World Champs odds?

[Anders]

Anyone know of any books offering game lines on the world champs starting in Indy this week?

Looking for a dabble on the Kiwis with the points start in their 3 games

 

[Anders]

bump

hell, not one book
damn

 

[superbook]

Anders -- Olympic has FIBA lines up. Let me know what you like.

- Jon

 

[Anders]

Jon

u r a champ my friend

I looked at thegreek earlier this week thinking they might be the ones to cover it but it wasn't even listed in there "events to come" section.

Early leans as follows:

Argentina -15.5 v Venezuela
Brazil -22 v Lebanon
Yugoslavia -24 v Angola
US -38.5 v Algeria

but enough chalk; wot I truly like is NZ +11 v Russia

Will try and send a brief precis on the Kiwi side later tonite (NZ time)

Thanks again

 

[superbook]

Just happened to see the lines as I check WNBA at the Greek every hour or so.

FWIW LA -2 is the play for tomorrow night.

What about NZ on the moneyline (+600)?

- Jon

 

[superbook]

The Burger King Tall Blacks rounded off their world championship preparation with a scrimmage against Brazil at Indianapolis' RCA Dome, bowing 73-83 in a match with little intensity.
After spending most of the day traveling from Toronto, the New Zealand men's basketball team arrived in the city just two hours before tip-off, expecting to face Algeria.
Coming straight from a tough five-day training camp in Canada and with barely enough time to check into their hotel before jumping back on the bus, the Kiwis were not up for this encounter, but still led most of the game.
They jumped out to an 18-14 first-quarter advantage and pulled 10 ahead just before halftime. Kirk Penney had 12 of his 18 points in that first half and the Tall Blacks shot 10/11 from the charity stripe as the referees hammered the South Americans on illegal screens.
Up 38-31 at the break, they could not maintain the effort through the second half, conceding a 0-12 run to the Brazilians to lose the advantage for good midway through the final quarter. Sean Marks and Phill Jones finished with 13 points apiece, although Marks sat out the entire final quarter.
Although disappointed with the result, coach Tab Baldwin was confident it was not a true indication of how his team was shaping up for the world tournament.
The Tall Blacks will practice in the Conseco Fieldhouse, home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers, tomorrow night and face Russia in their opening pool game on Thursday

 

[superbook]

LINING UP THE RUSSIANS
Of course, warm-up games mean little in the final analysis, especially if you aren't actually a participant.
But morally, at least, the Burger King Tall Blacks took great heart from watching Canada defeat Russia 74-69 in their final hitout before this week's world basketball championships in Indianapolis.
The New Zealand team were on hand at the Air Canada Centre, home of the NBA's Toronto Raptors, to see the North Americans account for a team that finished runners-up at the last world tournament four years ago.
Russia also happen to be the Tall Blacks' first championship opponents on Thursday.
Kiwi coach Tab Baldwin was greatly encouraged by the result, which came just two days after his own team earned a series draw against the Canadians in Waterloo, Ontario.
"I was surprised that Canada's intensity gave Russia as much trouble as it did," he said. "That was good to see.
"We know we have to be intense like that to be successful against any of the teams we play, so this was a good indicator for us.
"Russia didn't disappoint me in terms of what they offered up, Canada just played a great game."
One feature of the display was Canada's surprising inside dominance. Their starting front court of Mike Meeks and Kevin Jobity scored 21 and 13 points respectively after failing to reach double figures in either game against the Tall Blacks.
The Russians were led by NBA forward Andrei Kirilenko, who had 17 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks.
"He was very active, aggressive and athletic," observed Baldwin. "But they had a couple of big guys who either didn't play much or at all because of injury.
"They didn't have as much inside presence as expected. Canada's perimeter defence really caused problems for the Russian shooters and we know they can really shoot the ball.
" I just think the Russians were missing that inside presence and that affected how they played the game."
Baldwin has targeted his team's opening game since the draw was announced and if the Tall Blacks have aspirations of making the quarterfinals, they must win. Last time these two adversaries met, New Zealand took Russia to double overtime in the Slam Downunder tournament before the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
But the Tall Black coach was adamant Canada's victory should not cause a false sense of security among his players and Kiwi basketball fans.
"How comfortable can you or should you feel getting ready to play the biggest game of your country's basketball existence? I don't think we should be comfortable at all.
"Seeing Canada beat them has helped our belief level, but I don't believe it makes it easier for us.
"Our attitude is not a lot different to what we have believed all along, except we have now actually witnessed that Russia are beatable if we play a great game of solid basketball."

 

[nostromo]

Spain -6
Argentina -15.5

 

[Anders]

Nice info Superbook - looking forward to watching another yr of yer college hoops too


Was really hoping I would get the NZers at double digits for this opener so I could make a play.
Here's why I like our hometown boys.
NZ qualified by knocking out Australia - a top 4 side at the Sydney Olympics - in the Oceania qualifiers when they won the home series 2-1. So it was no fluke - they dominated the last qtr of game one to win, should have clinched victory in two but lost a nervy match when a buzzer beater rimmed out then came from nine down in the 1st qtr to destroy the Aussies in the decider.
After that, NZ Basketball designed our most comprehensive ever programme to ensure we got to the world champs in the best shape possible.
We beat Hungary 4-1 in a 5-match series in NZ after losing 2-1 away to a Chinese side featuring Yao Ming and Mengke Bateer - NZ lost the opener 74-89, game 2 101-110 and then stunned the Chinese with a 100-85 Game 3 win.
Recently, NZ has been preparing in France. They took the Sydney 2002 silver medallists to OT before losing 92-97 and then lost the re-match 80-86.
This was followed by the most stunning win in our nation's basketballing history - an 81-79 win over world champs Yugoslavia. Also in the Super Cup, NZ went down 75-85 to the Lituanians, who pushed the US to within 2 pts at Sydney, and lost 74-83 to a German side featuring Dirk Nowitski. NZ shared a 2-game warm-up series last week with Canada and completed preparation with a low key 83-73 loss to Brazil this week as both sides rested their starters often.
So in their last 19 international matches; all against highly respectable opposition, NZ has only once lost by more than 11 pts.
Coached by ex Florida resident Tab Baldwin, the Kiwis will be undersized in Indy.
Our 3 biggest players are just 2.10m - former Buffalo product Ed Book, Miami Heat bench player Sean Marks and centre Rob Hickey.
So the Kiwis will look to run and gun whenever the get the chance. And why not when your point guard has electric heels. Some of you may remember Mark Dickel, who led the NCAAB in assists in his senior year with UNLV.
He'll push it down the court and look to find his long-range shooters open. NZ possess three dangerous trey-men - Wisconsin's Kirk Penney, sweet left-hander Phill Jones (both shooting guards) and forward Pero Cameron.
Watch for Cameron - he's about 1.93m but almost as wide. He has great court presence and vision, will occasionally even play the point and hits huge threes from well outside the top of the key - a very unique player and NZ's inspirational captain.
Watch also for Dillon Boucher - plays way above his height and weight, very quick hands, tremendous defender and athletic spark.
Baldwin was very surprised by Russia's recent loss to Canada 69-74. Even though they rested some big men, the Russians were beaten inside by Michael Meeks and Kevin Jobbity, who couldn't get to double figures in either game v NZ.
The Kiwis will fight like men possessed today. Baldwin and the players no longer settle for being competitive at this level like we would have even 4 yrs ago. They believe they can win v Russia and Venezuela and push Argentina hard to make the next rd.
Kirilenko should be Russia's star but they don't have the talent that saw them finish runner-up in '98 - they only just qualified as the 5th and final team from Europe.
I'm going to some Kiwi $ on the Kiwis!

I know the others are all chalk but here's why...

Spain will be without key guard Raul Lopez but are a solid team led by Gasol and qualified 3rd from Europe. Without Nash, McCulloch and Magloire, the Canadians are tradesmanlike at best and will struggle to match up here.
Argentina were totally dominant in the Sth Am champs and last yr's qualies. With Ruben Wolkowyski and Emanuel Ginobili in their offence, they should way too much firepower for Venezuela despite the presence of Oscar Torres and the vet Carl Herrera.
Brazil will be without centre Neno Hilario but have so much experience to draw on. Lebanon were a massive shock to qualify as they bt Sth Korea to make it thru but the Asian qualifiers weren't high quality and Lebanon's inexperience could be exposed here.
Yugoslavia are defending their title and are deep, with Divac, Stojakovic, Drobnjak, Radmanovic and Jaric. While Angola have dominated African basketball, they showed at the Olympics there is a big gap to this level.
Algeria were second to Angola in the qualies and lack height horrendously - they have no-one over 2.05m. While the US lack a big-scoring front-courter, they should dominate the boards while getting plenty of pts from the guard line-up like Andre Miller and Paul Pierce. I expect the home team to try and make a statement to the players that didn't suit up for selection and the rest of the teams in the tournament and the competition for places will help avoid a back-door cover on this big number.

PLAYING:

NZ +11 v Russia 2 units
NZ ML +600 1 units
Spain -6
Arg -15.5
Yugo -24
Brazil -22
US -38.5 all for one unit

GL all

 

[superbook]

Anders -- what do you think of the Field at +650? There's some good teams here so I played it.

Thanks for the ML win on NZ. Looks like an awesome day, hope you played LA -2.

Looking forward to your plays for tomorrow.

- Jon

 

[superbook]

Anders --

My math isn't very good but that looks like 7-0 +13 units.

Awesome.

 

[superbook]

Friday:

Played Yugoslavia -7.5 (Oly)

FWIW I see the line is -5.5 at Centrebet.

 

[superbook]

Loser on the Yugos.

NZ +16.5 looks like a nice lay in prelim round #3?

 

[MrChristo]

Great stuff Anders!

Sportingbet are also doing games

(Sorry Jack...feel free to delete if you require)

 

[Anders]

Thanks guys !

Back from a long drunken wkend, helped immeasurably by the hoops results....

2 for me for today...

Yugoslavia -12
China +17

Re NZ: I think they could struggle today w/out Marks. He brings an inside offensive presence, a big defensive body, 5 extra fouls....The Kiwis are already without another 1st choice forward in the injured Tony Rampton, who missed the squad thru injury...
However, the NZers are very used to playing w/out Marks, who is not usually available for us. Ed Book and Robert Hickey will have to step up a lot and overcome certain fallibilities - Book isn't as hard inside as someone his size should be while Hickey lacks Marks' athleticism.
Having said all this, I'm certainly not backing the Germans!
Us Kiwis have great spirit, are used to being rank underdogs and guys like Pero Cameron, Phill Jones, Kirk Penney and Mark Dickel are capable of another huge effort. My role today will just be a parochial Kiwi fan cheering us on...

Hope this info helps, GL all

 

[acehistr8]

Hey Jon welcome back missed you towards the end of the WNBA season.

 

[superbook]

Thanks Ace.

I was checking you guys out, but just posting across the street not here.

I went on a great run at the end of the WNBA season, something like 10-1 or something in the L2 weeks. It was getting to the point where I was getting very self-conscious of my picks if you know what I mean.


- Jon

 

[acehistr8]

I hear ya. Good to have you back for NCAA hoops I hope.

I got real self conscious after starting my own page. Realized people were actually reading and following me so I best pay attention. Actually I think this whole thing has done wonders for my results.