Points Grizzlies Pound Crush On Night

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Meanwhile, Washington, despite the fact that John Wall had finally started to play like a No. 1 overall pick over the team's past five games, came in with the league's worst record at a miserable 2-12 and showed why rather quickly.

 

In fact I wondered if Flip Saunders, a solid coach in both Minnesota and Detroit before he ever arrived in D.C., might just walk off into the sunset at intermission with the Wiz behind 62-32.

 

It's not like Flip doesn't have any talent on hand. What he doesn't have, however, is a glue guy -- a player like Bruce Bowen.

 

Take Philadelphia. The Sixers have a storied history believe it or not. Glance up at that the rafters at WFC and you will see banners honoring Wilt Chamberlain's No. 13, Julius Erving's No. 6 and Billy Cunningham's 32.

 

Others like Mo Cheeks, Bobby Jones, Hal Greer and Charles Barkley have also been given the royal treatment by Philadelphia. All Hall of Famers or in the case of Cheeks and Jones -- darn close. One day Allen Iverson will join that contingent once a few open wounds have had time to heal.

 

That's not to say those players aren't revered in Philly. They and a host of others are but the 76ers have set the bar high for any player to get his number retired.

 

But, understand those other four players were no one-trick ponies and could hurt you at both ends of the floor. Bowen was a non-entity for most of his career on offense.

 

Some romantics have already told me that Bowen's honor will send future players a message that professionalism, hard work and unselfishness are rewarded in San Antonio.

 

Larry Kenyon should be insulted and Tiago Splitter should be getting ready.

 

I honored Bowen they way he should be honored -- remembering him for who he was and what he did. And thinking boy I bet Flip Saunders would have loved to have had Bruce Bowen tonight.

 

Mike Conley chipped in 20 points and nine assists, while Marc Gasol added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who scored 13 points off nine turnovers in the fourth quarter.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your Sportsbook accepts Visa needs.