NBA and UFC Quick Hitters
Rashad Evans is a +175 underdog at most spots for tonight’s UFC Tampa main-event showdown vs. Glover Teixeira.
Published on Saturday, 4/16/16, at 4:46 p.m. Eastern.
Just a bunch of quick-hit thoughts & links on a Saturday afternoon…
–Let’s start with Steph Curry — my gosh that dude is nasty! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Sorry, Larry Legend. My bad, Ray Allen. Sorry, Papa Dell Curry. Shout out to Dennis Scott, Chris Mullin and Craig Hodges, too. And in terms of in-the-gym range, my apologies to myself and Al Dillard. But Steph Curry is the best shooter with the best range — EVER!
–As for southpaws, though, Mullin has the smoothest lefty jumper — and it ain’t even close.
–I’ve always liked Patrick Beverley’s no-nonsense intensity and you know that’s going to be elevated in the playoffs. But Pat, you picked the wrong dude to piss off today. I get it, you’re from Chicago and you don’t kiss anybody’s ass. I love that about you! But don’t piss Curry off, especially on the road in the first quarter.
–I’ve never been a fan of James Harden. Play some defense, dude. Jeez…
–Most books have props galore for the NBA Playoffs. Instead of laying the -170ish price on Atlanta to win its series against the Celtics, you can lay -1 (games) for the series at a -110 price. Obviously, the drawback is a push if they win the series in seven games, but you avoid the ‘chalk’ if they lose. I’ll go the avoid-chalk route. Also a prop I LOVE is Al Horford to average ‘OVER’ 14.5 points per game for the series. I also like Horford’s ‘over’ for points (15) and rebounds (8) in tonight’s Game 1 at Philips Arena.
–I love me some Sage Steele.
—My preview of tonight’s games in The Association.
–The Atlanta-Boston total for tonight moved from 204.5 to 205.5 around 4:00 p.m. Eastern today.
–Rashad Evans makes his 20th career walk to the Octagon tonight. Does he have anything left? We’ll find out in tonight’s career crossroads fight for ‘Suga’ vs. Glover Teixeira. My in-depth preview filed to VegasInsider.com yesterday.
–I know the injuries to this card has been a huge downer for UFC fans in Tampa like my guy Bill Marzano! But sometimes these things work out. We could still get some great action tonight. Let’s hope so!
–In an interview with AXS TV yesterday, Dana White revealed that Robbie Lawler’s next welterweight title defense will be announced soon. It won’t be a rematch with Carlos Condit, though. I was hoping we might get Lawler-Condit II as the co-main event on the UFC 200 card, but White says it’ll be Lawler vs. Tyron Woodley at UFC 201 or 202.
–For those like me who love them some Widespread Panic and UFC, (how/why on earth I just figured this out today is beyond me!) we get three nights of both in Las Vegas in July. The UFC has a three-night run of cards starting on Thursday (July 7) with Rafael dos Anjos defending his lightweight belt against Eddie Alvarez. There’s the TUF finale on Friday night and UFC 200 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. Widespread starts a three-night run at The Joint (great venue inside of the Hard Rock) on Friday. I’ll be going to RDA-Alvarez on Thursday, Widespread on Friday, UFC 200 (not at the event unless I can score some great seats, just watching) on Saturday and WSP again on Sunday night. Can’t wait! Flight is booked (as of an hour ago).
–By the way, the long-standing rumor about WSP going dark in terms of steady touring after this year became official yesterday when JoJo gave this interview to the Jackson Clarion Ledger.
–Timmy Touchdowns for Congress? Don’t do it, brother.
–What a Shit Show that UNLV men’s basketball coaching search was!! All that for Marvin Menzies from New Mexico St.? AD Tina Kunzer-Murphy’s search was an unmitigated disaster. According to USA Today’s Dan Wolken, George Karl spoke with the AD and wanted to ask questions and discuss the job, future, etc. Logical stuff, right? Kunzer-Murphy was in a hurry and wanted to get a deal done ASAP. According to Matt Youmans of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Karl had proposed a staff to include his son and Stacey Augmon, AND he was willing to take the gig for just $500,000 per year. (The Kings owe him $7 million.) Hmmmmmmm, let me think……Menzies or George Karl on the cheap? In what world does someone choose Menzies over Karl? This world, I guess. If TKM is running the show.
