Pistons, Heat set for South Beach battle

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03/02/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - An Eastern Conference Finals rematch is on tap tonight at AmericanAirlines Arena, as the defending world champion Miami Heat welcome the Detroit Pistons.

Detroit has won five of six and seven of its last nine at Miami. The Pistons have also won three in a row against the Heat overall, including an 87-85 win over the squad on November 30.

Those games don't include last season's conference finals, when Miami knocked off Detroit in six games en route to its first-ever NBA title.

It is Detroit, however, that is doing a better job duplicating success this season. The Pistons are a conference-best 17-9 on the road this season and lead the Central Division by 4 1/2 games over Cleveland.

Miami is one game under .500 at 28-29 and trails Washington by 3 1/2 games for the top spot in the Southeast standings. The club is seventh overall in the East though.

The Pistons have been out of action since Sunday, when they edged the Chicago Bulls, 95-93. Richard Hamilton poured in 22 points, but it was Chris Webber's tip-in with 2.2 seconds left in regulation that lifted Detroit over Chicago.

Webber, who finished with 21 points and nine rebounds, got a hold of the ball and scored the deciding basket after Chauncey Billups put up a jumper. With one last chance for the win, Chicago's Ben Gordon missed a three-pointer from the left wing to end the game.

Billups ended with 15 points and dished out nine assists, while Tayshaun Prince added 14 points and grabbed nine boards for the Pistons, who have won four in a row.

The game marked the return of former Piston Ben Wallace to Detroit. The four- time Defensive Player of the Year, who was booed each time he touched the ball, finished with six points and eight rebounds.

The Heat made up some ground in their division last time out when they downed the Wizards, 92-83. Shaquille O'Neal scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the victory.

Jason Williams added 23 points for Miami, which improved to 2-2 since star guard Dwyane Wade suffered a dislocated left shoulder. Wade remains out indefinitely.

Tonight's game opens a six-game homestand for the Heat, who are 16-10 as the host this season. Atlanta, Chicago, Minnesota, Washington and Utah will all make visits to AmericanAirlines Arena during the stand.

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

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After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
Trapped on the bench behind Heisman winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC and then unable to unseat Super Bowl MVP Brady at New England, Cassel seemed destined to be a backup all his life. As Brady was helped off the field last September, Cassel seized the opportunity he'd been waiting for since high school.
In his only sustained action since his teens, he hit 349 of 555 passes for 3,949 yards at New England. He had 23 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions as the Patriots, who had gone unbeaten through the regular season the year before, finished 11-5 and out of the playoffs.
Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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