Helpful Tips to Increase Your Chances of Winning at Casino Slots

/1 Comment/in , , /by

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

/0 Comments/in , /by

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

/0 Comments/in , /by

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

/0 Comments/in , /by

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

/0 Comments/in , /by

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.

The Rise Of eSports: How The Internet Changed Gaming Forever

/2 Comments/in , /by

As technology and the internet continued to evolve, it opened up more opportunities for the gaming industry. The gaming industry isn’t anything new, people have been playing board games for centuries, but once technology started to evolve, the gaming industry suddenly had a new way to create games. The invention of the internet really changed the gaming industry as a whole, as now people could explore games on a much deeper level and could enjoy the experience of playing games with their friends. 

eSports is one of the biggest things to come out of the internet, and it created a whole new level of gaming. With eSports, people are able to watch their favourite gamers play their favourite games, much like someone would watch their favourite team play football. This rise of eSports has slowly become part of the mainstream, so much so that eSports was actually featured in the most recent Commonwealth Games.

It’s clear that the internet has had a huge impact on the gaming industry, and this is something we are going to explore further in this article. If you have an interest in gaming and want to know more about how the internet has influenced the gaming industry, then keep on reading to find out more. 

More Ways To Play

The evolution of the internet changed the way we game, and now there are more ways than ever to play your favourite game. When game consoles were first introduced, you only needed the console and the physical game, and you were set to go. While this does work well, it does limit you slightly on what you can play, and it also means you have to switch over the disk every time you want to play a new game. However, since the internet and gaming became intertwined, it has allowed players to download games directly onto the console instead of having to buy a physical copy. This makes it a lot easier to play games as you can easily switch between games whenever you want. It also means you do not have to find storage for hundreds of physical games, as they are all stored directly on your console. 

Access To More Games

Following on from the above point, being able to download games directly onto your console will mean that you have access to more games. All you need to do is go onto your console, and you can browse for hours, looking at all the different games they have available. This can make finding games much easier, as you do not have to physically browse a shop. It also means you can get recommendations based on the games you have already bought, so you may end up playing games you would have never thought to look for. Overall, having this huge access to games means that people can have a more enjoyable gaming experience, as they have the freedom to browse the huge gaming library, all from the comfort of their homes. 

Evolution Of Mobile Gaming 

Another huge development that has come from the technological revolution is the evolution of mobile gaming. As mobile phones slowly evolved, so did mobile gaming, and now you can access hundreds of different games and download them straight onto your smartphone. When people think of mobile gaming, often they will of basic games with no real strategy, but this is not the case. Mobile gaming is slowly becoming more sophisticated, to the point where we can now combine mobile gaming with virtual reality. Virtual reality headsets can connect to your phone, and you can use the headset to immerse yourself fully into the game. Another type of gaming that has developed with mobile gaming is online casinos. Playing some fun games on sites like Online Casinos has never been easier, and you can access a wealth of fun casino games at the click of a button. 

Cloud Gaming 

In recent years, a new type of gaming has started to make its way into the gaming industry, called cloud gaming. Cloud gaming, or cloud-based gaming, is where you stream the game you are playing directly onto your gaming device, instead of physically buying a disk or downloading the game. Cloud gaming can improve your gaming experience as the games you are streaming can have better graphics and more intelligent gameplay. This means you can access more games than ever as all you need to do is connect to the server and start streaming. It makes accessing games a lot easier as cloud gaming can work across multiple gaming devices. This type of gaming has become very popular over the last few years, but it does still have some limitations. Because you are streaming the game directly, you have to ensure you have a strong internet connection, or else your gaming experience will suffer. Having said this, home internet connections are becoming faster and more powerful, so we could see cloud gaming take over the industry in the future. 

Growth Of The Gaming Community

One of the best things to come out of the gaming industry is the growth of the gaming community. Gaming has become a way for people to destress from their busy lives and get lost in a completely different world. Not only this but many people use gaming as a form of socialising; once they put on their headset, they can chat with their friends for hours and enjoy that social time while also playing their favourite games. There used to be an assumption that gaming made people lazy and unmotivated, but this is not the case. People are now coming around to the idea that gaming can actually be good for your mental health. You have to think of gaming as any other hobby; just as people play football to destress and socialise, people do the same thing with gaming. This change in attitude towards gaming has allowed the gaming community to grow, and it provides a support system to many people.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Pistons

/0 Comments/in , /by

And it gets worse.

The Heat fall to the Pistons at home, following up their worst loss of the season…with this.

I dive into game specifics here, good and bad, but this game means so much more than X’s and O’s.

But anyways, some takeaways:

#1: Tyler Herro’s perfect first half.

21 points, 7 for 7 from the field, 2 for 2 from three, 5 for 5 from the line. That was the stat-line for Tyler Herro at the half, on a night where he felt like the one and only engine in the half-court. He was getting into his bag a good bit, finding some baseline turnarounds, quick crossovers (that made Bogdanovic fall), and hitting the pull-up consistently. But more importantly, he was doing all of this at a very controlled pace. Slowly trotting through the lane into the floater may be a product of this Pistons’ defense, but it also showcases his growth. His scoring is finding that rhythm once again, after he eased back with early play-making over that specific stretch.

#2: Kyle Lowry words are necessary: about a very certain skill.

While we’ve been glued to watching the zone defense for a good bit, switching is still naturally their base. I know many of you guys scream at your screen when seeing a Heat guard on the back of an opposing big, since that was a trend for a while. But if that Heat guard is Kyle Lowry, hold your anger. I simply haven’t seen anything like Kyle Lowry’s post feel, no matter if he’s fronting or just guarding straight up. He knows the timing of when to spin into fronting position, but he’s also strong enough to hold off that offensive player before the help comes. He ended up with 5 steals at the half, and it was basically surrounded by this exact iteration. A serious skill.

#3: The bench still being routed in the scoring column.

If you looked at the box score at the half tonight, you would see a lot of minuses on the Heat’s bench and a bunch of pluses on the Pistons’ bench. To put into simpler terms, the Heat had 1 made field goal at the half from their reserves. Yes it may be a different look in the bench unit with Nikola Jovic filling for Dewayne Dedmon, Victor Oladipo coming back, and Duncan Robinson getting minutes, but the point remains the same. As much as I talk about Herro being the engine, they need to get back to that reliance on “depth,” especially with Butler and Lowry’s expected time off. When things go back to normal, that’ll be a lot on Gabe Vincent and Max Strus to truly grab a hold of. And well, Victor Oladipo now too…

#4: Victor Oladipo’s debut.

Victor Oladipo is back…again. It feels like we’ve had the “debut” quick a few times over his three season tenure, but that’s because we have. As he entered tonight, we quickly saw something Erik Spoelstra wanted to get an immediate eye on: the ball pressure. They vastly fell right into the 2-2-1 press, which backed into the 2-3 zone, per usual. To be honest, I would’ve liked to see more of a switching look when he was out there, just because I’m interested in how the one-on-one stuff looks exactly, but I guess we will save that for another time. He definitely wasn’t pressing too much offensively early, since it was a lot of direct drives and spot-up standing, but we saw an uptick in the 4th with those two exact elements. Pretty typical opening game, since some rust was expected.

#5: Rock bottom?

After proclaiming a horrible loss in Memphis by far the worst loss of the season for the Heat, they follow that up with this performance on the second night of a back to back against the Detroit Pistons. Zone, man, whatever. This transcends X’s and O’s at the moment. They just don’t have the energy on nights like this that is necessary. Last year when undermanned, this team played with max urgency when the team wasn’t even in a position to panic. Now the defense is leaking everywhere without containment, and the offense just doesn’t have anything to give if it’s not a Tyler Herro-Bam Adebayo led set. This team clearly has issues right now. And there’s not one singular thing to point your finger at.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss in Memphis

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Heat faced a very different looking Grizzlies team in Memphis, and treated it like so.

After an early offensive punch, they never gained that rhythm back. Other than Tyler Herro and Caleb Martin, they weren’t getting much more on the roster.

So, here are some takeaways from this loss…

#1: Caleb Martin’s early hot streak.

That Heat first half went in a few different directions. An early 7-0 run for the Grizzlies transitioned into a 28-10 run for the Heat, then back to a Grizzlies hot streak the rest of the half. While I’m going to discuss the Grizzlies runs in a minute, I do have to mentioned Caleb Martin’s addition to that run. Miami began running a ton of drive and kicks, as Martin just took advantage of Memphis sagging off. He hit four triples early in the game, continually stepping into his jumper with complete rhythm. Plus it’s evident that he’s elite at reading the positioning of his individual defender. If that defenders’ body is turned, he’s attacking the front foot. If they bite on the jab, he’s immediately pulling. His reads just keep impressing.

#2: The Heat’s need for paint touches and paint points.

36 to 8. That was the deficit in paint points for the Miami Heat at the half, against a Grizzlies team who should be doing the exact opposite without their core guys. As Miami made their early run, paint touches were the trend. In games like this, Jimmy Butler always loves just sitting back and playing play-maker. So they spammed him as a post-split and screener hub, continually drawing defenders in under the basket into easy kicks. Fast forward to a bit later, we saw that all end. As the Heat went on an incredible three point run, they fell in love with it. That led to hand-off spams, constant flares without a ton of cutting, which just all equals one thing: not the Heat’s ultimate style. For this Heat team to thrive against any team, they need to dominate the paint on the ball.

#3: Back-up big man watch…

Looking at the bottom of the Heat’s rotation, we’ve been talking options. Duncan Robinson or Haywood Highsmith? Can Nikola Jovic get back in that mix? But the key is that word “options,” no matter the level they’re playing at. The issue is that they don’t have options at the center position. If it’s not Bam Adebayo, it’s Dewayne Dedmon. If it’s not Dedmon, it’s…Udonis Haslem? It’s just a quick fall-off in that room, especially when Dedmon struggles like he did in this one. There’s the eye popping aspect of missing easy ones around the rim, but the energy shift when teams begin going at him in actions just hurts Miami’s defense. The Grizzlies weren’t just running PnR at him, they were running isolations at him in their quicker lineups. He will have his moments about every 3 games where he goes on a run, but the consistency issue just keeps popping out. Who will be Bam’s back-up in April? That’s a very interesting question to monitor.

#4: The Heat’s Cam Payne game-plan vs Tyus Jones…different result.

Something I talked about extensively after the Suns game earlier in the year was Miami’s altered defensive game-plan. They’d close off the rim as much as possible, forcing that far floater from guys like Cam Payne possession after possession. Players in the Heat locker room voiced that to me as well, since it’s an inefficient look. They’ve done it a bunch of times this season, but there’s always that tip your cap moment. That’s what Tyus Jones was doing in this one, as he just kept knocking down that runner from a variety of different spots. It’s just a credit to him, since that’s still the wanted look from Miami’s perspective.

#5: Simply, Miami didn’t get enough from 3 core pieces.

What went wrong in this game, you may ask? Well, where should I start. At halftime, I tweeted that there were 3 elements of this game that went wrong early, and two of them needed to turn around for Miami to win. And well, that just didn’t happen. The first element was Jimmy Butler’s aggression, which happened for a few minutes to open the second half, since clearly it was the halftime focus entering the third. Yet it just wasn’t sustained or consistent enough. The second element was Bam Adebayo’s efficiency. Memphis kept sending two at Adebayo in that mid-post, which is a much different look for him, but there never was a developing counter throughout this one. And the last element is the bench. I talked about Dewayne Dedmon already, but what he know who he is already. Haywood Highsmith actually gave fantastic minutes on the defensive end. So a lot of focus is on Gabe Vincent and Max Strus. Both had great starts to the season, but have tailed off a bit recently. When you aren’t getting enough from your two best players, while simultaneously getting nothing from your only bench scorers, it puts you in a tough spot against anybody.

Attending Your First Sports Event? 7 Things You Should Know

/6 Comments/in , /by

Sporting events are a great way for people to spend time with their friends and families. Some events like the World Cup or the Super Bowl are so popular that they pull in millions of viewers from all over the world. As a sports fan, it might be a dream of yours to attend an event to support your favorite team.

 

Follow these few tips to make your sporting event memorable:

 

 

  1. Make Your Travel Plans in Advance


If you’re going to travel a long distance to get to your destination, you should plan ahead. You should get your flight ticket, or you should determine what the best mode of transportation is to get you there. Book your hotel or make your accommodation reservation on time as there might be a large number of people also wanting to get the same accommodations.

 

Once you’ve confirmed that you’re going to the event, it is best to book in advance to ensure you have a comfortable and memorable experience. Booking ahead would also entitle you to a refund in the event that any of the operators cancel on you.

 

 

  1. Purchase Tickets from Respectable Sites

 

Tickets to sporting events can be hard to get and expensive. Buying tickets from unknown sites is risky. You can either get scammed or be sold a counterfeit ticket. Some sporting events don’t allow the purchase of tickets at the gate, and even then, they can be a lot more expensive than getting them online. Find tickets at Ticket Blaster. Your ticket is important since it’ll grant you access into the arena.

 

 

  1. Arrive Early

 

Plan to arrive at least an hour early. This helps you ensure you find your seat on time. You’d also not want to miss the opening ceremony or any pregame events that have been organized. This also helps avoid any unplanned delays like traffic or having to stand in long lines.

 

  1. Be Respectful Of Your Rivals

 

Sports rivalries add a new level of excitement to any sporting event. Everyone wants to see their favorite win, especially if it’s a battle that’s been going on for many years. However, it should all be good-natured and never escalate into a physical altercation. It’s important to note that you shouldn’t do anything that would have you kicked out by security as this would bring an end to your sporting experience, and you might be banned for life from all future events.

 

  1. Plan Your Refreshments

 

Buying food at the venue can be expensive. It’s better to make purchases outside as there are more options and it’s more pocket-friendly. Another option is to take advantage of tailgating. Tailgating is a longstanding tradition at a lot of sports events. After the game, people gather together to cook and prepare various foods. This usually consists of a burger, fries, chips, chicken, and beer. It’s a fun way to meet new people and an avenue to discuss the events of the game with fellow fans.

 

  1. Remember That Safety Comes First

 

Though rarely the case, sporting events can go bad really quickly. It’s important to know the location of at least two exits. They’re usually clearly marked, but a quick scan when entering the arena would give you a general idea of where they are. It’s important to keep calm in the event of any panic and follow any instructions given as they’re intended to get you out as safely as possible.

 

  1. What To Bring Along

 

You should bring a sweater if it’s an outdoor arena as the weather may get chilly. You should also get a power bank so your phone doesn’t die. You can bring a bag to keep your items, and in the event you want to buy any merchandise, there’ll be a place for you to store them. You can also bring an energy drink or a snack bar. Don’t forget to bring some water along with you. It’s important to stay hydrated, and you don’t know if you’ll stay out longer than intended.

 

Conclusion

 

There’s no feeling like attending a sporting event live. There’s a different emotional experience to this when compared to watching on TV. The feeling of community or mutual joy shared among fans seeing their team win is one in a million. Planning for a sporting event doesn’t need to be tedious. You can create a memorable time for yourself, your friends, and your family. It’s a wonderful feeling to be part of a cheering crowd, singing their team towards victory. Consider the ideas mentioned here as you plan and prepare.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Celtics

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Heat faced the Boston Celtics once again on Friday night, except this was a bit more exciting.

Boston pulled away, Heat answered, which led to it going down to the final seconds, with Jaylen Brown sending it to OT on an insane shot late in the 4th.

The Heat pulled it out in OT though, behind the starters high level play through and through.

So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Tyler Herro entering shot creation mode early.

With the full starting lineup back together, there were some questions on who would be made priority, and who would step back. But well, we saw them all find their moments at different times. Tyler Herro scored 18 points in that first half, but it was more about how he was getting those shots. Quick pulls off handoffs or pick and rolls beyond the arc, isolation step backs in the mid-range, and a broad showing of footwork. While the passing has been on display recently, he found his scoring rhythm. To finish the second quarter, though, he twisted his ankle when landing, running right into the locker room before the half, leaving many projecting how they could mirror that same creation in the second half. But he ended up being just fine. From a basketball perspective, that type of shot making is a great change of pace for Miami’s shot profile, as showcased in that fourth quarter.

#2: The need for Bam Adebayo defensively.

Early in the second quarter, Bam Adebayo got his third foul, which was pretty much a theme for the game. After the Heat’s switching found some rhythm with Jimmy Butler back, they had to revert right back to the zone when Dewayne Dedmon entered after that foul trouble mentioned. Right on queue, the Celtics when on a three-point shooting run. Shortly after that, Dedmon then picked up his third foul, which led to Spoelstra looking to his bench quickly. Nikola Jovic time? Nope, Udonis Haslem got the call again. So the Celtics kept putting him in the action as he sat in drop pretty much at the level. We know Bam Adebayo’s impact on the defensive end, but it’s just hard to contain teams like this when he’s on the sideline watching for long periods of time.

#3: Jimmy Butler back means rim pressure is back.

As I said before, the starting lineup being back was a big focus, and I won’t sit here and act like it all roamed smoothly. They were taking turns many possessions to begin the game, while Jimmy Butler wasn’t a huge part of that involvement. He had to dust off some rust, but that didn’t take too long. In the second quarter, the offense found itself behind Herro’s shooting, and well Butler’s downhill attack. While the whistle wasn’t too favorable, he still absorbed contact and finished through traffic consistently, tapping into that bully ball play-style that he loves. He had 15 points at half on 7 of 10 shooting, which just shows he was earning his buckets. The takeaway here: this Heat group needs his rim pressure to get them out of cold streaks, which was showed early in this one.

#4: The Heat’s scoring stoppages appear again.

In the third quarter, the Heat had 1 made field goal from the 9:30 mark to a little over 3 minutes to go. Against this type of Celtics team, that just can’t happen. That one made basket was a Jimmy Butler drive and dish to Caleb Martin for a big dunk, yet every other possession just kept coming up empty. On the schematic front on why it was happening, it seemed like Bam’s foul trouble hurt the offense actually. He was so worried on his screens about picking up another offensive foul, which threw off the flow at times. That was a minor part of the issues, since the main chunk is just missing shots that actually weren’t terrible looks. The big picture takeaway: consistency, consistency, consistency. Since good teams usually won’t let you bounce back from a cold stretch that long. Somehow after that six minute span of non-existent offense, the Heat only trailed six heading into the fourth. Which I’ll discuss next…

#5: The fourth quarter…then OT.

While I just portrayed all of Miami’s issues in the third, they had a massive turnaround into the 4th. About 3 minutes in while trailing by 6 still, Tyler Herro hits a transition pull-up three. Boston comes down the court, as Bam Adebayo does his best Jimmy Butler impression by doubling backside getting the steal, tying it up on the other end with an and-1. A few plays later, Herro fights for his shot off the hand-off and knocks down another three, before Miami generates another steal and fastbreak dunk in the process. 5 point game all of a sudden. Boston answered back with some offense of their own behind Jaylen Brown, causing some back and forth over the next few minutes. The Heat’s switching took Tatum out of his game, while Highsmith made some incredible plays on the defensive end, as he played most of the fourth. Lowry’s career staple with that turnaround jumper made a couple appearances late to give Miami a necessary jolt as well. Fast forward to a tie game with 2 minutes left, the Heat run a Herro-Bam PnR, leading to a feed and Bam dunk down low. Grant Williams answers back a few plays later with a three to take the lead by 1, followed by a Bam attack off the roll for a trip to the line. Up 1, Tatum draws the Herro switch again. Off the attack, an incredible double by Highsmith forces the miss, as Butler hits a baseline fade after flipping dunker spots late in the clock. Tatum drives and dunks to cut the lead to 1 back on the other side, putting pressure on Miami to close it out, as Miami calls timeout to draw something up. Butler tries to get to the rim, it’s cut off, and shoots a tough fade on the wrap around. Bucket. Up 3, that’s game right? Wrong. An insane fading 3 from way out from Brown ties the game and sends it to OT. Wild. More back and forth continued, but a Bam Adebayo face-up and attack stood out most under a minute to go, getting to the line to take lead by 2. But Butler closes it out with a tough jumper. Heat win a tough one.