Spurs-Suns Preview Capsule

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05/01/2010 -

A look at the Western Conference semifinal series between the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs, which begins Monday (with regular-season and playoff records):No. 3 PHOENIX SUNS (54-28, 4-2) vs. No. 7 SAN ANTONIO SPURS (50-32, 4-2).

Season series: Suns 2-1. Phoenix shredded San Antonio's defense, shooting better than 50 percent in all three meetings. The Suns averaged 112.7 points on 51 percent shooting against the Spurs for the season and won both games at home. Even San Antonio's victory came at Phoenix's preferred pace, pulling out a 113-110 home victory on Feb. 28 despite 41 points and 12 rebounds from Amare Stoudemire. Steve Nash averaged 20.3 points and 12 assists.

Storyline: Off to a strong start in a rare role as postseason underdogs after upsetting Dallas in the first round, the Spurs now get a chance to deal more misery to Phoenix. San Antonio has ruined plenty of recent seasons for the Suns, eliminating them in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

Key Matchup 1: Stoudemire vs. Tim Duncan. With Duncan nearing the end of a career that will land him in the Hall of Fame, Stoudemire may have supplanted him as the premier power forward in the Western Conference. Even Duncan couldn't handle him this season, as Stoudemire averaged 32.7 points and 11.3 rebounds in the series. Duncan did have a pair of double-doubles, including a 34-point, 14-rebound performance in the Suns' 116-104 victory on Dec. 15.

Key Matchup II: Grant Hill vs. Richard Jefferson. Hill, whom the Spurs wanted to sign a few years ago, scored 17 points in both Phoenix wins but was held to just six in the lone San Antonio victory. Jefferson, so disappointing for much of the season that he was a reserve in the February matchup, has played better late in the season and that was the also the case against Phoenix. Held to four points in the first meeting, he scored 20 and 17 in the last two.

X-Factor: Jason Richardson. Comes into this series on a roll after averaging 23.5 points on 53 percent shooting in the first-round victory over Portland. He hurt the Spurs during the regular season, scoring 20 points in each of the last two meetings while making 15-of-26 shots.

Prediction: Spurs in 6.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 The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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It's less than a month until the NHL hockey betting season opens at MySportsbook.com and preparations are underway for another battle in the race to hoist Lord Stanley's mug in 2007.

As cup crazy fans prepare to place their bets, one online sportsbook ,MySportsbook.com, is offering hockey betting lines on the 2007/2007 Stanley Cup , who will bring it home this upcoming season.

Despite a poor showing in last season's playoffs and the loss of Steve Yzerman to retirement, the Detroit Red Wings are early favourites at this online sportsbook with wagering odds of 6-1. The Wings will look to offensive powerhouse Pavel Datsyuk and newly appointed captain Nicklas Lidstrom to lead one of the league's most prominent franchises.

Always a threat are the Ottawa Senators, with newly acquired goaltender Martin Gerber from the Stanley Cup champion ,Carolina Hurricanes. The Sens are second best in the rankings at a 7-1 bet, and odds makers at this sportsbook are optimistic that the Ottawa squad will fare better than last season's Eastern Conference semi-final upset to the Buffalo Sabres.

Also worth noting are the defending Stanley Cup champs Carolina Hurricanes, a 10-1 bet to repeat. Behind the Canes are the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Philadelphia Flyers, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks all sit at 12-1. In the basement are the Washington Capitals, Chicago Blackhawks, and St. Louis Blues who all have 100-1 odds to win.

To visit this online sportsbook got to MySportsbook.com for all your hockey betting needs.

Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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