| 28 September 2009
Snoopy was right – the Red Baron is a very nasty little fellow. But that’s not all.
Using a cartoon character to carry the weight of a new basketball site is a heavy lift and I am not suggesting that any of the Suns remind me of a beagle. But hopefully it caught your eye. More importantly, it catches the spirit of where the Suns stand when it comes to the minds of the Vegas odds makers – a very unforgiving bunch.
Just taking a gander at the numbers earlier this month showed how little empathy they have for people like us – fans, fanatics and occasional cheerleaders for the Phoenix Suns. For example, the Golden Nugget was giving 50/1 to anyone willing throw down at least $2 on the Suns to win the NBA championship. I guess we should be happy because at the same time the Detroit Pistons were going at 55/1 – what a relief.
Maybe more telling were the problematic odds when it comes to just winning the Western Conference. You know the climb that would require us to get over the bodies of the L.A. Lakers, the San Antonio Spurs, the Portland Trailblazers and the Denver Nuggets. Oh, and don’t forget the Dallas Mavericks. In fact if the oddsmakers are right - and they do make a living at this - the Suns will fall one spot shy of making the play-offs. Now that’s familiar territory but not really where we want to be. Here’s the tale of the tape:
Vegas Casino NBA Crown Odds Western Conference Odds
Circus Circus 40/1
El Cortez 65/1
Golden Nugget 50/1 25/1
Las Vegas Hilton 50/1 25/1
Lucky’s Sportsbook 60/1
Now these odds are always subject to change and we definitely do not want anyone putting down a sports bet outside of Nevada – the home of legal sports betting in the US. But it does say a great deal about the tough road ahead for the Suns. Our schedule also suggests that times will be a little rocky – especially down the stretch. That’s when the Suns will be playing five games in seven days (April 7 – 14) against such tough teams as the Spurs, Rockets, Nuggets and Jazz.
So now is the time to belly up to the bar – yes, it’s easier for some than others so I want to give everyone a head start – and start strapping in for another roller coaster year as the Suns start reaching for the brass ring with pre-season just a few days away.
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