Who are the Miami Heat’s biggest rivals?

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As every great bettor knows, examining two teams’ past games can be incredibly helpful if you want to gamble on them.

 

That’s why we’ve prepared a detailed piece that will tell you the most important facts on the Miami Heat’s most prominent rivals — the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, and the Dallas Mavericks. Read on to learn about each one.

 

Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks

The rivalry between the home team of The Heatles and the Knickerbockers is a long one that began on March 2, 1989, when the two first clashed. On that day, the Knicks won by nine points, but the two have been true equals since then, giving headaches to both bettors and fans alike.

 

It’s hard to give good basketball betting tips for two teams that have played against each other for decades, with the Heats winning 79 games and the Knicks 77.

 

The two were the most poised to beat the other from 1997 to 2000 when they met in four consecutive playoff series. Many exciting and incredible things marked their games, from aggressive plays to foul calls. Interestingly, it was primarily due to one man — Pat Riley, who coached both teams and was known for his defensive style.

 

After that, the rivalry died down, but in recent years, we’ve all seen some sparks that might be an indication of something exciting yet to come.

 

Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls

The two teams truly started competing in the 1990s, during the Bulls’ domination period, while Michael Jordan was playing. The rivalry wasn’t really a rivalry back then, as the Heat were eliminated three times by Jordan’s team, and the Bulls then won the NBA championship after each elimination.

 

Things started to heat up over time but took a short break until the 2006 NBA playoffs when the Heat won four games and lost only two. That same year, the Heat won the NBA finals as well.

 

The rivalry truly heated up in the next few years when the Bulls started playing much better and when the Heat brought back Dwayne Wade. It was also the time when the massive stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh signed up, which further intensified the rivalry.

 

2013 was especially interesting in this heated rivalry when the Heat managed to set a record within the playoffs for the entire NBA. They won by the largest margin ever, with the result being 115-78 in their favor.

 

Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic

The rivalry between the Heat and Orlando Magic is so famous that it has its own name — the Sunshine State rivalry since both teams are in the same state.

 

he teams first met in 1989 and have had more than 120 meetings since then. The Heat have a better record as they have more than a dozen more wins, but, interestingly, both teams have nine consecutive wins against each other.

 

The rivalry got heated up in the media in the early days of The Heat’s The Big Three but cooled off from 2012 onward. We had only one exciting event in the 2020 All-Star Game when Aaron Gordon from the Magic and Derrick Jones Jr. from the Heat competed against each other.

 

Miami Heat vs. Boston Celtics

The rivalry between these two is not a very long one. It started only in the 2010 playoffs when the Celtics defeated the Heat four times to one.

 

The start of The Big Three in the Miami Heat happened around the same time, and LeBron stated that the Heat’s big three were a mirror to the Celtics’ own with their three stars Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett.

 

The two teams intensified their rivalry and met again in the 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals when the Heat won 4-1. They were ecstatic and soon moved on to win the Eastern Conference Finals against another major rival, the Chicago Bulls.

 

This interesting rivalry died down when Ray Allen moved to the Heat, which felt like a massive betrayal to some of his former teammates. The animosity between the two hasn’t died down, though, that’s for sure.

 

Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers

The two teams played against each other many times, but the rivalry was only triggered in the 2012 playoffs when both teams went too far. During the series, each head coach was fined, while the games were marked by numerous suspensions, confrontations, and fouls. The series eventually ended with 4-2 in the Heat’s favor.

 

Thankfully, they were better in the following year when they met in the Conference Finals. The games were truly breathtaking, and in the end, the Heat managed to win once again, with the final score being 4:3. 2014 was similar when the Pacers lost yet again. On the other hand, the Heat went further to the NBA Finals for the fourth consecutive time.

 

Miami Heat vs. Dallas Mavericks

This interesting rivalry began in the 2006 Finals, which were the first for both teams. At the time, the Heat had Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Wade, while the Mavericks had one of the greatest power forwards in NBA’s history, Dirk Nowitzki. The games were incredible, but the Miami Heat ended up victorious after six meetups, with four wins compared to the Mavericks’ two.

 

After 2010, the Mavericks managed to get their rematch, even if that was during the regular season. Unfortunately for them, they never won another game in their bigger showdowns with the Heat. However, they haven’t really played against each other either, with the last postseason game being in 2011-12.

 

Interestingly, this hasn’t destroyed the rivalry, most notably for Mark Cuban’s comments about the Heat. The majority owner of the Mavericks even went so far as to state that hate wasn’t a big enough word to describe his extreme dislike of the Miami Heat.

 

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes: Top 2023 RB set to come to Elite Prospect Day

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Earlier this week, it was announced the Miami Hurricanes would be hosting an Elite Prospect Day on January 22. This event is expected to draw some of the top recruits in the country. One player whose name will be on the guest list is five-star running back Richard Young.  He is the top running back in the 2023 recruiting class. This was first reported by Gaby Urrutia of InsideTheU.

Young is the 16th overall player in the 2023 class, and the fifth overall player from the state of Florida per the 247Sports composite rankings.

His offer sheet is very impressive. Alabama, Clemson, and Ohio State are the biggest schools that have extended him an offer. Florida has given him an offer as well. He is highly-coveted. For their part, Miami put out their offer on January 17, 2020.

Young had an extremely impressive 2021 season for Leigh Senior High School. He carried the ball 196 times for 1,755 yards and 19 touchdowns. In three seasons of recorded high school statistics, Young tallied 407 rushing attempts for 3,591 yards and 33 touchdowns.

What could he bring to Miami Hurricanes?

Measuring in at five-foot-11, 200 pounds, Young can identify running lanes quickly. Once he sees an opening, he immediately hits it. One of the most impressive things about his play is his initial burst of speed. As soon as he gets the football in his hands, he shoots through the gaps. In turn, he forces the second level of defense to collapse quickly.

Currently, the 2023 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class ranks 44th nationally and sixth overall in the ACC per the  247Sports Team Rankings. I would undoubtedly expect to those numbers to change, as Mario Cristobal and his coaching staff begin to make their mark.

Young is one of the most coveted running backs in recent memory. Cristobal has never shied away from a pursuit of a top prospect. Landing young that would undoubtedly be a proverbial notch in Cristobal’s belt.

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

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New Year’s Will Start with Knicks and Raptors Fighting to Stay Relevant

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Starting 2022 Off With a Bang

The two Eastern Conference rivals will face off in the first game of the new year for both teams. Traditionally, the Christmas to New Year’s period has officially kicked off the push for the playoffs. Both the Raptors and the Knicks have playoff aspirations in mind, although both are on the outside looking in for the Eastern Conference playoff picture. The Knicks were touted as pre-season sleepers to finish in the top four of the East, while the Raptors are looking to accelerate their rebuild in the first season without long-time leader Kyle Lowry who left in the offseason to the Miami Heat. 

NBA Games Being Hit by COVID-19

The re-emergence and sudden spread of the Omicron variant has hit all professional sports leagues hard. From day to day, any number of players have been placed in health and safety protocols, making for thin lineups and the addition of depth players to the starting rotations. The surge has even caused the NBA to change its roster rules, allowing teams to add additional players on 10-day contracts. It is a nearly unprecedented move by the league, as Commissioner Adam Silver is adamant about not shutting the league down despite some games already having to be postponed. 

NBA Betting Implications

This season has hit sports bettors in the wallet as the game by game variance has made it difficult to predict how a team will perform, and who will even suit up for the game. With sports betting being legalized in many states, including New York, fans of the NBA have had more interest in placing wagers this season. Hometown fans of the Knicks and Raptors will likely be waiting until game day to see what the starting lineups will be for this marquee game.

 

To say the Knicks have been a disappointment so far this season might be an understatement. Statistically, the Knicks are one of the worst teams in the league against the spread, as well as straight up. New York fans can review Knicks predictions at Caesars online sportsbook NY to see the latest odds and lines of their favorite team. 

 

With online sports betting approaching full legalization in the new year, plenty of New Yorkers will have their eyes on this matchup against the Raptors. Caesars online Sportsbook provides some incredible rewards and bonuses for new users from New York. The Caesars brand is one of the most respected and recognized names in the sports betting industry!

Raptors Outlook for 2022

We the North have been far from spectacular this season, even after a hot start to the year. The Raptors have struggled at home in particular with a below .500 record. This has been a strength for this squad in the past, particularly in 2019 when the team captured the NBA Championship over the Golden State Warriors. It has been trying so far this year at times, with obvious depth pieces playing heavy minutes in the rotation. 

 

Injuries have also hit the Raptors as Chris Boucher and Pascal Siakim already missed the start of the season, while OG Anunoby has missed the past few weeks with a hip pointer injury. Backup center Khem Birch has also been out with injuries, leaving an already undersized Raptors team even smaller in the frontcourt. 

 

But there have also been bright spots including the early emergence of rookies Scottie Barnes and Dalano Banton. Barnes has certainly been more impactful by earning a spot in the starting lineup and averaging 15.6 points per game with 8.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists. He has been developing a three-point shot as well while averaging more than a steal and a block per game. Toronto native Banton has been a depth piece for the Raptors but has provided a nice spark off the bench at times. 

 

If the Raptors are going to make a push to the postseason in 2022, then much of it will land on the shoulders of point guard Fred Van Vleet. Fred is the offensive leader for the Raptors and has big shoes to fill after the departure of Kyle Lowry. He’s also been to the playoffs before and knows what it takes as the veteran presence on a team full of youth. 

 

Knicks Outlook for 2022

The Knicks came into the season with playoff expectations after a surprise season last year that saw them fall out of the playoff race towards the end of the season. It was a motley crew of veterans led by power forward Julius Randle, but the youth movement is coming on in New York with RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin leading the way. 

 

But there has also been a dark cloud hanging over the Knicks as star point guard Kemba Walker has found himself in head coach Tom Thibodeau’s doghouse. Walker has been removed from the starting lineup and replaced with Alec Burks due to defensive inefficiency, which has caused a rift between the dressing room and Thibodeau. This type of turmoil usually either rallies a team or sends them off the rails, making for a very volatile situation.

 

The Knicks will be without point guard Derrick Rose for the next eight weeks following ankle surgery, so it does seem likely that Kemba will see more action. But Thibodeau has also been giving more playing time to youngsters like Immanuel Quickley, the 2020 first round draft pick out of Kentucky. To add to the carousel of guards, prospects Miles McBride of West Virginia and Quentin Grimes from Houston have also seen an uptick in playing time without Rose and Barrett in the lineup. 

 

The Eastern Conference is wide open, with the current thirteenth place team only three games out of the final playoff spot and only three and a half games back of sixth. The Knicks have the talent to make the playoffs, especially over teams like Washington and Charlotte who are both ahead of them in the standings as of now. Can the Knicks do it? It might take either moving Kemba over Thibodeau to get this team on the same page. 

 

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Wizards

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The Miami Heat faced the Washington Wizards on the front-end of a back to back Tuesday night, and it was another game where guys kept being added to the injury report.

Udonis Haslem entered the health and safety protocols early in the day, while Max Strus entered them as well with about 30 minutes til tip-off.

Last minute changes were made, and Miami adjusted well. So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: One of Tyler Herro’s most impressive all-around halves.

Tyler Herro has had plenty of moments where his all-around game really shines, but I haven’t seen it shine this bright in a 24 minute stint like it did in the first half tonight. 20 points, 3 for 3 from beyond the arc, 3 of 6 on twos, and 5 of 6 from the line. He had plenty of bounce to him when he’d draw certain mismatches, which isn’t always his biggest strength. An isolation is the outcome, so what’s the next move? The answer to that tonight was a quick 1-2 dribble, explode, and get to the basket for a layup or trip to the line. And that worked. Speaking of all-around play, it has been a heck of a week for Herro as a play-maker. Both hitting the roller and making the kick-out when defenses collapse has really stuck out with him. Is it just an evolving young player? Is it stepping up in the absence of Kyle Lowry? I’d say a combination of both.

#2: The mid-post void has been filled.

Something I drill a ton when discussing a functional Miami Heat offense is mid-post play. Jimmy Butler provides it. Bam Adebayo provides it. Markieff Morris provides it. PJ Tucker has tried to provide it. But well, that list of names has been the injury report as of late. Butler being back means heavy mid-post spamming is back, and very good things come out of it. It’s where most of his assists were coming from actually. His defender is on his back in an empty corner, while Miami can rely on their biggest offensive skill for some time now: off-ball movement. Omer Yurtseven rises to the top of the key, Duncan Robinson flies off the stagger screen, and boom. Butler hits the open Robinson on the wing three if lagging behind, or hit Yurtseven on the slip if they overplay. It’s simple, but it leads to very fluid offense for this team.

#3: Some more creative Erik Spoelstra ways.

When you essentially have one big on your nine man roster, and the second big is KZ Okpala, yeah, it calls for some creative juices. Some things were pretty similar to what we’re used to: heavy blitzing with Yurtseven, which got beat a ton early; full-out switching with Okpala at the 5; 2-2-1 press. The interesting thing about that press was many times it backed into man instead of a zone, and more importantly, there were times when the zone wasn’t even 2-2-1. They went into a man press at times very briefly, since they’d back off rather quickly, but it still does wonders when spearheaded by Gabe Vincent. He was giving Spencer Dinwiddie a headache all night with his baseline to baseline play, but it was leading to a lower and lower shot clock when the first action was ran for Washington. Miami had a great offensive start which stood out on the score-board, but it’s intriguing when you can mix things up like this defensively with this many guys out, and it still is effective.

#4: A Duncan Robinson night.

Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, and Duncan Robinson on the same night? Okay. Robinson had a bit of a rough start to this one to say the least, but the usage just kept growing more and more. For about half of the first quarter, every single action was run through Robinson, and I mean every single one. Even when he wasn’t hitting. But “not hitting” turned around pretty quickly as he got some to fall to begin the third, giving him a 7 for 12 stat-line from beyond the arc at that point. To relate back to a previous point, almost all of Robinson’s third quarter triples came off a Butler mid-post feed. Another small element to Robinson’s game that I picked up on as well is him wrestling between usual tight coverage and an over-play. It’s a hard thing to tell a part in the natural speed of the game, but it’s a major thing to obtain when you are a shooter of Robinson’s caliber. He seemed like he’s really improved in that area, which was never even bad to start.

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#5: Some Butler rest ahead of a back-to-back. Key word “some,” since it didn’t last long.

Eight man rotations and rest don’t really mix together, but that was essentially the case for Jimmy Butler tonight. Well, maybe for a second. While sitting on the bench to begin the fourth, Gabe Vincent hits a deep three with the shot-clock expiring, and Butler points up to the sky. Why? Well, that shot seemed to say ‘your night is over now,’ as the lead expanded even greater. But as Washington edged closer, Butler had to re-enter with 6 minutes left in the fourth. And well, on a late drive with a minute to go, he tweaked his ankle a bit, hurting this team more and more. With another game tomorrow in San Antonio, a fully charged Butler is needed. Yes, he just missed significant time so rest has already been gotten, but heavy minute back-to-backs can get to anyone. And like I said, running an eight man rotation surely doesn’t help that point. With limited bigs available right now, guys like Butler are flying across the game-plan in different roles. But with PJ Tucker listed as questionable the last two games, it could be a good sign a return could be made as soon as tomorrow.

 

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Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes: 4-star OL Dave Luli offered by ‘Canes, visit date set

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Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal and his coaching staff have been working hard on the recruiting trail. The Hurricanes are a ‘top priority’ for four-star offensive lineman Dave Luli. This was first reported by Gaby Urrutia of InsideTheU.

This is certainly big news for a couple of reasons. For one, Luli committed to Oregon on July 17. He decommitted on December 25, and was offered by Miami on December 28.

The second important piece of this is that he will take a visit to Miami on January 14. He is being recruited by Alex Mirabal who is currently the offensive guards coach and offensive assistant coach.

There is an Oregon connection there as Mirabal was the associate head coach at Oregon. In addition, he helped out with the offense and offensive line.

What could Luli bring to Miami Hurricanes?

In watching some of his film, Luli would certainly be a big get for Miami. Measuring in at six-foot-five, 315 pounds, he is a very physical lineman. He is able to extend his hands as soon as the ball is snapped, and that allows him to gain immediate leverage. Luli would be able to make a big impact in both the running game and in pass protection.

Currently, the Miami Hurricanes 2022 recruiting class is headlined by defensive lineman Nyjalik Kelly. The class also has one transfer in Jake Lichtenstein, who came via the transfer portal from USC. All things considered, the recruiting class is pretty solid. Especially as the Hurricanes undergo a coaching change, there are some names to work with here in a day and age where stability is not always prevalent in college football.

It will be interesting to see what happens on January 14. Could we see a commitment on that day? That remains to be seen. However, I will be watching that day closely. As Cristobal continues to put his stamp on this program, the Oregon connection could potentially be something that seals the deal.

 

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

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Miami Hurricanes: Punter Lou Hedley returning for 2022 season

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The Miami Hurricanes will have one of the nation’s best punters back in the fold. Sunday, Lou Hedley announced he would be returning to the program for the 2022 season. He made the announcement via his Instagram.

Last season, Hedley had another solid campaign for Miami. He punted the ball 47 times, averaging 44.93 yards per punt. He had 1,856 total punt yards, and landed 10 punts inside the 20.

Currently, Miami has four punters on the roster.

All throughout his collegiate career, he has been nothing short of consistent. He was named a Ray Guy Award finalist in 2020, an award given to the nation’s best punter.

This is certainly good news for the Miami Hurricanes. Have the is one of the best punters in the nation, and as we all know, field position is extremely important. Finding consistent special teams players at the collegiate level is not easy.

Often times when a new coaching staff is introduced, a lot of turnover can happen. In Headley’s  case, he plans to stay with the program. This is definitely a big win for Mario Cristobal and his coaching staff.

 

 

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Sure, punter is not exactly a sexy position. However, the Miami Hurricanes have one of the best at the position in their program. That certainly means something. In a day and age of college football transfers and the transfer portal, Hedley’s news is great for the program.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over the Magic

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The Miami Heat had an early tip-off Sunday afternoon, and they took care of business against the Orlando Magic in a Jimmy Butler return.

Tyler Herro ejection, young guys continue to soar, and the OG gets some more run.

So, here are five takeaways from this one…

#1: Jimmy Butler comes out firing to start.

Jimmy Butler has missed a lengthy period of time recently with that back injury, but this didn’t look like the last time he came back. In that game, he couldn’t even run the open floor without making a face, but tonight, he was clearly ready. Receiver like fades down the floor for easy buckets, defending pick and rolls like he never left, and getting that whistle as frequently as ever. Firing doesn’t mean he was shooting the ball great, because that wasn’t the case, but he was providing a decent pace and getting to the line with ease. The Heat have missed Jimmy Butler, but the issue is that they are still missing plenty of other guys on this roster. Tyler Herro being staggered with that one top dog has kept them afloat, but it was definitely good for Butler to get back into the swing of things.

#2: Udonis Haslem enters, Udonis Haslem produces.

Udonis Haslem enters, and the crowd goes wild. But way too often, we just end that statement there. We don’t go beyond that standing ovation or finger pointing in the face of Dwight Howard. But we should, especially in this one. He provides things that this team needs right now with the lack of bigs. Off-ball screening at the top of the key, good positional rolling, and a savvy way around the rim. Even when Omer Yurtseven was providing decent stretches, it’s important to balance that with a trusted piece, since frankly, there’s just nobody else that is next in line. It’s wild that it took this long to call Haslem’s name when necessary, but it’s far from too late. He’s needed big time right now.

#3: Tyler Herro with an early passing display.

Tyler Herro’s first half shot profile was definitely interesting. Every shot was as tough as it could get, which eventually led to some words from RJ Hampton, sparking an eventual back and forth and a double technical. But beyond that, Herro began impacting the game in another way. Almost too much. He was heavily relying on his play-making, leading to a 6 assist stat-line half-way through the second quarter. It may have been a surprise when initially seeing that number, but he was intentional with his passing. Collapsing the defense with his drive and kicks, feeding Haslem continually on that roll, and just surveying that mid-range as that continued threat. It was an interesting start, but seeing that evolve at this point is a very good sight. And it’s a good thing we saw it early, since his night ended early after being ejected.

#4: The young guys are competing: in the game and for their spot.

Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Omer Yurtseven. These guys have all had fantastic individual performances this season, but yet again while looking at tonight, they step up collectively. No Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker, Markieff Morris, Dewayne Dedmon, and still Victor Oladipo, yet Miami’s still winning games due to the production of these inexperienced and developing young guys. Vincent, Strus, and Martin have already been given their flowers, but Yurtseven was showcasing himself in this one for sure. Planting himself down low and turning with the post-hook appeared to be the formula. But now only are guys like him competing for wins like this one, they’re competing for their spot. I don’t know if any of them will find themselves in an 8/9 man playoff rotation, but they’ve all made some pretty great cases.

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#5: Ball movement, ball movement, and more ball movement.

We can talk about awkward lineups, poor shooting, and less free throws as recent stand-outs with the Heat, but ball movement has kept them above water offensively. Of course the young guys I was referring to is a major part with all of their big performances, but they’ve been within that ball movement category. Early in the fourth, Miami assisted on 27 of their 30 shot makes up to that point. No iso possessions or clear-out post-ups, since even if that is displayed, a kick-out is almost always the outcome. Without 2 of your better passers, in Lowry and Bam, they’ve been able to carry that over pretty well, to overcome 13% shooting from three, which was the case a good portion of the first half. The intriguing part about this is how it’ll look with a fully healthy roster.

 

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

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Goldie’s Best Bets Week 16: Cardinals, Dolphins, more

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Goldie:

All Time Record: 257-130-1          

Vs. Spread: 195-192-1

 

21-22 Season:  131-75-1               

Vs. Spread: 106-103-1

 

Week 15 Record: 10-5                

Vs. Spread: 9-6

 

Upset Record: 16-12              

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 33-11              

21-22 Season: 17-10       

Week 15: 0-1

 

Goldie’s Guarantee

Denver Broncos (7-7) @ Las Vegas Raiders (7-7)

Vegas Picks: PK

Goldie’s Take: Raiders Win 26-23

A pair of 7-7 AFC West teams face off in what is basically a playoff game for both teams. A win keeps them right in the thick of the playoff race, whereas a loss has them looking towards the draft. The Raiders are coming off a gutsy win in Cleveland last Monday, while the Broncos are coming off a tough home loss to the Bengals. Denver lost Teddy Bridgewater in that game, so Drew Lock will be making his first start of the season. A serviceable backup, but Lock should have a tough time going on the road in a divisional matchup. Raiders win at home to keep their season alive, I GUARANTEE IT! “Just Win Baby”

 

Goldie’s UPSET of the Week

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12) @ New York Jets (3-11)

Vegas Picks: NYJ -1.5

Goldie’s Take: Jaguars Win 20-17

Both of these teams have had terrible seasons so far. They’ve both already been eliminated from playoff contention so the only thing they’re fighting for now is the first pick in this offseason’s draft. However, the one interesting storyline in this one is that it’s last year’s number 1 pick versus the number 2 pick at QB. Both rookies have had a tough go of it so far, but I guess that’s what happens when you get drafted to the Jets or Jacksonville. This game will mark the first time in 26 games that Vegas has the Jets as favorites, but take Trevor Lawrence and the Jags to win their first road game since 2019, yes you read that right. UPSET!

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: GB -7.5

Cleveland Browns (7-7) @ Green Bay Packers (11-3)

Vegas Picks: GB -7.5

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 30-20

The Browns head to Green Bay to face the reigning MVP in the first of our two Christmas Day matchups. Cleveland will be getting QB Baker Mayfield back, but that shouldn’t be enough for Cleveland to get the win. Browns are still working through their COVID struggles, and the Packers haven’t lost in Lambeau all season. Packers give the gift of winning to their fans this Christmas. Merry LOCKsmas from the Crazy Uncle!

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: ARI -1

Indianapolis Colts (8-6) @ Arizona Cardinals (10-4)

Vegas Picks: ARI -1

Goldie’s Take: Cardinals Win 27-24

Colts enter this one as one of the league’s hottest teams after beating the surging Patriots. Meanwhile, Arizona has gone cold since their red hot 7-0 start. Two losses in a row, including a stunner in Detroit. However, the Cards have way too much talent to keep losing like this. The Colts have more momentum, but my gut tells me to take Arizona. Giving Colts a solid upset shot, but picking Cardbirds to get the win on Christmas night. Uncle Jeff approves. 

 

Rest of Week 16:

 

Detroit Lions (2-11-1) @ Atlanta Falcons (6-8)

Vegas Picks: ATL -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Falcons Win 27-20

The Lions stunned the Cardinals last week, destroying them 30-12, but let’s not be fooled here. The Lions are still the Lions, and they are just less talented than the Falcons. Plus picking Falcons to finally get a win in the ATL, where they have struggled this season. Falcons over Lions as Atlanta keeps their sliver of playoff hopes alive. 

 

Los Angeles Rams (10-4) @ Minnesota Vikings (7-7)

Vegas Picks: LAR -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 28-24

Vikings are holding onto the final NFC Wild Card spot for dear life right now. A crowd of teams are lurking right behind them, so a loss would basically end the Vikes. However, Rams have their own playoff implications on the line here too as they’re tied with Arizona for the division lead. Rams are a better football team here, plus they have sneaky MVP candidate Cooper Kupp ready to go. Rams go into Minny and leave with a huge W. 

 

New York Giants (4-10) @ Philadelphia Eagles (7-7)

Vegas Picks: PHI -10

Goldie’s Take: Eagles Win 24-16

Eagles enter this one as 10 point favorites after a 10 point win against Washington on Tuesday. Philly continues to do enough to keep themselves in spitting distance of the final NFC Wild Card spot. That trend should continue as they get a home matchup with the worst team in the NFC East. However in a divisional game, I’m expecting things to at least stay close, so picking Giants to slide in right under the fat 10 point spread. 

 

Buffalo Bills (8-6) @ New England Patriots (9-5)

Vegas Picks: NE -2

Goldie’s Take: Patriots Win 23-20

Teetered back and forth for a while on this one before ultimately settling on New England for a couple of reasons: 

  1. Foxboro in late December is a big advantage for the Patriots. 
  2. Pats defense should be able to contain Josh Allen and the pass-heavy Bills. 
  3. Bill Belichick has a chip on his shoulder and he’s out to prove he still has gas in the tank

Not betting against Bill until he gives me a reason to. Pats win AFC East title with a win at home this Sunday.

 

Baltimore Ravens (8-6) @ Cincinatti Bengals (8-6)

Vegas Picks: CIN -3

Goldie’s Take: Bengals Win 24-20

The entirety of this game is predicated on the health of Lamar Jackson’s ankle. He’s listed as questionable right now but hasn’t practiced since getting carted off the field in their loss to the Browns two weeks ago. Tyler Huntley would make his second consecutive start if Jackson is unable to play. Huntley played well last week but going into a divisional game on the road is a different story. Bengals should take firm control of the AFC North with a win this Sunday.

 

Los Angeles Chargers (8-6) @ Houston Texans (3-11)

Vegas Picks: LAC -10.5

Goldie’s Take: Chargers Win 31-17

Chargers should come out with a vengeance in this one after that devastating OT loss to the Chiefs last week. Plus they’ll have the rest/prep edge as they played Thursday night. Chargers are in control of their destiny as they currently hold one of the three AFC wild card spots. I don’t see Davis Mills keeping pace with Justin Herbert, Bolts cruise to a victory in Houston. 

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4) @ Carolina Panthers (5-9)

Vegas Picks: TB -10

Goldie’s Take: Buccaneers Win 28-17

Bucs were stunned last week, getting shutout in a home game against New Orleans. I see an elite team like Tampa bouncing back fast from a loss like that. Especially with a game against a division rival on the horizon. Plus Carolina is floundering right now. They’ll be starting Cam Newton but Sam Darnold is expected to see some action as well. The Panthers are a mess, Brady and the Bucs should coast past Carolina. 

 

Chicago Bears (4-10) @ Seattle Seahawks (5-9)

Vegas Picks: SEA -6.5 

Goldie’s Take: Seahawks Win 28-20

Both of these teams had really disappointing seasons after entering the year with high hopes. This will mark the first losing season for Seattle since 2011. However, all disappointment aside, Seattle should win this game. Russell Wilson is healthy, and the ‘Hawks have historically been great at home. Chicago is struggling right now, Seattle should take care of business to add at least one good note on a season to forget. 

 

Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6-1) @ Kansas City Chiefs (10-4)

Vegas Picks: KC -8.5

Goldie’s Take: Chiefs Win 30-23

Seven straight wins (including the thriller against LAC on TNF) leads me to believe that the Chiefs are indeed back. However, Mahomes will be without two of his favorite weapons with Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce testing positive for COVID-19. Also, this could be the final run for Big Ben Roethlisberger, so I could see him showing out in this one. Picking Pitt to keep it within the 8.5 point spread, but picking KC to get the win at Arrowhead.

 

Washington Football Team (6-8) @ Dallas Cowboys (10-4)

Vegas Picks: DAL -10

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 24-21

Dallas wins the NFC East title with a win against Washington on SNF. The Cowboys are the better team here, and should show out in primetime. Washington is still working though their COVID issues so who knows who will be available for this matchup. Plus the Cowboys have the rest/prep edge as Washington played Tuesday. However, in a divisional matchup you should always expect both teams to play hard. No Names should keep it close but Cowboys should get the win in the end. How ‘bout them Cowboys!

 

Miami Dolphins (7-7) @ New Orleans Saints (7-7)

Vegas Picks: MIA -1.5

Goldie’s Take: Dolphins Win 17-14

Battle of two great defenses in this one. The Saints shutout Tom Brady and the Bucs last week en route to a 9-0 win. N’awlins is also the only team to keep MVP Aaron Rodgers to single digits this season in their 35-3 murdershow they put on the Pack in week 1. So, the New Orleans defense is capable of a big performance. However, Miami has a very strong defense as well, and the Saints QB situation is questionable to say the least. With Trevor Siemien and Taysom Hill going on the COVID reserve list earlier this week, the Saints are likely to have to turn to Rookie QB Ian Book on MNF. Book has never played an NFL snap, let alone start a meaningful game in primetime. Fins defense should eat him alive to propel Miami to a low scoring seventh straight win. 

 

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Pistons

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The Miami Heat played a wild one against a depleted Detroit Pistons team, but don’t let that distract you from Miami being just as slim.

Some big shots from Tyler Herro and Max Strus down the stretch iced it for Miami.

So, here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Down another body.

The Miami Heat have been dealing with availability issues recently, and not in the same way the rest of the league is. It’s not that they’re covered in health and safety protocol tags, but instead pure injuries. And well, it was a rough start to this one as another front-court guy on this team went down, and a pretty important one at that. Dewayne Dedmon going through his usual sets as the roll man, yet this specific play he ended up on the floor in a ton of pain. He ended up getting up on his own power and walked straight to the locker room, which ended up being called a knee sprain. Obviously Miami slightly dodged a bullet since it could’ve been a lot worse, but it’s yet another hurdle that Miami will have to leap over and monitor. The theme of their season.

#2: Three-point shooting comparison quite unbalanced. 

At the half, the Detroit Pistons were shooting 11 for 21 from beyond the arc, while Miami was 5 of 19. The interesting part about those numbers was Miami slightly padded theirs a bit to end the half, behind Tyler Herro and Max Strus explosions which I’ll get into next. The threes being generated on both sides were quite different as well. Detroit was just picking apart Miami’s zone and finding the open man, which was spread around equally as every Piston starter had at least 2 threes at the half as well. Miami, on the other hand, just couldn’t get them to drop within the offense, leaving them with 4 starters half-way through with no made three. When two teams are down so many guys like these two teams are, usually the team with the better outside shooting numbers has the lead. And well, when they’re that one-sided, you put yourself in a tough spot.

#3: The Tyler Herro-Max Strus show early.

Aside from all of the struggles I discussed in the last section, Max Strus kept them afloat early and Tyler Herro took the keys from there. 33 of 55 first half points from Miami were scored by Herro and Strus. The role of Strus early was intriguing, and it led to a 7-0 run from him. As he’s slotted into starting power forward, he began merging into that role a bit. Baseline roaming, dunker spot reps, which led to an easy dunk early in the first. Herro was just doing Herro-like things. Really carving things up inside the arc, leading to tough mid-range fades and nice lay-ins around the rim. But most of all, his control stood out. Running certain lineups that many of us thought we’d only see in Summer League, yet he’s still playing within the offense. And well, that’s an improved player.

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#4: Udonis Haslem, the spark.

With Dedmon going down early, Miami had to quickly transition into a strict, and small, 8 man rotation for a good portion of the game. Well, that was until Erik Spoelstra gave Udonis Haslem the look to enter the game late in the third. After some rough possessions to start, he quickly gave Miami some production, aside from the big time home crowd spark. One immediate and-1 after the whole team did some complaining on the other end, and a nice face-up jumper down on the box right after. Like I said, sometimes that stuff doesn’t even truly matter in games like this. Instead, it leaves many looking around for the ignitable piece to get a group going. And UD can do that rather quickly, as Miami finished the third quarter strong.

#5: Marcus Garrett giving Miami some underappreciated minutes.

Whenever Marcus Garrett has gotten some run over this recent stretch, his stat-line has never really popped at all in any category. Why is that? Well, he’s another one of those Heat guys that doesn’t get rated upon numbers on a piece of paper, especially considering the main part of his game is on the defensive end. And tonight was a game where he really showed out as a pure ball-hawk. Not only in a Gabe Vincent-like way from baseline to baseline, but by cutting off simple reads in pick and rolls at the top of the key possession after possession. Haslem may have been the spark to finish the third, but Garrett was the spark to kick off the fourth. One play where he forced Cory Joseph into a quick pass and Herro stole it and dunked it was the fire setter. Yet, shortly after, he found himself in perfect position for a much needed charge. That stuff speaks volume.

 

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Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Pacers

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The Miami Heat had the ultimate bounce back game on Tuesday night, beating the Indiana Pacers in intriguing fashion.

We can focus on certain guys in this one, but this was one of those cliche phrases: a team effort.

So, here are five takeaways from this one…

#1: The front-court projects coming up big without the front-court starters.

No Jimmy Butler. No PJ Tucker. No Bam Adebayo. That scarce front-court led to Erik Spoelstra plugging in Max Strus at the 4, but others stepped up even more in that spot. After a bad looking game from KZ Okpala and Omer Yurtseven against Detroit, they came up big in this one early on. The key: using them like themselves, instead of an Adebayo/Tucker role. Okpala was a very efficient 3 of 3 at the half, hitting a nice 3 in the corner, attacking well, and playing some of his best individual defense of the season in my opinion. Yurtseven was just playing one of his most active games of his young NBA career, hitting the boards hard, facilitating at a serviceable level, and setting some nice screens. These guys are still projects, but some reassurance in games like this is a great sign when down so many players.

#2: Duncan Robinson shifting has game little by little? Indeed.

The Duncan Robinson discussion is always an interesting one to have. Did he have another off game to evaluate or did he break the slump? But in the big picture, I have something else to think about: if the shot has been falling all year for him at a decent rate, we would be having the complete opposite conversation about Robinson. Why is that? Well, his inside game has improved more than anyone could’ve expected, and that’s not an overstatement. He took more dribbles in the last 6 minutes of the second quarter than he has in a single game all season. And those dribbles were leading to some nice looking sprays, nice retreat feeds in the lane, and most of all, an ability to really attack at a decent rate. His game has shifted, and threes falling like they were tonight puts it on full display.

#3: My microscopic game take: the defensive adjustments.

Looking at some things on a smaller level from this game, the defensive adjustments were intriguing, yet not unexpected. I don’t remember the last time an NBA team ran zone on the first possession of a game, but that was the case tonight. When Robinson and Strus are your front-court starters, it’s basically necessary. While that worked frequently, there was another outlet that didn’t work as much: blitzing. There are certain teams that just can’t work against, and there are certain lineups of your own that can’t work for. Tonight was one of them. Dedmon blitzing a pick and roll has worked well when PJ Tucker is the awaiting weak-side tagger. But when it’s Robinson or Strus on the back-side, it’s pure mayhem. Two passes, one lay-in. Obviously it didn’t last long since Miami played a great defensive game, but still something to keep in mind.

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#4: The biggest individual basketball leap on this Heat team this season.

Speaking of microscopic takes, another young guy development must be discussed. I’ve spent a lot of time recently talking about Gabe Vincent, but something else must be discussed. The recent topic has been three-point shooting, since that shot has been falling at a much better rate, but the fact that he rounded out every part of his game throughout his slump stands out more. An off-ball guard had to turn into an on-ball threat real quick, as he told me before the season. Yet, his handles look as crisp as anybody on this team currently. It’s not just about the highlight-like pull-back dribbles for good looking threes, but instead keeping his dribble alive, constantly shifting the defenders body, and much more. If you asked me what’s been the biggest young guy growth, my answer would 100% be Vincent’s handle.

#5: Tyler Herro is back.

I think many of us were viewing the name Tyler Herro as a name on the injury report too much, instead of the complete offensive player that can come back and make an immediate impact. I wouldn’t say this was his best game tonight, but that’s what you would expect when first returning. Shots will be short, but his ability to still impact the game in his minutes and shoot through the slight “off” early is big time. Then, all of a sudden, another burst has arrived. One three here, another mid-range fade there. And well, that’s just Herro at this stage. Coming into the season, if you were to tell me you knew what you were getting from Herro on a night to night basis more than any of the top guys, I’d push back a bit. But that has been the case. Tyler Herro is back, and they’ve missed him.

 

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