Category — Lamar Odom

Like the NCAA Tournament, some NBA player makes a name for himself during the playoffs. Stephen Curry, 1 of the best shooters we’ve ever watched and 1 who almost helped the Warriors stun the Nuggets today in Denver, could be 1 of those players. Writer Shaun Powell compiles a good list of some who might emerge. Another name we would add to it is San Antonio forward Kawhi Leonard. He isn’t spectacular at anything but good at plenty of things.
Sports On Earth

The Heat are the overwhelming favorites to win the NBA title again, and why shouldn’t they be? We’re hard-headed though. Actually, we’re sticking with our betting slip.
Eastern Conference
Heat over Bucks in 5; Nets over Bulls in 7; Pacers over Hawks in 5; Knicks over Celtics in 6.
Heat over Nets in 5; Pacers over Knicks in 6.
Heat over Pacers in 6.
Western Conference
Thunder over Rockets in 6; Clippers over Grizzlies in 7 (the Charles Barkley factor); Nuggets over Warriors in 7; Spurs over Lakers in 5.
Thunder over Clippers in 6; Spurs over Nuggets in 5.
Spurs over Thunder in 6.
Championship: Spurs over Heat in 7.

We knew Laker fans would lower themselves to such things, but are you kidding us?
Although Laker fans are all giddy (hmmm, last time that’s happened?) with the No. 7 seed, do they really believe this squad is actually capable of anything in the NBA playoffs? Forgive us. I lost $5 to my old lady cuz I bet the Lakers wouldn’t make it, so maybe I’m a little bitter. And I surely forgot how the NBA sometimes figures into these things.
They don’t want to face my homies and the OKC Thunder. They want no part of that can of whip ass. Russell Westbrook again? Oh no, let’s take Timmy Duncan and his choir boy friends. Is that you T-Mac?
Some folks believe the Lakers are better off (is that you Magic Johnson?) making the playoffs instead of tanking for the lottery, like many of us dreamers gamble on everyday. But Dwight and the boys failing Kobe on the final night of the regulation…well the suicide hotline would have been working overtime.
The Lakers are 200-1 to win it all. Your point is?
We’re also pissed seeing the Spurs getting 8-1 since we bet them at 4-1. Someone trying to tell us something? Didn’t think so.
VegasInsider.com

We said months ago the Lakers wouldn’t make the playoffs. Ain’t no reason for us to punk out now. But does that mean Mike D’Antoni retuns as coach? Unfortunately, probably. Would the Lakers be on the hook for 2 ex-coaches? That plus a luxury tax? Probably not.
For Laker fans, that’s not a good thing.
Neither was that beatdown the Clip Joint gave the Lakers. With the win the Clippers clinch the Pacific Division.

Not all is right in the Clippers’ clubhouse. DeAndre Jordan is pissed Vinny Del Negro has seriously cut his playing time and the frequent barking by Chris Paul at his teammates has also grown old. And, to make matters worst, the Clippers have stumbled down the stretch heading toward the NBA playoffs.
The timing obviously couldn’t be worst.
If they fall apart in the playoffs, does Paul, who will be a free agent, take his talents elsewhere? Some have speculated him going to the Lakers despite his recent comments he wanted to play for the Clip Joint all along (we’ll have some of what he’s smoking). But that’s hard to imagine with the serious cap hit the Lakers would take, particularly after they re-sign Dwight Howard.
Regardless, this season probably will be the end for Del Negro. Someone’s got to take the hit.
L.A. Times

They lead the league in points in the paint, mainly because they blow past defenders in their sometimes high-octane offense. The Nuggets won in Oklahoma City tonight by 10 and made them prime candidate to nail that No. 3 spot in the West. Laker fans, some of them still dreaming dreams of grandeur, want no parts of Denver. Go ahead Warrior fans.
Did we mention the Nuggets have captured 12 in a row? Didn’t think so.

With the latest toast coming at the expense of a Canadian club, Miami has now won 22 in a row. Should the old Lakers of 33 straight be shaking in their boots? Uh, no. One test of the streak comes Monday when the Heat visit the C’s.
But the NBA this year? Well, yeah. The Heat are huge favorites to repeat, particularly as they continue to play like this.
Makes us foolish dropping a quarter on the Spurs at 4-1 (from 5-1 on 2nd night of my last Vegas venture, sum bitches) to hijack the title, no?
Miami Herald

We’re trolling around in our 2nd home, the always entertaining Las Vegas. Hit the over (202.5) for the Spurs-Clips blowout, but due to a brief case of blindness at the betting window, we bet the Clips instead of the Spurs. And the old lady wondered why I was cussing?
Anyway…
Your favorites for the NBA championship? The Heat (+165) and the Thunder (+280) are the picks now, but we all know how quickly that can change. The rest: Spurs (5-1); Clippers (6-1); Lakers (13-1); Knicks (12-1); Bulls (14-1); Warriors (16-1); Pacers (25-1); Celtics and Nuggets (35-1); and Rockets (60-1).
Us? We like the Spurs. That could change too. If we’re wrong, we’ll plead another case of blindness. Seriously.

The greatest owner in sports, who turned the Lakers into 1 of the NBA’s hottest franchises, passed this morning in L.A. after complications of cancer. He was 80.
L.A. Times

Everybody loves a train wreck, particularly when it’s the Lakers. Unless you’re a fan, folks around the country are wetting their pants and dying laughing at what’s become of L.A.’s finest. Remember when Vegas was giving 2-1 odds on the Lakers winning the NBA title? Now, according to VegasInsider.com, they are 12-1. Good luck betting on that.
And if you’re scoring at home (lucky you), the Heat remain the favorites to repeat at 7-4, while the Thunder (3-1) and the Clippers (4-1) are the other best bets.
The Lakers collapsed again tonight against James Harden and the Rockets, and Wednesday they visit the Spurs, who are getting 7-1 odds to win it all.
Friday, it’s back to the Ponderosa, where they will host Kevin Durant and the Thunder.
Some folks still believe they’ll right the ship and make the playoffs. Right now, we’re not 1 of them. Even if they do, they will be bounced in the 1st round. They can’t hide that awful bench. And they can’t hide those huge holes in their defense.