Dolphins

Goldie’s Best Bets, Week 12: Take the Streaking Dolphins

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Goldie:

All Time Record: 219-115-1          

Vs. Spread: 162-172-1

 

21-22 Season:  93-60-1               

Vs. Spread: 73-83-1

 

Week 11 Record : 8-6                 

Vs. Spread: 7-7

 

Guarantee All Time: 13-12       

 

Upset All Time: 12-12              

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 30-10              

21-22 Season: 14-9       

Week 11: 1-2

 

Goldie’s Guarantee: MIN +3.5

Minnesota Vikings (5-5) @ San Francisco 49ers (5-5) 

Vegas Picks: SF -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Vikings Win 28-24

My favorite bet of the weekend is easily Vikings with the points. All of their games are close, evident by the fact that the Vikings haven’t lost a game this season by more than seven points. Plus given Minny’s offensive weapons I give them a very legitimate shot at an UPSET. Niners have won two straight by 20+, but you can’t expect Jimmy G to keep that pace. San Fran is set for a major letdown as Vikings go in and UPSET the 49ers on the road. 

 

Goldie’s UPSET of the Week

Carolina Panthers (5-6) @ Miami Dolphins (4-7)

Vegas Picks: CAR -2.5 

Goldie’s Take: Dolphins Win 24-23

After the abysmal 1-7 start, the Fins have picked it up a bit with three straight victories. Meanwhile, Carolina has really slipped since their strong 3-0 start. Their quarterback play got so bad, it forced them to recycle back to Cam Newton. A player who definitely brings energy to this team, but clearly isn’t the player he once was. Cam should have a very tough day against that blitz-heavy Dolphins defense. Miami completely shut down Lamar Jackson a few weeks ago, expect B Flo to implement a similar game plan to contain Newton in this one. Look for a defensive game, as Tua should be able to game-manage Miami to their fourth straight victory. UPSET!

 

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

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-3) @ Indianapolis Colts (6-5)

Vegas Picks: TB -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Buccaneers Win 32-28

Colts ground and pound identity with Johnathan Taylor has them winners of five out of their last six and right back in the mix of that AFC playoff picture. However, going up against and beating Tom Brady and the defending Super Bowl champions is a different story. With home field advantage and team momentum on their side, I do give Indy a decent upset shot, but I’ve bet against Brady too many times to make that mistake again. Plus the Crazy Uncle loves Tampa to win and cover in this one. Bucs get a tough win on the road. 

 

Rest of Week 12:

 

Tennessee Titans (8-3) @ New England Patriots (7-4)

Vegas Picks: NE -7

Goldie’s Take: Patriots Win 27-21

Red hot Pats enter this one boasting a five game winning streak, arguably the hottest team in the league. Meanwhile, Tennessee is coming off of an ugly loss to the 2-8 Houston Texans. The injuries are finally starting to catch up to the Titans, six players have already been ruled out (incluing AJ Brown) and an additional five are listed as questionable. Trust Tannehill and the defense to keep it close, but believe in Belichick and Pats to get the win in Foxboro. 

 

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4-1) @ Cincinnati Bengals (6-4)

Vegas Picks: CIN -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Bengals Win 27-23

After a couple of questionable performances, Cincy confirmed their validity with a commanding win over the Raiders last week. However, Big Ben has historically owned the Bengals during his career. BUT this is a different Bengals and this is a different Big Ben. Joe Burrow to Jamar Chase is a combo that Bengals fans have been waiting for for a long time. Plus Cincy is at home. Bengals get a huge AFC North victory to keep them in solid positioning in that playoff push. 

 

Philadelphia Eagles (5-6) @ New York Giants (3-7)

Vegas Picks: PHI -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Eagles Win 27-20

Philly is beginning to find their groove as they’re winners of three of their last four. Jalen Hurts dual threat ability has been giving defenses nightmares all season, evident by the 618 rushing yards and 8 TDs he’s posted through eleven games. Also their defense has been holding strong as well, forcing three turnovers at the Saints last week. I’m starting to believe in this team, in fact I’ll go as far to say Eagles end up in the playoffs this season. Birds go into the Big Apple and get a road W. 

 

Atlanta Falcons (4-6) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8)

Vegas Picks: ATL -2

Goldie’s Take: Falcons Win 23-20

Both offenses in this matchup have been an overall letdown this season. Atlanta has scored a total of 3 points in the past two games combined, and since the Jags bye week Jacksonville has only averaged 10 points per game. Believe it or not, Atlanta is still within spitting distance of the final NFC wild card spot so they might have some added motivation in this one. On the other hand, at 2-8 Jacksonville has already started to look towards the draft. Matt Ryan and Atlanta bounce back, and keep their season very much alive with a road win in Jacksonville. 

 

New York Jets (2-8) @ Houston Texans (2-8)

Vegas Picks: HOU -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Texans Win 20-14

Snoozefest of the week takes place in Houston as these two bottomfeeders face off. Although, somehow both of these 2-8 teams are responsible for one of the 8-3 Titans losses. Weird. When Houston QB Tyrod Taylor is healthy, they are a much better football team. 2-2 this season when Taylor starts. His dual-threat ability to run and pass adds another dimension to the Texans offense… Speaking of quarterbacks being healthy, Jets rookie QB Zach Wilson is set to return from injury this weekend. It’ll be interesting to see how the kid bounces back. Expect an ugly game but a Texans home cover. 

 

Los Angeles Chargers (6-4) @ Denver Broncos (5-5)

Vegas Picks: LAC -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Chargers Win 33-24

Both of these AFC West squads have been wildly inconsistent this season, and can’t seem to separate themselves from the middle of the pack. However, when talking about overall talent, I give the edge to the Chargers. Their offense is loaded with weapons and they’re all surrounding young stud quarterback Justin Herbert. Also, Broncos trading Von Miller earlier this season seems to point towards a rebuild for Denver. Chargers should go into Mile High and leave with a hard fought win. 

 

Los Angeles Rams (7-3) @ Green Bay Packers (8-3) 

Vegas Picks: LAR -1.5

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 30-28

Easily the NFL’s game of the week is set for 4:25 in Green Bay this Sunday. I’m expecting a close, back and forth game no doubt, but I’m shocked that Vegas has the Rams favored on the road in Green Bay. I don’t see Aaron Rodgers losing two in a row, especially not at home in a big game. Making this one a big venue call as Green Bay hasn’t lost a home game all season, and are on a 10-1 run at Lambeau. I don’t see them losing this one. 

 

Cleveland Browns (6-5) @ Baltimore Ravens (7-4)

Vegas Picks: BAL -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Ravens Win 28-26

Some big names are set to return for both teams in this one. For Cleveland, they’ll most likely be getting back the second half of their superstar RB duo with Kareem Hunt set to return for the first time since week 6. On the other hand, Baltimore will be getting back Lamar Jackson who missed their last game due to COVID. It’s always a great game when these two match up as this is turning into a great rivalry. In this one I like the Ravens to get the primetime win at home in this divisional showdown. 

 

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Seattle Seahawks (3-7) @ Washington Football Team (4-6)

Vegas Picks: PK

Goldie’s Take: Seahawks Win 26-21

This season has been a disaster for Seattle who entered this season with very high hopes. The injury to Russell Wilson derailed them, and he hasn’t been as sharp since returning. Have to expect that to change though right? This week in Primetime against a below average “football team”, expect Seattle to get off the losing skid with a win in the  nation’s capital. 

Goldie’s Best Bets: Thanksgiving Edition

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Thanksgiving Day UPSET

Chicago Bears (3-7) @ Detroit Lions (0-9-1)

Vegas Picks: CHI -3

Goldie’s Take: Lions Win 24-21

The stage couldn’t be set up better for the lowly Lions to get their first win of what has been a very long and grueling season. Detroit has been competing with solid teams in their last few games with a tie against the Steelers and only a three point loss to the Browns. Meanwhile, Chicago is completely falling apart and many are speculating that Bears head coach Matt Nagy could be on the outs after this one. Mo-Town finally has something to be thankful for as the Lions come away with a Turkey Day UPSET!

 

Las Vegas Raiders (5-5) @ Dallas Cowboys (7-3)

Vegas Picks: DAL -7.5

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 31-24

After the red hot 5-2 start things have kind of started to hit the fan for the Raiders. The drama with Jon Gruden and then Henry Ruggs is finally starting to catch up with them, as the squad in silver and black currently holds a three-game losing streak. On the other hand, the Cowboys have been excellent to start the season. A rough performance last week in KC merritts a Thanksgiving bounce back. Cowboys take care of business at home, but giving Raiders a very legitimate chance at covering. 

 

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Buffalo Bills (6-4) @ New Orleans Saints (5-5)

Vegas Picks: BUF -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 30-23

The Bills have not been as high and mighty as we once thought. A loss to the Jaguars and a blowout loss at home versus the Colts is a very bad look for the Buffalo boys. However, the Saints don’t boast too much momentum coming into this one either, losers of three straight contests. Both of these squads are looking to get their mojo back after a tough couple of weeks, I believe in Josh Allen and the Bills to get back on track with a Thanksgiving night feast in N’awlins. 

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Minnesota

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The Heat fell short against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night, in a pretty physical match to say the least.

Emotional highs to on-court lows, here are five takeaways from this one…

#1: An attacking Bam Adebayo to start, but a struggling Bam Adebayo to finish.

Bam Adebayo was a hot topic on social media prior to this game, and it was for some slightly different reasons. Much of it was discussing the current placements of him as an offensive threat, and my feelings on this have always stayed consistent: getting to the rim should be number one. He’s faster than most bigs he matches up with, and he’s stronger than most guards that switch onto him. Early tonight, we saw a driving Adebayo. Minnesota couldn’t stop fouling him, which usually is a great thing for Bam, but for some reason he couldn’t get his free throws to drop. And those misses ended up hurting this Heat team in the end. After that attacking mindset early on, Minnesota quickly made him uncomfortable in the fourth down low, which ultimately put Miami in the biggest hole of the night.

#2: Welcome, Gabe Vincent.

Max Strus being knocked out of Miami’s nine man rotation right now is not something I expected at all, especially considering Markieff Morris has still yet to return. Caleb Martin has basically been the Morris replacer, and he’s done that extremely well. The replacer for Strus, on the other hand, has been Gabe Vincent, and he’s making his minutes felt. For one, there’s essentially an entire defensive scheme that is aligned with his minutes, with the 2-3 zone. But secondly, his three ball was finally falling, which leads to a completely different player. He has the role player qualities, he has strong defensive capabilities, but shooting off the catch when the defense is rotating has been the one missing piece. Yet, it was filled in tonight’s game, continuing to justify his trust for Vincent off the bench in this stretch.

#3: Tyler Herro pushing aside rough starts: the number one year to year change.

I’ve done a ton of Tyler Herro talk recently, both on paper and audibly, but there’s one thing that must be mentioned aside from the X’s and O’s. Herro hasn’t had many “rough starts,” but there is a common denominator to that when he does: he finds a way to shoot his way out of it and bounce back. It’s something many young players struggle with, and it’s something he’s struggled with specifically in recent years. But this year, he just keeps fighting to get to his spots, keeps putting the ball up, and keeps hoping for a positive result. Since ultimately, when you’re as talented as he is, there’s a certain amount of confidence it will return. Not that it has to jump off the stat-sheet as an efficient night, but mentally that corner must be turned. It wasn’t fully turned tonight in that way, but at least there’s more trust in him late even with those odd starts.

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#4: Whistles, technical fouls, and well, Udonis Haslem.

One of my takeaways have to be looked at from a wide lens: this game was pretty weird for a while there. A stretched out third quarter with technical fouls flying toward Udonis Haslem on the sideline, Kyle Lowry receiving his 5th foul, and Jimmy Butler-fan interactions. There was just absolutely no flow whatsoever, including long stoppages as the officials evaluated the positioning of Karl Anthony Towns and Gabe Vincent on a foul call. Usually games like this are a wake up call to this gritty Heat team immediately, but the Timberwolves have a dawg themselves in Anthony Edwards who thrives in the environment as well. Both teams weren’t backing down from a player on player perspective, but on the floor, Miami lost that battle.

#5: Kyle Lowry and Jimmy Butler switching on and off in the second half.

Kyle Lowry is watching from the sideline as one of the longest quarters continues to drag out in the third. With 5 fouls next to his name, he wasn’t going to see the floor until the fourth quarter. And after a horrible offensive quarter with that “in the mud” play-style due to constant whistles, he changed things to begin the 4th. Miami was down 88-82 at the beginning of the quarter, but by next timeout, the Heat led 89-88. That was thanks to Lowry settling the guys around him in an emotional game. But while Butler is the one on the bench now, Minnesota came right back with back-to-back threes of their own, leaving Miami in a frenzy for that other guy. Bam Adebayo couldn’t play his game down low with the swarming defenders, and it leaves a major takeaway for the need of Lowry and Butler to be out there together. It’s not possible most nights due to staggering, but that’s the changing factor. And yet, shortly after Butler entered, Lowry exited with his 6th foul.

 

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Five Takeaways from Heat’s Comeback Win Over Pistons

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The Miami Heat had a rough overall night against a low tier Detroit Pistons team, but came away with a win due to a Tyler Herro explosion.

He’s doing some elite level things as a scorer right now, and they’re very sustainable traits. Half-court control, defensive carving, and pure scoring one-on-one.

So, here are five takeaways from this matchup.

#1: Jimmy Butler comes out strong, while providing a broader team theme.

Starting off a post-game piece about Jimmy Butler is pretty normal this season, and that’s for a few reasons. For one, he’s scoring the ball at an elite level, and continues to get to the line as he’s averaging the most free throw makes a game this season. The other reason is that he’s been a first quarter killer recently. Why is this being looked at slightly negatively? Well, it seems like one player has their “quarter” every night. Butler, Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry, and Tyler Herro all seem to take turns on the offensive end, which frankly isn’t a great way to operate, especially when you pride yourselves on a ton of movement and non-stop ball movement. Once they can just gel ‘together’ for 48 minutes, that’s when you’ll see them really turn the corner offensively.

#2: When lineups look for offensive comfort, they often look for Tyler Herro.

As sixth man Herro enters the game, he has a simple rotational routine with this group. Play next to Butler to start, while Bam and Lowry revolve next to him shortly after. The point is that he’s playing with a ton of different combinations, yet there is one common denominator among every unit: Herro is the comfortable offensive piece. He’s no longer looking around for somebody to bounce off of, but others are searching for Herro to take control. As great of a point guard as Lowry is, the team is in a different level of control when Herro just takes guys off the dribble and scores like he was to finish this game. We knew a lot about Herro’s game heading into the season, but possessing that comfort and control was in question. Well, not anymore. He’s their guy.

#3: Miami’s lineups getting more and more interesting.

Miami’s starting lineup was in tact tonight even though Duncan Robinson, PJ Tucker, and Adebayo all had some questionable tags prior. Still, Miami’s missing Markieff Morris off the bench after the incident with Nikola Jokic, so it’s just the usual rotation, right? Wrong. As Miami floated through the first half, it took me a bit to realize that Max Strus hadn’t entered. Caleb Martin and Gabe Vincent were both utilized instead, as Miami’s defense was based around their top of the key presence in the 2-2-1 press and 2-3 zone. But the lineups are the interesting part. Martin at the 4? Lowry-Vincent-Herro combinations for long stretches? This Pistons team was small due to them being without two of their bigs, but rolling with these groupings as a stretch shooter, in Strus, is on the sideline is just an interesting choice.

#4: Miami’s defense is schematically set-up to move forward, but continues to revert back.

The Heat’s defense was projected to be very high this season, and that begins with the surrounding cast allowing them to be much more controlled on that end of the floor. A point of attack defender in Lowry means Adebayo can play by the rim more often, and Tucker on the back-side gives them more perimeter flexibility. But the soft switching has not only returned, it has been elevated even further. Weak-side screen comes, Lowry’s on a big, Adebayo’s on a guard. Screen comes on the ball, Robinson’s defending in isolation. Where “soft” switching comes into play is that Detroit isn’t even setting hard screens. It’s just come up and the ball-handler retreats with his new defender. This team is an elite defensive team, but they need to fight through those screens to uphold their elite defensive skill.

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#5: Living at the free throw line: balancing that in a good and bad way.

There are two totally different reasons that Miami has lived at the free throw line in specific games. One of those reasons is that Miami just dominates the pace and can dictate when they elect to slow things down. The other reason, which was the case tonight, is that offense is so terrible that getting to the line is the only source of offense. In many ways, before the fourth quarter Herro explosion, the free throw line was the only thing that kept Miami competitive with this 4 win Pistons team. Butler obviously dominated in that category, but many other role players quickly followed suit. Some nights high free throw shooting doesn’t equate to a great offensive night, but sometimes it just gets the job done when needed.

 

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

Which NFL Teams do Sports Betting Sites Favor to Compete at Super Bowl LVI?

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While the 2021 Super Bowl does not actually play out in 2021 as originally planned, this has only led to an increase in anticipation. Now set for Sunday the 13th of February 2022 because of the pandemic, it means that we’re now just a few months away from seeing another team crowned as champions.

As anticipation levels heat, you might have wondered which teams are currently the favorite to make it to the super bowl. Perhaps you feel like backing that team on an online sportsbook? Well, we have you covered on the teams currently favored at the top betting sites in the US.

Before you place a bet, just make sure you check out the USA states with legal sports betting listed here. Below, we will take you through the teams that currently have the best odds at many top sports books. The odds we have given are an average of each of those, so will differ depending on where you go. 

Kansas City Chiefs (+600)

For many, the Kansas City Chiefs have the squad best equipped to win Super Bowl 2021. Not only that, but they have made the final in each of the last two seasons. Sure, they lost the last one comprehensively against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it is difficult to bet against them making three finals in a row. 

Add in a relatively easy fixture list compared to others, and it is easy to see why the Chiefs are currently the favorites with online sports betting sites. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+650)

That actually brings us neatly onto the team that is currently second-favorites with many bookmakers. The Buccaneers deservedly won the last time around, but much of that was down to a surprisingly poor performance by the Chiefs than a knockout performance by the Buccaneers. 

Their roster is the league’s most experienced and, of course, they still have Tom Brady. This team has the quality to repeat history, so we feel the bookies have the odds right on this one. 

Buffalo Bills (+700)

The Buffalo Bills were just one game from the final last time around, having been sent home by the Chiefs. However, many feel that they would have delivered a better final performance than their victors did. This team went on a monumental run last year, claiming 13 victories from 16 games. You cannot argue with that kind of form. 

If they perform similarly this year, we feel they have a significant chance of going one step better than last year.

LA Rams (+800)

The Rams also had an impressive year last time out with 10 wins from 16. However, their form did slip rather alarmingly. The good news is that they have started this season on fire and are looking a promising bet for that final. It is still early though, and anything can happen in football. 

While we think they have a better chance than many others, we feel that even if they made the final, there are a handful of teams that are a level above them. 

Could an Outsider Cause a Surprise? 

Just because the bookies favor some teams, it does not mean the others do not stand a chance. In fact, many punters actually believe an outsider could cause a bit of a shock. They would hope so too if they have backed them at longer odds. One team on the lips of some is the Indianapolis Colts, but are they truly a legitimate contender? 

Another outsider that some are backing includes the Baltimore Ravens at +1600. This is a team that has some fantastic ability amongst its roster. On their day, this team can beat anybody. The question is how often those days come around. 

All Bets are Off!

Did you have your suspicions confirmed on the current favorites? Well, whether or not you did, you now know which teams the bookies think have the best chance of winning Super Bowl 2021. Remember that those odds change after every result and performance, so the favorite today might not be this time next week. 

If you’re thinking about placing some bets, just be careful, as while the odds given by online bookmakers are usually a good barometer of your chances, anything can happen. There have been some monumental NFL collapses previously, and this could quite easily happen again. Also, make sure you shop around to find online sports betting sites with the best odds on your pick.

Where should Miami look for its next coach?

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This week the University of Miami’s athletic director, Blake James was dismissed, which means Manny Diaz is likely not far from being dismissed himself, even after beating Virginia Tech, 36-28, on Saturday.

 

Typically an AD coming in likes to be able to pick his own guy to lead the football program. That is especially the case in places like Miami where football is king. A comparison is that when a new GM is hired in the NFL they usually want to have their guy as the Head Coach. Moving forward there are two ideal candidates for the Hurricanes to replace Manny Diaz.

 

First being Oregon coach Mario Cristobal which would be a home run hire for Miami. He played at Miami in the great days of the program and has built Oregon into a program contending for conference championships year in and year out. Oregon has won the last two Pac 12 titles and favored to do so again this year. He is so an elite recruiter and has Oregon with the #10 ranked class in 2022. If he can recruit like that at Oregon he’ll kill it at Miami.

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He knows the Florida recruiting base like few other coaches would. If Miami can keep south Florida kids home that will make the rebuild significantly easier. Now many people may be wondering why he would leave an established team like Oregon for a rebuild? Don’t underestimate the want to win from Miami boosters and for Cristobal don’t underestimate returning home as the head man. If he could lead Miami back to what they want to be he’ll be a legend forever in South Florida. Ultimately I won’t be surprised if Cristobal returns home should Manny be let go as many think will happen at the end of the season.

 

Second choice would be a very good option as well in Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. Many may not realize but Kiffin was the man to transform Alabama’s offense from run heavy to modern day spread. Doing so allowed Nick Saban and Alabama to keep the dynasty alive by adjusting to current times. Kiffin is now at Ole Miss leading explosive offenses with Heisman hopeful QB Matt Corral. If he can get those type of offenses in Mississippi, he can do great things with Florida athletes. 

 

QB Tyler Van Dyke has shown real promise and to have someone like Kiffin coach him up would be something great to watch for Miami fans. Kiffin has always been popular with the recruits but put him in Miami and he’ll recruit like Miami hasn’t in sometime. Muffin’s teams have struggled on defense in the past but Defensive Coordinator DJ Durkin has greatly improved Ole Miss’s defense this year. If Kiffin can bring Durkin to Miami this would be another hire Hurricane fans should be thrilled about.

 

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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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Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Wizards

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The Miami Heat fell short in Washington on Saturday night, even alongside another big time Jimmy Butler night. The threes couldn’t fall once again, and it ultimately lost them a close one.

So, here are five takeaways from this one, mostly highlighting some individual takeaways from Miami’s core…

#1: Miami’s first half sums up the team’s new look theme.

1 for 14. That’s the Heat’s stat-line from three in the first half tonight. It feels like I start these pieces the same way every night, but that’s just because Miami keeps starting their games in the same way every night. Aside from an immediate Tyler Herro three when he came in, the team just couldn’t get a shot to fall from the outside for that entire 24 minutes. 43 points in that stretch of time tells you that as well, but there’s one more thing to keep in mind: the Heat were winning at that point. They have a very gritty group of guys who just battle when the game is in the mud, and if we’re talking about the first half specifically, Caleb Martin and PJ Tucker were huge reasons for that. When you can embody this new defensive team theme, role players are much more valuable in this setting. But as we saw, when there’s a scoring drop-off on the roster, it puts you in a very tough spot to win.

#2: Jimmy Butler spamming moves and getting buckets.

Jimmy Butler has been in the MVP race to begin this season, and it’s not just because of big numbers in the scoring column and fun post-game comments. For one, he’s been terrific on the defensive end per usual. Doubling when he chooses, handling his specific match-up, and getting pick sixes like another corner-back in town. But his offensive efficiency and impact has been incredible. He’s basically spammed one move for the past 3 games of the season, and it just couldn’t be stopped. Post position, get to the mid-range, and turn-around and fire. That shot has been falling, but the difficulty of those shots is the more important part to note. It’s a new team around him, which means new spots to operate.

#3: A big time Bam Adebayo addition: the usage of his shoulder in the post.

Bam Adebayo has made some pretty intriguing minor improvements this season. Overall feel, pursuing certain spots on the floor in the half-court, and now, a post gadget. A hot topic with Adebayo recently has been about him getting in the post more often, taking advantage of smaller defenders. But what about when he’s being defended by guys his size? That shouldn’t always equate to just shooting the mid-range jumper, so Adebayo’s beginning to put that added muscle to use. He’s utilizing the shoulder to create just enough space for quick hooks under the basket, or space to fire over the top. That stuff jumped right off the screen tonight, and his engagement in actually being aggressive allows it to shine even more.

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#4: PJ Tucker, a steal, literally and figuratively.

Describing PJ Tucker as a steal is fitting just through his defensive presence on a night to night basis, but it completely transcends that. In terms of off-season pick-ups, Tucker had to be one of the best this past season, just through the lens of outplaying the money on the deal. For starters, the first half can be viewed in many different ways, but Tucker kept it close in a stretch where the game shouldn’t have been close. Fighting on the offensive boards and providing extra possessions was the major element, just continuing to do the dirty work like he always does. Then in the second half, Tucker’s scoring returned, including back to back possessions with corner threes from the same spot. When offense gets rolling and the primary scorers do what they do, defenders almost have to dip off Tucker in his spots. But well, he’s made them pay every single night.

#5: Tyler Herro flipping the script in terms of counteracting his scoring.

The catch and shoot three really plummeted for Tyler Herro last season in comparison to his rookie year. That led to him expanding his scoring inside the arc little by little, which has totally exploded to begin this season. But the interesting thing about a returning Herro on Saturday night against the Wizards, is that he did exactly the opposite in this one. He began the game 3 for 10 from the field, and just looked a little flat with all of his shots coming up short in the middle of the floor. That led to him firing from deep shortly after, and well, that got him going. Two above the break triples set him off in the second half, and everything just stemmed from there offensively. He’s doing some really veteran-like things just through his scoring reads against different coverages, and it isn’t going anywhere. But down the stretch of the game, he was being picked on defensively as the Wizards were taking him off the dribble each and every possession.

 

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 NFL Best Bets Week 11: Backing the ‘Boys

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Goldie:

All Time Record: 211-109-1          

Vs. Spread: 152-165-1

 

21-22 Season:  85-54-1               

Vs. Spread: 63-76-1

 

Week 10 Record : 6-6-1                 

Vs. Spread: 4-9

 

Guarantee All Time: 13-11       

21-22 Season: 4-6

 

Upset All Time: 12-11              

21-22 Season: 3-7

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 29-8              

21-22 Season: 13-7       

Week 10: 0-1

 

Goldie’s Guarantee

Green Bay Packers (8-2) @ Minnesota Vikings (4-5)

Vegas Picks: GB -1

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 24-13

Picking Green Bay in this divisional matchup for a number of reasons. First, the Packers defense is really good this season, holding Seattle to a goose egg on the scoreboard for the first time in Russell Wilson’s career last week. Also, Minnesota is wildly inconsistent this season, one week their losing to Cooper Rush and the Cowboys, and the next thing you know they’re beating the Chargers on the road. Never know which Vikings team is going to show up. And most importantly, reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers has been on a tear this season, “He’s a BAAAD MAANN”. Packers win this NFC North showdown, I GUARANTEE IT! 

 

Goldie’s UPSET of the Week

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: DAL +2.5

Dallas Cowboys (7-2) @ Kansas City Chiefs (6-4)

Vegas Picks: KC -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 33-30

After a few down weeks from both myself and Crazy Uncle Jeff, we’re going for a big bounce back this week. Jeffy has cooked up THREE LOCKS for you all, and one of them also happens to be the UPSET of the week. We can all agree that the Chiefs this season haven’t looked like the Chiefs we’ve grown accustomed to. One big win against a chaotic Raiders team isn’t going to convince me that “the Chiefs are back”. And on the other side, the Cowboys have significantly outperformed expectations this season. Couldn’t ask for more from Dak and that star studded offense, and the ‘Boys defense has also substantially improved from last season. Cowboys go into KC and UPSET the Chiefs. How ‘Bout Dem Cowboys!

 

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Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: BAL -4.5

Baltimore Ravens (6-3) @ Chicago Bears (3-6)

Vegas Picks: BAL -4.5

Goldie’s Take: Ravens Win 26-20

The Ravens look to bounce back after that horrid performance they displayed at the hands of the Dolphins last Thursday night. After missing back to back practices this week, Lamar Jackson was back out there Friday, so Ravens fans (And LJ fantasy owners) can breathe a sigh of relief. A few trends worth noting in this one: Chicago is on an abysmal 0-7 skid straight up AND against the spread when coming off a bye since 2014. Also, Lamar Jackson is a perfect 12-0 versus NFC teams. All these trends continue this weekend as Baltimore leaves the Chi with a W. The Crazy Uncle approves.

 

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

Washington Football Team (3-6) @ Carolina Panthers (5-5)

Vegas Picks: CAR -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Panthers Win 23-20

Big storyline surrounding this one is Cam Newton’s first start back in Carolina. Fitting that his first start back is against former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera. Rivera drafted Newton, and the duo even made it to a Super Bowl together in 2016. After coaching Newton for years, Rivera should have a pretty good idea about how to stop him, but if you ask Jeffy about it, he’ll say “Ron Rivera couldn’t stop a high school team.” SuperCam and the Panthers get an emotional win in a venue call!

 

Rest of Week 11:

 

Indianapolis Colts (5-5) @ Buffalo Bills (6-3)

Vegas Picks: BUF -7

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 30-24

After their 1-4 start, Indy has rejuvenated their season by winning four out of their last five. This puts them back at .500, right outside the AFC playoff picture. However, this week they have arguably their toughest test so far, having to go on the road and face the mighty Buffalo Bills. Feeding star RB Johnathan Taylor is a recipe for Colts to stay in this one, but I trust Buffs to take care of business at home. 

 

Detroit Lions (0-8-1) @ Cleveland Browns (5-5)

Vegas Picks: CLE -11.5

Goldie’s Take: Browns Win 28-17

Browns are in the midst of a streaky 2-4 slide, but get a much needed boost to their offense with star RB Nick Chubb set to return. Even with the status of QB Baker Mayfiled up in the air, I still have Browns holding on for the win at home. Lowly Lions should have a very hard time moving the ball on Myles Garrett and stingy Cleveland D, and Chubb should have a big day slicing right through Motown’s weak defensive unit. Browns get the win at home to creep back above .500. 

 

Houston Texans (1-8) @ Tennessee Titans (8-2)

Vegas Picks: TEN -10

Goldie’s Take: Titans WIn 30-17

No matter what the NFL has thrown at them, the Titans have responded. Even without superstar RB Derrick Henry, the Titans find themselves winners of six in a row sitting at 8-2 with the best record in the AFC. On the other side, Houston has lost 8 straight and cannot wait for this season to be over. Both of those trends continue as Titans roll past Texans. 

 

San Francisco 49ers (4-5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-7)

Vegas Picks: SF -6

Goldie’s Take: 49ers Win 24-20

The Niners salvaged their season with a very impressive upset of the Rams on MNF last week. Their defense gave the star studded Rams a very hard time, and they finally looked like the Niners team that was in the Super Bowl just two seasons ago. However, expect the Jags to keep this one close as they’ve been trending upwards lately, 2-2 in their last four games, including a major upset of the Bills a few weeks ago. Not to mention San Fran could be on letdown watch after such a monumental win last week against the Rams. Picking Niners to get the win… but banking on a Jacksonville home cover. 

 

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Miami Dolphins (3-7) @ New York Jets (2-7) 

Vegas Picks: MIA -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Dolphins Win 23-15

Lots of factors pointing to a Dolphins win on Sunday. Fins have picked up the pieces a bit lately winning two in a row, including a shocking upset of the Ravens on TNF. Meanwhile, the Jets enter this one after losing two back to back, including getting annihilated at home by the Bills last week. Also, Fins have owned the Jets of late, 8-2 in their last ten and 3-1 under Brian Flores. Old, stationary Joe Flacco should have a tough time dealing with ‘Fins blitz-heavy defense. Expect a low-scoring game, as Tua should be able to game-manage Miami to their third straight victory. 

 

New Orleans Saints (5-4) @ Philadelphia Eagles (4-6)

Vegas Picks: PHI -2

Goldie’s Take: Eagles WIn 27-23

Big NFC playoff implications in this matchup. Currently Saints hold one of the final Wild Card spots in the NFC, with the Eagles lurking right behind them. Saints are losers of two in a row after their big upset of the Bucs a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, the Eagles enter this one after destroying the Broncos on the road. It seems Philly’s offense has finally found its identity as a running team rather than a passing team. Philly is 0-4 at home this year, while the Saints are on an impressive 16-4 road heater. Both of those trends are due to come to an end this weekend as Philadelphia finally gets to see their Eagles fly high with a home win.

 

Cincinnati Bengals (5-4) @ Las Vegas Raiders (5-4)

Vegas Picks: CIN -1

Goldie’s Take: Bengals Win 28-26

After red hot starts, both of these teams have dropped their last two, and are starting to lose their validity. The Raiders offense hasn’t looked the same since the departure of speedy WR Henry Ruggs III, and Bengals have had two weeks to stew after getting demolished at home by division rival Cleveland. However, Cincy does have a significant prep/rest edge as they’re coming off a bye, and the Raiders played Sunday night. This game is a complete toss up in my opinion, but give me Burrow and the Bengals to steal one on the road. 

 

Arizona Cardinals (8-2) @ Seattle Seahawks (3-6)

Vegas Picks: ARI -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Seahawks Win 28-24

For the third straight week Cardinals QB Kyler Murray is listed as questionable heading into Sunday, and they have already ruled out WR Deandre Hopkins. The past two weeks we have seen Kyler go to inactive status and backup Colt McCoy has seen the past two starts. So Kyler’s “questionable” designation will truly be a gametime decision. Also, Seattle is hanging by a thread in the NFC playoff race and a loss could pretty much end their season. Last week we saw Russell Wilson get shutout for the first time in his career. I’m expecting a huge bounce back performance from Russ and this Seahawks offense. Also making this one a bit of a venue call as Seattle is still one of the most hostile environments to play in the NFL. UPSET!

 

Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3-1) @ Los Angeles Chargers (5-4)

Vegas Picks: LAC -6

Goldie’s Take: Chargers Win 31-14

After the hot start, the Bolts have started to slip a bit, losing three out of their last four. However, this week they have a SNF home game against the Steelers, who just tied the winless Lions. Big Ben has been ruled out for this contest, and Pittsburgh already has a hard enough time scoring points with Big Ben. It very well could be a disaster without him. I’m fully expecting the Chargers to get off the cold streak and steamroll the Steelers in LA.

 

New York Giants (3-6) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-3)

Vegas Picks: TB -10.5

Goldie’s Take: Buccaneers Win 30-20

The Bucs have been upset in their last two games by teams that they should have beaten. Is it time to start to feel nervous in Tampa? I don’t think so. Yes, those two losses were a bad look, but you’re still 6-3 and completely in control of your own destiny. Oh, and you have the greatest football player to ever play on your team named Tom Brady. The Bucs finally come home on Monday night, and they’ll get back on track with a win. However I could see G-Men slipping in under that hefty point spread. 

The Miami Heat’s Roster: Top Heavy Options Turning Into Depth

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Film dives aside for a second, the Miami Heat are the number one seed in the East.

Credit can fly in a ton of different directions. Jimmy Butler’s MVP status, Bam Adebayo’s two-way play, Tyler Herro’s continued emergence, or Kyle Lowry’s quarterback control. It just simply isn’t one translating factor to a winning basketball team.

Before the season, the depth of this team was questioned. Could Omer Yurtseven develop quickly? Will KZ Okpala finally break-through? Does Gabe Vincent’s scoring ability come along?

All of those were pretty viable questions to pose, and the frequency of actually presenting those questions has risen quickly.

Butler, Adebayo, Lowry, and Herro seem to be switching off games to take the night off, which is something they haven’t been able to do in the past. A strong core like that pretty much means they can pick up the slack for the others.

The issue is that 3 rotational pieces down in a specific game, means the depth dwindles down real fast. The best front-court option outside of the rotation is Udonis Haslem, and it’s kind of wild that it took so long to realize that.

While we know about that stuff involving the depth at this very moment, let’s fast forward to a fully healthy Heat team and evaluate the “depth,” since the goalposts seem to immediately move.

With a returning Victor Oladipo, even disregarding the exact health levels he comes back at, he will no question be a part of that bench back-court with Herro. To cap off the nine-man rotation, Markieff Morris and Dewayne Dedmon will most likely be the relied on veterans on the back-end.

What does that mean? Well, Max Strus, Caleb Martin, and Gabe Vincent will all be on the outside looking in, which is a pretty great spot to be in when looking at the team on paper.

Obviously we’re coming off a major offensive punch from Vincent on Thursday night, but that isn’t the only reason it’s being brought up. Aside from the shot falling or bricking, he provides something that Miami can use in certain spots of the season.

Lowry goes down, Vincent can be that sidekick to Herro’s scoring. Herro goes down, Vincent can be the strong attacker and eventual shooter in Herro’s role next to Lowry. And yet, his offense doesn’t even touch half the potential of his defensive structure.

Caleb Martin has been a steal of a pick-up on that two-way contract, but as many have noted, he won’t be stuck in that deal for long. With a 50 game limit, it’s clear Miami will need to eventually convert him over, since he can be used way more than 50 games this season.

And although Max Strus continues to impress in his rotational role this season, a 10th man spark will probably be his role by playoff time. If the guards aren’t giving them something on a specific night, I see Coach Spo bringing in Strus to start the second quarter without batting an eye.

The point is that the depth on this team may seem frail at times when they’re down a third of their rotation, but when everything is put together down the stretch of the season, even that will elevate.

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The depth topic is a funny one to have on a Heat team, just due to the fact we’ve seen them with a totally opposite team theme in recent years. They had a bunch of really sound players all the way down the roster, but in moments of truth, it was Butler and Adebayo looking around for who that next guy was.

Now, as I said earlier, they have a core four that can pretty much be relied on night in and night out.

Options over depth. It may seem like a pretty obvious thing to say, but something must be added to that: extra options create more depth.

How is that? When you have a 21 year old Herro taking over games while Butler is resting on the sidelines, that forms extra bodies by the end of the season. They don’t have to rush back the top dogs any time they get injured, which once again, is something new.

11-5 and first seed in the Eastern Conference during one of the toughest parts of their schedule is one thing. But giving both Butler and Adebayo 3 games off in that span, while Lowry has gotten 2 games off, puts their standing positioning into even more perspective.

The team’s pace on the floor is one thing. But Erik Spoelstra being able to pace his players off the floor is another thing.

 

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Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over the Wizards

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The Miami Heat beat the Washington Wizards on Thursday night, and it was another big night for Jimmy Butler. Even with Tyler Herro out due to a wrist injury, others stepped up off the bench.

So, here are five takeaways from another Heat win…

#1: Jimmy Butler playing his own game, with a different speed.

Scoring mode Jimmy Butler has taken the floor for most of Miami’s games this season. Much of that has to do with Kyle Lowry stripping some of the play-making duties from him, while it’s also just him taking advantage of match-ups and spots of the floor. Tonight, he was playing his usual offensive game, but it was at a different speed. Even when Lowry isn’t on the floor, Butler has made it a part of his routine to grab it and go, which really fits the supporting cast on this team, more specifically the bench. But if that mid-range jumper continues to fall, and he continues to draw that whistle and get to the line, MVP ladder Jimmy Butler isn’t going anywhere.

#2: Tyler Herro out. Gabe Vincent in. And he was ready for the offensive load.

With Tyler Herro out, it was clear they were going to need one or two scoring threats to step up off the bench. Gabe Vincent has been that guy before, but he hasn’t really been that at all recently. But there’s a difference between being inserted into Lowry’s role and Herro’s role. We saw the difference in that tonight. He actually saw quite some time next to Lowry, which enhances his scoring skill even more. He was driving with authority to eventually open up the jumper, and that looks to be the formula for success. If he has match-ups that are around his size and he can play his physical game, he’s in a good spot.

#3: The halftime takeaway: three-point shooting struggles, yet 7 point lead.

The three-point shooting watch has been much different for the Miami Heat this season than previous years. Previously, their percentage in that category could tell you if they were winning or losing at a certain point. Yet, this isn’t a “three-point shooting” team anymore. The Heat were up 47-40 at the half, while shooting 14% from three at that point. Like I said: different. The reason they’re able to still be in a winning spot is due to the efficiency of their two-point shots. Mid-ranges drop on this team, they can get to the rim, and frankly, they had 14 free throw attempts at the half to the Wizards’ 7. They can win in different ways, which is just simply something new.

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#4: Bam Adebayo picking his spots perfectly as an inside threat. An inside the 3 point line threat.

One thing was clear when this game started, and it was that Bam Adebayo was going to get shots up tonight. They weren’t really falling right out the gate, but that changed rather quickly. The main reason for that is he’s picking his spots at such a high level right now, and isn’t afraid to pull-up for that interior jumper. That exact type of play is how he creates gravity for his team. Once that occurred and Miami got a switch down low, the Wizards’ defense had to think twice. It’s not that they were full-out doubling him, but they dipped off the corner shooters just enough. That led to an absolute zip pass from Adebayo in the post one possession to an awaiting PJ Tucker in the corner. And that’s the whole story with Adebayo on the offensive end this season.

#5: Caleb Martin: a two-way steal, but not a two-way for long.

Speaking of guys stepping up off the bench with Tyler Herro out, Caleb Martin’s name must come up since he’s been doing that all season. A power forward goes down, here is Caleb Martin entering. Jimmy Butler goes down, here is Caleb Martin entering. Kyle Lowry goes down, here is Caleb Martin entering. The only knock that can be found against him right now is that he has a 50 game limit, and he could be used in many more. But well, that contract could always be tweaked, and it feels like we’re rapidly approaching that point. Swarming defense, effective offense, and tons and tons of athleticism is the type of guy you need to lock up with the thinness of this bench.

 

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