Paul has quickly turned Clippers into a contender

Basketball Betting Lines

02/11/2012 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - I haven't seen any signs of the meek inheriting the earth just yet unless Matthew was talking about the Los Angeles Clippers.

The NBA's resident doormat has gone from the outhouse to the penthouse in almost record time by adding Chris Paul to Blake Griffin, a big step up for a franchise that was used to throwing out names like Danny Manning and Ron Harper as the measuring stick for success.

Of course achievement in the NBA is as black and white as it gets, ultimately decided by wins and losses as well as championships. Relevance precedes that kind of jump, however, and if butts in the seats and YouTube hits are any indication, this Clippers team has already arrived.

Vinny Del Negro's club has sold out Staples Center for all 13 of its home games this season. Meanwhile, Griffin's amazing slam over Kendrick Perkins late last month went viral and blew up every social media site there is.

It might not be Showtime but Lob City is officially a part of the NBA's elite and they're set up to be for a lengthy time.

Paul was the final piece to the puzzle. The All-Star point guard has fit in magnificently since being acquired from New Orleans after the lockout and is the only NBA player averaging over 19 ppg with 9-plus assists and at least two steals. As those numbers indicate CP3 can do it all, score, distribute and defend.

He's also a closer, hitting the game-winner with 3.2 seconds remaining to dispose of a tough Philadelphia team, 78-77, on Friday.

"One thing I pride myself on is ball handling," said Paul. "I may not make every shot but I feel like I can get any shot that I want because of ball handling. I've always been undersized, so one thing I know is that I can create my own shot."

"He's the security blanket," Del Negro added. "Get it in his hands. he's always been like that. Not only can he score but he's going to make the right play and that's what great players do. It's not always about scoring the basketball but making the right play. He takes pressure off everybody else and makes the game easier for the guys."

Griffin, meanwhile, is the only player in the NBA averaging over 21 points, 11 rebounds and three assists per game and would be only the fourth in 22 years to turn that trick if he keeps up the pace.

It would be nice if Griffin developed a little craftiness on the blocks to go along with the raw athleticism and power but he teams with shot-blocking machine DeAndre Jordan to give Vinny Del Negro perhaps the most physically imposing 4-5 combo in the entire NBA. In fact, Griffin and Jordan are both among the top five in dunks in the NBA.

"This is as aggressive and active a front line as any we play," Sixers coach Doug Collins said.

That aggressiveness only gets amped up when the newly acquired Kenyon Martin and the always energetic Reggie Evans hit the floor.

The Clippers just didn't have it offensively in Philadelphia but kept coming and coming at the Sixers. It's not often you see a player dominate without scoring but that's exactly what Evans did against Philly, using his effort and energy to wreak havoc.

"We couldn't run a play," Collins said. "They just physically were so strong for us around the basket. We just couldn't come up with some rebounds. Look at the stat sheet, they shoot under 39 percent, they shoot 11 percent from three with 14 assists and win the game and it's a shame."

Evans finished the contest with 10 rebounds -- five offensive -- in 19 minutes of action and was all over the floor, even disturbing the Sixers' ball- handlers with his ability to show on the pick-and-roll.

"He brings energy. Reggie is going to go get the ball," Del Negro said. "He's a wild card out there. He got spread out a couple times but his effort and energy is contagious. Guys feed on it. He got us some great offensive possessions. He really controlled the tempo of the game and kept them out of the open court."

There will still be hiccups for a team still learning to play together and losing the mettle of Chauncey Billups, a playoff-tested veteran, to a torn Achilles certainly hurts. But, the Clips have depth in the backcourt with former All-Star Mo Williams and the capable Randy Foye.

Already 3-1 on a grueling 11-day, six-game Grammy Road Trip, this Clip Show is something to see.

"That's a great defensive team," Collins said. "They have shot-blockers, they've got quickness, they've got size. With a healthy Chauncey Billups, that team arguably could win a championship."

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American Idol Betting Season 6 Strategies  

It's that time of year folks.  Betting on American Idol Season 9.  And we have plenty of American Idol Season 6 strategies appearing below.  With the Top 24 finalists revealed, online gambling sites will be offering betting odds on each of them, including MySportsbook.com.

No other “event” has been growing as fast as wagering on American Idol. It has turned into a huge betting event with reasonably high limits and all sorts of profit-making potential for sharp bettors. Last year, MySportsbook.com experienced unprecedented traffic as a result of the American Idol betting craze.

Every week there will be odds to win American Idol, various elimination props and contestant versus contestant match-ups at the MySportsbook.com website.

Whether a fan of America’s top-rated show or watching only because of a wife or girlfriend, here are some of basic strategies to use when betting American Idol.

Odds to Win

There are a few things to consider when looking for the right win bet. First off, remember that this bet is for the long haul. Many people make the mistake of picking the performer who sang the best the previous week. This strategy leads to an underlay situation – betting a price, which is less than what it should be.

All Idol contestants struggle at some point in the competition, so you should always look for value. In last year’s competition alone, two performers who had some of the best performances early in the series were subsequently bet down to low prices - Lisa Tucker and Ace Young. After just a few weeks, Tucker had already been eliminated, while Young quickly became a huge long shot to win America’s largest talent search.

A better strategy is to look for performers who don’t necessarily get the praise from the judges, but show flashes of the talent necessary to go the distance.

Another important thing to remember when betting any contestant to win is the demographic breakdown of the voters, the viewing public and potential future CD purchasers. Unlike sporting events, American Idol is not decided on the field of play – it’s decided by the American public under the guiding influence of the shows producers.

Understand that the great state of Alabama has a mighty edge when it comes to American Idol. 

Therefore, to be successful betting on American Idol, put any personal opinions or prejudices aside and think like the majority of the voting public. Remember that the typical voter is young, female and quite often, Southern.

If a contestant cannot appeal to this demographic, no matter how much talent he or she possesses, they’ll struggle for votes. Looks, demeanor and charisma are extremely important. And it’s no coincidence that every Idol winner so far has hailed from a Southern state.

Elimination Props

Every week MySportsbook.com anticipates offering a prop on who’ll be eliminated from the show each Wednesday night. A suggestion to handicap this is to gauge an overall feel for who’s the least popular contestant left in the competition. Generally the least popular performers have recently appeared in the bottom three and will have been the target of repeated criticism from the judges.

Last year, resources included dialidol.com and votefortheworst.com. Dialidol.com measures the volume of each contestant’s voting line. While by no means a perfect science, it does give a good indication of who is generating votes and who isn’t. Meanwhile, votefortheworst.com is a site that attempts to build support for the worst competitor to keep them in the competition for ‘entertainment’ value. The site has a proven track record of keeping performers around who most feel should have been voted off a long time ago.

Contestant vs. Contestant Match-ups

The best strategy for doing well on match-ups is to assess how close either of the contestants is to being eliminated. If neither is expected to be voted off of the show in the coming weeks, the value is almost always on the underdog. If both are expecting an imminent exit in the near future, the favorite in the match-up might offer value.

Watch for American Idol betting odds on each of the contestants shortly and good luck with these American Idol betting strategies.

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