Atlanta Hawks Make Eastern Conference a Better Place

This was supposed to be a year of rebuild for the Atlanta Hawks. The team has finally let go of their long-standing franchise player in Josh Smith. Then there's the hiring of new coach Mike Budenholzer, a former long-time assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs. During the time, this moves hinted a drastic change to the team, not only for the roster but with the system and culture.

In the NBA, drastic changes is often synonymous with a disastrous season. That is why prior to the start of the season, many Hawks fans were preparing for a tough year, consoling themselves with the potential to get a prime talent in what is expected to be a very talented draft pool next summer. The expectations were low.

However, two months into the season, the Hawks have been a pleasant surprise not only for its loyal followers but also for the general basketball fans. Despite the lack of a big-named player on the roster, the team has been playing great, competing well and winning against the better teams in the league. They are doing this with good ball movement on offense and solid work on the defensive end. The new way the team is playing is simply refreshing to watch, especially for Hawks fans. And to general basketball fans, the Hawks make the eastern conference a little bit more bearable.

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Spurs Continue to Struggle Against Good Teams

Despite their impressive 22-7 record, not everything is going smoothly for the San Antonio Spurs. So far this season, the team has been struggling when playing against the better teams in the league. Here are the teams and the number of losses they have so far this season:

• Trailblazers - 1
• Thunder - 2
• Rockets - 2
• Pacers - 1
• Clippers - 1

Each one of their losses had them being dominated throughout the game.  Why are the Spurs having a hard time against the better teams?

Don't Match Up Well With Athletic Teams

Having watched all their games this season, I have come to realize how poorly the Spurs match up against athletic teams. The team has a hard time stopping penetrations from speedy ball handlers which results to the entire defense being compromised. That is why against teams with an aggressive offensive player, the Spurs struggle to make stops in crucial parts of the games.

This shouldn't have to be a problem if the Spurs don't have a...

Lack of a Go-To Scorer

The lack of a go-to scorer is hurting the Spurs just as bad as the lack of an on-ball defensive stopper at the guard position. When the Spurs offense gets disrupted by the defense, the lack of a player that can create an offense by himself means that the possession is doomed to fail or requires a ton of luck to succeed. In recent years, this has become the responsibility of Tony Parker and his become quite good at it. This season, however, Tony is struggling in such situations and as a direct result, the Spurs are too.

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What's Wrong with the Spurs Resting Their Stars?

Recently, as I was visiting various forums and fan sites for NBA teams, I had a bit of argument regarding the Spurs and the way that coach Popovich is resting the old core of the team. I'm pretty sure you will remember last year's hullabaloo when he decided to send Duncan, Parker, Ginobili and Green back to San Antonio prior to the game against the Heat that resulted to a hefty $250,000 fine.

In Thursday's night game against the Warriors, Pop decided to sit Duncan and Ginobili. One reaction that really caught my attention was about how Pop is doing a disservice to the league by taking out the stars. There's the argument that it doesn't bode well with the spirit of the competition that the poster defined as playing at their highest level. The Spurs as they say with the decision to sit out players at certain games are smart, effective but wrong. 

Now, I don't mind someone telling me that they don't like these moves by the Spurs. However, saying that it is wrong is what is wrong. Saying that something is right or wrong is presuming  that the person saying it knows all about the morality of it.

If Pop sits out his stars, it is not with the intention to give the game away. What is morally wrong with that? If coaches are careful at managing his players on a per quarter minute basis for health reasons that would play an important role in the future, what makes Pop's decision to manage his team players' health in a bigger per-game basis wrong?

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Barca Secures Iniesta Until 2018

After a long-winded chronicle that involved countless rumors, the saga regarding Andres Iniesta and his future has finally ended. As reported earlier this week, the Spanish midfielder has reached a deal with Barcelona which will keep him until 2018, pretty much guaranteeing that he will be with the team until the end of his playing career.

Iniesta who came from the club's famous youth academy has been a very important piece for Barcelona during its most successful period. As a member of the Spanish national team, his goal in the 2010 World Cup helped the team seal the title.

With his old contract winding down and expiring in 2015, many wondered about the future possibilities for Iniesta. 

Due to the relative lack of reports regarding the progress of contract negotiation between Iniesta and Barcelona that started since summer, many reports started floating around that linked the 29-year old to other European teams. One of the big-named club that he was linked to was the Manchester United, a club that could really use him right now. All the rumors and conjectures have now been squashed with his decision to stay with the Barca.

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As Cavaliers Falter, Irving Deserves Some Blame

Although he did miss a good chunk of games last season, Kyrie Irving was impressive when he played. His impressive play didn't always translate to wins, but I always alluded it to the inexperience of the team and the lack of key pieces. I thought about how scary the Cavaliers can be if he is surrounded with the right talent.

During the off-season, the Cavs loaded on players that in theory could work with Irving very well. The team signed Andrew Bynum to have reliable scorer down low. They added Earl Clark for to be a versatile forward who can hit shots and has good energy on defense. They also signed Jarrett Jack to back Irving in point guard duties. The rest of the roster looked solid and many believed that they could be one of the better teams in the eastern conference.

However, we are already almost two months into the season and the Cavaliers are currently out of the playoff picture at the number 9 spot of the east and have looked so bad in a handful of games. Just like many struggling teams, drama has brewed within the team. Many tried to find the reason for this debacle and as it stands right now, majority of the reason has been on Irving.

Irving hasn't quite lived up to the expectations many had for him. Looking at his stats, it doesn't look like he has improved much at all. In fact, he has struggled with his 3-point shooting. He is also being exposed as a liability on defense, often finding himself out of position and not being able to follow the defensive scheme that the coaching staff wants the team to be playing such as getting through screens. This puts the defense in peril as they don't really have guys who can cover for his mistake.

So far, the Cavs have faltered amidst expectations and Irving's performance is a primary reason for it. If the team is doing well, Irving would get plenty of credit as he is the best and currently the most important player on the team. Thus, it is also only fair that he deserves much of the blame if the team is underperforming as they are now.

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Lakers Coaching Faces a Tough Challenge with the Return of Kobe

With the return of Kobe Bryant, there are many questions that needs answer. For basketball fans, a major concern is whether he will be as good as he was before the injury. For the Lakers, the main concern is how to Kobe will be able to fit into the lineup.

The Lakers have surpassed the expectations of many who predicted the team to greatly struggle this season. In what seems like a plot for a movie, the roster full of misfits are playing surprisingly well, always giving a hundred percent effort and showcasing a brand of basketball that is simply fun to watch. Aside from taking advantage of their athleticism through transition offense, they are also moving the ball quite well in half-court sets.

There comes the concern. Kobe has always been the type of player who needs the ball in his hands to be effective. This means that his return could adversely affect that good ball-movement that the team is showcasing right now.

The Lakers coaching staff who has done a marvelous job to start this season will have their biggest challenge yet as Kobe returns. They will need to figure out how to get Kobe to fit in the system while not disrupting the way that team has been playing.

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NBA Coaches are Underappreciated

A team is winning? Go players! A team is losing? The coach sucks! Fire him!

The importance of coaching in the NBA is often underappreciated by many fans. If a team wins, all the credit are directed towards the awesome performance of the players. The only time a coach can get attention is when the team is playing bad and he becomes the one to blame. There is a double-standard against coaches in the NBA and the reason for this isn't so complicated but can be offending.

Getting straight to the point, many NBA fans lack the necessary knowledge about the sport to grasp the importance of coach's role on the team.

A Perfect Example

A good example for this is Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra who gets disrespected a lot by fans due to having three elite players playing for him. A common slight is that any coach can win a championship with the amount of talent on the team.

Case in Point

However, you don't need to look farther than the Heat defense to see how good of a coach Spoelstra is. As potent as their offense might be, the Heat needed to have a very good defense to win their championships.

His scheme has allowed the Heat team which plays small lineups to have one of the best defense in the league. The team is playing an aggressive yet disciplined defense that negates much of their size disadvantage. It is chaotic yet methodical.

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FIFA Unveils 2014 World Cup Match Ball

Soccer fans might not agree on who the best team or athlete in the sport, but every fan from all over the planet can agree that the World Cup can't get here fast enough. Every update about one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world is valuable. That being said, here's a new update from FIFA.com that will allow you to take a glimpse of the upcoming event.

The Brazuca: Official Match Ball

The brazuca, which means 'Brazilian' and refers to the Brazilian way of life, is the most-tested adidas ball in history. It was, over a two-and-a-half-year period, tried out by over 600 of the world’s top players or former players including Iker Casillas, Dani Alves, Lionel Messi, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Zinedine Zidane, and 30 teams in ten countries across three continents. The brazuca was also used at a selection of international football matches, albeit with a different design, including a friendly between Sweden and Argentina last February.

The brazuca’s colours and ribbon design of the ball panels symbolise the traditional multi-coloured wish bracelets worn in the country, in addition to reflecting the vibrancy and fun associated with football in the South American country. It has a new structural innovation, with a unique symmetry of six identical panels alongside a different surface structure will provide improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics on the pitch.

The brazuca will be available to purchase globally from Wednesday 4 December in selected adidas retail outlets, associated stockists and via FIFA.com’s official Store. Furthermore, any child born in Brazil on 3 December, the day of its official launch, was entitled to a free Brazuca courtesy of adidas.

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Images and text grab from FIFA.com

Europa League 2013 Group Stage Results

If you're a soccer fan and loves making online sports bet, here is something that might interest you. The results of the group stage matches for Europa League 2013 are out. I'm not going to bore you with introduction so here you go.

Group A

• Kuban Krasnodar defeated St. Gallen 4-0
• Valencia defeated Swansea City 1-0

Group B

• Ludogorets defeated PSV Eindhoven 2-0
• Chornomorets Odesa defeated Dinamo Zagreb 2-1

Group C

• Esbjerg defeated Standard Liège 2-1
• Salzburg defeated Elfsborg 1-0

Group D

• Rubin Kazan drew Maribor 1-1
• Zulte Waregem defeated Wigan Athletic 2-1

Group E

• Dnipro defeated Pandurii 4-1
• Paços Ferreira drew Fiorentina 0-0

Group F

• Eintracht Frankfurt defeated Bordeaux 1-0
• APOEL drew Maccabi Tel Aviv 0-0

Group G

• Genk defeated Dynamo Kyiv Aviv 3-1
• Rapid Wien defeated Thun 2-1

Group H

• Freiburg defeated Liberec 2-1
• Sevilla drew Estoril 1-1

Group I

• Rijeka drew Guimarães 0-0
• Lyon defeated Real Betis 1-0

Group J

• Lazio defeated Legia 2-0
• Trabzonspor defeated Apollon 4-2

Group K

• Anzhi drew Sheriff 1-1
• Tottenham Hotspur defeated Tromsø 2-0

Group L

• PAOK defeated Shakhter 2-0
• AZ defeated Maccabi Haifa 2-0

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Rose Injury: Early and Painful Conclusion to the Season for the Bulls

The return of Derrick Rose gave the Chicago Bulls and its throngs of fans a good reason to be hopeful prior to the start of this season. Everyone has seen what the former MVP can do when he is healthy and playing at his best. He gives the tough defensive team a boost on offense that allows them to stand toe-to-toe with the best clubs in the league.

However, less than a month into the season, the hope has been dashed with another potentially season-ending injury to Rose. This is a big blow to the team and the player who missed the entire previous season while recovering from a left knee ACL injury.

Rose injured his right knee on Friday when the team played against the Portland Trailblazers. It was late in the third quarter and he was trying to make a backdoor cut when his knee seemed to have buckled. He limped to the sidelines and had to be assisted while heading to the locker room. There wasn't any details released at that time, but the non-contact nature of the injury gave fans a big reason to be scared.

On Saturday, reports came out that Rose has suffered from a torn meniscus and will require him to undergo surgery. Recovery from such injury is estimated to last between 4-6 months.

The Bulls who have been playing impressive after a rough start has a murky future ahead of them. They can still make the playoffs, but any hopes of contending for a title is very much out of the question right now.

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A Good Way to Have a Bad Season

In the NBA, there are really only three ways a team can improve. The first one is the acquisition of talented players through trades. The second one are the free agency signings. The third one is through drafts.  There is the argument for the fourth way which is the development of the players, but there will always a be ceiling when it comes to individual improvement. When a team signs a player, the salary already covers the potential and whatnot.

Anyways, in the above-mentioned ways for improvement, the acquisition of a talent through drafts is one of the most cost-effective method. Topnotch talents that can be acquired through trades and signings can demands maximum contracts that could cost more than $20 million per year while the rookie-scale salary is just around $4 million.

That said, it is easy to understand why certain teams prefer to improve or build team's through drafts. However, in order to have a good chance of being able to pick the best players in the draft, a team has to be one of the worst in the league. And this is the reason why there are teams who are willing to throw away or tank the current season so that they can build a better future.

However, throwing away a season is not an easy thing to do. As wise of a decision it might be, the loyal fans of the team can't help but feel the pain of constantly losing. That is why teams need to find a way to have a bad season that is less agonizing. A team that is able to do so can be considered as one who is tanking the season right.

This season, the Philadelphia 76ers are tanking the right way. By winning against some big-named teams at the start and playing hard every game, the 76ers have allowed the fans to take a glimpse of the possibility of a bright future, thus giving them hope and making them understand that although the season might be bad, something great will come out of it at the end.

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Premier League Must-Watch: Arsenal vs. Southampton on November 23

If you are into soccer online betting, you are in for a treat this weekend as two of the best teams in the Premier League are set to battle on Saturday. The league-leading Arsenal will face-off against the rank 3 Southampton.

Arsenal are coming off a lost against Manchester United last November 10 while Southampton hasn't lost a game for more than two months now and had a dominant win against Hull during their last match on November 9. The successful stretch by Southampton has allowed them to rise in the rankings. 

In their last six games, Arsenal has  4 wins, a loss and a draw. Southampton, on the other hand, has 4 wins and 2 draws.

The last time the two team met was more than a year ago, when Arsenal beat Southampton 6-1. There's no doubt that Southampton will be looking for a payback when the two teams meet this weekend. However, Arsenal also has a pretty good motivation to win this match after losing their last game.

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Houston Rockets Defensive Problem Continues

Last reason, the Rockets had one of the most exciting offense in the league. With their youth, they were always attacking aggressively on transition that allowed for easy layups and uncontested three-pointers as there weren't many teams who were able to run with them. This type of offense gave them a chance even against the better teams in the league. The only weakness for the team back then was the lack of defense.

The acquisition of Dwight Howard over the summer made everyone believe that the defensive woes for the Rockets have been solved. However, more than two weeks into the new season, the same defensive problem from last year is still haunting the Rockets. And here's the reason why.

Just like last year, the team's backcourt struggles in slowing down or stopping penetrations and they are also unable to properly cover pick-and-roll plays. This flaw of the team compromising its entire defense and even the best defensive center won't be able to help the team.

The insertion of a pesky defensive player in Patrick Beverly into the starting unit was supposedly going to solve this problem. But as you can see, it seems like it hasn't really taken effect at all. After the injury early in the season, Beverly hasn't played the fierce defense that he showed last season. Also, opposing teams are more conscious of James Harden's pathetic defense and are taking advantage of it.

Although a better defensive scheme would help, the Rockets could really use some better individual defense.

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A Breakout Season for Anthony Davis

With the current 3-4 record, the New Orleans Pelicans aren't really doing as well as fans are hoping for. However, there is always something to be glad about every time the team steps on the court. Although it is still quite a bit early into the season, Anthony Davis has looked quite impressive for the team. He has taken a huge leap from the previous season wherein he was pretty much overlooked by NBA fans.

In the first 7 games of the team this season, Davis has definitely made his presence felt on the basketball court. His work on both offense and defense are reflected not only by his stats but by the way the team is being able to compete well even against quality competitions. He is currently averaging 21.7 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game. These impressive numbers are a result of his adjustment to the NBA game and taking advantage of his natural abilities.

Although he did show some glimmers of his potential to be great last season, Davis somewhat struggled in his first year in the NBA as he got outmuscled by stronger and more experienced players. So far this season, he is using his speed and athleticism to get the better out of his opponents. His ability to run the court at high speed is a problem for anyone trying to guard him. His speed is also useful in defense as it allows him to cover a wider area of the floor, blocking shots from non-suspecting players.

Again, it is a little bit too early in the season. However, his ability to adjust and make use of his advantages is something that will last not only this season but throughout his career. It's an amazing and frightening thought.

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The Bulls Troubles

Many Bulls fans were hyped up during the summer due to the return of Derrick Rose on the team for this season. The hype was further exacerbated by the media, such as proclaiming the team as the one that could dethrone the defending Champs.

However, in the first week of the new NBA season, the Bulls have been a frustrating team to watch. The offense is a mess and their well-regarded defense seemed to have taken a vacation during the summer and is yet to return. I'm not too worried about their defense though as the lapses in rotation that they showed in their games can easily be fixed, especially as they have one of the best defensive coach on the league. However, their offensive woes is certainly worrying.

The issue on offense isn't even just about Rose being rusty. The team doesn't run enough plays that allows for easier shots for the other players on the team. As a result, they become quite similar to the Knicks wherein they give the ball to their rusty superstar and pray for a miraculous play. If the Bulls are serious about playing for title, they are going to have to do better than put the fate of the team on one player. They already did that in 2011 and we all know what happened then.

The good news is that there is still a long way to go for the season. There's all the time and opportunity to improve. The coaching staff might come up with some creative plays or they might add some personnel later in the year.

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After Disappointing Opening, Clippers Dominate

After a disappointing first game to the NBA season that saw them lose against their same-city rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers in their last three games has been the dominating team that many experts have envisioned them to be. They were impressive in their last three games that featured other potential contenders from the western conference.

In their first win against the Golden State Warriors, they showed a much improved defense and a smoother offense. They forced the Warriors into tough shots, they rebounded and pressured well on defense that resulted to plenty of steals and fast break points. The offense also looked quite better as there was better ball movement that created good shot opportunities for the team. It also helped that Chris Paul had a monster game.

Against the Sacramento Kings, the Clippers had a very good offensive game wherein they hit 50 percent of their field goal attempts and their three-pointers. They were in control the entire game as the Kings never really looked dangerous in the game. Every time the Kings tried to make a run, the Clippers always had an answer.

In their most recent game against the also much-talked about Houston Rockets, the Clippers were dominating in every way possible. They negated Rocket's Dwight Howard's potential impact on the floor by getting the center into foul trouble early in the game. Without Howard on the floor, the Clippers were able to attack and score against the Rockets' interior. Couple that with some good 3-point shooting and the game became a one-sided affair all throughout. 

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The Knicks are Back, And They Suck

After a successful regular season run last year, the Knicks disappointed in the playoffs as they got trounced in the second round of the playoffs by the Pacers, a team that was widely ignored by most NBA fans. During the said playoffs, one problem that really showed was the team's stagnating offense at crucial parts of the game.

Mind-boggling

The Knicks are most effective on half-court offense when they move the ball. Due to ball movement, they have an easier time finding openings to the basket which allows for easier lay-ups.

That is why it is mind-boggling during crucial times, they prefer to call an isolation play for Carmelo Anthony that usually ends up with a perimeter shot. It's great if Anthony is hitting shots at high percentage. Unfortunately, for all the praise he's gotten for his offensive game, he isn't really the most efficient scorer in the game when it comes to one-on-one situations.

Opening the Season Looking the Same

During their first game of the season wherein they faced the Milwaukee Bucks, there were some periods in the game wherein the offense just stalled as they seemed to have relied on jumpers that weren't just going in. As a result, what could have been a blowout resulted to a tight game at the end.

Almost the same thing happened when they played against the Chicago Bulls wherein they trailed for the most part of the game but was able to take the lead around the last 3 minutes by hustling on defense and attacked the basket more that resulted to layups, dunks and fouls.

However, as the game was about the end as the Knicks leading by 2, they decided that it is better to give the ball to Anthony and watch him work. He turned the ball over one time and missed on another possession.

I just wonder when they will realize that giving the ball to Anthony and rely on him isn't really the best thing they can do.

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A Chance for a Great Start for the Indiana Pacers

As good of a team as they may be, the Indiana Pacers had had the tendency to start slow in the season. Last year, they started the season losing even against mediocre teams. That is why despite finishing the season great, they mostly went under the radar as most NBA fans have already looked as a non-exceptional team that is not worth paying attention to.

Now, after making a noise as they made a successful run in the recent playoffs that saw them taking the eventual champions Miami Heat to 7 games before bowing out, the Pacers will have a chance at a great start for a season as they open the year with very winnable games against not-so-good teams.

The First Three Games

On the opening day of the NBA, they play against the Orlando Magic, a team that is laden with young talent but is still in the process of rebuilding and expected to be one of the worse teams for the upcoming season. 

Their second game is against the New Orleans Pelicans, another team that is loaded with talented players but is still lacking experience and also considered to be in the process of rebuilding and might want to tank the season to help the cause.

The third game might be tougher as they play against a Cleveland Cavaliers team that made transactions in the off-season that was intended to make them competitive this season.

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NBA Will Have New Finals Series Format

With golf online betting having it's downtime as the year ends, let us talk about one of the most popular sports league from online sports betting Australia. Here's the article from NBA.com detailing the changes made to the NBA Finals series format for next year and beyond. I've grabbed the important tidbits from the report and posted it here. 

Beginning with the 2014 finals, the higher-seeded team will host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7. The lower seed gets Games 3, 4 and 6, following the same format the NBA uses in all other rounds.

The NBA for the previous 29 years has used what's referred to as the 2-3-2 format, in which the higher seed hosts the first two games, then goes on the road for three straight.

The 2-3-2 format was instituted in 1985 in part to ease the amount of cross-country travel with the Celtics and Lakers frequently meeting for the championship. But some felt it also worked against the team that should have the advantage.

The unanimous vote to approve the 2-2-1-1-1 format came Wednesday during Stern's final preseason meeting with his board of governors. Owners also voted to add an extra day between Games 6 and 7.

The league's competition committee had recommended the change last month back to 2-2-1-1-1, which was used in all but one finals from 1957 to 1984.

Stern has often said he was acting on advice about the travel from former Celtics boss Red Auerbach when the finals format was switched. But with commercial flights long since replaced by charters, teams didn't have the same difficulties now with the number of trips.

Stern has often said he was acting on advice - or complaints - about the travel from former Celtics boss Red Auerbach when the finals format was switched. But with commercial flights long since replaced by charters, teams didn't have the same difficulties now with the number of trips.

Silver, who will become commissioner after Stern retires Feb. 1, is a proponent of the 2-2-1-1-1 format, though he said Stern and other league executives all thought it was time for the change.

EPL Results: Hotspurs Win Over Villa 2-0

Tottenham Hotspurs was victorious over the weekend as they played and won against Aston Villa. And while defeating a lower rung team isn't something to call home about, it's a very much welcomed news to the team who has lost and drew in their last two matches.

A Quick Recap of the Game

The first 30 minutes of the match left much to be desired from the Spurs as they struggled to create scoring attempts despite having dominated the ball possession during that span of time. This is thanks in part to Villa's tightening of the center that was able to contain the Spurs' midfield and keeping striker Roberto Soldado isolated thus effectively stifling the attack.

However, things quickly turned around after Andros Townsend was able to luckily kick in a cross from the right that was able to go past Guzan. After the first score, the Spurs became more comfortable with their offense and became aggressive with attacking Aston Villa's defense, resulting to several good goal attempt and finally a second goal from Soldado. The win is the fifth for the Hotspurs while Aston Villa incurred their fourth loss of the season. The Hotspurs are currently ranked fifth while Aston Villa is placed at thirteenth. 

More EPL News and Activities

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Images from http://www.premierleague.com/

Why Chelsea Loaning Away Lukaku Isn't So Bad

Chelsea has caught plenty of flak for lending away  Romelu Lukaku to Everton for the entire season. And it isn't likely to stop as Belgian striker scores for his borrowed team. However, I'm having a hard time understanding all these criticisms mixed with anger for the team. It's not like Lukaku is never coming back. In fact, the decision to loan Lukaku to Everton can even be very beneficial for the team in the near future.

Helping his development

Despite showing brilliance, the 20-year old still needs to further develop his game. And the best way to help him develop is to give him playing time and a significant role without the burden of a heavy responsibility. These are things can't offer him right now that Everton can. Some of the things he needs to improve his touch and he also needs to develop his decision-making. In a way, it benefits all parties. Everton becomes more entertaining or competitive. Chelsea is growing a talent. Lukaku is improving himself.

Weightless Comparisons

I can definitely understand people who are saying that Lukaku deserves to be on the team over other Chelsea strikers. Samuel Eto'o and Demba Ba aren't exactly looking so great right now. However, they aren't that so bad either.

Those who are comparing Lukaku to Didier Drogba and thinking that the Belgian can lead the Chelsea offense also needs to realize that his game is still far from that of the latter. As mentioned, his game is still a bit raw. Putting him in a position with a heavy responsibility might even hamper his growth.

More Soccer News and Activities

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NBA Predictions: Atlanta Hawks

The NBA season is just a few weeks away and with team rosters almost complete, it's much easier to predict how certain teams are likely to perform next season. Several websites for betting on sports have already released season predictions for every NBA team, providing general insights on teams that expected to be good and those that are anticipated to have a bad year. If you like to bet on sports, these predictions might come in handy for you.

The Hawks in Limbo

The Atlanta Hawks are one of the few teams that are still in limbo when it comes to season prediction. There's the assumption that the team will try to tank in order to get a better positioning for the next year's loaded draft. However, if you look at the current roster of the team, they have enough talent to be competitive in the east.

Master of Their Own Fate

 The Hawks can go whatever direction they see fit. They are the master of their fate. If they decide to compete for the playoffs, there's a very good chance that they'll be able to do so. However, I don't think that the team would want to only reach the playoffs.

The Likely Ending

The way I see it, the Hawks will try their best to be competitive in the early part of the season. If things doesn't pan out, you can expect the management to make some big changes in the middle of the season that is likely to worsen the team but help with the rebuilding cause.

Pelicans Showing Promise in Pre-Season

With the major leagues already in play, it's no surprise why soccer online betting is king of sports betting in Australia right now. I mean, just check out the links. There are already seven leagues that soccer fans can indulge in. However, the current might have to make a way for basketball as the NBA pre-season warms up for another year filled with fast-paced court action. Although pre-season games are often considered by many as meaningless fillers for the real deal, there are actually lots of things to learn from these things.

You can gauge a skill-set of a player, the strengths and weaknesses of the team that allows you to have a more accurate forecast for the regular season. One of the teams that showing a lot of promise right now is the New Orleans Pelicans. The team that is filled with young talents has shown plenty of upsides throughout the course of the pre-season tournament. 

In their first pre-season game against the Houston Rockets, the team got good production from second-year big man Anthony Davis who was able to hit shots at high percentage, scoring 21 points in 27 minutes. Another Anthony also had it going as he scored 26 points. He shot quite well from beyond the three-point line as he hit 3 of his 6 attempts. Austin Rivers also played quite well, scoring 21 points and made key plays like the steal and fast-break layup that helped won the game for the Pelicans. The only downer in the game for Pelicans fans is Tyreke Evans turning his ankle and Jrue Holiday getting pick-pocketed a handful of times by Rockets' Patrick Beverly.

What You Need to Know About Sports Betting

With the best soccer leagues already under way and the best players getting it on in the field, it's an exciting period again for fans of the most popular sport in the world. As the excitement for the sport continues to rise, sports betting sites for soccer are also getting quite the activity as loyal followers  and professional bettors alike wager on their picked teams. If you're a fan looking to get into some exciting betting action, there are several things you need to know.

You Can Make an Online Sports Bet

The internet allows you to do almost everything right now. One of which is making online sports bet. In Australia, there are plenty of sports betting sites that'll allow you to make a bet on your favorite team without ever leaving the comfort of your home. That's pretty convenient, right?

How You Can Join

Joining sports betting sites is also fairly simple. If you have tried signing up for websites that required membership, then you should have no problem. One of the most popular and the longest-running website in Australia allows you to join even if you're not in living in the country. You could be from any place in the world, and you are still allowed to join just as long as sports betting is also legal on your state or country.

Be Mindful Special Offers

Once you have joined betting website, you need to be mindful of special offers that most companies run from time to time that will allow you to get the most out of your money. Free bets and money-back promotions are just some of the many special offerings.

Did the Knicks Upgrade Over the Summer?

After a successful regular season wherein they were able to have the second-best record in the eastern conference, the New York Knicks faltered in the playoffs against a tougher opposition in the form of the defensive Indiana Pacers. The Knicks offense who featured the year's scoring champ were stifled. Their defense wasn't any better. To put it bluntly, the team still needed a lot of work if they are to become legitimate contenders for an NBA title.

In a tougher eastern conference

This offseason saw several new players added to the Knicks while some  players from last season were traded away or left during the free agency period. The team has been active, to say the least. However, all the transactions that the team have made still doesn't put them on the upper echelon of the league, or even the eastern conference for that matter. Even if they did improve, the other teams in the east has upgraded by leaps and bounds over what the Knicks have done so far.

Knicks' summer acquisitions

One of the significant transactions of the Knicks this summer is the trade for Andrea Bargniani that sent away Steve Novak. The presumption is that Bargnani, with his better skill sets, will provide the Knicks with another option in the offensive end. However, with several players on the Knicks that constantly handles the ball to be effective, it is very likely that his role will be relegated to what Novak used to do. The fact that his field goal percentages from last season  declined from the previous is a cause for more concern.

How is your favorite NBA team doing?

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Tiger is PGA Player of the Year

After winning five tourneys this year, the PGA has given Tiger Woods the Player of the Year award. This is the 11th time that the current world's number one golfer has won the award which is determined by the votes of other fellow PGA golfers. Two other golfers who have been discussed as contenders for the award were Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson, both having won a major title this year.

Although many golfing fans might point out another major-less campaign, it's a great end for a successful year for Tiger. As mentioned, he was able to take the top seed of the world ranking. He also pocketed the most money  from tournaments this year. Here is what this year's Player of the Year had to say as he received the award:

It's just been a fantastic year all around. It's also an incredible feeling to be voted by your peers, and to have the that type of respect is very humbling.

I've had to work my way back from injuries on numerous occasions throughout the years. These last couple years is no exception to that. There were a lot of people saying I could never win again, and two years later I've got eight wins on our TOUR. I'm very proud of where I've come from, from being ranked outside the top 50 to being ranked where I am now, and to have had the success that I've had this year makes it all the more rewarding.

More golfing news and activities

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Image from PGAtour.com

Salary Cap in Sports

If you're into basketball online betting for NBA games, you probably know about the salary cap and how it forces teams to be smarter in maneuvering its roster and such. If you're into betting sports soccer, you probably don't care about it since the biggest soccer leagues don't have a salary cap in place. To be brief, a salary cap limits the amount of money a team can spend for its roster.

Now, the fact that some sports leagues have salary caps while others don't begs the question of whether it is truly needed by leagues who have decided to apply it. After all, some of the oldest sports leagues don't have it and yet they are doing wonderfully.

Promoting balanced competition

Having a salary cap in place has many benefits. However, as we are talking from a fan's perspective here, let's  focus on the benefit that us fans value the most. And that is competitiveness. Without salary cap, the teams with the most money becomes one of the most successful. You can see this in soccer leagues such as La Liga and the English Premier League wherein teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United are the biggest spenders and have dominated and low-spending teams have been in the cellar since forever.

Now look at the NFL wherein the salary cap that was put in place have created a more competitive playing field that allows fans to believe that every season, their teams have a chance to win and thus, the league is thriving.

Birdman Cleared of Charges

Roughly one year ago, Chris Andersen became a target of investigation for having been linked in an internet criminal case that sprouted countless rumors among basketball fans and that also made him a subject of jokes. The investigation during that time was believed to the reason why the Denver Nuggets waived him.

Since not much details were unveiled to the public, the general  internet populace concocted various theories on what the actual charges really were. Since the ones handling the case was the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Douglas County Sheriff's  Office, you can probably understand why pedophilia was the hottest issue. From being nicknamed as Birdman, he pretty much got re-nicknamed as pedobear.

This places the fans of the topic of pedophilia is quite controversial by itself, making it awkward for fans who care about moral compass and such. The guy is fun to watch on the court, but the thought that the guy might have committed something hideous can be off-putting. I know about innocent until guilty and all that, but tell that to the nagging feeling.

Now, if you are a fan of Birdman, you can rejoice and feel free to cheer for him all you want. He was cleared of all charges and the investigations have led to an uncovering of a complicated hoax that duped the basketball player. The statement from his lawyer said that a Canadian woman impersonated Birdman and sought a relationship and gifts from his female acquaintance and vice versa. You can read the complete details here.

Anyways, if you want more of the hottest news in the NBA, you can check out the most popular website in Australia for online sports betting. What's more is that the site is currently offering free sports bet that you could use for upcoming matches and races.

Image credit to NBA.com

Mayweather Beats Alvarez to Stay Undefeated

Coming into the fight, the odds for one of the most anticipated boxing matches this year was in heavily in favor of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. Prior to the fight, the Australian website for betting on sports had the winning lines for the fight 1.36 to 3.15, in favor of Floyd. The 36-year old undefeated fighter is considered to be the best athlete in the sport right now. With his defense and just insanely smart boxing that borders being boring for many, he is like a puzzle without a solution. He won the fight with a majority decision over Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez to protect his undefeated record.

Saturday night in the US, he showed once again why this is so. Canelo had a hard time trying to land punches while Floyd picked his punch and landed clean shots against his opponent time and again. Contrary to the majority decision that makes it sound like the match was close, he was in complete control of the fight.

Some might argue that Canelo won the later rounds. However, all those were rounds that Floyd can afford to lose. Floyd pretty much secured his victory in after round 8, so there is really no reason for him to take a risk. I understand that this is kind of annoying for anyone who wants to see an action-packed match, but that is just how Floyd is. As I mentioned, he is a smart fighter. And on Saturday night, he showed everybody just how clever he is. 

If you want more views and opinions regarding the fight, you can check out and join the best site to bet on sports.

The Minnesota Timberwolves in 2013-14

Now that the 2013-14 NBA season is just a few months away and most teams having done their offseason chores of signing, resigning and trading for players, it is easier to look at a team, evaluate the roster and predict how well they will be doing next season. Trades and other transactions can happen along the way that could shake things up, but it is pretty safe to assume that as of this moment, the cores of different teams are all set. That being said, it's time to take a look at the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The team has a roster that is stacked with talent. The team has an all-star power forward in Kevin Love who can rebound quite well and whose range goes beyond the arc. The center position is manned by Nikola Pekovic who is one of the rare big men with a great post-up game these days. There are also some pretty solid players who can fill the small forward position. Chase Budinger and Derrick Williams can both play the position well. The point guard position is secured with Ricky Rubio being the main option and with other quality players on the team like J.J. Barea or Alexey Shved who can fill the role quite well. The team seems to be looking at Kevin Martin as the primary player for the shooting guard. Other guards on the team can fill the shift to the position as well.

The team also has a good wing defender in Corey Brewer. Rookies Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng also carry some certain potential. All in all, the Wolves look good going into the upcoming NBA season.

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Soccer: USA Qualifies for 2014 World Cup

After defeating Mexico with a score of 2-0, the USA team only had to wait for the result of the match between Honduras and against Panama for them to find out if they qualify for the World Cup next year in Brazil. It is kind of queer how their fate was tied to a match they weren't playing in. However, the resulting draw between the other match sealed their qualification for the next World Cup.

The two goals for the US came from Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan and the victory  will allow the team to make their 7th consecutive world cup.

Italy came from behind to defeat Czech Republic and earn a spot at next year's world Cup

The USA isn't the only recent team earning a spot for Brazil next summer. Italy was also able to qualify by defeating Czech Republic with a score of 2-1. Despite what the score might suggest, the Italians actually had a rough time in the match. The Czechs were the first to score and it wasn't after the halftime break that Italy started to roll. Giorgio Chiellini and Mario Balotelli scored the goals for Italy while Libor Kozak scored the sole goal for Czech Republic.

Netherlands win over Andorra qualifies them for 2014 World Cup

The Netherlands qualifying for the World Cup isn't exactly a surprising news. They have been performing quite well and in a great position to qualify. After defeating Andorra with a score of 2-0, they have earned their tickets for Brazil next summer with two games to spare.

Anyways, if you want more soccer news and activities such as soccer online betting, I suggest you go check out the best website for sports betting in Australia.

Coach Kidd Now Also an Owner

Kidd during his time with Dallas Mavericks
Source: Keith Allison (CC BY-SA 2.0)   

So here's the news. Jason Kidd isn't just a franchise player and current head coach of the Brooklyn Nets anymore. He now also owns a small part of the team after reportedly buying half of Jay-Z's stake on the franchise. There are several interesting aspects of this development.

I guess he is the boss?

After the Nets signed him as the new coach for the team, many questioned his ability to reel in players and make them follow his vision. This isn't without reason per se. He has no experience in NBA coaching and the fact that he is a friend with some of the players on the team made everyone think of how awkward things can be if he needs to be hard on those players. Basically, it all comes down to respect and command.

Now that he is an owner, he is basically one of the many employers of the team's players. He is their boss, which I think should give him more authority. I'm not certain about how the authority bit will play out though.

What if it doesn't pan out?

And here's another awkward situation. What if him coaching the Nets doesn't pan out? We have seen so many coaches get sacked that it's quite the norm already. However, him being an owner makes it a tricky situation if indeed the team doesn't perform well under his command. I can just imagine how awkward ownership meetings can become.

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Player Development Paves the Future for the Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs have been one of the most successful NBA teams for more than a decade now. The franchise has created a system and a culture that allows them to always stay competitive. The way the team is careful in evaluating and adding players to the team is simply impressive, one big reason for their success over the years. There are many cases I could point out to prove the point. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are just two of the examples that really stand out.

You could argue that they took a risk and got lucky but you have to admit that the team really has the knack in finding rough gems and letting those gems get polished. And they have different ways with the polishing process.

In cases wherein they are dealing with foreign talent, they don't rush things and bring in the player as soon as possible. Just like with the cases of Manu and Tiago Splitter, the team let them gain more experience that helped them mature through international competitions or foreign league.

However, there is also another case wherein the team brought in an unproven players and forged him under the heat of NBA competition. This is what Parker had to go through as the Spurs who were wanting on the point guard position at that time. In an interview, the point guard mentioned how he would often find himself in tears while taking the shower after games or practices.

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Tiger Woods Embody Greatness and Expectations

In sport and in every aspect of life, there are those great people who are so good in what they do that they revolutionize the ways things are done. In every sport, there always seems to be one person who is so good that he or she is able to raise the standards on how fellow athletes perform.

In basketball, Michael Jordan forever changed the expectations and actual role of a shooting guard. In golf, you have Tiger Woods who despite the current slump regarding the majors has come to show what dominating a sport is all about. These two also share something the same in that each made the sport that they are in more interesting for those who weren't fans to begin with.

However,  there's an added burden for those who are said to have raised the standards. And that they have to try every day to be great at what they are doing. If they aren't fantastic, they aren't good enough. Jordan who retired after winning three consecutive championships didn't have to go through this. Tiger Woods on the other hand is certainly under this situation right now.

He spoiled everybody early on. In 1997, a year after debuting in the PGA, he won the Masters. In 1999, he won the PGA Championship. In 2000, he won three majors. You know probably know the rest of the impressive story. However, he hasn't won a major since his last one in 2008. All those things is what set the stage for now.

Despite reclaiming the number 1 rank and winning 5 tournaments this year, many are still somewhat disappointed with his performance. If you check out golf online betting or online sports betting Australia, you'll see discussions and articles that make it sound like he is having a pretty bad year.