 29 points off of Memphis' 19 giveaways, while the Grizzlies scored 26 points on 17 Thunder turnovers.

Former Celtics guard Tony Allen scored 17 points and O.J. Mayo added 13 in a reserve role. The Grizzlies are 1-1 on a three-game road trip, 5-8 as the visitor and three games behind San Antonio for the lead in the Southwest Division. They'll start a five-game homestand Monday versus the Spurs.

Gay has scored 20-plus points in three straight games and is averaging 17.9 points in nine career games against Boston. The Grizzlies and Celtics have split a home-and-home series in back-to-back seasons, but Boston has won 14 of the past 20 meetings between the teams. Pierce has recorded 21.5 ppg in 24 career matchups with Memphis. Garnett is averaging 19.6 points and 10.8 rebounds in 50 career games against the Grizzlies.

The Celtics possess an all-time record of 18-13 against Memphis, winners of four straight against Eastern Conference opponents.

Wwwworldgamescasino Basketball Betting News

<< Heat host Raptors in matinee affair
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh said a few days ago it's important for this team to make the essential adjustments following a loss. "If we lose one or two, we need to make the necessary adjustments, get it done and cut

<< Kvitova sends Czechs into Fed Cup semis
Stuttgart, Germany (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova won her singles match on Sunday and sent the reigning champion Czech Republic into the Fed Cup semifinals for a second straight year. The Czechs entered Sunday's actio

<< Jets wrap road trip against Canadiens
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Luckily for the Winnipeg Jets, they got a day of rest before wrapping their six-game road trip. The Jets hope to break even on the swing this afternoon in a meeting with the Montreal Canadiens, who are still searching for

<< Rangers, Flyers meet for first time since Winter Classic
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Rangers are enjoying a solid run of success as of late over the rival Flyers. After all, in the past year they have beaten them in New York and Philadelphia as well as indoors and outside. New York seeks a sixth straig

<< Streaking Devils, Pens clash in New Jersey
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - A pair of streaking Atlantic Division rivals square off this afternoon as the New Jersey Devils try to match their longest winning streak of the season against the rolling Pittsburgh Penguins. After dropping their final th

Hurricanes blow into Durham seeking upset of Blue Devils >>
Durham, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The seventh-ranked Blue Devils will look to keep up the race for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference as they host the Miami-Florida Hurricanes for a bout at Cameron Indoor Stadium. This will be the 18th

Wolverines and Spartans add another chapter to bitter rivalry >>
East Lansing, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 23rd-ranked Michigan Wolverines will try to be the first team to knock off the ninth-ranked Michigan State Spartans at the Breslin Center when the two rivals square off in a Big Ten Conference battle.

Berdych beats Monfils for title in France >>
Montpellier, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Former Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych outlasted French crowd favorite Gael Monfils in Sunday's title match at the Open Sud de France tennis tournament. The top-seeded world No. 7 Berdych

Aceves, Red Sox avoid arbitration >>
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Boston Red Sox and pitcher Alfredo Aceves have agreed to terms on a one-year contract, avoiding arbitration with the 29- year-old relief pitcher. The deal is worth a reported $1.2 million with an add

Youzhny whips Lacko for Zagreb title >>
Zagreb, Croatia (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Russian Mikhail Youzhny cruised past Slovakian Lukas Lacko in straight sets in Sunday's final at the Zagreb Indoors tennis event. The third-seeded world No. 39 Youzhny doused the unseeded Lacko 6-2,

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.

Bet on NFL Football

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.