Five Takeaways from Heat’s Shorthanded Night in Washington

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Well this was a wild one.

The Heat having seven available players battled like no other in Washington, really showcasing themselves individually on all fronts.

Yet they came up just short in OT.

Here are some takeaways…

#1: Throwback Kyle Lowry appearance?

This wasn’t a normal night in the NBA. Kyle Lowry was the sole veteran on the floor for Miami who had 7 available players, and he turned back the clock. After the extensive talks about his physical conditioning this off-season, he went out in Washington and played every second of that first half, dropped 14 points with 9 assists and 7 rebounds. But beyond the stats, he was the engine to every action they ran. Off a miss, he was running with the young guys breaking free in transition. In the half-court, they did what they always do without their main guys: run post splits non-stop. They used Lowry as a hub in that high-post to hit cutters off stagger screens, which is where the lay-ups and trips to the foul line were coming from. Good stuff.

#2: The rookie Nikola Jovic is here, and he shouldn’t be going anywhere in terms of this rotation.

Nikola Jovic has been given opportunity in the midst of the loaded injury report, and it might have just cemented his spot in the rotation for good. All teams need sometimes is an extra eye of game-time from a young guy, and that seems like the case for Jovic. He’s played a role he’s uncomfortable with to say the least, and still played it at a high level with zero experience. That’s usually the tell. Offensively he’s just a supreme talent. A skilled passer on the move or stationary, moves off the ball at levels that even I didn’t expect, and can shoot/score when put in a position to do so. Let’s save the starting four conversation for another occasion with deeper dialogue, but the rotation stuff should be a no brainer on this roster. He’s a lock in the big man room. (With more to explore next to Bam…)

#3: Orlando Robinson showing some skill.

Tonight’s game was one for the kids (which feels wild to say with them being older than me), and we got a deeper look into specific skill-sets at the end of the roster. The one who debuted tonight was Orlando Robinson, who we saw for a bit in Heat Summer League next to Jovic. But I’d say he was pretty solid in this one to say the least. Good looking foot-work, great use of shot fakes in the interior, and an overall slow-paced flow to him once he gained possession of the ball. We’ve seen a lot of guys debut and not really know where to locate on the offensive end, but Robinson fit right in and attacked. We will need to see more, but a pretty intriguing starter kit when the Heat need an extra push on night’s like this one.

#4: Max Strus deserves another segment of shine, but for a different reason.

When looking at Max Strus in this one, I can have a similar conversation that I have as of late. The shooting will always be there, but the development off the attack continues to impress. He was blowing by the point of attack consistently and finding creases around the basket with scoops and runners from all spots on the floor. But aside from me going on that tangent again, he needs credit for another reason: cardio. Not just because this group was playing high minutes, but combining that with Strus’ role in this one. There’s already an element of this where Strus has to non-stop move in this offense to create shots for both himself and others, but that was taken to new heights in this one. That led into him struggling in the second half with every shot being short, but tonight was unique all in all.

#5: Fourth quarter/OT watch.

Now getting away from the player story-lines, let’s get back to the actual game. Lowry sat for the first time with 1 minute left in the third quarter, which was long overdue, but one thing was clear: the offense would fall off a cliff in the time he sat. He re-entered with 11 minutes to go in the fourth, meaning he sat for 2 minutes, and we saw that flip with an 8 point swing. There’s nobody to emulate what he was providing. But once he came back in, he picked up right where he left off. Big threes, more paint touches on drives, and finding the balance of a settled offense with a faster pace. Eventually, the Heat found themselves in a tie game with 3 and a half minutes left. Haywood Highsmith was putting together a rough offensive night, but his rebounding was one of the keys to the game. I noted it prior, but at that point in the game, he got 2 offensive boards with one being a tip-in to take the lead. After some other necessary plays, he hit an open three to take the lead late, giving Miami real hope. A possession after this, Kyle Lowry went deep in his bag for a fadeaway baseline jumper to extend the lead to 5. Washington bounced back with clutch buckets themselves though, sending the game to OT. Some back and forth continued, with some questionable calls late, and Miami found themselves in an awkward position. Down 1 for a  good portion of time, they couldn’t get over that hump offensively with all shots coming up short: for obvious reasons.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Raptors

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The Miami Heat faced the Raptors in Toronto on Wednesday night, and well it was your typical Heat-Raptors game.

If you looked at a stat sheet, you would say Miami had no business being in that spot. Turnovers. Bad. Rebounding. Worse.

They stayed around even through that, but those things were the overarching issues.

So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Nikola Jovic getting his moment.

With Bam Adebayo being ruled out tonight in Toronto, it raised an eyebrow for their big man room. Dewayne Dedmon was the sole big ready to play it seemed, and he was questionable up until tip-off. Yet Spoelstra did what he does best, make the unexpected move: Nikola Jovic as the starting five. And well, he had about as great of a start as you could expect from him. They were purposeful in getting him involved in that first quarter: pick and pops, dunker spot re-positioning, quick dives to the rim. He had 11 points in that opening quarter, but the bigger point was that he fit in. They were able to successfully run a 5 out offense, while his drop on the other end was solid with straight up contests. This was his first true showing in the regular season for Miami, and it definitely won’t be the last. He’s impressive.

#2: Max Strus’ offensive diversity stands out as he catches fire.

Max Strus walked into the second quarter with 0 points, while Miami knew they needed something from a shooter to create positive half-court offense. And he ended up finishing that quarter with a total of 15 points, including 2 triples and 5 free throws. Not the usual Strus shot profile, but that’s what stood out here. There was diversity in the sets they were running for him as the Raptors overplay with a ton of length and solid defenders. Curls, hand-offs, pick and rolls, paint touches, catch and attacks. You just didn’t know what was coming from possession to possession, and that’s why I say he’s improved more than anybody on this team. The guy literally threw down a poster dunk in the second quarter as well. He’s elite as a simple shooter, but we just have to quit stopping there.

#3: The take-away mid-way through this game: the transition and pace game.

When entering this game, the biggest X’s and O’s story-line for me was the battle of pace. The Raptors are the best team in the league in that transition department, meaning you just have to turn down turnovers and you’ll be in a good spot. If you allow them to get out and run, it becomes problematic for a few reasons: 1) they generate both rhythm and points when entering this mode and 2) once they start getting out and running, it’s almost contagious. In the second quarter, we saw Miami pushing pace in unnecessary fashion at times, simply falling into their play-style a bit. Kyle Lowry deserves a ton of credit for settling Miami in this one, which partly has to do with his familiarity with the Raptors, but they needed him to calm down the kids who were playing freely. A lot of the turnovers were the league sending an apparent memo to referees about travels (lol), but Miami also can’t produce this many against teams like this. It’s the main reason they dropped this one.

#4: The Raptors game-plan was simple for their 21-0 run: picking on a Heat big.

The Raptors went on a 21-0 run in the third quarter. For more perspective, the Heat didn’t score for 7 minutes straight. But I’m not focusing on the offensive issues right, since they were just playing high to not allow Miami’s shooting to redeploy. As for that 21 point spree by the Raptors, they played bully ball. Not by being physical, but because they were just picking on the Heat’s Dewayne Dedmon. As he entered the game in the third quarter, Toronto got ready to inbound. VanVleet yelled at Anunoby walked down the court to call out a play, which was essentially a curl to operate 2-on-1 with Dedmon. An easy bucket. Shortly after they went to that well for a bit, VanVleet entered his favorite mode: pick and roll against drop. They found a match-up they liked and went to it. This isn’t to just pile on Dedmon, since he actually got some buckets in that second half that were needed, but that was just Toronto’s perspective on offensive game-plan.

#5: An interesting style on the surface for Jimmy Butler usage.

As I said earlier, the Heat were without Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro tonight, arguably the team’s second and third best players. But well, they still have their best player to generate a good amount of usage, right? Wrong. As I went through early in this piece, the Heat’s box score was pretty spread around. Good start for Jovic, good second quarter for Strus, Martin and Vincent played very well offensively. Yet Butler only had 4 shot attempts halfway through the fourth quarter. And once he’s out of the mix in the offensive rhythm, it feels hard to just merge him back into things on the fly. Let me also add something of significance: Toronto was basically sending 3 guys every time Jimmy touched the ball. Hard to look past that. As the Raptors pulled away, Lowry was the one to keep piecing things together by getting to his spots, but it’s just an intriguing base on a night without two primary guys.

Miami Heat X’s and O’s: The Defensive Shift

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This hasn’t been the Miami Heat defense we’re accustomed to. Currently sitting 17th in defensive rating, they’re leaning heavily into the offensive side of things with this roster, which has essentially led them to a very strong 3 game win streak to get back to .500.

Yet while the box score would suggest it was all scoring, the film would tell you the opposite.

We often focus on the possessions where opposing teams draw a mismatch off a switch and get an easy bucket, making a total observation off a very small sample size. But in reality, they’re currently mixing up their scheme more than ever, and it’s giving me more hope that this team will be just fine for the time being.

We’ve seen them lean heavily into the 2-2-1 press and 2-3 zone, which off first glance makes you say: well they’re just doing that because they don’t have the personnel to guard straight up.

On some night’s that actually is the case, but the real reason for the heavy reliance is due to the Heat trying to find their defensive base in the meantime.

If you played basketball at any level from little league and up, there is always one primary principle taught when approaching a 2-3 zone: “flash middle.”

That essentially opens up and breaks the zone once the sides pinch in to the ball at the free throw line, leading to easy kick-outs for threes. But here’s the thing with the Heat defense: they don’t pinch in.

They stay home on shooters basically daring you to take that inefficient push shot in the middle of the floor time and time again. If you hit that enough to beat Miami, well then take the win.

I talked to Gabe Vincent for a bit after the Hornets game where we discussed the 2-3 zone, and I asked “is this your guys’ comfort zone now defensively?”

He responded, “Nah, everybody just struggles with it. I don’t think it’s our comfort zone, I think they just struggle with it.”

Bam Adebayo then joins in on my right: “If it ain’t broke, don’t break it.”

So I dug in a bit deeper. I asked him about that exact push shot that Miami keeps forcing within the 2-3 zone, and he said “that’s the stat guys upstairs.”

“For every organization, nobody likes that shot I guess,” he continued. “Percentage wise it’s a great shot for the defense, but for the offense it’s not as great of a shot.”

But the key point here to make is that this isn’t just a “2-3 zone” thing anymore. It’s becoming a man to man thing as well, as Miami has altered back into some of their drop coverage with Bam Adebayo. (Something I’ve been calling for a while now.)

Just take a look what Miami did to Cameron Payne in their win against the Suns:

They aren’t going to obtain this same coverage when a guy like Devin Booker is coming off a ball screen, but they will when it’s an inefficient shooter like Payne or Terry Rozier from the night’s prior.

This is a coverage that the Milwaukee Bucks have fully mastered. Since they have an elite rim protector in Brook Lopez, the ideal weak-side roamer in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and one of the best screen navigators in Jrue Holiday, they basically force one single shot as much as possible.

They shut the water off on threes and shots around the rim, forcing mid-range pull-ups all night.

And well, this is a variation of that.

Whoever is guarding the “Payne-like” handler will fight over the screen to force him downhill. Adebayo’s job is now to contain with a back-pedal, where he’s playing back to cut-off the pass or the full-out drive.

And as you saw when viewing that plethora of clips from last night, they just kept baiting them into the same shot.

You may be wondering, well what if they just begin attacking the rim relentless anyway? Well here’s what happens:

Now let me just reassure you that this isn’t a one game sample size thing. They did it in their two-game set against Charlotte as well, but we were just so focused on the fact that they almost blew the game on a night that flowed into OT.

That extra stuff disguised a major shift that we’re seeing at this moment in time. Just take a look at the shot profile in this two-game set as well:

Guys like Kelly Oubre and Terry Rozier were being forced to take shots they didn’t want to. But the bigger point here, Bam Adebayo in drop is just as elite as Bam Adebayo on switches.

Actually he may be more elite.

Yes it’s fun to watch clips of Adebayo clamping up your favorite guard or wing in isolation, but that’s not what makes him arguably the league’s best, and most versatile, defender.

The reason is because he can switch 1 through 5, back-pedal in drop, sit on the bottom box in a 2-3 zone, blitz and recover, or simply rotate at a very high level. Putting all of that stuff together is actually what gives him that label.

When I talked to Jimmy Butler post-game, he gave all of the credit to Bam “back there being an anchor on defense.” He’s the guy that they’re forming this all around, and as seen over the last three games, this shift could really be something that sticks long-term.

 

Video Version Here:

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Suns

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Simply this game was insane. If you like scoring, this was the game for you.

The 4th quarter consisted of the Suns and Heat just matching buckets, but the Heat stayed the course with Butler, Bam, and Lowry all coming up big.

Here are some takeaways…

#1: The Heat getting good bench production early on.

This has been a season for Miami where bench production as a whole isn’t the hottest topic. Although guys like Max Strus have shined when entering and Gabe Vincent has vastly improved, we’re talking about a team that is currently rolling out an 8 man rotation. But well, those three bench guys tonight were heavily responsible for the early offensive push. Vincent had 8 points, 3 assists, and 4 boards in the first half, but the bigger point was his half-court control and paint touches. He was generating great looks against a top tier Suns defense. Duncan Robinson was the recipient of that, knocking down an immediate two triples, while mixing in an in-between floater. Lastly, Dewayne Dedmon even provided some serviceable minutes. They’re not looking for anything special from him, just be neutral before Bam walks back to the scorers table, and did that early on.

#2: A substitution change from Miami.

When documenting certain trends that we see from the Heat, the substitution pattern was one of them tonight. The main thing we’re used to is Jimmy Butler playing the entire first quarter after Bam Adebayo exited first, which just basically means those two are being staggered. Yet tonight, we saw a minor shift. Max Strus and Jimmy Butler exited at the 5 minute mark, as Adebayo anchored that first quarter lineup. Then after 3 minutes, he walked back to the scorers table with Dewayne Dedmon. The only main change there is Butler played 3 stretches in the half instead of the usual two. Will find out more on that adjustment, but stood out for now.

#3: I still believe defensive creativity should be coming.

When talking about the Heat defensively, we’ve seen them withhold the switching structure for years on end. But more importantly, they’ve always had the personnel to actually do it. Now that they lack the size, we continually see smart offensive teams punish Miami down low, as the Suns did with Kyle Lowry on Deandre Ayton. But more big picture, this defense needs to lose the predictability from night to night. They may lack size, but they do obtain versatility. We’re seeing them embrace some of that with the 2-3 zone, but we still need to see more drop coverage from Bam Adebayo than a possession here or there. They will lean offense, but still need to tinker in other piles once in a while. We saw a bit of that with Dewayne Dedmon blitzing in the second half, but Booker and Ayton picked that right apart. (Which had to do with Miami’s rotations for the most part.)

#4: Heat fighting through the random scrub Heat killer trend.

The Heat have this bit where random role players seem to dominate them, but it’s been quite some time since we’ve seen it last. Yet this one came in a massive wave. Duane Washington Jr, who I put out there could’ve been an undrafted option for Miami a season ago, came out on fire. 16 points in about 5 minutes of game-time in that first half. A lot of that can relate back to my last section of defensive lapses, but it’s also just a certain player getting hot at the wrong time. Chris Paul being out meant more playing time for him, while the Heat’s defensive game-plan to start was essentially very Devin Booker driven. Giving him the Joel Embiid treatment with doubles was a sign of respect, but Washington made them pay.

#5: The Heat embraced a certain offensive style in the 4th quarter.

The Suns began to takeover to begin the 4th quarter, appearing to fully pull away. Miami couldn’t get rebounds, stops, and were looking different offensively. By different I mean not slowing things down into the half-court. For a minute there that didn’t look like a good thing. Caleb Martin was forcing on the break, and it looked like Miami ran out of gas. But after a string of stops on the defensive end, Miami was getting out and running. More importantly, with Bam Adebayo having his hands on the steering wheel. He was attacking with purpose, including a big time and-1 to cut the lead to 3 halfway through the 4th. It just kept happening over and over: finally, the Heat were letting Bam just do what he does best. Operating in the open floor with the game in the balance.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Hornets

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The Miami Heat played the Charlotte Hornets again on Saturday night, but they had a new face in the fold: LaMelo Ball. Miami coming off an OT win, simultaneously including an unnecessary collapse.

Either way, they came away with a much needed win in this one as well, landing themselves only 1 game under .500. And the way the offense looked, it was a good momentum builder to say the least.

So here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Miami’s opening stint showed off some of their intentional trends.

Before I get to how some of the things transpired in the first 24 minutes of basketball, I want to discuss some of the Heat’s intentional trends walking into this game. The first one was the Bam Adebayo element. They wanted him going at Mason Plumlee in the face-up game in that high to mid post. He can’t move his feet enough to stay with him, and it just unlocks so many things when Miami begins to move and cut like they did. Plus speaking of moving, the real takeaway from the initial game-plan was their pace. They clearly wanted to push in transition a lot more against this team that likes to do the same. It definitely wasn’t sustainable, but some interesting tweaks to keep track of.

#2: Well the defense has some cleaning up to do.

Although the Heat looked pretty crisp offensively to begin this game, it didn’t seem to matter. It didn’t feel like it at the time, but the scoreboard kept portraying that buckets were just being matched. The Heat were dipping off weak-side shooters and the Hornets continued to knock down shots. To put in perspective, Charlotte shot 54% from the field in the first half. That’s just tough to deal with mentally. To stray away for a second, that’s the reason I’ve said if a starting lineup shift was to be made, the move is to swap Caleb Martin for Max Strus. If the defense generally hasn’t been up to standards anyways, why not lean all the way into offense with Butler at the 4? It splits the reps of Strus and Robinson, pairs up Martin with his defensive pressure point buddy Gabe Vincent, and gives Miami a different dynamic. But hey, I guess that discussion is for another time.

#3: Aside from specifics, consistency and sustainability are the Heat’s main needs for fixing.

Big picture when looking at the Heat’s first few games of the season, we can discuss a couple different issues that need to change. The starting 4 spot, defensive liability, three-point shooting, etc. But the overarching point is that even when those things do make an appearance, it just can’t be sustained. As I stated in my first takeaway, pace was being pushed. Then it faded. Three-point shooting was there. Then it faded. Assisted field goals were at an incredibly high rate. Then it faded. That doesn’t mean things don’t need to be fixed up from the outside to propel this, but they just need to find a way to stop getting away from the intentional game-plans. If they can find that balance of consistent effort, they would be in a much different spot. Take the third quarter for another example. Getting back to the play-book, they scored 25 points in 5 minutes. That reflects the potential of a high powered offense. Yet once again, you can’t stray from that.

#4: Max Strus continues to do things.

While storylines have been flying surrounding this Heat team to begin the year, we haven’t had the time to truly discuss an internal roster one which is Max Strus. Who has improved the most from season to season? I would give that award to Strus this season, who has been one of their more trusted and consistent players. From hitting big shot after big shot upon entering off the bench to begin the year to the all-around polishing across the board, he’s playing at an exceptional level. We can talk about that “all-around game,” but the bigger point to make is he’s taking his role and exceeding expectations. And that role is three-point shooting. One thing you can bet on: Max Strus is going to get his shot off no matter what, and that’s the type of thing this offense needs.

#5: Some minor mental notes I took from this game: X’s and O’s.

We haven’t had a game in a while where I wasn’t spamming late-game execution in the final takeaway spot, but here we are. Instead, I want to just throw out some mental notes I took from this game on the X’s and O’s side. The first one includes the incredible movement we saw from the offense tonight, but more specifically Jimmy Butler. He’s never really a high usage cutter or mover in this Heat offense, but well, he was tonight. And that is the exact key to making the Tyler Herro starting lineup thing work. The second thing I noticed was more Bam Adebayo in drop. A trend that should not be a momentary thing. It works at a high level with his versatility, without shooting yourself in the foot with a smaller roster. The last thing I fed into a bit already, but this team is better scripted. Like a quarter back on that initial drive, this team operates better with structure. Tyler Herro sometimes makes those problems look smaller when he’s cooking, but staying with the game-plan will be a staple for me all year.

5 Exciting Things About The Melbourne Cup 2022

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Australia’s most celebrated horse racing event, the Melbourne Cup, will crown the best galloper a few days from now. Besides the coaches, trainers and runners, racing fans, establishments, and other stakeholders are preparing for a few days of unforgettable celebrations.    

With an AUD$8 million prize pot, Melbourne Cup is Australia’s wealthiest handicap race. According to Victoria Racing Club’s track records and attendees, hundreds of thousands of spectators converge at the Flemington Racecourse annually for several days of fanfare. Others can watch the action live via sports television channels or online streaming platforms.   

Below are a few primary reasons why the event deserves the title, the race that stops the nation. 

  • The spectacular races 

Several races are included in the Spring Racing Carnival held from September to November. The famed Flemington Racecourse hosts four prominent competitions, including the Melbourne Cup race. Besides the big event on 01 November, fans are also treated to other turf competitions and celebrations, namely, Victoria Derby Day, Oaks Day, and Champions Stakes Day.   

  • Victoria Derby Day (29 October): The Flemington Racecourse hosts four races that make up the Carnival, which opens on the last Saturday of October this year. This 2,500-meter race is a competition for three-year-olds with an AUD$2 million prize pot. As the perfect pre-opening ceremony for the Cup, the twenty-four runners that make up the Melbourne Cup final field will be announced hours after Derby Day. 
  • Melbourne Cup Day (01 November): The Carnival’s main attraction and Australia’s second wealthiest race happens every first Tuesday of November. Thoroughbreds will battle it to win the AUD$4.4 million and 18-carat gold trophy. 
  • Victoria Racing Club Oaks Day (03 November): Three-year-old fillies compete on a 2,500-metre course for this Group 1 race. Prizemoney is more than AUD$1 million, attracting spectators and punters alike. This event, also called Kennedy Oaks or Crown Oaks Day, also features a day of music and fashion this year.  
  • Stakes Day (05 November): Closing the Spring Racing Carnival are two exciting Group 1 races in Australia’s premiere racecourse: the VRC Champions Stakes and the VRC Sprint Classic. Each of these sprint competitions carries an AUD$2 million prize purse.

It’s best to keep track of the important dates to make sure you don’t miss out on the exciting events.

  • The betting frenzy

Betting is a national pastime in Australia. The country’s gambling sector, which includes horse race wagering, netted at least AUD$225 billion in gambling revenues in 2019.  

Proceeds from the Melbourne Cup likely contribute a significant portion, considering that the Cup is the biggest one-day betting event in the country. Individuals spend an average of AUD$179 for the race, AUD$91 for entertainment, and AUD$88 for punting.   

Try your luck on lower-stake games first to increase your chances of picking the right horse. At the same time, access replay videos and other valuable information thru  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSqgmNBQDpoUIZPNB6CkUHg and similar channels. 

Keep updated with the race developments and, most importantly, the ever-changing order of entry before the final field is announced. For instance, as of 27 October, Caulfield Cup 2022 winner and race frontrunner Durston has withdrawn from the race for medical reasons.  

  • The unforgettable celebrations 

The Carnival is Australia’s prestigious horse racing event. And it’s only fitting that Melbourne Cup Day is a holiday in the city. On race days, crowds gather at Flemington to witness the race and participate in the celebrations. The live audience can also bet on their favorite runner, so heed the tips above and read a useful betting guide for beginners.

Marquees will dot the grounds where ticketholders are treated to sumptuous food and overflowing cocktail. Attendees will also be treated to live entertainment featuring local bands and musicians.   

Besides the Melbourne Cup Day happening on 01 November at 3 PM, punters and non-punters look forward to participating in several other events, in and out of the racecourse. Even residents outside of Melbourne join in the fanfare and celebrate in their homes, offices, or town centers. For instance, multiple venues across Australia’s capital, Canberra City, are preparing for the Cup Day celebrations in style.  

  • The opulent fashion 

Fashion is also a significant element in the Melbourne Cup celebrations. Racegoers are expected to dress their best according to the day’s theme. Cocktail dresses and fancy hats are a must for women, while men must look dapper in tailored suits for a shot to win prizes reserved for the best-dressed list. 

Derby Day is a black-and-white affair, while the Melbourne Cup focuses on colorful and bold patterns. Oaks Day, also known as ladies’ day, is about floral designs and pastel hues. Blue cornflower, yellow, and pink rose typically adorn these clothing ensembles.   

  • The star power 

Elsa Pataky, Chris Hemsworth’s wife, will appear on this year’s Derby Day stage. Athletes, Hollywood stars, and royal members have graced the Spring Racing Carnival for years.

Usain Bolt showed up twice, in 2017 and 2019, claiming that the Melbourne Cup is one of his favorite events. Lindsay Lohan and Lady Kitty Spencer also appeared in the same year. Derby Day and Oaks Day also hosted celebrities Sarah Jessica Parker, Liz Hurley, and Eva Longoria, to name a few. 

Even the late Queen Elizabeth II, a known horse lover, took a shot at winning the Melbourne Cup. In 1997, Her Majesty fielded Arabian Story and finished sixth place. 

Final thoughts 

The Melbourne Cup race may be the highlight of the Spring Racing Carnival, but there are other reasons to join in on the fun. Every year, organizers try their hardest to uniquely showcase Australia’s culture more than just celebrating the country’s best thoroughbreds. And with activities that appeal to everyone, participating in these festivities is an experience you don’t want to miss.  

Five Takeaways from the Heat Escaping Charlotte

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The Heat walked into this game against the Hornets really needing one, and it appeared that they’d be getting it.

Except we saw a repeat of the last few games again: falling apart late.

A 13 point lead beginning the fourth went to a Hornets lead to Jimmy Butler dominance to eventual overtime.

They escaped late to come out with the win, so here are my takeaways from this one…

#1: Duncan Robinson with a strong offensive first half.

Duncan Robinson was the leading scorer for the Heat at half, and easily their most intriguing player from that initial 24 minute stint. He had 11 points, and 1 three. Yes I know, that makes you think. With Tyler Herro being ruled out in this game, Max Strus stepped back into the starting lineup meaning one thing: more intentional reps for Robinson in the second unit. Flying off hand-offs and pin-downs is all cool, but turning those into pick and roll reps is what led him to that scoring mark. Blending into 2-on-1’s with Bam Adebayo inside the lane has been a fun development, especially since his in-between game has looked good. He works heavily on that floater, and we’ve seen it come into fruition a bit recently. When he can not only be that offensive punch off the bench, but also the offensive hub, it’s a good sign for the offense.

#2: More inverted pick and rolls.

There are a couple actions that I feel like I discuss more often than others: one being the post splits they run and well, the second being inverted pick and rolls. For starters, it’s the simplest way to try and get Bam Adebayo downhill. Instead of asking for straight isolations, it builds up some momentum for him down either slot as an attacker. But the other element of this involves Jimmy Butler. It isn’t to get him moving downhill like mentioned with Bam. It’s about creating advantages through mismatches when the guard screens. As we saw in the second quarter tonight, Lowry came to screen for Butler, who bursted to the middle of the floor as the defender cut him off. The point to make: he cut him off under the free throw line. Win for Jimmy. He then put him in a footwork blender leading to an and-1 at the rim. With an offense that has felt bland at time early in the year, more of this continues to create advantages for their main guys.

#3: Yes I’m going to do it again: some more thoughts on the 2-3 zone.

Something I harp on a ton when discussing the Heat’s 2-3 zone as of late: shifting the shot profile from the opposing team. It’s one thing for the Damian Lillard’s of the world getting to adjust their shot diet in a game, but when facing a team like Charlotte who routinely has one offensive base, it can really create chaos. Getting back to the basics, the way to beat the 2-3 zone is getting to the middle of the floor one way or another. Off the bounce, entry to the free throw line, etc. But even though the Hornets were executing that early in the game, betting on push shots inside the free throw line to fall consistently is an uneven bet. That’s what makes the zone so effective. My only problem is that we’re seeing them rely on it so heavily this early in the year, meaning teams will be ready for it in no time. But for now, it’s cool to watch.

#4: Jimmy Butler reliance tonight.

Heading into this game without a lot of hype around it, with the Hornets being the third worst offense simultaneously being without LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, and Cody Martin, it was still clear the Miami Heat needed to get this one. And well, Jimmy Butler seemed to want this one. He came out defensively in a way where you know he’s locked in, but as I stated earlier, he was just putting on a footwork display inside the arc. His attacking was evident as he got to the line 12 times through the first 3 quarters, while acquiring 8 boards and 7 assists in the same span. When talking about energy, I do believe Jimmy Butler being locked in means others will follow closely. You don’t necessarily want him hitting the deck time and time again to get to the line against a bad team in Charlotte, but well, Miami needed him doing just that in a close game in the 4th. Isolation, low post, spin moves, buckets. We saw it all in this one. Should we have seen it all in this one though? Probably not.

#5: The continuation of late slippage.

As the Heat walked into the fourth quarter with a 13 point lead, it was certain they couldn’t do it again…to this Hornets team. With Butler playing the entire third, they can close it out early to give some of these guys rest. But well, the inevitable happened again. A 13 point lead turned into a 3 point lead in two and a half minutes. When trying to be in that elite tier of NBA teams, there just can’t be this seesaw of play and leads. Both sides of the floor once again turned off, as the Hornets began to turn up. When Butler is asked to re-enter into the game with 8 minutes left in the fourth in a game like this, there’s a problem. A big problem. Luckily he began bailing them out late in this game as I mentioned previously, getting them across the regulation finish line and into overtime. Miami somehow survived overtime with things going their way. It’s good they got the win, but far from a good win. This wasn’t a positive thing to see.

A look at how the US is finally influencing soccer in England

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As American sports fans, we have always been able to boast about having the world’s best players when it comes to football, baseball, and basketball. When it comes to soccer though, we’ve historically, had to be bystanders during conversations about the beautiful game. At least, the national team hasn’t left enough of a mark on the international stage for us to speak with any conviction about soccer. However, the days of quietly nodding along in the corner now seem to be numbered when you consider that there is an American soccer revolution currently taking place around the world courtesy of the personnel in the Premier League club Leeds United. 

Tellingly, this current Leeds side is heavily influenced by three Americans who are successfully leaving their mark on the globe’s toughest league and in doing so, proving to the world that the US can influence soccer at the highest level. They are, of course, Brenden Aaronson, Tyler Adams, and coach Jesse Marsch. Crucially, both Aaronson and Adams are regular starters for the US men’s national team. In particular, Adams is the captain of the US team.

Undoubtedly, their on-field success is the driving reason behind why fans are beginning to take soccer in the US seriously as Leeds continues to pull off remarkable results with the help of their American stars as they did when they beat Chelsea and then Liverpool in late October, as covered by ESPN. 

Marsch carries the hopes of a generation 

Another reason for this growing wave of international respect is Wisconsin-born Marsch, who is the current manager in the hot seat at Elland Road. Now, it’s been well-documented that this is the single most crucial job that any American has had in the world’s most demanding soccer league. Marsch is striving to become the first manager born in the US to be considered a success in the Premier League. 

Predictably, we’ve had to witness a ceaseless inquest from the media in England who go out of their way to try to prove that the 49-year-old is out of his depth, with the influence of this being seen in the views on this BBC article. Unsurprisingly, is a narrative that does not go down well here in the States. Interestingly, this is why American fans have thrown their weight behind Leeds as the country’s reputation, as far as coaching soccer goes, is on the line. In other words, if Marsch is a success then doors will open to other prospective managers here in the US who have ambitions about coaching in England. 

 

As touched on, this is why more and more Americans have adopted Leeds as their team and as things stand, it’s also worth keeping in mind that many supporter groups have popped up over the last few months, such is the resolve to see the US finally breakthrough at the summit of the sport.

A nation united 

Perhaps most telling of all, however, was the recent forming of a supporters group in Ohio given that locals have never really given soccer in England a second glance until now. One of the reasons why this historical indifference could have now come to an end is that a big drawcard these days when it comes to sports in America that haven’t always been traditionally popular is betting, which is increasing in popularity after sweeping reform has spread across the country. 

With this in mind, it’s easier to see why Ohioans are now taking to soccer and following Leeds given that as of the 1st of January, locals will be able to use sports betting apps to bet on the Premier League which will undoubtedly stir up more interest in the important goings-on across the pond. To mark this historic occasion and the start of a new era, fans in the Buckeye State can access this BetMGM bonus code Ohio, which includes a $200 no-deposit free bet. In addition to that, this can be used on Premier League outright markets such as Leeds finishing in the top half. As soccer’s popularity continues to grow in the country, expect to see the range of markets grow for the Premier League and other top European leagues.

Only time will tell whether Leeds is able to achieve this or not but the one certainty is that they will have millions of fans in the US roaring them on.

Yes, this club which lies over 3000 miles from the east of the US is now a regular fixture in the lives of Americans who sense that a long overdue breakthrough is about to be made.

Top Reasons behind the Popularity of Cricket Betting

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Why Is Cricket Betting Attracting More People?

 

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world. It is fun and exciting and draws millions of fans during international matches and tournaments. 

 

Today, people from different countries love to bet on cricket. Its popularity is growing by leaps and bounds with each passing day. Additionally, top cricket betting sites record massive footfalls during test and ODI series. 

 

What makes cricket such a popular option to bet on? Let’s find out!

 

100+ Countries Play Cricket

 

The ICC has 108 member countries. Most of them are eligible to play tests and one-day matches. Several teams like England, Australia, India, South Africa, and Pakistan have made their mark in the international rankings. 

 

Additionally, many upcoming countries are joining the list. You can see new teams like Ireland, Afghanistan, and Tanzania featured in the list of top players. 

 

All these teams have millions of fans and followers worldwide. Many among them love to wager on the game to try their luck. As a result, the activity is gaining more traction as the days go by.

 

Several Betting Options

 

Cricket allows you to place your bets on different options. You may wager on:

 

  • Outcomes of the matches
  • Man of the match
  • Best bowler
  • Highest player scores

 

Additionally, you may try to guess the number of sixes or fours the players may hit during a game. It is also possible to wager on when the first wicket will fall and who will score the first four. 

 

Your choices are countless, and you can always find something to suit your preferences.

 

Top Tournaments

 

Cricket is perhaps the only sport with so many matches and tournaments happening all year. You can always find something to try your luck on, whether it’s January or December. Moreover, you can wager on top tournaments that draw international teams. The list includes the ICC World Cup, Indian Premier League, T20 World Cup, and more. 

 

Additionally, you may find games happening in your local region. There may even be simultaneous matches in different places at the same time. Therefore, it pampers you with choices, and you never need to feel bored.

 

Quick and Awesome Earnings

 

A single ODI tournament can have a payout of millions of dollars. Think of what you may be able to win when you bet on international tournaments like the World Cup. Cricket betting gives you an opportunity to earn a quick payout. You can receive thousands of dollars by correctly guessing the outcome of a single match. 

 

Best of all, you may become a millionaire in a quick time wagering on different games. No other sport gives you such a chance to earn handsomely.

 

Simple Rules

 

Cricket is a simple game. The rules are easy, and the game is not difficult to follow. You can learn to enjoy the matches in no time and even give your expert opinions. As a result, anyone can learn to wager on the sport in a short time. You don’t have to worry about complex rules or learning complicated strategies. 

So, it is an excellent option for casual gamblers. Additionally, people who want to take it seriously can develop their skills and experience fast. They can also learn from experts who present their odds.

 

 

The Rise of Online Sportsbooks

 

Today, you don’t need to look around for people to place your bets. You can get online and research the best sportsbook to wager your funds. 

 

Most importantly, many sportsbooks are available globally and have very few restrictions. For example, you can access sports betting in India through offshore websites. Gambling is illegal in the country, but it has no restrictions on online betting. 

 

So, the sport can be a good choice for gamblers who live in areas where gambling is not legal.

Moreover, most people use a mobile phone today. It helps them access several services using a mobile browser and apps. Even sports betting are available on Android and iOS apps. They let you wager on several sports, including cricket. 

 

Great Offers

 

Most sportsbooks offer attractive bonuses and rewards for new gamblers. They can get a matching percentage when they put funds into their accounts. As a result, people can bet using funds earned as rewards. They may need to spend less from their own pockets. It is another advantage of choosing a popular sport to try your luck.

 

Final Thoughts

Cricket betting is growing more popular as it is a very popular sport. Several countries host teams that have countless fans and followers. It is also getting famous for wide wagering options and best returns.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Blazers

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The Miami Heat played the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night, and they played well for a major portion.

But well, that doesn’t seem to matter.

Late in the game, they fell apart on offense, while going away from the zone defensively.

They let this one slip away. Anyway, here are some of the takeaways…(some leaning into the early stages)

#1: A pull-up 3 point display against Portland’s drop.

The Miami Heat were 10 of 22 from three in the first half tonight, but that on the surface just doesn’t tell the full story. Kyle Lowry, Gabe Vincent, and Duncan Robinson all had 3 a piece, but with the exception of Robinson, almost all of these shots were pull-ups. High pick and roll, dropping Jusuf Nurkic, that’s usually a formula for Tyler Herro to dissect. Yet tonight, Lowry and Vincent picked up in that department, both taking them in transition and the half-court. Miami shooting this well from three-point land is always a good sign of offense and ball movement, which was the case early in this one, but I mainly direct the credit to a nod in the schematic department, as these guys knew coming in: that shot will be sitting there for me.

#2: The 2-3 zone just keeps on pushing forward.

I feel like I land on this topic many nights, and maybe it’s nothing new since it’s becoming one of their base coverages, but I just can’t skip over what we’re seeing there. After most buckets in the second quarter, I was on Erik Spoelstra rotator cuff since he’d abruptly throw up the number 2’s in the air at the unit on the floor, meaning he wanted them to settle into that 2-3 press. The thing about that zone in this match-up is it messes up Portland’s usual gameplan. They’re 29th in 3 point attempts this year, which is essentially what that zone tends to give up. And the threes they’re used to are high PnR pull-ups from both Lillard and Simons. That zone mucked things up for a while there, and guys like Strus and Robinson deserve a ton of credit. We know what Martin and Vincent are doing at the top, but those bottom box guys being in correct positioning allows it not to bend. There is some real comfort in this coverage.

#3 Gabe Vincent deserves some words.

Although I touched on the overall shooting of this group and Vincent being a part of that, the specifics need to be discussed. He’s just been super stable in his role this year, which consistently includes heavy fourth quarter minutes. The way he can wreck havoc on elite guards on the perimeter is a gift in its own, but when he catches a rhythm offensively, he’s a tough player to keep off the floor. The pull-up three was falling, but he’s generating paint touches, feeding to rollers, and playing much slower than his past seasons. Another thing to note is he’s playing in some heavy creation lineups, which means his off-ball control is crucial. And while the spot-up three hasn’t been as elite as you’d want, he has still been a pressure point. Vincent is a back-up point guard right now, but starts are coming with Lowry’s rest days soon to come. And I know many are comfortable in him there, just as he did in the playoffs last year.

#4: We know this Heat team can force turnovers, but they’re turning the page on capitalizing off them.

As I talked about previously with their zone, plus Jimmy Butler’s passing lane masterclass on a nightly basis, it’s pretty obvious that this is a team that can force turnovers even considering being smaller. But the issue so far this year has been scoring off of those turnovers. They’ve never been a team that runs in transition too often, but it’s almost necessary when looking at the lineups they’re running of smaller/quicker guys. In this game, they were moving the ball extremely well in general, but that proved to be the case even more-so in transition to cash in on some easy buckets. If they can try and convert on this consistently, it makes things so much easier in their half-court creation.

#5: Ball movement and taking care of the rock early? Yes. Consistently carrying into late-game? Well, no.

With the ball movement looking as crisp as we’ve seen it tonight against Portland, I already know conversations are brewing surrounding Tyler Herro. Yet while I believe off-ball Herro movement is essential for this group, I’m not a part of that group of thinking. This formula transcends personnel. When this team gets paint touches on-ball, moves a ton off-ball, and takes care of the rock, this will be a familiar result. Turnovers are killer for this group, which always tend to follow heavy ball movement squads. Yet when you have a night to get the best of both worlds, it’s a great development for this team’s offensive trends. The only issue is consistency, which always feels to be the case. While all of that was true for 42 minutes, it stalled in the last 6. Portland fought back as Miami wasn’t generating the same looks. Simply, a major problem. The shot profile can’t be this flip-flopped depending on the time on the clock. While I hit on positives throughout this game, this takeaway of consistency is by far the biggest.