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Re: 4-29-09
Scott Delaney
Scott Delaney
Wednesday lineup:
30 DIME ATLANTA HAWKS - If Dwayne Wade was battling back spasms at home, and couldn’t do anything but be a hindrance to his team on Monday, what do you think will take place in Atlanta after he spent yesterday out of practice being treated for the ailment? He’ll be evaluated at some point just before the 8 p.m. tip, which tells me he’s still in pain. And all the stretching, H-Wave and Ultrasound treatments and rubdowns he gets won’t take away from the fact he is less than 100 percent, and he is on the road.
Wade comes in after his worst shooting performance of the series Monday, when he was 9 of 26 from the field and 1 of 8 from three-point range in 41 minutes. As you can see, all the halftime-treatment and back rubs during timeouts did him no good. In fact, at one point his teammates had to help him off the bench so he could get back into the game.
Wade’s back injury had a vivid effect on the way he lifted for his jump shots, while it hindered his ability to drive around Atlanta’s defenders, who were sturdy enough against the all-star, who averaged a league-best 30.2 points during the regular season. In this series, his average is down about five points and he’s committing five turnovers in this series. His field-goal percentage and free throw attempts are also down from his season averages.
You’re going to see Atlanta take full advantage of this series, and isolate the opportunity to go up 3 games to 2 in this one, there’s no doubt about it. This whole game and game plan is about being physical at home, getting the crowd into it and taking Wade out of the mix. Lay the chalk with the Hawks.
10 DIME TAMPA BAY RAYS (WITH Kazmir and Blackburn) - I realize the Rays have suffered through a frustrating road trip, having lost two of three in Seattle and Oakland before splitting out here in the Metrodome, but this is a perfect opportunity with Scott Kazmir toeing the slab for us against a right-hander, and I’ll lay the chalk. The Rays, who are 7-5 against northpaws, take on Nick Blackburn, who gave up six runs in 1-1/3 innings of an 11-1 loss last September to the Rays.
And with Pat Burrell expected to be back in the lineup, and the defending AL champs looking to revitalize the offense, I think Kazmir will get the run support he’ll need today. Kazmir has won both road outings this season, including last Friday’s outing in Oakland, where the left-hander yielded two hits over six scoreless innings of an 8-2 win. List both and lay the chalk.
Scott Delaney
Scott Delaney
Wednesday lineup:
30 DIME ATLANTA HAWKS - If Dwayne Wade was battling back spasms at home, and couldn’t do anything but be a hindrance to his team on Monday, what do you think will take place in Atlanta after he spent yesterday out of practice being treated for the ailment? He’ll be evaluated at some point just before the 8 p.m. tip, which tells me he’s still in pain. And all the stretching, H-Wave and Ultrasound treatments and rubdowns he gets won’t take away from the fact he is less than 100 percent, and he is on the road.
Wade comes in after his worst shooting performance of the series Monday, when he was 9 of 26 from the field and 1 of 8 from three-point range in 41 minutes. As you can see, all the halftime-treatment and back rubs during timeouts did him no good. In fact, at one point his teammates had to help him off the bench so he could get back into the game.
Wade’s back injury had a vivid effect on the way he lifted for his jump shots, while it hindered his ability to drive around Atlanta’s defenders, who were sturdy enough against the all-star, who averaged a league-best 30.2 points during the regular season. In this series, his average is down about five points and he’s committing five turnovers in this series. His field-goal percentage and free throw attempts are also down from his season averages.
You’re going to see Atlanta take full advantage of this series, and isolate the opportunity to go up 3 games to 2 in this one, there’s no doubt about it. This whole game and game plan is about being physical at home, getting the crowd into it and taking Wade out of the mix. Lay the chalk with the Hawks.
10 DIME TAMPA BAY RAYS (WITH Kazmir and Blackburn) - I realize the Rays have suffered through a frustrating road trip, having lost two of three in Seattle and Oakland before splitting out here in the Metrodome, but this is a perfect opportunity with Scott Kazmir toeing the slab for us against a right-hander, and I’ll lay the chalk. The Rays, who are 7-5 against northpaws, take on Nick Blackburn, who gave up six runs in 1-1/3 innings of an 11-1 loss last September to the Rays.
And with Pat Burrell expected to be back in the lineup, and the defending AL champs looking to revitalize the offense, I think Kazmir will get the run support he’ll need today. Kazmir has won both road outings this season, including last Friday’s outing in Oakland, where the left-hander yielded two hits over six scoreless innings of an 8-2 win. List both and lay the chalk.
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