Games sweep aside scandal

All the drama Kobe Bryant has created by asking to be traded from the Los Angeles Lakers might be something positive for the NBA. At the least, it’s a diversion from a more serious story.

It seems everyone has forgotten about Tim Donaghy.

In July, the league was rocked by a gambling scandal. The FBI dropped a bomb on NBA commissioner David Stern with its investigation of Donaghy for wagering on games he officiated and providing inside information to gamblers.

Three months later, it’s business as usual. The season opened Tuesday and Las Vegas sports books were taking action. The theory of bettors fearing fixed games is mostly nonsense.

“I think everybody who bet the NBA last year will bet it again. The handle will be the same, and it could go up,” said Ken White, oddsmaker and chief operating officer for Las Vegas Sports Consultants.

“This is the time to bet. Everybody is watching a lot closer now.”

White is one of the watchdogs. In the wake of the Donaghy controversy, White researched betting trends involving the former referee and sent his findings to the NBA.

It’s possible the league will seek a formal consulting arrangement with LVSC, though that has not yet happened.

Art Manteris, vice president of sports book operations for Station Casinos, has served as a consultant to the league for the past 10 years. Manteris has said Stern is more aware of the sports wagering industry than people realize.

Ironically, the NBA and Las Vegas appear to have a better relationship now than before the Donaghy investigation.

With the arrival of a new season, the NBA gets a fresh start, and handicappers have a lot more work to do.

The defending champion San Antonio Spurs are 9-2 favorites to repeat, but they don’t stand alone. The Las Vegas Hilton has posted the same odds on Dallas and Phoenix to win the title.

While those teams battle it out in the Western Conference, four contenders in the East — Boston, Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit — are at 12-1 odds to replace the Spurs at the top.

The Celtics made the most aggressive moves in the offseason by acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to complement Paul Pierce.

Boston finished last season a dismal 24-58, but its regular-season win total at the Hilton is more than double that at 491/2.

“Everybody is talking about the Celtics, but I think they’re overrated. They will play no defense,” LVSC oddsmaker Mike Seba said.

Two seasons ago, the Miami Heat won the NBA Finals behind Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal. But Wade will miss about the first month of the season while recovering from left shoulder surgery.

The Heat’s win total has dropped from 471/2 to 441/2.

“Obviously, the Heat has problems with Wade’s injury and Shaq being on the decline,” Seba said.

Orlando and Toronto are up-and-coming teams to watch, according to Seba, as several teams get in position to dethrone LeBron James and the East champion Cavaliers.

The Bulls, with a win total of 501/2, are loaded with young talent. But they also might be in the running for Bryant as trade rumors circulate.

The Lakers’ win total was 431/2 before bettors played it under that number, which closed at 41, because of Bryant’s uncertain status.

“Even if the Lakers don’t deal Kobe, he’s unhappy, and I don’t like his supporting cast,” Seba said.