Okay, it’s still early in the season, and Phoenix still has a respectable 12-9 record ahead of tonight’s game with Milwaukee. You can still get solid NBA betting odds for the Suns for the NBA title and in the Western Conference, but it’s not looking (or sounding) pretty in the desert these days. Amare Stoudamire has been the most vocal about the new offense, which seems to focus on Shaquille O’Neal when he is in the game. This is just ridiculous because, first of all, this ain’t the early 2000s anymore, and second:

Seriously, Terry Porter: Stoudamire has already said he would explore the market during the sweepstakes of 2010, and you’re not doing your team any favors. Nash and Shaq aren’t getting younger, so you need to build around this beast. NBA betting players will thank you for it.

Word has just trickled down that Randy Wittman, coach of the dead-in-the-water Minnesota Timberwolves, has been relieved of his duties. This probably illicited cheers of joy from the seven Minnesota fans left in the league. But those seven were left shaking their heads when it was announced that Kevin McHale will step down from his VP of Basketball Operations post to coach the team. Yes, the same McHale that has drafted the likes of William Avery and Rashad McCants, and traded away the likes of Ray Allen, Brandon Roy and now O.J Mayo after drafting them. If it wasn’t for the pick of Kevin Garnett in 1995 (see video below), McHale may have went down as unequivocally the worst executive of all time. He did okay in an interim position after firing Flip Saunders in 2005, but it doesn’t even matter if Phil Jackson was coaching these Wolves…..NBA betting players already know to stay clear of Minnesota.

So, what happens now? Al Jefferson and Kevin Love form a good young duo in the post, and it’s a shame that Corey Brewer wrecked his knee as he was starting to improve. But Mike Miller should be gone by the trade deadline, and Randy Foye has yet to pan out how McHale thought he would. The Timberwolves could be even placing themselves in the queue for the 2010 sweepstakes, and Minnesota fans probably won’t care. They’ve been bad for so long, what’s a couple more years?

Those were the days:

There is plenty of action for online betting players on the hardwood this weekend, and a pair of games on Saturday will be sure to test the mettle of both NBA and NCAA betting fanatics.

NCAA Basketball – No.4 Duke at Michigan, 3:30 PM ET

The Blue Devils have won seven in a row over their old rivals, who are looking like they could be on a rise back to prominence after beating UCLA, along with a solid performance despite losing to Duke on Nov.21. If anything, it was poor shooting that hurt the Wolverines in that 71-56 loss, as they shot 35.2% from the floor. You should bet on the Blue Devils, who will be NCAA basketball betting favorites on the road, but it will be difficult for them to cover in Ann Arbor.

NBA Basketball – Utah at Phoenix, 9:00 PM ET

The Suns come into this Western Conference clash on a four-game losing skid, allowing an average of 110 points in those games. So much for the Suns being a “defense-first team” now. It looks like they are imploding, with players like Amare Stoudamire and Steve Nash complaining about the halfcourt offense. Maybe coach Terry Porter should let them go back to the Suns of old, where they were gunning after ten seconds elapsed on the shot clock. They are ripe for the picking, so bet on the Jazz on the road in a mild NBA betting “upset”.

The leadup to the NBA draft last year was pretty funny, as messageboards all across the internet wondered just how Chicago GM John Paxson would mess up the first overall pick. After all, most thought the Bulls had wasted their luck on getting the #1 pick while only having a 1.7% chance in the lottery. Paxson, however, did the smart thing and took hometown boy Derrick Rose, fresh off carrying Memphis to the NCAA title game, and the young point guard has done nothing to show that Paxson was wrong. Here is a look at how the top ten picks are faring so far, if you are looking to make rookie picks in your NBA futures. Not surprisingly, NBA betting odds are giving Chicago and Miami the best chance to win this year, but don’t hold your breath.

Derrick Rose, Chicago – Is making the choice to pick him over Michael Beasley look absolutely genius. When he gets a consistent jump shot, it’s game over for the rest of the league. But until then, he’s content to do this:

Michael Beasley, Miami- Dude is talented, no doubt. But he looks so bored out there. I suppose it’s easy to be a bystander when Dwayne Wade is running the show. Being more competitive on the boards is a start.

O.J. Mayo, Memphis – Shoots a great percentage for a guard. It’s a shame he plays in Memphis.

Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City- Most thought this is a bad pick at #4, but Westbrook’s going to be a good player. He can already defend (something you can’t teach), and his shooting will improve. And his hops are insane.

Kevin Love, Minnesota – Minny fans are vexed at McHale for trading Love for Mayo, but give him time. Love and Al Jefferson could be a great (but EXTREMELY slow) duo in the future.

Danilo Gallinari, New York – It’s a good thing the Starbury and LeBron things are taking over the “Big Apple”. He’s apparently healthy now, but it’s not looking pretty.

Eric Gordon, LA Clippers – Still reminds me of Ben Gordon. No, that wasn’t a compliment.

Joe Alexander, Milwaukee – Unless Richard Jefferson gets hurt, this dude ain’t seeing more than 15 minutes a game.

D.J. Augustin, Charlotte – Mark my words: Raymond Felton will be gone next year, and Augustin’s gonna have the team all to himself.

Brook Lopez, New Jersey – Works hard on the boards, and doesn’t have to score a lot with Devin Harris (and remarkably, Vince Carter) playing out of his mind.

I’m always on the fence about which I prefer, college or pro basketball. The NBA is obviously better, for quality of basketball, but the passion of college hoops is unrivaled. There are rivalries all across the college hoops landscape, and here is a look at five of the rivalries who should keep an eye this year, as these games will receive action in your online sportsbook.

1) North Carolina vs Duke

You obviously can’t have a college hoops discussion about rivalries without beginning with the greatest one. These schools are eight miles apart, and both are usually ranked in the top ten schools, which ratchets up the intensity in a rivalry that quite frankly, doesn’t need it. The Tar Heels are the NCAA basketball betting favorites to win the title this year, but they’ll first need to take the ACC, and that road will clearly go through the Blue Devils. The Tar Heels head to Duke on February 11, and then host Duke in the season finale on March 8. Carolina leads the all-time series 128-97.

2) Louisville vs Kentucky

“The Battle for the Bluegrass” was fiercely contested before, but when ex-Kentucky coach Rick Pitino joined Louisville in 2001, well……let’s just say Kentucky fans were not impressed to say the least. The Cardinals ended a three-game skid against the Wildcats last season, but Kentucky still leads the all-time series 26-13. Louisville is one of the NCAA basketball betting favorites this season to win the national title, but their fans would be almost as happy if they beat Kentucky when the Wildcats come to town on January 4th.

3) Cincinnati vs Xavier

While not one of the more publicized rivalries, the “Crosstown Shootout” between these two schools in the city of Cincinnati is still very heated. The last six meetings have been decided by no more than 11 points, with Xavier winning four times. Cincinnati still leads the all-time series 47-28, but Xavier is catching up quickly, and the Muskateers opened the season in the top 20 rankings. These two will meet on December 13th at a neutral location.

4) UCLA vs USC

The Bruins still dominate the Pac-10 and have great NCAA basketball odds for the national title, but the Trojans have been improving recently, and they could challenge for the conference crown this season. The Bruins have taken seven of the last ten meetings between the two, and head to USC on January 11th before returning the favor on February 4th.

5) The Big 12

Pick one: Kansas and Missouri, or Texas and Texas A&M, and then there is Oklahoma, who is nudging their way into the NCAA basketball betting picture. The Kansas-Missouri hoops rivalry is an extension of the football battles these two stage, and the students in both schools will have February 9th (at Missouri) and March 1 (at Kansas) already circled. Texas and A&M have also been battling for decades, and the improved Aggies would love to put a dent in the Longhorns’ national-title hopes. These two do battle on January 24th (at Texas) and February 21st (at A&M). Then there’s Oklahoma, who may be the most talented team of the bunch. It’s going to be a lot of fun watching the Big 12 this year.

This weekend’s big matchup that should have you scrambling for your online sportsbooks will take place in Toronto, where the Raptors will host the Boston Celtics in a Sunday matinee matchup. Things got a little heated last time these two met (see video below), and culminated with Sam Mitchell (Garnett’s mentor) essentially calling Kevin Garnett a fake thug for getting in the face of a much-smaller, but feisty, Jose Calderon. Sunday should have something for everyone, whether you are just a fan of the league or you like to bet online.

The Celtics have split their last ten visits to Toronto with the Raptors, but have won on two straight trips up north. Paul Pierce was the difference in a 94-87 win last month in Boston, lighting up the Raptors for 36 points, including 22 in the final stanza. If the Raptors want revenge, they will have to focus on “The Truth” and not let Garnett get into their heads. Chris Bosh was held to only nine points in 40 minutes: you can bet that he will be better this time out. Celtics vs Raptors odds will be up in the air for this one, as the Celtics were favored by a point in their last trip to Toronto, while the Raptors were favored by 1.5 points before that.