Iverson, Wallace lead Pistons past Spurs
Basketball Betting Lines
12/03/2008 -
San Antonio, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Allen Iverson and Rasheed Wallace scored 19
points apiece to lead the Detroit Pistons in an 89-77 comeback victory over
the San Antonio Spurs.
Richard Hamilton scored 16 points for the Pistons, who have won three of four
contests. Tayshaun Prince chipped in 15 points, 12 rebounds and five assists
in the win.
Tim Duncan scored 23 points and hauled in 13 boards for the Spurs, who have
dropped two straight on the heels of a four-game win streak. Tony Parker added
18 points and Manu Ginobili, who returned to the starting lineup for the first
time since offseason ankle surgery, 13 in defeat.
Trailing by three early on in the fourth quarter, Iverson's pull-up jumper
sparked a game-changing 18-4 Detroit spurt that gave the Pistons an 81-70
lead.
"We felt we did some good things in the first half but we just buckled down
and did those things even better in the second half," said Iverson. "We just
executed our game plan better. We wanted to play more aggressively."
Wallace had a pair of threes on the surge, including the trey that closed it
out with 3:03 showing on the clock. Iverson had four points, and Rodney
Stuckey also accounted for four on the burst.
The home team failed to pull within eight points down the stretch.
"This has got to be one of our worst games of the season," said Parker. "We
just didn't perform well. We can't afford to do that against a very good team
like Detroit."
The Spurs led 22-17 after the first quarter and held a 45-40 advantage at the
break.
Down by 10 late in the third, the Pistons used an 11-3 run to get within 63-61
heading into the final frame. Wallace had the first six points, Iverson had
a three and Stuckey closed it out with a layup.
Game Notes
Hamilton tied John Long for eighth place on the Pistons' all-time scoring
list...The Spurs shot 28-of-71 (39.4 percent) from the field, including a 6-
of-24 (25 percent) showing from behind the arc. The Pistons were 37-of-74
(50 percent) from the field and 6-of-11 (54.5 percent) from three-point
range...Iverson also had six assists...The Pistons are only 7-6 since
acquiring Iverson from the Denver Nuggets...The Spurs had won three in a
row at home and own a 5-5 mark as the host...Detroit went 2-0 against San
Antonio last season and has won six of the past eight matchups. The Spurs had
won nine of 11 and 15 of the last 19 as the host in this series.
<< Stars win despite Avery's suspension
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Burress officially out for the year >>
East Rutherford, NJ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New York Giants suspended wide
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injury list, officially ending his season.
"As we have said since Saturday mornin
Report: Weis will stay in South Bend >>
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Fighting Irish for at least one more season, according to a source close to
the tea
Jazz fend off Kings >>
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Nash, Shaq out against Hornets >>
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Numerous College Basketball teams take final big step to March Madness betting
So, what turned on the lock spigot? Well, after what felt like weeks of teams treading water and slipping back into the bubble muck, a bunch of them finally decided to say "to heck with parity" and won games that should put them into the Big Dance.
Disagree with some of these? Then here's the challenge. Take all of the "should be ins" and make a legit case that each should be ahead of the team that's a lock. Then find 10 more teams that also should be placed in the bracket ahead of that lock team. Not so easy, is it?
If you want more evidence that these locks should be good to go, check out what our research department dug up. Since the NCAA Tournament went to 64 teams in 1985, only six teams from a "big six" conference have had a record of 10-6 or better in conference play and not been selected: Colorado (2004) and Nebraska (1999) from the Big 12, Boston College and Seton Hall (both 2003) from the Big East, Indiana (2005) from the Big Ten and UCLA, which somehow went 12-6 in the Pac-10 in 1988 and still missed out. (Note: Five teams went 11-7 and didn't get in, the latest being last season's Stanford team, which had a brutal nonconference run.)
Yes, 10 conference wins doesn't always mean what it used to because of unbalanced schedules, but this season, it should be plenty good in all but the extreme cases (see: Iowa).
In a way, this is a welcome development, because this is a bubble watch, not a lock watch. We can finally be done with teams like Maryland and Virginia Tech and start really bearing down on at-large battles such as Syracuse-West Virginia and Appalachian State-Georgia Tech.
Interestingly, all the shifting of teams into lock status appears to be more administrative than impactful. The number of remaining available at-larges didn't change one iota. The only difference is that teams on the bubble now have a clearer idea of which team(s) they are competing with for those precious bids.
As always, I've tried to be as inclusive as possible while only including teams that would have a reasonable chance of at least being discussed if this were Selection Sunday. If your team's not on here, there's probably a good reason (or three) -- start with the RPI and SOS numbers and work your way down.
(Please remember, per selection committee criteria, that records displayed are Division I only. Next update: Feb. 28)
If you have a legitimate grievance, or just like talking bubble, send an e-mail. Polite ones with fact-based arguments have a much better chance of receiving a response. I apologize in advance if I can't get back to all of you.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Work left to do: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech
 The ACC moves to six locks as BC, Va Tech and Virginia all got their 10th ACC wins, which should be more than enough this season, and Maryland rallied past North Carolina to get the final piece the Terps needed. After that? It could end there unless FSU, Ga Tech or Clemson picks things up in a hurry.
Work left to do:
Clemson [19-9 (5-9), RPI: 41, SOS: 42] The Tigers are closer to locking up the collapse of the year award (in a good battle with OK State) than they are to grabbing an at-large. Clemson's been very competitive, but there's no really positive way you can spin nine losses in 11 games. They now cannot get to .500 in ACC play and still must head to Virginia Tech in the season finale (after hosting Miami). Unless the Tigers win both and/or do some serious work in the ACC tourney, they very well could be left out. There are no great nonconference wins, but ODU, App State, Miss. State, South Carolina and Georgia are all respectable W's.
Florida State [18-11 (6-9), RPI: 48, SOS: 14] The Noles got thrashed at Maryland to run their losing streak to five, but then pounded NC State at home to set the table for what likely is an elimination game at Miami. You can at least make a case for the Seminoles at 7-9 in ACC play (and some work in the ACC tourney), but 6-10 is not going to cut it. Wins at Duke and over Florida will resonate, but the computer numbers remain questionable. Beyond Florida, FSU thrashed bubble buddy Providence, but there's not a ton beyond those two games that will help. They didn't show well in big-time opportunities against Pitt and Wisconsin (before the Florida win).
Georgia Tech [18-10 (6-8), RPI: 51, SOS: 46] The Jackets beat Wake on Wednesday but couldn't get it done at UVa on Saturday, which could be a crucial loss with UNC and BC (both at home) remaining and 8-8 almost a certain need for at-large consideration. A nonconference win over Memphis helps, but the RPI and SOS are not at-large quality right now; if you combine those with a sub-.500 ACC mark, that could spell NIT for GT.
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