Heat youngsters eager for a new 'school' year

Basketball Betting Lines

08/23/2010 -

MIRAMAR, Fla. (AP) -A black limousine that carried three young Miami Heat players to elementary school on Monday was parked about 25 feet from the front door, and barely any of the 900 students arriving to begin a new year noticed.

They couldn't wait to get inside and get to work.

And the Heat trio can completely relate to that sort of thinking.

``Like these kids,'' Heat guard Patrick Beverley said, ``we can't wait to get this thing started.''

Monday was a first day unlike any other at Miramar Elementary, where Beverley and Heat teammates Kenny Hasbrouck and Dexter Pittman showed up long before the opening bell of the year to distribute backpacks, notebooks, pens, markers, pencils and just about every other imaginable school supply.

So it's back-to-school time for the kids. For the Heat, school resumes in about a month when training camp starts. And Hasbrouck, Beverley and Pittman know they'll have to fight just to make Miami's loaded roster, which still features Dwyane Wade and now is bolstered mightily by new arrivals LeBron James, Chris Bosh and Mike Miller.

``To put it in words, it's still kind of hard,'' Hasbrouck said. ``The opportunity at hand for all of us is a great one, just to play with this many great players. It's almost impossible to put into words right now until it becomes reality.''

Hasbrouck played college ball at tiny Siena. Now he finds himself battling for a job on the team with perhaps the biggest buzz in basketball.

Hasbrouck was a late add to the Heat roster last season, giving him time to get to know Wade. He often sees Bosh working out at 8 a.m., and while he's been around James at times, Hasbrouck has yet to meet the NBA's two-time reigning MVP.

``He's been busy,'' Hasbrouck said.

They all have, with eyes on a title.

Beverley has a guaranteed contract, though that hardly guarantees him playing time in this new Heat era. His relationship with James goes back several years, so if nothing else, he won't be awe-struck when it's time to work out and play alongside Miami's most notable free agent signing ever.

``We go back a long way,'' said Beverley, a 2009 Heat draft acquisition who spent last season in Europe. ``We chat every day. He's a great veteran. That definitely gives me a lot of confidence. I know D-Wade from Chicago. I've spent a lot of time with Udonis Haslem. It's good to see your veterans, your top guys, helping out. It's been great for players at that caliber to reach out to young guys, take them under their umbrella.''

Pittman and Hasbrouck have partially guaranteed contracts. Both figure to have at least a good chance of making the club this season, since each could fill a need. The Heat rave about the way the 6-foot-11 - ``and a half,'' Pittman boasted to kids Monday - former Texas center has athleticism that belies his 300-pound frame. Hasbrouck impressed coaches last season and this summer with how quickly he learned Miami's system.

``I'm starting to learn that it's all professional and business here,'' Pittman said. ``It's not like college. It's strictly business. And it's still like a dream to me. I feel like I'm in a daze. I know what I have to do, go put in my work and hope that I can help contribute.''

Soon, the backpacks and binders were just about gone, and the Heat trio climbed back into the limo for the short ride back to the arena.

Not back to school, but back to work.

``You've got to know your role,'' Hasbrouck said. ``I'm here to do anything I have to do for the team. If that means play as hard as I can, get the starters better and wait my turn, then that's what I have to do. I'm not really in a rush. I'm not going to force it. I haven't proven anything yet. So anything I can do to help this team, then that's what I will do.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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We all know by now that the “public” loves to put their money on the FAVORITES and the OVERS.  Just by taking a quick glance at Sportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends” it appears as is this tendency will continue as far as the Eastern Conference games are concerned.  For the inaugural games of the first round, 69% of the early money is on Toronto -4.5; 59% of bettors prefer Chicago -4.5; 84% are backing Detroit -9; and 56% think Cleveland -11.5 is the way to go.  As far as TOTALS are concerned, the only UNDER the “public” is backing is the Cleveland/ Washington game in which 83% are pounding the UNDER (190).  Remember, there is no better way to predict a possible line change than by monitoring MySportsbook.com’s “Betting Trends”.   By determining who the “public” is backing, you can get the most ideal line for your bet.  For example, if you are siding with the public you better place your bet before the line moves in the wrong direction.  On the other side of the coin, if you prefer the team that the “public” is betting against; you might be able to get and extra ½ or even more by placing your bet a bit later.  Under the “Betting Trends” section, Sportsbook.com also provides plenty of statistical data and trends in order for the bettor to make the most informed pick.  Below are some extremely important trends for the first round opponents of the Eastern Conference match-ups, more can be found at MySportsbook.com

New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors

Toronto was the most reliable covering team this season with a 48-33-1 ATS record but covered the OVER only 41.5% of the time.
The last 20 times these teams have played, the TOTAL has gone UNDER 16 times.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Toronto is 33-19 ATS including 17-9 at home.
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When playing a team with a winning record during the second half of the season, New Jersey was just 5-13 ATS this season.
After scoring 105 points or more, Toronto has covered the OVER only 28% of the time this season. 
 
Miami Heat @ Chicago Bulls

Miami has failed to cover their last 7 games whereas Chicago has covered 6 out of their last 8 games.
Miami has covered the UNDER in four of their last five games whereas Chicago has covered the UNDER in five out of their last six.
When playing on Saturdays, Miami covered 80% of their games this season.
Away from home, Chicago is just 16-25 ATS this season.
At home, Miami covered the UNDER about 66% of the time whereas Chicago covered the UNDER about 61% of the time.
The last 13 times these teams have played each other, Chicago has covered 9 times.
In Miami’s last 11 road games, the UNDER covered 9 times. 
 
Orlando Magic @ Detroit Pistons

Detroit has covered 5 out of their last 6 games.
Away from home, Detroit is 28-13 ATS but just 14-26-1 ATS at home.
At home, Orlando covered the UNDER 64% of the time while Detroit covered the UNDER in 63% of their away games.
The last five times these teams have played in Detroit, the OVER covered each time.
Versus Eastern Conference teams, Detroit is 8-17-1 ATS at home but 17-9 ATS away.
Detroit covered the spread 5 out of the last 6 times they played Orlando.
After a Division game, Orlando covered the UNDER 87% of the time this season. 
 
Washington Wizards @ Cleveland Cavaliers

In a home game where the TOTAL is between 190 and 194.5 points, Cleveland is 9-1 ATS this season.
Washington has covered the UNDER in their last 6 games and in 8 of their last 9 games.
The last 6 times these teams have played each other, the UNDER covered each time.
When playing on 3 or more days of rest, Washington is just 18-37 ATS since 1996.
Since 1996, Washington is 28-16 ATS versus Cleveland including 11-5 over the last 3 seasons.
In their last 7 road games, Washington is 6-1 ATS.
Versus Eastern Conference teams at home, Washington is just 6-18-2 ATS. 
 
For even more betting trends for not just the NBA but for all of the major sports, log on to Sportsbook.com and click on “Trends”.  With only two months left in the NBA betting season it is important to be as well informed as possible in order to maximize your profit.  Also for all of you poker players, check out MySportsbook.com’s “WSOP Low Bid Auction”. You could be on your way to Vegas to play against the world’s best poker players for under a buck.

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Get all your baseball betting lines, MLB lines and MLB team props at the My Sportbook.

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