Doc Rivers Signs with Clippers, Celtics Get Pick in 2015 Draft

It took weeks of negotiations and a ton of rumors regarding Doc Rivers’ future with the Boston Celtics, but now it’s official. Rivers is leaving Boston and is ready to start working with his new team:  Los Angeles Clippers. Considering what Rivers done with the Celtics, and what the Clippers achieved last season, I personally suggest sportsbook betting fans and enthusiasts to keep an eye on the coming NBA Betting lines and props for the next season. If you can take the Clippers to win the 2013-14 NAB Championship, the do it now!

The Clippers and Celtics closed the deal on Tuesday after the NBA finally approved the move. Rivers, who went 416-305 in nine seasons and won the 2008 NBA title with Boston, move to Los Angeles is part of a rare trade involving a championship-winning coach.  Rivers’ 416 wins as Boston’s head coach  rank him as the third most successful coach in franchise history, right behind Red Auerbach (795) and Tommy Heinsohn (427).

In exchange for River’s coaching services, the Clippers traded a future first-round draft pick and agreed to an anti-trade clause that will prevent the Clippers and Celtics from engaging in any transactions amongst each other for the duration of the upcoming season.

 Rivers will be introduced as the Clippers’ new coach at a news conference scheduled to take place this Wednesday. The deal will make Rivers the highest-paid coach in the NBA, but on top of his coaching positions, he'll also have a role in the team’s front office. According to ESPN.com, Rivers will sign a three-year, $21 million deal with the Clippers, however, the team hasn’t disclosed any terms of his contract.

While trading a coach isn’t a common move, this is not the first time something like this happens in the NBA. The last time a coach was traded from one team to another franchise was in back in 2007 when the Miami Heat received a second-round draft pick for letting Stan Van Gundy join the Orlando Magic.

Rivers succeeds Vinny Del Negro as head coach. Back in May, the Clippers declined to renew Del Negro after leading the team to 56 wins in the regular season and a division title for the first time in 42-years.

First Female Referee Could Land a Permanent Job with the NFL by 2014

Less than a year ago, Shannon Eastin became the first female referee to officiate an NFL regular-season game when she was called to join the team of referees as the line judge in a Rams vs. Lions game held on Week 1 of the 2012 Season. 

The move marked a groundbreaking moment for the NFL in moments when the league was dealing with a massive referee lockout.  Eastin, who was among the replacement officials called by the NFL last season, previously worked in the NCAA Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and has over 16 years working as referee.

We all know that the NFL is a league dominated and exclusively played by men, but despite the reality of the game, it seems that something good is coming from last year’s experience, and now the league is considering giving a female referee a permanent gig starting in 2014.

There’s nothing shocking or spectacular in such announcement, after all women have proved they have the skills, knowledge, criteria and potential to serve as game officials and replace male referees when needed.

As it was announced by several sports media sites and networks, the National Football League is willing to make the move and bring a female referee aboard starting in 2014.

The possible candidate for this gig is 39 years old Sarah Thomas, the first female to ever officiate an NCAA football game back in 2007. According to recent NFL statements, Thomas, who also served as referee in the 2009 Little Ceasar's Bowl, is in their “pipeline" and that next season looks like a great time for Thomas to enter the NFL as an official referee.

But before she lands the gig, Thomas will have to pass through a series of tests, checks and interviews, and prove she has what it takes to adjust to the game pace and take part in other evaluations to go to the next level.  But even if she’s gets the job, Thomas wouldn't be able to join the league until a position becomes available, which means that an actual NFL referee has to retire from his job before she’s officially named.

NBA Eastern Conference Final Preview: Can the Pacers take an Early Lead in the Series?

Date/Time: Wed, May 22nd, 8:30 ET American Airlines Arena - Miami, Florida

The Indiana Pacers visit the Miami Heat for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night, and Sports Betting Online brings you a quick overview and odds for the first game of the series.

This is the third time Heat and Pacers meet in postseason history, but the first time they face each other in the Conference Finals.  Indiana won the first postseason meeting, 4-2, in the 2004 Eastern Conference Semifinals. Then last spring, the Pacers battled Miami for six games in the semifinals, taking a 2-1 game lead in the series before dropping three straight games and losing the series 4-2.

While the battle does not kick off until 8:30 PM ET, both teams have engaged in a verbal war that started last Saturday night when Pacers coach Frank Vogel said: “This is not about getting back at Miami. You’re in the final four, you’re competing for a championship, you’re competing for a championship. And they’re just the next team that’s in our way. And that’s how we’re approaching it.”

Miami’s star LeBron James took the comment personally, responding to the media:  “We’re not just another team. He said we’re just another team in their way. We’re a great team. If we’re just another team, you really don’t prepare for just another team. You have to prepare for us.”

This season, the Pacers won the season series over the Heat, 2-1, winning both at home.  While the Pacers reached the Conference finals by their own merit, they face a dominant and powerful team that destroyed the Milwaukee Bucks in 4 games and handed the Bulls their worst playoff loss in franchise history and lowest playoff points total ever. 

Playoff Records:
Indiana: 8-4. The Pacers won the First Round Series vs. Atlanta 4-2 and beat the New York Knicks 4-2 in the Second Round.
Miami: 8-1. The Heat swept the Milwaukee Bucks in first round 4-0 and then beat the Bulls 4-1 in the Second Round.

Game Odds:
Indiana Pacers: +8-110, ML +355
Miami Heat: -8-110, ML -425
Game Total: 182, o/u -110

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Pats Starter Kyle Love cut by his Team after Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis

The past two weeks have been a living hell for 26-year old defensive tackle Kyle Love. First, New England’s player received bad news regarding his health: He was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. But then again this Wednesday, 6-foot-1, 315-pound Love got another blast: The Pats rescinded his contract with a non-football-injury designation.

"We have been informed by the New England Patriots that Kyle Love will be released NFI (non-football injury/illness). This comes on the heels of Kyle having been diagnosed within the past two weeks with Type 2 diabetes.” stated Love’s agent, Richard Kopelman of KLASS Sports.

Love, who played college football at Mississippi State, was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2010. In three years of professional career, Love records a total of 25 starts in 41 career games, including 11 starts last season.

In addition, Kopelman said that prior to the diagnosis, Love lost some weight, including muscle mass, but added that doctors assured him that he’s able to keep his condition under control with proper observation and a special diet. For Kopelman, Love’s diagnose shouldn’t be interpreted as an issue, and highlighted the fact that several other players diagnosed with the same condition have had very successful careers in the NFL, NHL, MLB and NBA.

Over the last years, several professional football players have been diagnosed with diabetes. Probably the most popular is Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2008; two years after the Denver Broncos picked him in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Sinclair, who played for the Seattle Seahawks between 1992 and 2001, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Offensive guard Kendall Simmos, who started 83 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills from 2002 through 2009, also suffers from Latent Autoimmune diabetes.

"He's disappointed but he told me this is just a minor blip he's expecting to overcome. He's a great guy with a wife and a baby he's supporting. The goal is to get back healthy, play for a new team and set himself up for a big contract next season." added Kopelman.



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2013 NBA Playoffs: Recapping the Second Round

The 2013 NBA Playoffs Conference Semifinals are here, and the first round of games are turning out to be a wild ride for basketball and sportsbook betting fans in general.

In the first conference semifinal game of the week, the Indiana Pacers beat the Knicks, 102-95 at Madison Square Garden, grabbing a 1-0 lead in their Eastern Conference playoff series.  That means trouble for the Knicks, who have lost three of four after starting the postseason 3-0. David West added 20 points, Paul George 19 and D.J. Augustin 16 for the Pacers. George Hill and Roy Hibbert scored 14 points apiece.

The Oklahoma City Thunder also made it rain behind Kevin Durant's 35 point performance in game one and are also up 1-0 over the Memphis Grizzlies. Durant also grabbed 15 rebounds, handed out six assists and blocked two shots. OKC’s sixth man Kevin Martin had a great game with 25 points and seven rebounds; he also blocked a shot late in the game. Point guard Reggie Jackson was the only other Thunder player in double figures, scoring a total of 12 points.

There were two interesting games on Monday night. First, the Chicago Bulls made the surprise after beating the Miami Heat 93-86 at the American Airlines Arena. The Bulls had an amazing recovery in the 4th quarter, scoring 35 to pull away from the Heat, rallying from a seven-point deficit.  Game 2 at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday at AmericanAirlines Arena.

Then the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Golden State Warriors in a double overtime game at the AT&T Center. San Antonio was behind 127-126 with 3.9 seconds left in the second overtime, but Manu Ginobili launched a high 3-pointer off a cross-court inbounds pass from Kawhi Leonard, sealing the victory for his team 129-127.

Despite the early loss, it's no surprise that the Heat are still the favorites to win the title; what is surprising, is the team they're facing in the second round of the playoffs. The Chicago Bulls have found their way here even when most of their key players have at one point or the other suffered from game preventing injuries. And the fact that these two teams have no love for each other perhaps makes things even more interesting and fun to watch.

What else is coming tonight? (Odds on NBA provided by Sports Betting Online)

Pacers vs. Knicks (7:00 P.M ET)
Indiana Pacers: +6-110, ML +225
New York Knicks: -6-110, ML -265
Game Total: 183, o/u-110

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (9:05 P.M ET)
Memphis Grizzlies: +2.5-110, ML +125
Oklahoma City Thunder: -2.5-110, ML -145
Game Total: 188, o/u-110

Jets willing to Give QB Mark Sanchez “A Second Chance”

Tebow is out and Geno Smith is in. That’s the reality the New York Jets have to deal with from now on. But even when General manager John Idzik promises a much more aggressive team this season, so far nothing looks in place for a team trying to wash its face after a disastrous campaign. 

While the New York Jets insist their situation will change in the months heading to the 2013 NFL Season, we all know some things will remain the same and aren’t likely to change anytime soon. One of them is their quarterback situation. With 5 quarterbacks in their roster, the Jets need to decide who will take the lead this season.  However, the team seems heading the same direction as last season. They are willing to give Mark Sanchez a second chance. 

Despite the fact that Sanchez led his team to a truly forgettable season, ending the campaign with a 6-10 record, and that talented rookie Geno Smith is now part of team; the Jets aren’t ready to give up on Sanchez.

In a radio interview aired this morning, General manager John Idzik confirmed that a "focused, energized, very positive" Sanchez will be part of the "open competition" at quarterback along with Smith, David Garrard and Greg McElroy.

Really? They cut Tebow but want to keep Sanchez? I was them; I’d drive to the state limits, give $5 for a bus ticket and leave them there.  Period.   But that’s not it.  Explaining Monday's waiving of Tim Tebow, Idzik tried to explain why the team pulled the leveler on him, but didn’t mention any good reasons. Yeah, yeah, we know Tebow sucks and that they had six quarterbacks, but failed to give any good reason to keep Sanchez.

Sanchez will have to prove he deserves the starting position once the team enters its training camp, even when he had two seasons to prove it. If the rookie proves he has what it takes to get the starting position, the coaching staff should limit Sanchez to simply hang around. But if Smith struggles, then coach Rex Ryan may be forced to face his decisions and pray for Sanchez to do an acceptable job next season. I hope that doesn’t happen. I honestly want the team to ditch them both once and for all.

Regardless of how this story ends, I'm sure I'll be betting against them this season. An where am I going to do that? Simple, at Sports Betting Online. No matter who comes out on top, you’ll walk away with 10% cash back in your pocket. The money is paid back, directly in your account, no matter who wins.

Houston Rockets Try to Rebound against OKC Thunder in Game 2

Game kicks off at 7:05:00 PM ET at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.

Days after a stunning 120-91 win over Houston on Sunday, Oklahoma City’s playoff series against the Houston Rockets resumes this Wednesday night, and while bettors and NBA fans aren’t willing to give Houston the benefit of the doubt, the Rockets still have the chance to recover from the 29- point loss suffered on Game 1 and even the series before returning to the Toyota Center.

Game 1 exposed many weaknesses for Houston.  The Thunder, who took a 1-0 lead in the series, had no trouble submitting its rival in almost every instance of the game.

While the Rockets faced many difficulties during the game, at some point Houston managed to weep away an 11-point deficit in the first half and tie the score 40-40. But that didn’t last for too long.  After a 20-5 run in the second quarter, Oklahoma put together a comfortable 60-45 lead minutes before the halftime.

Oklahoma’s top scorer Kevin Durant, who had no trouble playing against his former teammate, James Harden, led the way with 24 points. Russell Westbrook was just two rebounds short from a triple-double with 19 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds. Serge Ibaka netted 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocks and OKC sixth man Kevin Martin contributed to his team victory with 16 points.
The Rockets meanwhile, never found the way to break the Thunder’s defense. Harden led the Rockets with 20 points, but no other starter finished the game with double figures.  In addition, the playoff series started wrong for Jeremy Lin, who never found his best game in his first postseason match. To be honest, the Rockets never got any help from Lin; who scored just a single field goal from seven attempts and had as many turnovers (four) as assists.

With the victory over Houston, Oklahoma improved to 18-5 in playoff games at its home arena. The 29-point win also marked Oklahoma’s third rout over the Houston Rockets this season. In two games played this season, Thunder notched victories of 30 (124-94, Dec. 31st at Toyota Center) and 22 points (120-98, Nov. 28 @ Chesapeake Energy Arena).

After the massive loss suffered on Sunday, it's realistic to expect Houston to show some improvements on Game 2, but the question that worries most sportsbook betting fans is: How much better can the Rockets be against a highly inspired team such as Oklahoma?  We’ll have the answer this Wednesday night. In the meantime, you can bet this game at Sports Betting Online and receive 10% cashback on all your wagers. Win or Lose.