Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over the Suns

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The Miami Heat faced the best team in the league tonight, in the Phoenix Suns, and completely dominated without both Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro led the way off the bench, but pure outside shooting and offensive execution was the main reason for this.

So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Duncan Robinson steps down into bench role, but steps up in production.

It was one of those unexpected, yet expected moves that Erik Spoelstra pulled before this game with Max Strus staying in the starting lineup and Duncan Robinson staying in reserve mode. But as much as I thought I’d be discussing Strus’ hot start, Robinson absolutely took over the spotlight. It isn’t even much schematic points that need to be made, except that his confidence looked like it totally surged. Every shot, he had his legs under him and wasn’t swaying in anyway like he usually does after a couple don’t drop. Now, with him coming off the bench, the part many had their eyes on were the minutes of Tyler Herro and him together. And well, when you’re shooting like that, it’ll work. They did run some Herro-Robinson pick and pops with Robinson screening and slipping, which is the exact way to maximize that combo.

#2: Miami shifts who the offense is worked through, and an unexpected guy is the focal point.

I’ve talked a ton about the importance of PJ Tucker in that play-making role, but we saw a shift to begin this one. Initially, we saw much more of Tucker surveying in the dunker spot when one would drive and feed, instead of his usual back to the basket on the wing three. But that aside, they found a guy in the middle of the floor to just make the right sprays, and that guy’s name was Omer Yurtseven. Seven first half assists doesn’t even tell the full story, but just him stepping up when the offense needed that from him says a lot. We’ve seen monster scoring stretches from him this year. We’ve seen nonstop rebounding hounding from him as well. But that first half was the most promising stretch of basketball from Yurtseven that I’ve seen up to this point.

#3: Tyler Herro surprises in other ways now.

Yet again, it was a bit of a shaky start for Tyler Herro. Instead of being surprised by his wild shot-making or unexpected struggles, he surprised in a different way tonight. As I loaded up the box score for the first half, I did not expect there to be a 17 next to Herro’s name. Not only that, but he battled back to 50% shooting up to that point, which is just a big tell of where his game has gone over the last year. When he couldn’t get going tonight, he quickly got into “physical mode,” which is something I’d like to see him enter more often. One fast-break dunk looked to spark some things for him on the attack, and he began driving with his left shoulder leading the way. No more avoiding contact and wild scoops. Okay, there were a few scoops, but when the majority is just strong play from your young guard, good things will happen, which it did, as he ended up finishing the game with one of his best scoring games of the season.

#4: If Miami gets this offensive production most nights, they’ve found the perfect complements for Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

Roster construction is always a hot topic when talking about teams in the NBA, and more importantly, it’s a bigger topic for contending teams. Right now, the Heat are definitely a contending team. And when looking at the depth of this team, it’s led to us thinking about combinations that will work best in a playoff setting around Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, but I’m just not so sure there’s *one* right answer. But no matter who those guys end up being, this type of shooting around those two guys is the ultimate complements to each of their games. Even going back to Robinson and Strus, if both are shooting like this in a few months, there won’t be many minutes where one isn’t on the floor. That is the formula for Butler and Adebayo lineups, and Erik Spoelstra has found that formula.

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#5: The Heat just keep doing it.

8-2. That’s the Miami Heat’s record against the top 3 seeds in both the Eastern and Western Conference. No matter who has been available, how many road games they play, or what player is currently in a slump, they’ve still found ways against the top teams in this league. They handled Brooklyn early in the year, dominated the Chicago match-up, and won the majority of games against the Bucks, which they were majorly shorthanded for. On the other side of the league, they lost to Golden State on this trip, yet swept the match-up with the Utah Jazz, and handled business tonight against the Phoenix Suns. That slate of games is as impressive as it gets. Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo just watching from the sideline, as the young and hungry continue to battle through win after win. And well, that’s all that is needed. Buy time for Butler, Adebayo, and others, then it’s time to anchor down once the post-season hits. But they’re in a picture perfect position at this moment in time.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Miami Hurricanes land four-star edge defender Cyrus Moss

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Saturday, the Miami Hurricanes received a commitment from 2022 edge defender Cyrus Moss.

A four-star recruit, Moss is the sixth overall edge player in the 2022 class, as well as the second overall player in his class from the state of Nevada per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Moss comes to Miami from Bishop Gorman. Miami is no stranger to Bishop Gorman. Former Miami tight end Brevin Jordan played high school football there.

Moss had a bunch of offers on the table. In addition to Miami, he also held offers from Alabama, Clemson, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Texas, and Notre Dame. He had 30 offers in total.

Moss brings defensive versatility to Miami Hurricanes

Measuring in at six-foot-six, 220 pounds, Moss played both the edge defender and outside linebacker at Bishop Gorman. He is very good at disrupting the passing game, as he is able to follow the quarterbacks eyes very well and bat down passes. In addition to his explosiveness, he is also a very patient player. He is not afraid to sit back and let the play develop and then attack before the play develops fully.

Moss will be able to bring a pass-rushing presence to the Miami Hurricanes as well as a player that can disrupt offenses in the backfield. He is the type of player that you could build a defense around. Edge rushers are extremely important. We see in the NFL the premium that is placed on the position itself. The fact that Moss is able to bring that as well as other elements to his game is crucial. Having a good edge defender is important in football these days.

Currently, the 2022 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class ranks 48th nationally and seventh overall in the ACC per the 247Sports Team Rankings. All things considered, Mario Cristobal and his coaching staff have done a nice job of putting their mark on this class. They have managed to keep a lot of the original commitments to the class as well as add their own flair to it. We thought that there may be fireworks this weekend, and there certainly was.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Goldie’s Best Bets Week 18: Rams, Colts, Bucs, more

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Goldie:

All Time Record: 279-139-1          

Vs. Spread: 210-208-1

 

21-22 Season:  153-84-1               

Vs. Spread: 121-119-1

 

Week 17 Record: 12-4                

Vs. Spread: 10-6

 

Guarantee Record: 16-15

Upset Record: 17-13              

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 34-14              

21-22 Season: 18-13       

Week 17: 1-1

 

Goldie’s Guarantee

Carolina Panthers (5-11) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-4)

Vegas Picks: TB -8

Goldie’s Take: Bucs Win 31-16

Bucs have had lots of drama in the past week following the Antonio Brown fiasco that took place in their game against the Jets, but this is a Tom Brady team we are talking about here. It’s fair to assume they’ll lock back in quickly. Plus, Carolina hasn’t been competitive in weeks and can’t wait for this season to end. Bucs should beat the Panthers comfortably in this one, I GUARANTEE IT!

 

Goldie’s UPSET of the Week

Los Angeles Chargers (9-7) @ Las Vegas Raiders (9-7) 

Vegas Picks: LAC -3

Goldie’s Take: Raiders Win 27-26

What a better way to end the regular season than with a Prime time winner-take all contest. The Raiders have won three straight to keep them very much alive, while LA could be clinched already if it weren’t for a shocking blunder against Houston two weeks ago. In a big game like this, I’m going with the veteran quarterback Derek Carr to outduel young stud Justin Herbert. I could definitely see Herbert struggle under the bright lights of such an important game. Plus Raider nation should be coming strong for this one. Raiders pull off the UPSET and advance to the playoffs in a monumental win in the black hole. “Just Win Baby”

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: PIT +3.5

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

Vegas Picks: BAL -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Steelers Win 30-28

The Steelers win over the Browns last week helped us nail our 3rd straight UPSET of the week, so Jeffy and I are rolling with Pitt again. Lamar Jackson has once again been ruled out for Baltimore, so Tyler Huntley is set to start. Both team’s playoff chances are on life support and they both absolutely need a win (and help) to make the playoffs. Although this crowd won’t give Big Ben a friendly welcome like last week, I don’t see Ben going out with a loss to a backup quarterback. One final show from Big Ben Roethlisberger, as Steelers UPSET the Ravens on the road. 

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: GB -3.5

Green Bay Packers (13-3) @ Detroit Lions (2-13-1)

Vegas Picks: GB -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 24-20

Packers HC Matt LaFleur said earlier this week that Aaron Rodgers will start Sunday in Detroit. How long he stays in the game is another story. That being said, Green Bay is one of the most complete teams in football so even their backups can play. Should be interesting to see some Jordan Love in this one as well. Packers stay hot and enter the playoffs coming off a win. 

 

Rest of Week 18:

 

Kansas City Chiefs (11-5) @ Denver Broncos (7-9)

Vegas Picks: KC -11

Goldie’s Take: Chiefs Win 27-17

Given that this game is scheduled for Saturday, and the No.1 seed is still within reach for KC, the Chiefs should play their starters and treat this like any other game. Before the tough loss last week against the Bengals, the Chiefs had rattled off eight wins in a row, and were the hottest team in football. Andy Reid and Pat Mahomes have figured it out since their rocky start to the season, and will use this game to pick up some more momentum (and maybe the No.1 seed) heading into the playoffs. 

 

Dallas Cowboys (11-5) @ Philadelphia Eagles (9-7)

Vegas Picks: DAL -4

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 26-23

Not much riding on this game for either team as they’ve both pretty much locked up their seeding for the postseason. However, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did say that the starters would be playing earlier this week. The question is how much they’ll actually play. Also, Philly has had the COVID bug hit them a bit this week. Dallas heads into the postseason with a W. 

 

Washington Football Team (6-10) @ New York Giants (4-12)

Vegas Picks: WAS -7

Goldie’s Take: Washington Wins 20-14

Battle of the bottom of the NFC East takes place in the meadowlands this Sunday, a place where the Giants have been decent this season, posting a 3-4 home record. That being said, the G-Men have been just awful the past five games, getting outscored by a whopping 92 points in those contests. Washington hasn’t been much better, but at least they’ve been competing. Ron Rivera and the No Names end the season on a good note, while the Giants threw in the towel weeks ago. 

 

Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) @ Cleveland Browns (7-9)

Vegas Picks: CLE -6

Goldie’s Take: Browns Win 28-24

Another game where not much matters as far as postseason seeding goes, however Browns HC Kevin Stefanski has stressed that this game is still important for Cleveland. The Bengals are taking a more conservative approach for this one, as Joe Burrow (among other Cincy starters) are not expected to play in this one. Browns finish a rather underwhelming season strong with a win in the DAWG POUND!

 

Indianapolis Colts (9-7) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-14) 

Vegas Picks: IND -15.5

Goldie’s Take: Colts Win 30-10

With a win Sunday, Indy would clinch their second straight playoff berth under head coach Frank Reich. With a loss Sunday, Jacksonville would clinch their second consecutive No.1 pick. Stark differences in positioning heading into this one. Jonathan Taylor should run wild on a Jags defense who allowed 50 points to a Mac Jones led Patriots team last week. Indy has found their identity and should roll right past Jacksonville and into the playoffs. 

 

Chicago Bears (6-10) @ Minnesota Vikings (7-9)

Vegas Picks: MIN -5.5

Goldie’s Take: Vikings Win 28-21

Andy Dalton and Chicago looked solid last week against the Giants, but we must consider they were playing against the Giants. Can’t give the Bears too much credit now. Also, Minnesota will be getting QB Kirk Cousins back for this matchup, a much needed boost for their offense. Captain Kirk and the Vikings should get the win at home in a virtually meaningless week 18 contest. Venue call!

 

Tennessee Titans (11-5) @ Houston Texans (4-12)

Vegas Picks: TEN -10

Goldie’s Take: Titans Win 31-14

Tennessee clinches a first round bye with a win Sunday. No help needed, all the Titans need to do is win. Last week’s decimation of Miami just continues to prove that the Titans are legit this season. Although Tennessee did lose to Houston earlier this season, I don’t see it happening twice. Titans have been firing on all cylinders lately and a matchup with a subpar Texans team shouldn’t do anything to slow them down. Tannehill and the Titans cruise to the number 1 seed with a win in Houston.

 

New Orleans Saints (8-8) @ Atlanta Falcons (7-9) 

Vegas Picks: NO -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Saints Win 24-22

After a rocky up and down season, the Saints actually could sneak into the playoffs with a win and a Niners loss. Could happen. Taysom Hill is healthy for this one, and I would imagine Sean Payton is going to pull out all the stops to get his team into the playoffs. Saints do their part, and get the victory in a must-win in Atlanta. 

 

Seattle Seahawks (6-10) @ Arizona Cardinals (11-5)

Vegas Picks: ARI -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Cardinals Win 28-23

Cardinals win NFC West with a win and a Rams loss to the Niners, so they should be playing hard. Seattle has had a tough season to say the least, and rumors have already started flying around about whether or not Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson will be back next season. Cards have been overachievers this season, and should keep that going right into the playoffs with a home win in the regular season finale. 

 

New York Jets (4-12) @ Buffalo Bills (10-6)

Vegas Picks: BUF -16

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 24-13

Bills clinch AFC East with a win this weekend, and they should considering they’re favored by over 2 TDs. However, the Jets have sneakily been playing a bit better as of late. Bills at home with playoff implications on the line should take care of business no doubt, but wouldn’t be shocked if Planes keep this one a bit closer than expected.

 

New England Patriots (10-6) @ Miami Dolphins (8-8)

Vegas Picks: NE -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Patriots Win 26-20

Bill Belichick has very quickly and very impressively brought this team back to the playoffs just two seasons removed from losing the best player ever. This week they’ll head to Miami to face a team that beat them way back in week one. Bill is out for revenge in this one, plus Miami’s hopes were brutally massacred last week in Tennessee. Pats win in Miami. 

 

San Francisco 49ers (9-7) @ Los Angeles Rams (12-4)

Vegas Picks: LAR -4.5

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 34-27

Both Rams and Niners have legitimate playoff stakes on the line in this one, so this should be one of the better games of the weekend. However, 49ers QB Jimmy Garrapolo is iffy to play. And even if he does play, he’ll be playing through a good deal of pain. Tough situation for San Fran, as they’re tasked with facing the mighty Aaron Donald led pass rush. Rams should take care of business at home to clinch the NFC West and the 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. 

 

PJ Tucker Taking the Reigns of this Heat Team in his Own Unselfish Way

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When evaluating a potential playoff series match-up between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat, could a major point of emphasis be as simple as one team has PJ Tucker and the other doesn’t?

At this point in the season, most definitely.

After he was perceived to be a high level role player with supreme defensive talent when joining Miami this off-season, the opinions have shifted dramatically in a positive direction. And rightfully so.

Simply, he can fill the shoes of whoever you ask him to, and he does it quite seamlessly.

When Bam Adebayo goes down to begin the month of December, who can takeover that back-line defensive task, while distributing on the offensive end on a similar level?

Oh, just PJ Tucker.

Who can emulate the mid-post that Jimmy Butler does when he goes down for continuous extended periods?

Oh, just PJ Tucker.

Who can raise the production of outside shooting when Duncan Robinson goes through slumps, Max Strus enters protocols, or there’s just limited perimeter players available?

Oh, just a 46.2% 3 point shooter named PJ Tucker, which ranks number one in percentage among the top 250 players in 3 point attempts per game.

To dive into that number a bit more, he’s shooting just under 47% from three on pure catch and shoot looks, while obtaining a 60.9% effective field goal percentage across the year. News flash: the reason this is so impressive is because attempts have risen, his role has gotten bigger, and the number of defensive eyes on him keep climbing.

Also, since he’s well known to be the catalyst of a corner specialist, 91.4% of his shots are coming from the corners, which is the highest mark of his career.

Many of these numbers are pretty absurd attached to Tucker’s play so far this season on the offensive end, but game film seems to be even more absurd.

Looking at the clip above, this is the new role for Tucker when Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler aren’t on the floor, and it’s something nobody could’ve predicted he’d be able to fill as a play-maker.

The ball is inserted into him inside that wing three, which pretty much triggers two things: Tucker play-making mode is activated with his back to the basket, and weak-side off-ball screening is going to be the main point of emphasis.

Tyler Herro looks to be setting Max Strus a screen to fly around the perimeter into a hand-off, but well, that would be too predictable in a Miami Heat offense, right?

Strus cuts back down baseline to reverse the hand-off the other way, as Herro rises up to the top of the key as a safety blanket. Two flash to Strus as they usually do, and he hits Tucker on that slip screen that he finds himself in so often.

From there, all Tucker needs is a 2 foot plant, a quick spring, and a one-hand floater that is becoming more of an offensive staple than his corner shooting that I brought up previously.

Of course it’s great to see that shot down low falling, but as I said before, the most intriguing part about that entire clip is the first 3 seconds. The offense being worked completely through Tucker with Adebayo and Butler on the sideline, and Lowry in the locker room, is not a temporary thing.

That’s a tool that Erik Spoelstra has found, and will not waste.

Here’s pretty much the same exact set except on the opposite side of the floor.

This time around, Omer Yurtseven is setting the end around screen for Strus to fly off of for the hand-off, yet the same outcome is found. Strus refuses it and cuts back-door, while Tucker throws a pass that pretty much sums up is unique new play-style this season.

But aside from the behind the back flashiness, one more thing stands out about Tucker here.

Go back and watch this play again, but focus on Tucker reading the floor. Jusuf Nurkic had to make a decision between finding Strus below the rim, stepping up to Yurtseven, or taking the gamble of playing the middle and betting on the recovery game.

Tucker smartly waits it out one extra second, which makes all the difference on plays like this, as Nurkic makes that predictable step up. As soon as he takes that step, Tucker hits Strus for the easy two, as no recovery can then be made.

That’s the definition of PJ Tucker. Waiting that extra second.

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But as much as we sit here and talk about the unpredictable nature of Tucker as an offensive threat, I’d say he’s been pretty predictable on the defensive end to say the least.

Looking at some one-on-one match-ups, he has held Giannis Antetokounmpo to 3 of 9 shooting this season, Khris Middleton and Nikola Vucevic to 1 of 8 shooting, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a 1 of 4 night, Domantas Sabonis has gone 0 of 3, Karl Anthony Towns went 1 of 4, Jayson Tatum shot 0 for 3, and the list here can go on and on and on.

Of course stats like this can never tell the full story in general terms like this, but with Tucker, he forces top level talents like those guys to rough nights.

He takes up the match-up of the best player no matter what position they are, since as seen above, that’s as broad positionally as you can get. And when teams begin forcing him into switches off their star player, Erik Spoelstra than schemes it up to make him guard the screener, which ultimately won them a game against the Utah Jazz early this season.

He’s reliable, he’s versatile, and he’s a winner. And most of all, he’s an Erik Spoelstra schematic favorite in terms of the amount of places he can be plugged into on both ends of the floor.

PJ Tucker has stepped up at an incredible level as the Heat are enduring a very awkward time without their top level talent every single night. But at this moment in time, and when Miami enters post-season mode, I believe Tucker is top level talent.

Of course he’s not at the level of a Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo, but I’d say he’s equally as important. And well, I don’t believe that’s a controversial or debatable statement at this stage, which says a lot about what this guy has been able to do over the first 39 games of the season.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Horse Race Betting Guide for Beginners

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Horse racing is a popular sport that facilitates many betting opportunities. The thrill of choosing a winning horse and watching it charge for the lead as it comes down the backstretch makes the sport more fun and exciting. Some of the biggest horse racing events attract huge viewership, and the payouts are just as big. To boost your horse racing betting skills, understand the competing horses’ form and know the jockeys, track, and horse conditions. Before placing your bets, understand the horse racing betting odds to help you make informed choices.

Consider diversifying your bets by wagering on several horses across multiple races or on a single race. Familiarize yourself with horse racing terminology and find a betting strategy, including Dutch betting, lay betting, or each-way betting. When starting, you may have a limited bankroll. However, based on the bookmaker, you can take advantage of welcome offers, cashback bonuses, and horse racing rebates. Below is a horse race betting guide for beginners.

Horse race betting sites

The birth of horse racing sites means you no longer have to go to the tracks to place your bets. Along with being able to bet on any race track globally, you can watch the sport from online sites. Look for trusted horse race betting sites and ensure that they offer multiple betting options, a lot of tracks and actions, and the best interfaces. You can also get betting tips for different races on these betting websites, including the Golden Slipper tips, the latest news, and everything horse race betting related.

Horse race betting strategy

There is no greater joy than watching the horses you bet on crossing the finish line just as you predicted. Nevertheless, winning a horse race bet isn’t about luck or selecting the horse with the best name. It’s about the racing strategies and tips you can use to make wiser choices with greater winning chances. Consider taking your time to go through strategy guides to help you crash every race you bet on. You can also create your own horse race betting strategy necessary for long-term bet winnings.

The odds

The odds indicate a horse’s winning chances. Shorter odds mean the horse is more favored. A horse with odds of 3/1 is deemed to have higher success chances than those with 6/1 odds. Odds are set by the bookmakers and are most likely to favor themselves. 6/1 odds mean that you get six in return for every one unit you bet plus one unit as it’s your original bet.

Bookmakers consider the horse’s track records and the amount wagered on them to protect themselves from losing money. If a horse attracts a lot of interest, its odds may be shortened and may not reflect its real winning chances. For example, if you bet $20 on 6/1 odds and your horse wins, you’ll get $140 (20*6 + 20*1) as your payout.

Types of horse racing wagers

When betting on horse races, it’s essential to understand the different bet types you can place. In show bets, your horse must finish first, second or third, making your winning chances very good. Place bets involve your horse finishing the race first or second, making your winning chances suitable. The win has average winning chances because your horse must finish first. In quinella bets, you choose two horses in the same race, and they must finish in first and second position in no particular order.

Exacta involves choosing two horses, and they must finish in the first and second position in the exact order you bet on, making your winning chances difficult. In trifecta bets, your horses must finish in first, second, and third places in the exact order you wagered on. This makes your winning opportunities very hard. Superfecta has tough winning chances because your horses must win in the precise order you bet on in positions one, two, three, and four. They also require a sizable bankroll, and the payouts are big. Daily double bets are hard to win as your horses must win two consecutive races.

How to place a horse race bet

Placing a horse race bet isn’t complicated. If placing your bets online, you must open an account with a legit betting site and deposit funds. Find the race you want to bet on and how much you’re betting on it, then place your bet. If you’re going to the tracks to get your ticket, state the racetrack’s name and the number of the race you’re betting on. Indicate your bet amount, the type of wager, and the horse’s number.

Endnote

If you’re new to horse racing betting, researching before placing your bets increases your winning chances. Consult the above guide for betting basics and understand how the sport works.

Tua Tagovailoa

Tua Tagovailoa adding new weather-based focus to training

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.As someone used to living in a tropical climate, it can be a severe shock to the system when the environment drastically changes to a much colder setting. Joints freeze up, more effort is needed to do daily tasks. In the case of football players, your performance could go down. Footballs lose 20% pressure, and for a quarterback, that makes a huge difference.

Unfortunately for the Miami Dolphins, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered from that exact scenario. It was clear during last week’s 34-3 loss to the Tennessee Titans, that Tagovailoa was not just having a bad game. The frigid air and pouring rain made it almost impossible for the island native to create any sort of positive momentum.

Tagovailoa had his worst game as a pro by far in what was his biggest opportunity so far. After a seven-game winning streak, all the Dolphins had to do was win two more times. They would be in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. But instead, Tagovailoa went 18-38, for 208 yards and an interception. Even his signature accuracy was severely hampered by the weather. His passes either sailed over the heads of his intended receivers, or bounced at their feet.

It was a wholly unacceptable performance, even in the eyes of Tagovailoa’s most staunch defenders. Tagovailoa was also very self-critical of his performance in that game, refusing to let the weather be an excuse.

“It played somewhat of a role,” Tagovailoa admitted. “But at the game, you got to go out there and you got to execute the plays regardless of the conditions, regardless of what it is. And, that, we just didn’t do enough of.”

It’s admirable that he’s not making excuses for himself. But anyone who watched the game could tell that the weather was having a very adverse effect on Tagovailoa’s game. There seemed to be no preparation for the weather throughout the week. It’s been said that Hall of Fame coach Don Shula allegedly used to soak footballs in ice water before games he knew his team would be playing in awful weather conditions. Many other coaches have similar plans to help their team get acclimated. But this Miami Dolphins squad looked frozen solid. It speaks poorly to the coaching staff for the entire team – not just Tua Tagovailoa – to appear unready for the challenge.

Now the offseason is fast approaching. Tagovailoa has an opportunity to try and show he’s still worth investing in. No matter what, he fully expects the speculation surrounding his future in the NFL to swirl all over again.

“I think people have their own opinions.” He said. “I’ve heard this the entire time I’ve been here so at the end of the day, I can control what I can control and that’s to be the best version of myself for this team. We’ve got to move on to the next game at this point. We’ll look at the mistakes that we’ve made, make some corrections and move on.”

Now with his fate up in the air, Tagovailoa revealed he has a very specific personal training regimen he intends to take into the offseason. One that he hopes will ensure he’s better prepared in the future.

“We do look at the mistakes that we’ve made after every game that we’ve played and see what we can fix to help us become successful so we don’t make those same mistakes. I think for me it’s being able to simulate the cold weather scenario and trying to throw a ball while it’s wet at the same time in cold weather. A lot of the good teams are cold weather teams as well. I think that is something to take into consideration this offseason for myself. I’ll probably go visit my brother or take a trip somewhere that’s cold and kind of get the feel of that.”

Tua Tagovailoa is going to be under scrutiny for not thinking of this sooner. His team may be the Miami Dolphins – for now – but every other AFC East opponent is a cold weather team. Whether it’s fair to criticize him for this or not is irrelevant. It’s already begun. The fan base has already run out of patience with him. He was advertised as the savior of the franchise. He has not lived up to that remarkable title.

Now, Tua Tagovailoa is at a crossroads in his young career. Fair or not, his performance against the New England Patriots could seal his fate with Miami. Or even potential other suitors. Some oddsmakers recently have the Dolphins listed as 6-point underdogs at home against Mac Jones and the visiting New England Patriots. NFL betting sites have them ranked similarly, expecting Miami to be embarrassed one more time, with Tagovailoa laying another egg even with the pressure off.

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It may be too late for Tagovailoa in Miami. But a strong performance against the odds to end the season could at least allow him to salvage his career. Before it comes to a cruel and premature end.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

 

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Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes key lineman target set to visit this month

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We know that the Miami Hurricanes are going to have a big recruiting month. Hopefully, some news will come in favor of Miami this weekend at the All-American Bowl. However, there are some other dates that we should keep an eye on.

One of those dates is January 22. That is the day that Monroe Freeling plans to visit Miami. This was first reported by Brian Dohn of InsideTheU.

Freeling is a four-star offensive tackle. He is the ninth overall offensive tackle in the 2023 class, and the top player in his class from the state of South Carolina per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

This is certainly interesting to me for a couple reasons. For one, this is a case where the coaching staff, specifically Mario Cristobal and Alex Mirabal, will be following up. They have done their homework on this lineman before.

Another reason this is a little bit intriguing to me is because he was offered by the Miami Hurricanes when Manny Diaz was still the head coach. The offer was officially extended on May 29. Points of contact have already been established. In both cases, this could help the current coaching staff land him.

As we’ve seen here in the last couple of days, Miami has really begun to focus on getting offensive lineman into the program.

What would he bring to Miami Hurricanes?

Measuring in at six-foot-seven, 283 pounds, Freeing s a physically imposing lineman. One of the things that jumped out to meet when watching his film was that he was not afraid to finish his blocks. This in turn opened up holes and running lanes for the running backs.

One of the key things that  was noticeable was that he was a dominant force on the line. This is something I am noticing with all of the lineman that Miami is interested in. They all seem to be dominating matchups, and  are physical.

Currently the Miami 2023 recruiting class ranks 46th nationally and sixth overall in the ACC per the 247Sports Team Rankings. This is certainly nothing to worry about, as I expect those rankings to improve shortly.

I will be interested to see what comes of Freeling’s visit. This is another case where the Miami Hurricanes could be in a good position to land a recruit.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Trail Blazers

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The Miami Heat played another late night West Coast match on Wednesday night, but got the win this time around against the Portland Trail Blazers.

This was an interesting one with an early Kyle Lowry ejection and a late ejection for Tyler Herro, but either way, Miami escaped with a much needed win in this tough stretch of games.

So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Max Strus comes out of protocols, Max Strus comes out firing.

After missing the last 7 days in the health and safety protocols, Max Strus found himself in the starting lineup in his return. And we saw a recurring theme within his game, which is that he never misses his first shot. Ever. Aside from that and his high level confidence from deep, it’s always much more big picture when bringing up this specific name. The reason is that with a healthy roster, which shouldn’t ever be an expectation in this unique time, Strus would most likely be shelved with all of the other talent on this roster. The thing about that is there’s absolutely no way humanly possible that could occur if Strus is playing the way he is at this exact moment. Who is the guy on the team that you expect his shot to drop every time he shoots? Well, that guy is Max Strus every time I watch these games, and it fits with the current clip he’s shooting at. And more importantly, he’s proven to be a clutch time shooter.

#2: Miami’s intriguing offensive sets in life without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

I constantly touch on mid-post touches when one of Bam Adebayo or Jimmy Butler are on the floor, but what does offense look like without the both of them? Well, it’s much simpler. Aside from the base perimeter sets like pick and rolls, hand-offs,  and drive and kicks, Miami’s found a unique formula with more shooting on the floor. One guy will set up on the wing with the ball in his hands in play-making mode, as the other 4 guys line up on the weak-side. Now, the next step is usually two flares and two off-ball screens, as one shades up to the top of the key and the other crosses to the strong-side, then layers are added from there. That base is so interesting with the many options within it, but it wouldn’t be possible without PJ Tucker. Who would’ve thought Tucker would be that on-ball wing play-maker at times? But well, he has been at times, and it has worked extremely well.

#3: Kyle Lowry ejected?

Kyle Lowry was going to be a takeaway of mine either way tonight, since it was originally expected that I’d be discussing his on-court play with 9 assists in 16 early minutes. Since for one, that is quite impressive. But the reason we’re bringing up Lowry now is due to his unexpected ejection in the second quarter. The first one was deserving after his extended chirping at the officials following a foul, which we’re used to. But the second technical came when he tossed the ball lightly at the referee. Literally. With the official not expecting it, he immediately reacted as if he threw a fastball down the middle, and ejected him from the game. Like I said, we’ve seen tech after tech on guys like Lowry and Tucker all season for obvious reasons, but this one wasn’t even close to being warranted. Yet on the bright side, some much needed extra rest came Lowry’s way, as his other top level teammates have gotten much more of that sideline observing.

#4: The flipping offensive nature that is PJ Tucker.

Seeing PJ Tucker in play-making mode as he is without Butler and Adebayo is one thing, but mid-post behind the back passes for layups is another thing. That leads us back a few years, where his name coming up always led to the label of “offensive limitations,” which would make you scratch your head a bit if your first time watching him was in a Miami Heat uniform. Not only as he surpassed that label, but he’s doing something that literally nobody could’ve predicted. No matter who exits the lineup, he fills the role. Only one guy can semi-emulate the game of Adebayo, Tucker can save them. Mid-post play-making in a Butler way, Tucker is there. You need him to play center for most of the game down so many bigs, he’s your guy. Versatility, comfort, and the trust factor: the story of Tucker’s season.

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#5: 10-days are dwindling, but is this the end for all?

Many 10-days have already been shut down as guys exit the health and safety protocols, such as Aric Holman, Nik Stauskas, and Heat fan favorite, Mario Chalmers. But there are a few others that are still getting chances and showcasing their skills. One of them is Chris Silva, who actually gave Miami a decent hustle boost in this one tonight, but doesn’t seem to be a fit for the future with his current skill-set. Kyle Guy is the hot topic among that group, who continues to showcase an offensive skill-set that stands out with his efficient scoring, flashy passing, and a surprising downhill threat and attacker. Lastly, Haywood Highsmith continues to get run even with Tucker back with the team, and I must say, I’m not surprised at all. When he was signed, that was the name I said to watch for. Not for a second 10-day potentially, but to see him back in the future. Miami always circles back, and this feels like another example.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

The Continuing Rise in Hockey Popularity Worldwide

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As a winter sport, ice hockey has defied all odds to become one of the most popular and richest among the professional sports leagues around the world.

Despite a relatively limited fanbase because of the seasonal nature of its playing field, ice hockey is in the elite company of Major League Baseball (MLB), National Football League (NFL), and the National Basketball Association (NBA) in terms of unimpeded growth, commercial viability, and future. 

A study conducted by the Stanford Graduate School of Business has revealed that National Hockey League (NHL) fans in North America are the most educated and affluent among all the four major leagues in the United States and Canada, outpacing even the rich crowd following the PGATour. 

Ice hockey is the top sport in Canada, the birthplace of organized hockey competitions, where it outranks MLB, NFL, and NBA in popularity and fan support.  This attraction translates into higher gate receipts, more advertising revenues, and more lucrative merchandising and commercial rights for NHL, at least in the Great White North.    

NHL’s largest demographic fan base consists of males aged 18 to 34, so organizers have shifted to digital technology to reach this computer-savvy market and promote game-related activities. including sports betting. Seen on https://www.oddsshark.com/nhl/computer-picks, for example, is a good illustration to how real-time online insights are used to promote the sport and sports betting on the side.

The NHL was launched in Montreal on November 26, 1917, to take over the operations of the National Hockey Association (NHA), its predecessor, which had been organized in Ontario in 1909.  It assumed NHA’s place as one of the leagues that competed for the Stanley Cup.  

After a series of disbandment and league mergers, the NHL was left as the only remaining league competing for the Stanley Cup in 1926. 

As NHL, the league had only four Canadian teams until 1924, when US-based Boston Bruins joined the league.  From 1942 to 1967, the league operated with only six teams, which were collectively called the “Original Six” – Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. 

 

More teams have been added since then, with the league expanding its membership to 18 teams by 1974, and five more added five years later.   Today, the NHL plays with 32 teams.

On the international scene, ice hockey is played in many countries across the northern and western hemispheres with icy cold winter seasons, including Finland, Russia, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, and Latvia.  

Ice hockey became an Olympic event during the 1920 Summer Olympics hosted by Belgium before it permanently moved to the Winter Olympics in 1924, where it has become a regular event to this day. 

But of course, just like in any other event in the Olympics, ice hockey playing nations have to undergo a qualifying process to get into the Winter Games.  Thus, only a select number of countries see action in the Olympics, with many players competing in the NHL and playing for their respective countries in the prestigious quadrennial games. 

While the popularity of ice hockey in Canada, the United States, and many countries in Europe is continually on the rise, it hasn’t gained ground in Asia and many tropical countries across the globe. So far, only wintry countries from North America and Europe have won Olympic medals in ice hockey.

In the Philippines, for example, the sport is played on artificial ice rinks in giant malls, where costs are prohibitive and thus adoption rate is low.    

Other tropical countries in Asia, such as Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, are facing similar challenges. Thus they are unable to develop a stronger core to develop young players and prepare them for high-level competitions. 

On a positive note, three Asian countries with winter seasons are slowly developing a credible ice hockey program by collaborating with each other to form a league known as the Asia League Ice Hockey.  They have also invited teams from Russia and allowed the use of imports, including those with playing experience from the NHL, to increase the league’s competitive level. 

As former hosts of three Winter Olympic editions, Japan and unified Korea have helped raise higher public awareness and appreciation for the game and increase adoption rate.  The Chinese are certainly on the same page when it won the bid to the Winter Games next year. 

The NHL is not without its share of players with Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Filipino ancestries.  Among them are Nick Suzuki (Japanese), Kailer Yamamoto (Japanese),  Jason Richardson (Filipino), Mathew Dumba (Filipino),  Jett Woo (Chinese), Austin Wong (Chinese), and Richard Park (Korean).

 

Just like football and basketball, the sport of ice hockey is slowly, but surely, finding its place in the hearts of many people around the world.  

 

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Warriors

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This was a bit of a weird one for the Miami Heat in this late start against the Golden State Warriors. Aside from Miami’s strong fight with a short-handed roster, they also may have just lost Jimmy Butler for some time after he went down and into the locker room in the third.

So, here are some takeaways from this one, as well as a bit of a look forward as well…

#1: Miami’s microscopic issues out the gate on both ends.

Aside from the repeated unnecessary turnovers from the Heat early on, there were some clear issues that led to a lopsided score in the first quarter. For starters on the defensive end, there were once again just some clear miscommunications that led to easy looks for Golden State, which they didn’t always capitalize on. But the main problem on that end was over-helping. Now that doesn’t count flying two to Stephen Curry at the head of the offense, but instead sending two to Draymond Green in the mid-post, while many other mismatches like Lowry on Wiggins were all over the floor. On the other side of the floor, it’s pretty clear this is a tough match-up in general with their switching ability, which is something that should be focused on. Spamming certain screeners who are being defended by Gary Payton ll just isn’t the right call, and they found that out quick.

#2: The Kyle Lowry second quarter run.

After Miami’s first quarter, I said on Twitter the only way their offense could be saved is if it turned into Jimmy Butler or Tyler Herro time. I was wrong. It turned into Kyle Lowry time. After trailing 28-40 in the 2nd, a 9-0 run quickly followed due to the excellence of Lowry. He began with some dribble penetration that was missed, mostly toying with a sticking big on the baseline before getting some good positioning for easy flip layups. He also got guys going with his usual passing, full-court touchdowns to Herro, and continued pick and roll connection with Omer Yurtseven, who looks most comfortable in that space with Lowry. He’s not the type of guy to flip the momentum in the same way Butler or Herro can, but guys just see him lead by example and others quickly follow. What I saw from Lowry tonight, almost foreshadows some playoff level expectations with him.

#3: Jimmy Butler’s first half flip.

Jimmy Butler wasn’t his usual self on the front-end of the back to back against the Sacramento Kings, and it slightly carried over into the beginning of this one. As I said early on, he almost looked like he was coasting yet again, flowing into offense with too much ease. But well, then things flip, like they usually seem to do. Late in the second quarter, Butler got into hunting/attacking mode, in a way that makes you wonder what took so long. Free throw line trips increasing, three-point attempts decreasing. Seeing him get to his usual spots on the floor from the mid-post to left or right box is a true tell, where he can survey and inevitably draw two almost every time. But the Butler conversation got much more complicated in the third quarter, as he limped off the floor with an apparent right leg injury. Achilles is the first thing that popped into my head when I first saw it, but that’s just speculation. A little bit later, the Heat listed it as a right ankle injury, which is much better in that sense.

#4: Caleb Martin making more of a rotational case, night after night.

I’ve spent so many of these post-game pieces touching on the Heat’s two-way find Caleb Martin this season, even dissecting his December stretch in a recent article. But he just continues to shine from a night to night basis, and more importantly, in a role to role basis. In this game alone, high flying put-back dunks, big time corner triples, Stephen Curry hounding. It was all on display, but we need to key in on that “role to role” point a bit more. They’re down a few bigs, put Martin at the 5 and it works. They need a power forward plug-in without PJ Tucker, just throw in Martin. And well, as Spoelstra has said in the past, when Butler goes out, he’s the lite version to jump into that spot. As much as this is a positive thing that he can continue to shine, the issue is the circumstances. As I said before, with the new injury for Butler, Martin’s spot opens up again in another area of the starting lineup.

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#5: The PJ Tucker reliance begins again.

On the positive side of things, PJ Tucker returned to play in this one off the bench as he worked his way back in, and we saw glimpses of what was missed. The biggest thing is defensively with his communication and overall deferring ability on and off the ball, but the offensive task rises again. Tonight we saw more of the usual Tucker role with corner spacing, some screen and rolls, and hand-offs. But with no Butler or Adebayo, the role I talked about before he was injured returns. We saw a play-making surge from him at that point, and they will begin to shift him back into that wing post three position, where he can trigger back-side actions. And the major part about that working is getting some shooters back. To maximize that role, you need weak-side killers which begins with Max Strus returning on Wednesday since he’s now out of the health and safety protocols.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882