Artest joining Lakers

Basketball Betting Lines

07/02/2009 - Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Free agent forward Ron Artest is leaving the Houston Rockets to join the Los Angeles Lakers and will provide the team with more offensive firepower next season, as he'll join Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol on the defending NBA champions.

Artest announced on ESPN's Sportscenter in Los Angeles that he has reached a verbal agreement with the Lakers and will play for the mid-level exception. He cited the fact that Houston offered him only a one-year contract, while the Lakers jumped at the chance to give him a multi-year deal.

The mid-level exception is expected to be just below the $6 million mark and represents a pay cut after Artest made $7.4 million last season.

No deal can be officially announced until July 8, per league rules.

The Thursday news regarding Artest came on the same day another superstar had an introductory press conference. Ex-Laker Shaquille O'Neal met the media in Cleveland and said he wanted to "win a ring for The King" in reference to his new pairing with reigning MVP LeBron James.

Artest spent last season with the Rockets, helping Houston get to the conference semifinals for the first time since 1996-97. After spending three seasons in Sacramento, Artest averaged 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 69 regular season contests with Houston.

For his career, spanning 12 seasons, Artest has game averages of 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists with Chicago, Indiana, Sacramento and Houston. He has also established himself as one of the top-flight defenders in the league.

In another twist, the man Artest would replace in the lineup -- Trevor Ariza -- reportedly reached a verbal agreement the Rockets. The Houston Chronicle reported that Ariza will receive a contract for the mid-level exception.

Ariza averaged 11.3 points per game in the postseason after posting 8.9 points per game in the regular season. His career scoring average is 6.9 points.

Wexpedia Basketball Betting News

<< Buehrle, ChiSox stop Royals
Kansas City, MO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mark Buehrle took a shutout into the ninth inning, as the Chicago White Sox extended their season-high win streak to six games with a 4-1 win over the Kansas City Royals. Buehrle (8-2) allowed a run on

<< Lee homers twice as Cubs down Brewers
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Derrek Lee headlined a home run parade with two long-balls -- a three-run shot and a grand slam -- for a career-high seven RBI, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 9-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in the beginni

<< Stockton and Gates lead Edmonton Open
Edmonton, AB (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Brady Stockton and Robert Gates both fired rounds of seven-under 65 on Thursday to share the first-round lead of the Edmonton Open. Liam Kendregan and Jon Turcott both shot 66s in round one and ar

<< Mayfield a no-show at Daytona
Daytona Beach, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sprint Cup Series driver and team owner Jeremy Mayfield was not present at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, one day after a federal judge granted him a temporary injunction to race again,

<< Diaz helps Braves slip past slumping Phils
Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Matt Diaz belted a go-ahead RBI double in a three-run eighth, as the Atlanta Braves recorded their first home sweep of the Phillies since 2005 with a 5-2 victory at Turner Field. Garret Anderson added a t

Rockets lose out on Artest but nab Ariza >>
Houston, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Just moments after losing out to the Lakers for the services of forward Ron Artest, the Rockets have reportedly come to an agreement with Trevor Ariza, who was a key part of Los Angeles' championship run thi

Kings reach agreement on four-year deal with Scuderi >>
Los Angeles, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Los Angeles Kings have reached an agreement on a four-year contract with former Penguins blueliner Rob Scuderi. Scuderi was a key cog in helping Pittsburgh claim its third Stanley Cup title in t

NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees announced >>
Charlotte, NC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - NASCAR on Thursday revealed the 25 nominees for the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame induction class. Nominees included pioneers, former champions and driver-turned-team owners of the sport. A 21-member committe

Mariners end Yankees' seven-game win streak >>
Bronx, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Russell Branyan belted a two-run homer and the Mariners pounded CC Sabathia early on the way to an 8-4 win, ending New York's winning streak at seven contests. Franklin Gutierrez had three hits, inclu

Abreu homers twice in Angels' win over O's >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Bobby Abreu hit a pair of homers, accounting for four runs batted in, and John Lackey threw eight strong innings, as the Angels beat Baltimore, 5-2, in the opener of a four-game series. Chone Figgins had

How did changes to college football betting rules affect bettors?

The 2007 college football rules changes that were implemented to shorten games are now history. The NCAA rules committee did what they set out to do; games were cut by an average of 14 minutes per game last season. There were also, on average, 14 fewer plays per game. We’ll get into how that did (or didn’t) affect games in regards to the pointspread a bit later.

While the NCAA rules committee may have had the betterment of the game in mind, they'll now “turn back the clock” for next season. Two key rules have now been overturned by the NCAA committee for the 2007 season, something definitely for the better.

For those of you who may not remember what those rules actually were, let us refresh your memory.

1) The first one was actually starting the clock on a kickoff as soon as the kicker touched the ball rather than waiting until the returner touched it. The problem here was near the end of the half (or game), if the team leading was kicking off, they could milk the clock by intentionally running offsides and then re-kicking. They could run 10-15 seconds off the clock each play while taking just five-yard penalties each time. They could run the clock down and simply cause the half (or game) to end on a kickoff, keeping the opposing offense off the field. In 2007, the clock will now start when the returner touches the ball as it had before last season.

2) The second rule dealt with starting the clock after a change of online football betting possession rather than waiting until the ball was snapped. This took a lot of time off the clock throughout the game as teams changed possession, however it caused the most problems late in games (or halves). Rather than huddling up and calling a play, the offensive team would have to rush onto the field as the clock started. This was a definite disadvantage to a team that was trying to come from behind late in the game. This year the clock will start on a change of possession, after the ball is snapped.

How did those rules affect the college game last year and will it make a difference this year when it comes to the pointspread? We commonly heard two theories when it came to these changes. First, it would affect scoring negatively. Second, it would hurt favorites as they would have less time and fewer plays to cover the number.

Did the rules hurt scoring? Yes. It seemed obvious that shortening the game by what amounted to 14 plays would push scoring downward. That was the case last year. Of the 119 Division 1A teams, 69 squads scored fewer points in 2007 than they did in 2005. Just 48 teams had a higher PPG scoring average and two stayed the same. Almost 59 percent of the teams in college football last year had a lower PPG average than they did in 2005. Expect more scoring in 2007 as we revert back to the old rules.

Did the rules hinder favorites from covering the number in 2007? Not really. Last year the favorites posted an overall spread record of 336-350-16 (48.9 percent). The year before, favorites were 316-326-13 (49.2 percent). In 2004, the favorites were 316-339-2 (48.2 percent). In fact, college football favorites have been above 50 percent for the season just once in the last seven years (in 2003). Last year’s numbers fell right in line with where they have been historically.

How about big favorites? The rules must have hurt them? Maybe a little bit. Double-digit favorites last year came in at a 47.8 percent clip compare with an average of just over 50 percent over the last seven years. Since 1980, favorites of -10 or more have covered at exactly a 50 percent clip (measured over 6,716 games).

Even bigger favorites must have struggled? Not really. In fact, it was just the opposite. Favorites of three TD’s or more were 59-54-2 last year (52.2 percent). Since 2000, those same favorites (-21 or higher) hit at 51.3 percent and since 1990 came in a clip of 50.3 percent. Stepping it up a notch to four TD favorites or higher, we actually see they've covered at a much better rate last season than before. Last year, favorites of -28 or more were 31-21-1, or almost 60 percent. Historically, four-TD-or-higher favorites have come in at a 50.7 percent spot since 2000 and only 48.9 percent since 1990. The “perceived” problem with the favorites covering at a reduced rate really never came to fruition.

Bottom line is, there might be some more scoring in 2007, but no real revelations when it comes to finding any pointspread golden nuggets.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your bet on college football needs. Mysportsbook.com online sportsbook accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards.