{"id":4752,"date":"2009-06-25T14:32:00","date_gmt":"2009-06-25T19:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/2009\/06\/nba-draft-betting-blake-griffin-the-only-sure-thing\/"},"modified":"2009-06-25T14:32:00","modified_gmt":"2009-06-25T19:32:00","slug":"nba-draft-betting-blake-griffin-the-only-sure-thing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/2009\/06\/nba-draft-betting-blake-griffin-the-only-sure-thing\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Draft Betting: Blake Griffin the Only Sure Thing"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=Section1>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The NBA draft highlights Thursday night&#8217;s sports viewing and betting rundown. <\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>After the one sure bet of Thursday&#8217;s NBA draft, Oklahoma&#8217;s<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span><strong><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font face=\"Times New Roman\">Blake Griffin<\/font><\/b><\/strong><span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span>going to the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 1 pick, things continue to look unsettled.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>As far as knowing which teams are going to take which players, it is one of the more screwy drafts in years.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Most <span class=GramE>years<\/span> media and fans can at least nail down all but two or three of the lottery picks. Not this year.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The Memphis Grizzlies are still keeping it quiet whether they are going to take <\/span><\/font><st1:State><st1:place>Connecticut<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> giant<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span><span class=SpellE><strong><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font face=\"Times New Roman\">Hasheem<\/font><\/b><\/strong><\/span><strong><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font face=\"Times New Roman\"> <span class=SpellE>Thabeet<\/span><\/font><\/b><\/strong><span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span>or Spanish PG<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span><strong><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight: normal'><font face=\"Times New Roman\">Ricky Rubio<\/font><\/b><\/strong><span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span>with the second pick.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Could it be that the Grizzlies are trying to dupe the media and actually want <\/span><\/font><st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Arizona<\/st1:PlaceName>  <st1:PlaceType>State<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place> shooting guard<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span><strong><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight: normal'><font face=\"Times New Roman\">James Harden<\/font><\/b><\/strong><span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span>instead?<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><span class=GramE><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Once that is decided.<\/span><\/font><\/span> It<span class=GramE>&nbsp; will<\/span> have a trickle-down effect through the remainder of the lottery.<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The only thing you can expect is a lot of guessing from NBA teams in this very unpredictable draft.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Get your<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span>NBA Draft Odds<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span>in the <\/span><\/font><span lang=EN style='mso-ansi-language:EN'><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bodog.com\/welcome\/1861245\/sportsbook\"><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext'>Bodog<\/span><\/font><\/a> <\/span>Sportsbook!<o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>But what may have an even bigger effect on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.offshoreinsiders.com\/index.php?PageID=31\"><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext'>NBA odds<\/span><\/font><\/a> this season is Shaquille O&#8217;Neal joining LeBron James in <\/span><\/font><st1:City><st1:place>Cleveland<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>. <o:p><\/o:p><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>n what is being called the making of yet another dynamic duo &#8212; think Michael Jordan and Scottie <span class=SpellE>Pippen<\/span>, Magic Johnson and Kareem <span class=SpellE>Addul-Jabbar<\/span> &#8212;<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span><strong><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight: normal'><font face=\"Times New Roman\">Shaquille O&#8217;Neal<\/font><\/b><\/strong><span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span>has reportedly been traded to the Cleveland <span class=SpellE>Caveliers<\/span>, where he&#8217;ll partner up with MVP<span class=apple-converted-space>&nbsp;<\/span><strong><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight: normal'><font face=\"Times New Roman\">LeBron James<\/font><\/b><\/strong>. (Sources close to the deal confirmed this with <span class=SpellE>the<a href=\"http:\/\/msn.foxsports.com\/nba\/story\/9729082\/Reports:-Suns-agree-to-send-Shaq-to-Cavs\" target=\"_blank\"><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext'>Associated<\/span><\/font><\/a><\/span><span class=MsoHyperlink><u><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext'> Press<\/span><\/font><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p>  <font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family: \"Times New Roman\";mso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA'>.)<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/font>  <\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><strong><b style='mso-ansi-font-weight: normal'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt; font-weight:normal;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold'><a href=\"http:\/\/msn.foxsports.com\/nba\/story\/9729082\/Reports:-Suns-agree-to-send-Shaq-to-Cavs\" target=\"_blank\"><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration: none;text-underline:none'>Will <span class=SpellE>Shaq<\/span> and LeBron finally give the Cavaliers the championship they so desperately want?<\/span><\/font><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext; font-weight:bold;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none;text-underline: none'><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/font><\/b><\/a><\/span><\/font><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href=\"http:\/\/msn.foxsports.com\/nba\/story\/9729082\/Reports:-Suns-agree-to-send-Shaq-to-Cavs\" target=\"_blank\"><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration: none;text-underline:none'>In his first season with the Phoenix Suns, Shaquille O&#8217;Neal did nothing to help his team get past the first round of the playoffs. In his second season with <\/span><\/font><st1:City><st1:place><font color=black><span   style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'>Phoenix<\/span><\/font><\/st1:place><\/st1:City><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline: none'>, the Suns &#8212; with stars Steve Nash, <span class=SpellE>Amare<\/span> <span class=SpellE>Stoudemire<\/span> and Grant Hill &#8212; didn&#8217;t even make the playoffs.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/font><\/a><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href=\"http:\/\/msn.foxsports.com\/nba\/story\/9729082\/Reports:-Suns-agree-to-send-Shaq-to-Cavs\" target=\"_blank\"><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration: none;text-underline:none'>So what can O&#8217;Neal possibly <span class=GramE>be<\/span> expected to achieve as a Cleveland Cavalier? Well, maybe the difference here is LeBron James.<\/span><\/font><\/a><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:7.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.0pt; margin-left:0in;line-height:15.8pt'><font size=3 face=\"Times New Roman\"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><a href=\"http:\/\/msn.foxsports.com\/nba\/story\/9729082\/Reports:-Suns-agree-to-send-Shaq-to-Cavs\" target=\"_blank\"><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration: none;text-underline:none'>Get tonight&#8217;s <\/span><\/font><font size=2 color=black face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:Arial; color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline:none'><span style='mso-field-code:\" HYPERLINK \\0022http\\:\\\/\\\/www\\.offshoreinsiders\\.com\\\/index\\.php?Page=Articles\\0022 \"'><u><font color=blue><span style='color:blue'>sports picks<\/span><\/font><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/font><font color=black><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;text-underline: none'>. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/font><\/a><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"blogger-post-footer\"><a\nhref=\"http:\/\/www.offshoreinsiders.com\/\"><b style='mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'>OffshoreInsiders.com<\/b><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The NBA draft highlights Thursday night&#8217;s sports viewing and betting rundown. After the one sure bet of Thursday&#8217;s NBA draft, Oklahoma&#8217;s&nbsp;Blake Griffin&nbsp;going to the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 1 pick, things continue to look unsettled. As far as knowing which teams are going to take which players, it is one of the more &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/2009\/06\/nba-draft-betting-blake-griffin-the-only-sure-thing\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">NBA Draft Betting: Blake Griffin the Only Sure Thing<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4752"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4752\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joeduffy.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}