How Do Professional Sports Bettors Make Money

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Think you have what it takes to make it as a pro sports bettor? Well, you’re going to need a lot of time on your hands, as well as a lot of luck. You’ll also need as many perks and promotions as you can get your hands on, so see here for more betting promotions.

 

But there has to be more to it than that, right? After all, there are people who bet for a living and consistently make money. So, how do they do it? Some professional gamblers might also look for what bookmakers are not on GamStop to continue their betting activities without restrictions. 

 

They Work Very Hard and Calculate Everything

 

Being a professional sports bettor isn’t about having a good feeling and then risking everything. That’s what casual sports bettors do, and it’s what the oddsmakers rely on.

 

Pro bettors study the markets, check the odds, and crunch the numbers. Sportsbooks use incredibly complex software to check the stats, predict the most likely outcome, and set the odds accordingly. But as these programs are automated, they are fallible, and sports bettors must work harder than them and find the things they miss.

 

They Find an Edge

 

Sports bettors are always looking for an edge. The odds are carefully set so that the sportsbook always wins when all bettors and bets are taken into account. But that doesn’t mean that all players lose.

 

If you can tip the edge in your favor by a few percentage points, it could be enough to win.

 

There are a few ways to do this. The most difficult is to get information that the sportsbook or market doesn’t have, but as they know everything, that’s tough. The most common is to study the odds on different sites and find the very best ones each time. If you’re getting more money every time you win, you’re more likely to stay in the black over the long term.

 

Timing is also key. If you’ve ever watched horse racing, you’ll know that the odds can change massively as the race approaches. Some horses start as the outsiders, become the favorites, and then win, usually because the market has learned something and bettors have reacted. If you’re one of the first to learn that info and react, you can get on when the odds are high.

They Use Trusted Bonus Comparison Sites

 

One of the core principles of successful sports betting professionals is that they make use of betting bonuses. And to get a bonus with the best value all round, they have to do some research.

 

This is where trusted online betting bonus comparison sites like Bettingbonus.com come into the picture. Sites like that have a team of experienced punters and betting bonus experts who provide accurate information on betting bonuses.

 

Professional bettors know this and they take advantage of online resources of that ilk.

 

They Don’t Let Emotion Rule Their Decisions

 

Casual bettors find a game they want to watch on TV and then find a bet they like. Professional sports bettors tend to look for the bet first. They don’t force it, and they don’t let emotion control their picks either.

 

They’re not betting just for the sake of it, nor are they betting because they secretly want a team to win or lose. To be a pro sports bettor, you have to acknowledge that you can’t make every call and you don’t possess some kind of innate ability to accurately read every game.

 

Summary: Making it as a Pro Sports Bettor

 

Remember, while it’s possible to turn betting into a career, it’s very difficult, and you’ll need to work very hard. In that sense, it’s like any other job, albeit one where your paycheck isn’t guaranteed. Most sports bettors lose, so keep that in mind.

 

Five Takeaways from Panthers’ win over Blue Jackets

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SUNRISE: It’s been a struggle as of late in Pantherland. Florida had dropped three of their last four games, as they sat in the bottom half of the tight Atlantic Division standings entering Tuesday night’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

 

The Panthers were able to  shake off their shaky play from last week tonight, defeating the Blue jackets 4-0, despite missing key players on both sides of the puck.

 

Here’s the takeaways:

Grigori Denisenko makes his season debut

When Florida took Grigori Denisenko 15th overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, they would have liked to see their first-round pick be a consistent force in the lineup a few years down the line. 

 

While Florida’s next two first-round picks, Spencer Knight (2019) and Anton Lundell (2020) have both become relied upon players in the lineup, Denisenko has only skated in nine NHL games so far.

 

Earlier today the Panthers announced that they recalled Denisenko from the Charlotte Checkers (AHL). With Carter Verhaeghe out of the lineup tonight, the 22-year-old Denisenko made his season debut. This is only the second NHL game he has played in the last two seasons. 

 

Denisenko finished the night with 13:14 TOI – while getting an opportunity to play on power play unit 2. 

 

“I was fine with his game,” HC Paul Maurice said. “He got a bunch of minutes and he held water and was fine.” 

 

Multiple Panthers leave the game with injuries

 After playing just 1:06 in the first period, Colin White’s night was done. 

 

The Panthers announced during the first intermission that the forward would not return to the game due to an upper-body injury, leaving the Panthers with 11 forwards for the rest of the night. 

 

Florida were already short-handed upfront entering the game, with Anton Lundell (illness) and Carter Verhaeghe (illness) being out of the lineup, in addition to Patric Hornqvist and Anthony Duclair (hasn’t played this season) still being on LTIR.

 

To add salt to the wound, early in the second period, Chris Tiernery took a hard hit near center ice, resulting in him heading down the Panthers tunnel. He would also not return to the game. 

 

The injury woes continue to hurt the Panthers this season. Florida has had to make multiple call ups in the last two weeks, with the likes of Zac Dalpe, Chris Tierney, Matt Kiersted, Aleksi Heponiemi, Grigori Denisenko and Alex Lyon all going between Charlotte and Florida over the last 10 days. Depending on the availability of those who were out of commission tonight, there could be some more moves coming. 

 

Matthew Tkachuk, the multi-point king

The most consistent player on the Panthers season has been the starboy Matthew Tkachuk. 

 

The team leader in points added to his impressive season total, getting a goal and an assist tonight. In 28 games, Tkachuk has 39 points. 

 

On top of that, he extended his multi-point game total this season to 14. 

 

With the Panthers forwards unit being plagued with injuries, Tkachuk has been able to contribute consistently, no matter who is on his line. 

 

Sergei Bobrovsky gets the shutout

Bob got the net again tonight, making it his fourth straight start in goal. 

 

Facing his former team, Bobrovsky stopped all 22 shots he faced in his first shutout of the season. 

 

“I felt good, it’s a big, big two points for us… I thought the guys did a great job, they shut them down, they didn’t give them anything,” Bobrovsky said. 

 
Spencer Knight skated this morning with the team but was not in the lineup as he has been out with an illness for the last two weeks. The Panthers practice tomorrow ahead of their Thursday night game against Pittsburgh, so there is a possibility Bob gets the night off, with Knight getting back into the net.

 

Gustav Forsling hits a career milestone 

After being placed on waivers by the Carolina Hurricanes before the start of the 2020-2021 NHL season, Gustav Forsling has completely transformed his career with the Florida Panthers.

 

Tonight, Forsling assisted on Brandon Monotur’s goal, giving the Swedish defenseman his 100th career NHL point, in his 266th game.

 

Forsling very well could be the best Bill Zito acquisition.  Forsling flew under the radar during his three season spell with the Chicago Blackhawks to start his NHL career. However, after three seasons in Sunrise, Forsling has emerged as a legitimate top pair defenseman, playing top minutes every night against the best players in the world.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Pacers

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The Miami Heat face the Pacers in Indiana on Monday night, and it was a typical game in this building.

An absolutely awful offensive showing by both parties, but Miami ended up coming away with the win.

Some takeaways…

#1: Tyler Herro’s early passing display.

There was a bit of a trend early in this game for the Heat, and it all basically started with Tyler Herro orchestrating on the floor. Looking back to a recent hot stretch for the Heat, there were two common threads: 1) Bam’s offensive aggression and scoring (which I will get to later) and 2) Herro taking control as play-maker. He had 20 assists over a two game span, looking like the Heat found their base. They got back to that tonight, as he accumulated 5 assists in the first half, while 3 of those 5 occurred out of the Herro-Bam PnR. They’ve also found a variation where Butler roams baseline in timely spots following the Herro-Bam PnR. Butler got to the line and some easy points out of that exact set. When they’re moving like this, it’s hard to stop. But the issue is that they aren’t always doing this…

#2: The Heat’s need for sustainability across the board.

While I highlight what the Heat were doing right, kicking them out to a 19 point lead at one point in the second quarter, it somehow only resulted in a 5 point lead at half. Why is that? Well, sustainability and consistency are the two descriptive words this Heat team just doesn’t have. In one aspect, they cannot sustain things from a game to game basis, even when it seems they turn the corner. But in a much thinner lens, they don’t obtain consistency on a possession by possession basis. They start to click and move, then those same looks aren’t being generated. Early in this game they leaned heavily in paint points and looks around the basket, then quickly fell into Indiana’s hands by 3 point firing after gathering the big lead. They can’t stray from game-plan with this roster. They simply can’t afford that.

#3: Well, Bam Adebayo was having his way to begin.

Before putting a pin in that first half run, I do want to highlight what we saw from Bam Adebayo. While that Herro passing made an appearance, they guy he was mainly passing to was Adebayo. He was getting that go-to mid-range fade to fall, and he looked super confident in most of his pull-up looks off pure shot creation. But ideally, his shots coming off assists are the way to truly open up his shot profile. After some easy ones out of the pick and roll to start, he became the isolation hub at different points as well. Bam was also cleaning up the boards pretty well with 12 first half boards, simultaneously doing a great job stopping Tyrese Haliburton off full-out switching. Bam leading the way is a great blueprint, but he wasn’t actually leading *anybody,* since nobody could follow behind him.

#4: The Heat just cannot shoot efficiently.

We often talk about things X’s and O’s wise with this Heat teams. Other times we talk about things big picture. But sometimes the obvious just needs to be stated: this Heat team went from the best 3 point shooting team in basketball last year to a bottom 10 team this season. Why is that? Well the answer isn’t just “losing PJ Tucker.” There are a couple elements that are primarily headlined by many players regressing all at once. I asked Jimmy Butler about this issue a few nights ago, which he said, “We’re always trying to get 40+, so we gotta figure out a way to get our shooters a couple more.” That’s great in theory, but full-on relying on the Heat’s “shooters” at time moment in time won’t get them out of this mess. But it’s seriously a wild development to see this shooting fall off like *this.

#5: Oh wait, is that another clutch game?

In the year 2022, we were watching a version of a 1978 basketball game right in front of our very eyes. 4 and a half minutes to go, the Heat lead 74-73. Not 4 minutes to go in the half, but in the game. After generating some more stops, which was ultimately the theme of the night, a Butler drive and kick to Lowry in that deep corner put them up by 4. Side note: while the topic of the night is that the Heat were absolutely awful as an offensive team, it should also be discussed that they limited the Pacers to a similar mark. How did they do that? Well, I give a lot of the credit to Bam Adebayo. They switched everything tonight, basically allowing Myles Turner the interior advantage. Yet they were not allowing Haliburton to be comfortable. Adebayo just completely eliminated him at the head of the offense. But ultimately, late in this game, Butler entered late-game takeover mode to graze Miami past Indiana. That’s the main reason the last play against the Spurs got attention, since getting Butler the ball late is always the answer.

 

Previewing the Top Five NBA Draft Prospects for 2023

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Introduction

The 77th regular NBA season kicked off in earnest on Tuesday 18th October 2022. The 2022-2023 season will comprise 82 games per team and is expected to end on Sunday, April 9th 2023. News on all the moves made by the teams has been made available.

As the new season begins, new players will be drafted by all the NBA teams. With the draft date set for June 23, 2023, scouts are travelling all over the world, looking for the best players. Below is the current status of the top 5 NBA draft players for the 2022-2023 season.

1. Victor Wembanyama (France)

There hasn’t been a prospect like Wembanyama for a while. His talent, physique and skillset are a thing of beauty. He is a 7-foot-4 superstar in the making capable of creating his own shot off the bounce and posting up on his opponents. Coupled with a top-performing point guard, his execution of pick-and-roll plays is amazing to watch. If you are an NBA fan, you can stay updated with his performance and general NBA odds on this page. 

Despite only playing 34 games in the LNB Pro-League in the 2020-2022 season, he still demonstrated his incredible potential as a two-way forward, averaging 17.6 MPG, 8.1 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 0.8 APG, 0.5 SPG, and 1.9 BPG as well as shooting 46%. Wembanyama, who was only 16 when he started playing professionally, has competed against adults for the past two seasons. 

He has shown a remarkable level of commitment to the game with his next-level competitiveness and was crowned the LNB Pro A-League’s Best Young Player in 2021 and 2022. A rare combination of size, length, mobility and skill, Wembanyama will begin his draft cycle regarded as one of the top prospects, with the chance to hold this position until draft night. 

2. Scoot Henderson (G-League Ignite)

18-year-old Scoot Henderson decided to skip his senior year at Kell High School in Marietta, Georgia, to play for the G-League Ignite team. He was the youngest player to play in the G-League. The physical attributes that Henderson possesses have made him one of the best athletes in the G-League as a teenager. These include his long arms, muscular body type, and high-level strength and speed with the ball.

As an incredible athlete with so much explosiveness, he has continued to sharpen his pull-up game, as well as his playmaking and passing skills this summer. Henderson, who averaged 24.5 MPG, 14.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.7 APG, and 1.6 SPG in 11 games for Ignite last – season, is expected to improve his performance this year. A little ball-dominant and not particularly a great passer, Henderson is still figuring out how best to be a lead guard. He has good hands on the defensive end but needs to improve. 

3. Amen Thompson (Overtime Elite)

With his abilities as a ball handler, passer, and overall creator, Amen has displayed his abilities against high-level professionals on the court, at the free-throw line, and passing off the dribble. During the three preseason games, he scored 18.6 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, made 5 assists, stole the ball 3 times, and blocked one shot and 65% of his 2-point shots. His free-throw percentage also improved to 80%, which is the highest it has been since he first came to the team. 

In addition to his explosive strides, his ability to manoeuvre through different angles and driving lanes with grace and balance is incredible. His passing ability is pristine, getting the ball to his teams with wrap-around passes and cross-kick-outs. He has yet to develop his jumper, which places him behind the top two players at this point in terms of skill set.  

4. Nick Smith Jr. (University of Arkansas)

With the ball in his hands, Nick Smith Jr. exhibits a high level of playmaking ability and creativity. He is able to change directions and gears with ease, as well as finish above the rim while showing creative instincts. The 6’4’’, 185-pound Smith has a 6’9’’ wingspan and can play bigger than his size, score in tight areas, and make sensational passes. 

As a member of the NBA superstar Bradley Beal’s AAU team, Smith led the team to the Peach Jam Finals while averaging 18.6 points per game, 3.0 RPG, and 3.0 APG. 247Sports ranked Smith the top-rated high school prospect in the country, Rivals ranked him as the best shooting guard in the country, and ESPN ranked him as the top shooting guard in the nation.  

5. Cameron Whitmore (University of Villanova)

In addition to his physicality and athleticism, Whitmore has also developed sharpshooting abilities, knocking them down in the paint. His 6-foot-6 frame allows him to take on older players easily. He is rated one of the best defenders on the court and performs well in transition because of his driving ability. He is one of the most powerful dunkers in the 2023 draft. 

Whitmore averaged 18.7 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game, and 1.7 assists per game in 6 games at the 2021-2022 U18 America’s Championship Tournament. Additionally, he shot 63% from the field and 45.5% from three-point range. After a recent injury, Whitmore underwent thumb surgery which has cast doubts on his shooting ability going forward. 

Final Words

As the NBA Draft date draws nearer, NBA prospects will be looking to perfect all their skill sets and stay healthy as the scouts watch their games. Joining the NBA is not an easy accomplishment and will talent and strong work ethic are bound to come out on top. 

 

Eight Tricks to Make Watching Sports Easier

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It should go without saying that sports enthusiasts are a passionate group. Any sporting event, regardless of the discipline, is accompanied by a rollercoaster of emotions, making sports watching one of the most thrilling pastimes. When you are supporting your favorite player or team while watching sports it is always fun, especially when you do it with friends. However, for many ardent sports fans, merely watching is insufficient. Fortunately, you can use many strategies to broaden your supporters’ perspectives and channel your enthusiasm. Delve even more deeply into the world of sports.

 

Websites For Sports

It’s convenient to be able to watch sports whenever you want, thanks to a website that has mobile supported features. You can still watch sports on your mobile device even if you’re not at home. There is the option to set up today’s football schedule alerts for when your favorite teams are playing on a website that lists forthcoming sporting events. This way, you won’t miss a single minute of the action. Statistics and results for live games can be found in real time on a website. Fantasy sports fans who need to monitor their teams’ stats will like this feature. You can see the same sporting event from several perspectives on some websites. You may watch the game from a new angle and catch every thrilling moment. This is a great resource if you were away for a pivotal scene or just want to relive an amazing time.

 

Watching In A Virtual Reality 

Trying out sports in a different method is something you want to do. Then you should check them out in virtual reality. Just get a headset and sync it to your mobile device. Then, get VR software that supports your favorite sports and experience the game as if you were there. Virtual reality sports broadcasts offer a novel way to experience sporting events from the comfort of your home, with the same immersion as if you were sitting in the stands. In the past few years, companies that provide this service have made incredible strides. Indeed, we’re still in the preliminary stages of implementation, and things certainly could use some fine-tuning, but the future seems bright. You shouldn’t give up on the concept just because the execution isn’t flawless; you’re all seeing the rapid momentum that current technology has when it comes to adjustments and improvements, so you can expect things to progress to the level of widespread application and adoption. 

 

Online Sports Streaming

There are a lot of hassles that have been reduced thanks to the internet. Almost any sporting event may now be viewed simply by streaming it online. The good news is that various trustworthy resources available today can help. For instance, anyone interested in keeping up with their favorite team’s progress can benefit significantly from the fact that most Sports sites provide free streaming for the vast majority of their events. Live streaming services in the sports industry have made it possible to watch sporting events without a cable subscription. They allow viewers to see the game while it’s occurring without having to be there in person, and with the correct streaming software and cameras, they can watch a high-quality feed of the event.

 

Using Social Media To Connect With The Fan Base 

Finding other people who share your enthusiasm for your team on social media is a breeze. It’s easy to find groups of other dedicated followers of your favorite team; search on Facebook or Instagram. Participate in their activities by submitting team-related content of your own. You can find other people who share your interest in sports, which can be a fantastic social outlet. What’s more, you can bond via a common interest in your favorite sports team’s recent victories and defeats by relating your personal experiences to theirs.

 

Wagering On Sports

Betting on sporting events may be just as exciting as watching the game. Some individuals feel more invested in the outcome of a game when they place a wager on it, which is one reason why online sports betting has become so popular. However, before placing any bets on a sporting event, one should familiarize themselves with the relevant regulations and ensure one risks only what is necessary. If not, watching the game could turn into a financial disaster instead of a leisure activity.

 

Official Supporter Commitment

Consider becoming an official supporter if you are a die-hard fan of your team. It implies that you will hear the most recent updates from the team and its members. Moreover, you will be able to applaud your squad immediately if they triumph in a significant competition or game! By filling out the application on the team’s website or at the venue, you can sign up to be an official supporter. A yearly subscription is furthermore required. However, doing so will entitle you to discounts, perks, and increased enjoyment with your team.

 

Watching Sports In Person

Attending a live game is the best introduction to the world of sports. The stadium always has a great vibe. Check for tickets online and order them in advance to make the experience even more thrilling. Doing this can save money and guarantee you won’t miss the game. Just picture a raucous audience supporting their favorite team as the halftime show performer takes the stage. It will undoubtedly be a thrilling and memorable experience.

 

Watching A Game With Your Kids

Watching sports with your children is a great way to increase the pleasure you get from experience. Listening to kids gush about their favorite teams and players is always entertaining. You can gain insight into their interest in these games by getting to know this side of their character. If they regularly observe you enjoying yourself while watching the game, they may show interest in the sport themselves. Overall, it’s a great chance to connect with your kids and spend quality time together.

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You should better understand the simplifying and enhancing aspect of your time watching sports. Think about it, and you’ll realize that all of these pursuits share a common goal: they improve your sports fandom while you indulge in it. Because of this, it is apparent that you need not restrict your enjoyment choices. As many people can attest, watching sports is a thrilling and widely enjoyed popular activity. In addition, most of them involve getting more exercise and spending more time with loved ones.

 

Helpful Tips to Increase Your Chances of Winning at Casino Slots

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The iGaming industry invests a lot of money into creating new and engaging slot games. Slots are the most advertised casino content, and it’s easy to see why new players find them appealing. After all, promotions predominantly lead players in this direction. 

 

There are countless welcome offers that offer free spins, so it would be foolish not to take advantage of those. However, slots are also designed in a way that keeps the players playing. At the same time, slots don’t really offer good odds, and if you want to win, you need to be picky. So, if you are trying to have a successful play session of slots, stick around and go through the following tips.

Leverage Bonuses and Promotions 

Regardless of what game you wish to play, bonuses will almost always improve your odds or at least help you save money. That being said, don’t blindly accept the available promotions. Make sure you go over the terms and conditions and pay close attention to the wagering requirements. Some of these offers can be generous, but they are not ideal for casual players because turnover requirements are incredibly high. 

 

Moreover, if you plan to play regularly, you might want to opt for operators that have a lot of loyalty rewards and cashback bonuses. This will allow you to get more value out of every deposit. 

Play Slots for Free

Online casino sites typically allow you to play the demo version of slot games. You can’t win money, but it’s a good way to test the game and see how frequently you can win. You can also find other platforms that simply host these demo versions. Players usually check free slots to find the game they like and then pick an operator that hosts that same title. They also find out if there are any online casino free spins bonuses for the slot they like. For example, they can see if there is a Gladiator free slot available on reputable sites. 

 

Another way to play for free is once again through specific promotions. No wagering and no deposit bonuses often allow gamers to gamble without any risk or commitments. You get extra funds without making a deposit, or you get extra funds without any wagering requirements. These promotions aren’t too generous, but they are as close to freebies as casinos can get. 

RTP and Volatility

 

Source: Unsplash

 

To increase your odds of winning, you need to pick the ideal game. Playing the free version will allow you to get a good sense of what to expect. There are several things you should check while playing the demo:

 

  • Minimum bet amount per payline
  • Number of paylines
  • Hit frequency
  • Symbol interaction and available multipliers 

 

You should pick a slot that doesn’t have a high minimum bet amount, in order to get as many spins as possible. Also, if the volatility is low, you can expect to win frequently, but the rewards will also be lower. So, it’s all about the balance. If you want as many spins as possible, then you should play low-volatility slots. If you want to risk burning through the budget faster but have a chance at bigger rewards, then pick a medium or high volatility slot.

 

You can also look at the RTP percentage. This can give you a general idea of what to expect. For example, slots with an RTP of 95% or more are generally considered fair. This number indicates that if you wager $100 you will likely lose $5. That being said, this number shouldn’t be taken as an accurate indicator. 

Progressive Jackpots 

Players can easily be tempted to try progressive jackpot games. This is a category with the highest rewards, and hitting a jackpot will definitely be a life-changing experience. Unfortunately, these are the games with a low RTP, so they don’t have high expectations. It would be wiser to play a less volatile slot, but if you find it hard to resist, then only use minimum wagers.  

Conclusion 

Finally, it’s important to note that all of these tips aren’t going to do you any good without effective bankroll management. You should never play slots because you need to earn money or even gamble with money you cannot afford to lose. They are for entertainment purposes only. This is why it is crucial to use bonuses, and other means that allow you to reduce your expenses, while extending your play session.  

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Spurs

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Prior to the Spurs last win against Houston, they lost 11 games in a row.

Now walking into the Heat’s arena, a clutch game was almost too predictable.

Some takeaways from another bad loss…

#1: A different substitution pattern seen early in this one…

Substitution patterns have been all over the place this year, mostly since the roster has been all over the place. Now with a mostly healthy roster, the expectation is to mostly mirror Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, then Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry. At least that was the usual focus. Yet tonight, we saw Herro and Caleb Martin exit early for Max Strus and Victor Oladipo, which pretty much meant there was a large portion of time shortly after where Lowry, Butler, and Bam were all on the bench simultaneously. Yeah, that’s a lot on Herro to try and make work, especially with the roller he has to work with. Just keeping track of this stuff along the way, but this is a trend that I don’t expect to stick by any means.

#2: Jimmy Butler channeling scorer Jimmy Butler early on, even when he doesn’t want to.

In games like this one against the Spurs, Butler usually loves to sit back and play play-maker. It’s what we saw in that Grizzlies game in Memphis, as he wasn’t aggressive at all and the Heat couldn’t keep up at all. Yet as the Heat began to tail off again in that second quarter, Butler began doing what he does best. Pick and roll, mid-range bucket. Pick and roll, hard drive. Pick and roll, foul. Rinse. Repeat. There’s no doubt at all that he can score with the best of them, but that’s just not his style (unless it’s playoff time). It’s always good to see Butler dominate in that inside the arc range just as a healthy reminder, but we seriously shouldn’t need to see that in a game like this against the Spurs.

#3: All eyes on the point of attack defense.

The Spurs led by 2 at the half, and there were a mixture of things that led to that result. But I’d say by far the biggest element was the way the Spurs were able to walk right into the paint, time and time again. They were up to 36 paint points at the half, while shooting 18 of 22 in that area. So, what’s leading to that? This takes me right to the point of attack, since this has been another one of those common trends that just can’t occur. It’s one of the reasons the Heat have sat in zone, since teams seem to burst right by that initial line of defense when in man. The Spurs were sending cross screens and curls at Miami the entire half, and the Heat just couldn’t keep up. It hurts even more when Bam is not on the floor covering it up down low, but that’s another issue in its own right. Needs to be patched.

#4: Tyler Herro gets hot from deep, but more important, he’s reactionary.

Herro had a great start to this game, since it seemed like his attacks were timely and on point, while providing a bit of the necessary pressure. Fast forward to the third quarter, he scored in a much different approach, which simply consisted of getting hot from three. The first two triples of the quarter came from Adebayo kicking out following a paint touch, as Herro capitalized. But shortly after, then it turned into stepping into the pull-up. But more importantly, it was a reactionary process. Defender goes under off a Butler screen, he pulls and knocks it down. Same thing a few possessions later, they go under and Herro knocks it down. Interesting choice when a guy gets hot like that, but a good sign to see Herro read that in real time.

#5: The back-up 5 convo.

We often hear about finding the perfect 4 or 5 next to Bam, but how about we direct our attention to the perfect 5 behind* Bam. We’ve talked before about how things plummet when Bam Adebayo exits, and the entire goal is to stay as close to neutral as possible. But well, the Dewayne Dedmon usage just continues to be more and more interesting. He was 1 for 8 in this game, while shooting up 3 triples, which just stalls out the offense for large pockets of the night. The Heat weren’t expecting this to be the front-court rotation entering the year, but the injury of Omer Yurtseven forced them into this. Just remember: when talking trades, an extra piece in the trade for back-up big will be a major addition.

Jimmy Butler-Bam Adebayo Two-Man Game: Finding a Base

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After a much needed win at home against the Clippers, the Heat showed off the ultimate blueprint with Bam Adebayo leading the way as the offensive force, while Jimmy Butler closed it out late when most needed.

But more importantly, they did it together.

While these two top guys have showed they can make late playoff runs together as the primary threats, the two-man game just has never seemed to click.

Defenders go under on the Butler screen, playing a lot more 2-on-2, compared to the usual 2-on-1 seen within a pick and roll like Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.

There also falls a lot of weight on the pull-up jumper of Jimmy Butler, which is never a regular season reliable factor.

But against the Clippers, it almost seemed like the Heat found a very minor trend that shifted the looks they would get out of that action. Yes, it helps that you were getting aggressive Adebayo. Yes, it helps that after Butler missed his first two shots of the game, he didn’t miss the rest of the night. But still, there was a moment of realization.

Take a look at this possession as an example. Marcus Morris fights over the screen and stays right at the hip of Butler in an empty corner PnR. As I stated before, they aren’t playing in space, since it’s a 2-on-2 match inside the arc at this point.

He hits Bam in the pocket for the contested floater, which bounces off the front of the rim.

What was the main problem? Well, go back and watch the speed that Bam slips out of that screen.

While it’s clear that the quick burst and speedy roll fits the style of a Herro or Lowry PnR, that is mst definitely not the case when Butler is head of the action. He’s more methodical, reactionary, and slow-paced.

Not holding that screen a second longer just throws off the entire two-man pairing on this possession. So, let me show what that actually looks like…

Same set-up. Bam gives the hand-off to Butler, who reverses back into an empty corner PnR. Paul George begins to fight over the screen in similar fashion, except Bam just holds positioning for that extra second.

That’s big time.

Butler loops around baseline, basically forcing Zubac to fly up at him which pulls him out of position. Gives a slight pump-fake, Bam dives down the right slot, and it’s an easy feed for the Bam dunk.

We can talk chemistry. We can talk skill-set. We can talk coverages. But I’m serious: it is all about the timing when it comes to this pairing.

While this is the blueprint against a deep drop, there are also new counters to switching. Going back to that recent game against the Celtics in Boston, both Adebayo and Butler found real comfort off those switches in different ways.

Butler spammed the Al Horford switch late in that game to close it out, but Adebayo was also sealing off the smaller wing player as seen in the clip above.

After the switch occurs, Butler immediately stops in his tracks to point at Bam to post-up for the entry pass. He catches it, faces up, and turns into a strong drive to draw the foul, which was a crucial play in that game under a minute to go in overtime.

But to further my point on the Butler-Bam connection rising, go back and watch that clip again. But don’t watch Bam this time on the catch, just keep your eyes on Butler.

As soon as Bam gets in position to burst down the lane, Butler sprints back out to clear-out Horford from providing weak-side help. These are the needed elements to make this Heat offense work so smoothly.

While we talk so often about how elite the Herro-Bam PnR has consistently been since the middle of the season last year, would you believe me if I told you the Butler-Bam PnR has been better statistically this year?

Of course the Herro-Bam pairing almost doubles the volume of Butler and Bam, but the point still stands: Herro-Bam PnR puts up 1.25 points per possession, while the Butler-Bam PnR is putting up 1.28 PPP.

This isn’t to overly analyze and compare these two, but it really showcases just how efficient these guys have been in that set. By far the best we’ve seen since Butler landed in Miami a few seasons ago.

Since we’re talking specifics, we’ve also seen a new set Miami has been getting to, trying to maximize Butler and Bam together when one of them is not in the action.

Let’s start with last night (looking at the clip above): Butler clears to the dunker spot as Herro and Bam ease into a normal PnR. Herro feeds it to Bam right in the pocket, which looks like his go-to jumper is making a return yet again, right?

Wrong.

Butler notices George overly-orchestrating on the weak-side, as he flips dunker spots and Bam hits him for the easy push shot at the rim.

You may be thinking: this isn’t a planned thing, that’s just a coincidental play with the defense falling asleep. So let’s back it up a game further:

Heat open the second half in Memphis with the need to create some positive offense. It was a night where Butler was no where near aggressive, so they run this immediately.

Ball in the hands of Bam, Butler sets a pin-down for Herro to fly off, as Lowry loops into a back-screen for Butler to drift baseline.

Bam is baiting the defense left already, as he hits Butler for the easy baseline fadeaway. Once again, this is all the intention to try and keep Bam in the action as much as possible, while forcing Butler into that dunker spot roaming mode.

But it doesn’t stop here, let’s go back even further:

Now we’re back to the Boston game. Under a minute to go in regulation, Lowry and Bam run a pick and roll. Butler yet again notices Grant Williams fall asleep as he stations in the dunker spot, before flipping his spot again for the easy floater at the rim.

The exact play from the Clippers game that I showed previously.

They’re finding ways to not only maximize Butler and Adebayo within the action, but also finding some actions that don’t simply leave one of the two stars in spot-up mode.

In terms of this Heat team as a whole right now, they need a lot more from their role players/bench to truly push forward into more wins in this regular season.

But the Heat’s top guys finding a way to balance each other in the half-court together: that’s a development that was not expected by any means.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Clippers

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The Miami Heat get a much needed win against the LA Clippers, behind a top heavy night from the Heat roster.

Big offensive night from Bam Adebayo, timely shots from Jimmy Butler throughout, and big runs from Caleb Martin and Tyler Herro.

Some takeaways…

#1: Caleb Martin: the Heat’s early offensive savior.

The Heat’s first quarter was an absolute disaster in the half-court. If your name wasn’t Jimmy Butler, they shot 4 of 18 from the field through the first 12 minutes. So how did they end up shooting 64% (14 for 22) the next quarter? The answer is Caleb Martin. The early Heat game-plan was to acquire some paint points, but nothing was shifting the defense. Martin ended up getting some shot creation involved early in the second, giving an immediate spark. That turned into some rhythm from deep, knocking down 4 of 5 threes in the quarter, which one didn’t count since he stepped out of bounds. This season hasn’t had many ups, but Caleb Martin has been one.

#2: Bam Adebayo’s needed shot profile.

As I noted over a recent stretch, Bam Adebayo has found his go-to shot. A face-up into a pull-up jumper a few feet from the basket. But while that should be his go-to when nothing else is being generated, it shouldn’t be his consistent base. What should be that shot profile base, you may ask? Well, it’s most definitely the strong attacks to the basket. When he puts his head down and flies toward the rim, that just puts the defense in such a tough spot. Late rotations, in the mix for a simple foul, or just strict dominance. I still love that go-to jumper that he’s unlocked along the way, but the way to maximize that headliner is to prepare it by the attacking game.

#3: An intriguing lineup to monitor…

As this is “solution time,” as Bam Adebayo proclaimed it after the loss to the Detroit Pistons, let me present something that provided a solution in the first half. I already documented the rough start and Martin spark, but he wasn’t out there alone. The lineup of Herro-Oladipo-Strus-Martin-Adebayo did some very good things, as it has a wide variety of skill-sets, which they’re not tripping over each other in the half-court. A shooter (if he’s hitting or not), two primary shot creators, and two guys who can defend while providing the occasional offensive burst. When healthy, this also allows the Butler-Lowry minutes to paired more often, which is usually the goal. Keep an eye on this lineup, since they’re going to get back to this a lot…

#4: Wait, one more thing on Bam: defenses are doubling him on the catch……

While I discuss Bam’s altered approach to get to the basket more often, that’s more projecting in general. But what needs to be discussed is that he’s being doubled in that mid-post consistently off the catch. This has been for a few weeks, but it’s just creeping up more and more. Him finding counters to it are already developing, since somebody that skilled with that type of passing ability basically has built in counters. A play in the third quarter stood out though: they flew a double at him, he retreated out almost like he was going to run a hand-off, then reversed back into an attack for the lay-in. This is a major plus to the offense…for many different reasons.

#5: Another late-game walk-through…

Halfway through the 4th quarter, the Heat continue into a Butler-Bam two-man spam. A Bam floater is the outcome, putting him up to 31 points on the night. Heat send a double at Paul George on the other end to force him into a turnover, which Miami was getting comfortable doing late. On the other end, Jimmy Butler drives and dishes to Max Strus in the corner for three, really giving the Heat some life. Miami continued to put two on the ball in most circumstances the next few possessions, really coming as a surprise to the Clippers. Jimmy Butler took over really late in the quarter in that mid to low post, just choosing his switch. Reggie Jackson and Luke Kennard each getting reps for Butler’s turnaround. Clippers matched some buckets shortly after to force a run of their own, but Butler countered again with a wild step back baseline jumper. The Heat close out a much needed win at home.

The growth of sports betting in the United States

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In the first half of 2022, it is estimated that the amount of money spent on sports betting in the USA will exceed all previous records. 

And some experts estimate, that by 2026, the amount bet annually in mainland USA could exceed US $10 billion, 

Those figures could even be conservative since it is forecast that more than 20 million Americans will be placing bets on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, that could exceed US $1.8 billion.

This growth in large part is due to a landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court in 2018. That overcame an old law that had been in place since 2018 which restricted sports betting, at both professional and collegiate level, to the state of Nevada, which is world famous for its Casinos like Caesar’s Palace and Planet Hollywood).

(Nowadays, of course, thanks to the internet there is no need to travel to the Western United States to experience all the thrills of casino gaming. There are numerous online casinos, whilst sites like Bet365 mirror links provides reams of useful information as to what is legally permitted in various countries around the word).

Since that historic judgement, sports betting has become legal in 31 States in all, with more to follow. Ohio, for example, will allow it from January 1st, 2023. 

Of course, it would be naïve to claim that sports betting was not common practice before 2018 in America.

The practice dates back almost to the dawn of time. Whenever one man raced against each other, fought or wrestled in the street, or raced horses or chariots against each other, there were always bookmakers ready to offer odds on the outcome, and no shortage of those willing to place their bets.

The issue is that the vast majority of these American bookmakers were unlicensed and, not always subject to the moral codes and rules of society. The internet abounds with stories of people who had placed what they were thought were winning bets on live sport and other events, only to find that the bookmaker had disappeared along with their money.

Part of the motivation for legalising sports betting is that the various sports houses and online bookmakers can now be regulated and subject to the same provisions and rules as state lotteries and bookmakers.

It also offers, from the perspective of the individual States, a very useful; way of boosting State coffers with a  new form of tax revenue, at a time when finances are stretched due to the credit crunch.

New York, for example, currently taxes mobile sports betting at 51%, which is far higher than any other category of expenditure in the State.

Not that legalising the practice has killed off unlicensed bookmakers. They still exist, ready to take advantage of the unwary.

One by-product of the new environment is that there has been a vast amount in the money that the online bookmakers spent on advertising.

It is hard for the average American now to watch any TV programme or absorb any content on social media without being subject to a barrage of adverts promoting sports betting tips or offering links to betting pages.

For some this growth cannot be sustained, and there have been suggestions that the environment is akin to the California Gold Rush of 1848. 

That was when the discovery of gold in California saw more than 300,000 from the rest of the country flock there in the hope of making their fortune. Very few struck it lucky, the remainder ending up poor and destitute). 

And there are also those who worry that unfettered advertising by online bookmakers could be having an unhealthy influence on children, and encourage them from an early age to take up gambling.

Perhaps they may want to take a leaf our of the book of Spain, which has recently passed a new law on gambling.

It had already cracked down considerably and licensed Spanish bookmakers ate only able to advertise on television and radio between the hours of 1 am and 5 am, and the lucrative sports sponsorship deals with bookmakers which Spanish football and other sports teams had previously enjoyed were banned.

The new legislation goes much further, and has made advertisers consider social responsibility when advertising. Bookmakers are not allowed to promote their products suggesting they are in any way beneficial to mental or physical well-being or economic status,.

Nor are they allowed to depict money or luxury goods, or imply, in any way, that family or friendships should take second place to gambling.

For American online bookmakers they can operate with relative impunity at the moment. Knowing that as long as they stay within the rules, they are unlikely to face sanction.

It does, though, behove them to act responsibly, because there could well be a public backlash if, for example, there is an increase in the number of problem gamblers.