It was an afternoon to remember, as Bruins fans received an early Christmas present when Coach Bruce Cassidy announced Patrice Bergeron would return to the lineup. Number 37 had been out since November 16th after sustaining a rib and sternoclavicular injury in a game against Dallas. Without missing a beat, in typical Bruins fashion, Bergeron reminded fans and the NHL exactly why he is one of the greatest premier two-way forwards as he notched his 300th NHL goal. He is now 17 games away from reaching his 1,000th game played. Bergeron is now the sixth player in Bruins history to score 300 goals. He joins an elite group alongside Cam Neely, Ray Bourque, Rick Middleton, Phil Esposito, and Johnny Bucyk.
In the first period, Bergeron got the Bruins on board 1-0 when he scored at 15:10 from a Charlie McAvoy pass. The Bruins would score another goal in the second making it 2-0, only to have it overturned when Nashville challenged for goaltender interference. The Predators would even the score when Ryan Johansen netted a goal off a one-timer pass from Craig Smith. However, Bergeron would bring Boston up by one when he scored his second goal of the game (and one that would be his 300th career goal). Nashville would come back when Kyle Turris scored with a wrist shot, making it 2-2.
(Photo Credits: Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
LOSING THE EDGE
With a frustrated Preds team looking to make a comeback, a penalty was given to Ryan Hartman when he tripped David Pastrnak. Bruins’ Brad Marchand took advantage, and netted a power play goal with an assist by Bergeron, making the score 3-2. Any hopes for the Predators were quickly squashed as Pastrnak scored on a one-timer pass from Marchand for a 4-2 lead; Bergeron was also credited with an assist for the Pastrnak goal. Adding the final nail in the coffin, Sean Kuraly potted an empty-net goal in the last few moments in the third, making the final score 5-2.
"I've been missing it for so long…I was trying to talk to the guys and be vocal that we have to enjoy it and go out there and just have fun."
🎥 Patrice Bergeron chats with the media following a four-point night (2G, 2A) in his first game back from a 16-game injury absence: pic.twitter.com/jZe3dimvhx
With the win, the Boston Bruins are now one point away from taking the third spot in the Atlantic Division. Nashville has now lost four in a row, as well as losing 10 straight road games. They are also missing some key players in their lineup, such as P.K Subban and Viktor Arvidsson. Bruins’ Marchand and Pastrnak had two goals and two assists. Goaltender Jaroslav Halak made 28 saves and is third in the league for goals against average at 2.19; he’s tied for first in the league with save percentage (.930) alongside Tampa Bay’s goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy. He’s also tied in second in the league for shutout wins. The Bruins have now won three in a row, and six of their last eight games. Boston is hoping to extend their winning streak as they travel to face the Carolina Hurricanes tomorrow afternoon.
NEXT GAME: Sunday, December 23rd with puck drop at 5:00 PM
Celtics fans far and wide were giddy with the recent turnaround of Boston’s fortunes after they reeled off eight-straight, only to see the streak we had all anticipated come to an abrupt halt in Detroit. Despite the fact that the Green had just beaten up a bunch of tomato cans, all eight teams with sub .500 records, it was certainly a welcome reprieve from Boston’s unanticipated struggles up to that point.
The loss to the Pistons was no big deal because eventually, every team loses and the Celts looked like they were finally resembling the tour de force of last season when they took the LeBron-led Cavaliers to seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals without the services of their two top stars, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. However, all that good juju turned sour when they were stunned by the worst team in basketball, the Phoenix Suns, on Wednesday night. Some of the best online sportsbooks like Bookmakerwere dealing the Shamrocks as high as 11 ½ point home favorites over the hapless Suns.
After the Celtics take on Milwaukee on Friday night, the Philadelphia 76ers are next up on the slate. After a spate of games against the weak sisters of the league, this is quite the one-two punch for the Green and they will be doing it without the services of center Aron Baynes, who fractured a bone in his left hand early in the Sun’s game. Unfortunately, Baynes is out indefinitely and the front office needs to figure out a way to get a legitimate big in a hurry. They will certainly need it against Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers.
The first and only time these teams met this season was in the opener when Boston outscored the Sixers in all but the first quarter of play. It was an uplifting victory and the sportsbooks were dealing Boston as a 4 ½ point home favorites and covered the number with ease. Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid led all scorers that night with 23 while Ben Simmons dominated the glass with 15 rebounds. Boston shot an unremarkable 43 percent from the floor but it was better than the 39 percent delivered by the Sixers.
Boston has won 15 of their last 17 regular-season meetings with Philadelphia but the Sixers are on the championship trajectory that Boston fans had expected of the Celtics. Of course, the C’s are not floundering in the basement of the East with the likes of Atlanta, Chicago, and Cleveland but they have only hit their stride once this season and it happened to be during the friendliest part of their schedule. Well folks, friendly just turned deadly because the Bucks, 76ers, Rockets, and Spurs are on the horizon. Boston will have to get more offensively engaged, as they are currently in the middle of the pack in points scored, averaging 111.2, yet defensively they are getting the job done as the fourth-ranked team in the league, trailing only Indiana, Memphis, and Denver.
On the flip side, the 76ers are struggling to stop their opponents from scoring, ranked 22nd in that department, but are seventh in scoring and tied for fifth in rebounding. There’s an easy argument to be made that Joel Embiid is the best player in the Eastern Conference and the deal the Sixers swung for All-Star Jimmy Butler only galvanized their resolve to contend now, and not later, for a championship title. This game is important for Philly because they can avenge their earlier season loss and know that their final two games against the Celtics in this four-game regular season series will be held in the City of Brotherly Love. Let’s hope that the Green Machine duplicates their efforts from October 16th and notches a win over a fierce conference rival.
Last season Bruce Cassidy was nearly named the best coach in the NHL. He took over a Bruins team that was dead in the water in early February of 2017, and lead them to a playoff appearance. He followed that up with a 100 point season and a second-round playoff appearance in his first full season at the helm. This season, Cassidy’s skills have been tested as this team has yet to form an identity. The Bruins have struggled to receive secondary scoring, but are still in a wildcard spot. Cassidy has done well keeping this team competitive in the face of tremendous adversity.
They have already lost Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, and Charlie McAvoy for long stretches this season. Despite all the injuries, the Bruins are still on their way to a third consecutive playoff appearance. It has been a season full of ups and downs, but this team has still found ways to win. Under Cassidy, the Bruins young players have stepped up when needed most.
Photo Credit: John Tlumacki/ Globe Staff
Cassidy’s Impact On The Youth
This season the Bruins have already seen the NHL debuts of Connor Clifton, Jeremy Lauzon, and Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson. They have all given the Bruins solid minutes over the last month, as injuries pile up. Cassidy has kept things simple and not placed high expectations on his rookies. He has put them in positions to succeed and rewarded their hard work. His coaching style has positively affected the Bruins younger players, and their goaltenders as well.
With the addition of Jaroslav Halak, the Bruins have one of the best goalie tandems in the NHL. Halak has thrived in his first season in Boston, after struggling last season with the Islanders. He had the worst defensive group in front of him in New York, which has not been the case in Boston. Cassidy’s system suits Halak, as it keeps everything in front of the goaltender. What was seen as a low-risk signing has turned into one of this team’s best free-agent pickups.
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Under Cassidy, Tuukka Rask has played his best hockey in recent years. Last season the Bruins goaltender finished with a .917 save percentage, which was skewed due to a rough first month of the season. That has been the same case this season, as Rask has recovered from a slow start to be considerably better over the last month. Cassidy’s system puts his goaltenders in the best positions to succeed, and as a result they have thrived.
Can Cassidy Repeat Last Seasons Success
In what has been a season full of highs and lows, the Bruins have been dominant of late. In their last two games, they have outscored their opponents 7-1. That is particularly impressive, considering both Montreal and Anaheim would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. With Bergeron set to return within the next week, the team will only get better. Despite all the challenges the team has faced, they are well on their way to another playoff appearance. There is still a lot of hockey to be played, but Cassidy has again shown why he is one of the best in the league, as he has kept an injury-riddled roster in the playoff mix.
Regular exercising has numerous benefits but do you have enough time or energy to make it a daily-to-do thing?
Maybe, NO!
In this digital era, our lives have become so mechanical that we hardly manage to participate in healthy physical activities. Students and working people are forced to stick to their study tables and office cabins. On the other hand, efficient transportation facilities such as cars, trains and buses have made walking and cycling once in a blue moon thing. Such lifestyle is leading to perilous lethargic attitude and diseases like obesity.
Well, it’s pretty much obvious that after long and hectic working hours, you cannot even think of doing some really effective workout to maintain your physique and health but what you can do and would love to do is longboarding!
Longboarding is that one sport which allows you to be free with your body and mind. All you have to do is to step on a good, reliable longboard and let this little thing do its magic. Riding through the fresh air doesn’t only improve the mood but also work as a perfect alternative to exercise.
If you are done with your boring routine and want to make your life happening, start longboarding now because it’s not just a source of fun and enthusiasm but also a way of enjoying workout benefits without even working out actually. Let’s have a look at few undeniable exercise benefits of longboarding:
Cardio
You might have heard of cardiovascular exercises that reduce the risk of heart diseases such as heart failure and cardiac arrest. Cardio exercises carried out usually in the gyms increase the capacity of lungs and improve the functioning of the heart.
Longboarding is also a type of cardio workout…
in which quick and fast body movements improve your blood flow through the body by accelerating the pumping of your heart. The adrenaline rush during an exciteful ride works as a heart pump and increases its beating which eventually leads to a better supply of blood to every single corner of your body. Movements during longboarding elevate the heart rate and successfully deliver more oxygen to the body parts. In short, longboarding is a great cardiovascular workout which gives you the opportunity to strengthen your body by making heart and lung functioning better in the most possible fun way.
Fat loss
You pay a lot of cash and join gym to get rid ofexcessive fats and extra weight. No doubt, gym workouts are quite effective and have obvious results but the problem is that it requires serious commitment and intense energy which most of you find hard to manage due to other responsibilities. It’s obvious that after a long day of fussy office hours no energy is left in you to step on a treadmill or lift some dumb bells. So the question is then “how to lose fat?”
Well, the answer is very simple, longboarding.
You can simply enjoy fat loss while having pleasurable, exciteful rides. Longboarding involves quirky body movements which lead to excessive sweating eventually resulting in substantial fat burn. A 125 pound person can lose up to 300 calories and a 185 pound person can burn around 444 calories with a single hour of longboard ride. This estimation means that you can burn 2000 to 3000 calories in just a week without even realizing it. Also, to reiterate, you can save so much money while losing weight. Unlike when you buy a treadmill or gym equipment, you’ll need to spend a lot of money or even apply for a loan, and you’ll be bothered by the fact that you’ll need to free your credit history from issues and even have to remove records from some collection agencies, like LVNV Funding collections, just to be able to apply for a loan to buy expensive equipment.
Impressive, isn’t it?
Muscle strength
Strengthening of muscles is another awesome benefit of regular longboarding. When you roll the wheels, muscles of your whole body are involved. Where your legs play the biggest role of upholdingthe balance and pushing the board, your upper body muscles also help in accelerating the speed while maintaining the stability. Energetic longboard rides strengthen the core and carve the abs within no time which means that now you can have a macho man body by mastering longboarding skills instead of carrying out killing exercises and intense workouts.Especially, if you perform maneuvers, you do a lot of crunching, bending and twisting which eventually enhance your body cuts and carves.
In short, when you slam on your longboard, you wake up those sleepy muscles and tighten them to work in the best way possible.
Flexible body
Aside from being a great cardio and muscle strengthening exercise, longboarding is also a great way of achieving a flexible body. You might not realize but body flexibility is very much necessary to stay younger and active for longer.Longboarding requires you to be free with yourbody and move left to right, forward and backward just like a free bird. This way your body doesn’t get stiff and stays flexible and relaxed. Working in the office for hours in a static position on a laptop brings stiffness in your muscles.
One hour of longboard ride can reduce that stiffness and provides relaxation to your muscles making them more flexible and stretchy.
Reduced stress
Do you know many people join workout sessions and gyms not to lose weight but to experience mental relaxation? Well, that’s true!
Exercising regularly allows you to remain mentally healthy and stress-free. Same happens when you roll a longboard daily. Longboarding is a sport but deep down it’s a great way to give yourself a break. When you are on a longboard, you experience freedom and pleasure which eventually opens up your mind to positivity and hopefulness. Longboarding gives you an opportunity to remain calm and stress-free in depressing situations so you may come up with better plans and ideas. Whenever something bad is at your door, you can simply slam on the longboard and leave everything behind for short to take better decision later.
In simple words, longboarding is a great cure for depression and stress.
Physical fitness
Aside from mental health, longboarding is also a great way of maintaining physical fitness. As we have already mentioned that it’s a type of cardiovascular and muscular workout, it’s obvious that being a regular boarder, you won’t experience diseases such as obesity and arteriosclerosis. While longboarding, your body gets a chance to remain in a good condition and burn some unwanted fats. Considering the fact that our diet has become quite unhealthy because of all that junk food intake, it’s evident that our body experiences certainanomalies. Hardening of arteries due to high cholesterol and fatty food is one of the common diseases you may experience because of inactive body and unhealthy diet.
But if you are involved in longboarding, your body gets a chance to burn all those excessive fats you took in the breakfast, lunch or dinner. Aside from that, your muscles also become stronger and healthier.
The last word
To conclude, it won’t be wrong to say that longboarding is a total package of health, excitement and fun conveyance. It’s a sport for many but a great way of maintaining healthy body and mind for those who find regular workout difficult or unmanageable. While having fun on the board, you can improve the functioning of the heart and lungs, burn some fats and bring flexibility into a stiffed body.
What more you can ask for?
It’s understandable that every oneof you cannot arrange sufficient time to carry out exercise on regular basis due to certain other commitments. But, longboarding is a very simple way to enjoy all the benefits you might expect from regular workout.
And the best part is that you don’t have to be a pro to step on a longboard. You can simply buy one good piece from the market and step on it to go with the flow.Being free with your body is all you need to keep in your mind while rolling the wheels and you will have a fine body shape in the most fun way possible.
In short, you don’t have to get tired or sweat hard to become fitter. You can enjoy all the exercise benefits without being involved in intense workouts by simple having some fun time on the board.
The sky is falling for the Patriots. Just as people have started to come to terms with the loss to the Steelers, Josh Gordon is taking his ball and going home. In fact, this bad news is finally enough to get Belichick’s bedrock philosophy back in vogue. Bulletin board material is here, and just in time too.
Gordon is Gone
News story: Josh Gordon says he is stepping away from football to focus on his mental health; he is facing a potential suspension for violating the terms of his conditional reinstatement under the NFL's drug policy. https://t.co/MiPiW5u8FL
The details are still leaking out, but Josh Gordon appears to be looking at a suspension of some sort. On the face of it, this is really bad news. The Patriots have had trouble at receiver ever since Danny Amendola signed with the Dolphins last off-season.
Furthermore, the Patriots have five losses for the first time since they lost six in 2009. That was the dreaded ‘I just can’t get this team to play the way we need to play’ team from A Football Life.
Things look bad. So how is this a good thing?
Bulletin Board Material
Remember the halcyon days of the beginning of this Patriots dynasty? Remember when teams took the Patriots lightly? The Steelers are the masters of gifting Belichick with material to rile the troops.
During the 2001 Super Bowl run, the Steelers were happy to announce that their bags were packed for New Orleans and the Super Bowl. The Patriots walked away with a 24-17 win in the AFC Championship.
The media at large was enough for Belichick in the runs to the 2001 and 2003 Championships. No one gave the Patriots a chance against the Rams in 2001. The hype machine for Peyton Manning was in full force in 2003.
There was a regular cornucopia of bulletin board material. Belichick simply plucked it out of the air.
The End Of The Underdog
By the time Rodney Harrison was flapping his arms in the waning moments of the 2004 Championship against the Eagles, it was clear this motivation tactic was wearing thin. The Patriots were favored in the game against the Eagles. They had to dig deep to find little used wide receiver Freddy Mitchell declaring he didn’t know the Patriots defenders’ names.
In every playoff game since, other than perhaps an AFC Championship in Denver in 2016, the Patriots have been favored. The media has begrudgingly given The Belichick’s their due. Brady is now the GOAT. Loosing to the Giants in two Super Bowls wasn’t enough to knock the luster off the great and powerful Patriots.
What Is Old Is New Again
It has been distressing to see Tom Brady go weird, and seemingly get Garoppolo traded. To see Gronk looking mortal, and more interested in retirement and the WWE, than preventing miracle game loosing touchdowns. Sure-handed Julian Edleman is dropping passes. It looks like the Patriots are slipping, from the D to the QB, the special teams to the coach.
However, right now there is an opportunity Belichick has been looking for. For the first time since 2003, the Patriots will be overlooked in the playoffs. Some are saying they might not even make the playoffs. This is despite the AFC East standings, which show the Dolphins two games back with two to play.
Bulletin board material has materialized, and Belichick will put it to maximum use. Need to break through to an aloof Brady, an unmotivated Gronk, a shaky kicker, or struggling D? No problem.
The Road Ahead
Currently the Patriots sit at 9-5. That leaves them fourth in the conference. But what was true yesterday is true today. The Patriots have the Jets and Bills left. The Texans, who sit in third at 10-4, have the Eagles and Jaguars. The Patriots hold the tie-breaker over Houston. The Patriots are entirely capable of going 2-0 and ending at 11-5. The Texans are entirely capable of going 1-1, and ending at 11-5.
Because the two top teams in the league, the Chiefs and Chargers, are in the same division, whichever ends with a worse record is the five seed. Divisional winners go one through four.
With bulletin board material at his back, Belichick could be looking at the Number 2 seed. He could also be looking a Divisional round game at home, then on to KC in the AFC Championship game. Win that one, and the Patriots are back in the Super Bowl.
Belichick just got his secret weapon back. The rest of the league will see it soon enough.
New England has lost its second game in December, the first time since 2002. The Patriots decided to take Josh Gordon out for the final play of the game. McDaniels answered questions, and Josh Gordon’s absence on that play was a hot topic.
Josh Gordon Should’ve been on the field on Sunday
Where was Josh Gordon
The Patriots loss didn’t come down to one single play, but again player personnel was an issue. After the game Bill Belichick was asked about Gordon’s absence. The head coach said they opted for Cordarrelle Patterson instead, which didn’t answer anything really.
Patterson is another big, athletic, jump ball receiver. The answer from Belichick didn’t cut it for me, because having Gordon and Patterson in for the play would’ve made sense. But that wasn’t the case, Gordon who played 58 snaps compared to Patterson’s 4 were swapped for the biggest play of the game.
McDaniels Explains Gordon’s Absence
The Patriots found themselves in position to tie the game after driving down the field. The game looked like every other Patriots comeback, until the holding call on second down. That penalty on second down moved the offense from the 11 yard line, back to the 21 yard line and loss of a down. The Steelers took a timeout before Tom Brady’s final attempt to win. Gordon ran to the sideline during the time out and left many scratching their head.
Via SI.com
Josh Gordon wasn’t made available to the media after the game. McDaniels said that “the offense had run quite a few plays in a row.” He Seems to be indicating Gordon was tired. He went on to say Patterson was sent in as a “fresh guy” to try and make a play. He stated there is no ulterior motive behind the decision.
Josh Gordon Gives The Patriots the Best Chance to Win
The whole situation is strange, and Tom Brady could have used Gordon’s big catch radius and play-making ability on 4th down. New England needs to win the final two games of the year, and Gordon needs to be on the field. Josh Gordon is the teams leading receiver, tied for most TDs, and had quickly become Brady’s go to guy. The Patriots need to play better on the field, but the play calling and coaching also need to be better moving forward.
The Red Sox Hot Stove has burned out. Dave Dombrowski recently noted that the free-agent market has slowed down significantly the past two years. He’s in favor of a free-agency deadline of some sort to spurn action. Dave Dombrowski is right. With that in mind, here is some recent interesting MLB news, and how it affects the Red Sox.
Red Sox Transactions
You are forgiven if unfamiliar with recent Red Sox transactions Gorkys Hernandez and Zach Putnam.
Hernandez is a 30 year old outfielder. He played 142 games last year with the San Francisco Giants. That was the most games he has played in a year in his career. He hit .234 with a .676 OPS last year.
Putnam is a 31 year old reliever. He saved 6 games with a 1.98 ERA four years ago for the White Sox. Last year he got into 7 games for a total of 8.2 innings. Yes, he had a 1.04 ERA, but his injuries have limited him to 32 games in relief over the past two years.
These guys are AAA roster filler. They’re just as likely to spend the year in AAA, or be injured, as they are to make any kind of impact on the Red Sox this year.
That being said, at least the Sox signed Eovaldi, not exactly a pillar of consistency himself. Here are some other teams making moves.
Starting Pitchers
Matt Harvey in Anaheim just feels like when "Mad Men" went to California.
Matt Harvey got a one-year 11 million, with $3 million incentives, from the Angels. Lance Lynn signed a three-year $30 Million deal with the Rangers. Harvey, formally the Dark Knight of the Mets, went 7-7 with a 4.50 ERA for the Reds last year. Lance Lynn went 10-10 between the Twins and Yankees, with a 4.77 ERA.
There are some making the argument the Red Sox overpaid for Eovaldi based on these deals. Neither Harvey nor Lynn had a three week stretch like Eovaldi showed in the Postseason. Time will tell, but Harvey has looked cooked, and Lynn in decline. Starting pitching is expensive.
Remember when Billy Hamilton was the next big thing? Way back in 2013 he was a highly touted prospect. He got a cup of coffee with the Reds that year, and flashed a .902 OPS in 13 games. People thought he would hit a ton of doubles, steal 80 bags a year, and be a gold glover. Since then he has lead the the league in one thing: caught stealing. He’s managed 277 steals, but a lowly .631 OPS, in his career so far. And he’s not sniffing gold glove caliber defense.
All through the mid to late 90s, and the first leg of the this Century’s Red Sox Championship teams, the Royal’s Kauffman Stadium was a house of horrors for the Sox. But considering the arguments for the Royals moves include phrases like “…may not produce much in the way of offense…”, it’s safe to say the Royals won’t be much of the threat to the Sox, or any other opponent, in 2019.
Oh Those Mets
Ken Davidoff writes that Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen's talk puts the team in the crosshairs. https://t.co/H1y8xaNkEX
Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen, with a name right out of The Sound Of Music, is showing why there was hope he could be had in a deal for Noah Syndergaard. The Mets just gave Wilson Ramos a 2-year $19 million deal. The 30 year old has two All Star nods, including last year. But after being a stalwart for the Phillies and Nationals for several years, he’s been getting nicked up a little more each year.
He missed the All Star game last year with a hamstring injury from running the bases. Catchers, for the most part, do not get better after 30. Maybe if Christian Vazguez was 30 and injury prone, instead of 27 and coming off a great postseason, the Mets would’ve wanted him. $9.5 million a year for Ramos is another head-scratching move.
The artist formally known as Tulo is causing a stir. This five-time All Star is so bad, the Blue Jays paid $38 million to release him last week. That’s Pablo ‘Panda’ Sandoval territory. Now a third of all teams are clambering to overpay him.
Let’s a hope an AL East team grabs him, so Red Sox pitching can rack up more strikeouts.
Hope, In This Season Of Hope
According to @Schustee, MLB spent $1.32 million in lobbying fees on matters related to Cuba last year and $999,000 this year. It’s a staggering number, and it shows the lengths to which the league has wanted to rid itself of the human trafficking that's part of Cuban defections.
The tails of Yasiel Puig and Rusney Castillo, and all the Cuban defectors, are harrowing stories of heartbreak and despair. Three cheers for MLB, trying to make this a better process.
Can You Imagine This In The Winter Of 2004?
Just stopping by to remind you that 2019 tickets are available now!
I’m pretty sure the excitement was at a Fever Pitch in the early winter of 2004. This team just put down a historic run to a World Championship. The Red Sox raised ticket prices in advance of putting them on sale. Of course, marketing is important for any organization. But to not be mostly sold out at this point is a part of the problem Dave Dombrowski pointed out. There is a distinct lack of buzz out there.
The Celtics saw their eight-game winning streak snapped in Motown on Saturday night as the Pistons took advantage of a totally gassed Boston crew that had played three times in four nights. Despite their heavy workload, one of the most trusted online sportsbooks in the business Bookmaker installed the road-weary Celtics as two-point favorites. The Shamrocks were game, trailing by just one point at the half but they were running on empty and eventually Detroit put their foot on the throttle and drew away to a 113-104 victory. All streaks must end and the Pistons are a solid 10-6 at home, Blake Griffin is having a monster season, and Andre Drummond owned the glass with 20 boards on the night.
Perhaps the only cause for pause regarding the Celtics’ winning streak, prior to its abrupt disruption on Saturday, was the caliber of opponent that Boston faced over that three week stretch. None of the teams Boston beat had a winning record but, in all fairness, the road to the title is not littered only with worthy adversaries. A win is a win, yet, it is unfortunately typical of Boston fans and writers to nitpick the details and turn lemonade into lemons. It’s just what we do around here because we have been spoiled by an embarrassment of riches, and championships delivered, from all four of the local franchises over the past two decades.
The Celtics get a well-deserved respite before they get back into action on Wednesday night when they welcome the worst team in basketball, the Phoenix Suns, into the cozy confines of the TD Garden. If that’s not a slam dunk then this is not a championship caliber team. Thus, we will assume they will be gunning for two-straight when the Greek Freak and the Milwaukee Bucks come calling two nights later. You may recall their previous meeting earlier in the season when the Celtics knocked down a franchise high 24 three-pointers and tarnished Milwaukee’s previously unblemished record. The Bucks are currently within spitting distance of the Toronto Raptors for the top spot in the East and a win on Friday night would be a shot across the bow to the rest of the league.
However, the showdown looming is the one on Christmas Day, broadcast live to a living room, and barroom, near you as the Philadelphia 76ers make their second trek to Boston after getting blown out 105-87 in their season opener. As good as Milwaukee is, and they could very well wind up better than both the Sixers and the Celtics, there is a rivalry between these two cities that Milwaukee cannot match nor even manufacture. The Bucks are from a flyover state where people are polite, say ma’am and sir, and how can I help?
However, if you’re a Boston fan, Philadelphia is the enemy. Not just the sports teams but the whole miserable town. They’re hustlers who try to pull of the whole New Jersey swag thing without the street cred. Try to wear a Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox, or Bruins jersey at one of their stadiums on game day. Good luck with that and make sure you’ve got the name of a good dentist handy.
Philadelphia fans are miserable because they desperately want to be considered a big deal like New York but their first cousin is New Jersey so they have to act like them in order to get a nod, or maybe even a “What’s up?” from New Yorkers. That’s as good as it gets for them and don’t think for a moment, they’re looking for a Boston blessing. Oh, no, because you see we are a small city that continually kicks ass and takes names no matter how big the city we’re facing and that most definitely includes New York. That fact irks Philly and on Christmas Day they are hoping to have a little piece of their Super Bowl win all over again with the 76ers looking to avenge their earlier loss to the Green.
Well, we shall see but in the meantime if you want more than just a rooting interest on the Celtics, get on over to Bookmaker where you can bet on – or God forbid – against, the Celtics or any other team for that matter whether it be NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, and all the rest. If you’re a Celtics fan, a big win over the 76ers will be the last present you unwrap on Christmas day so get ready to put Philly back in check…again.
Betting is the gesture of gambling money on the result of a game, race or any other events that are difficult to predict. It is a way of entertaining yourself while having the possibility of gaining profit. The fun of watching the sport and the thought of earning money sums up why it excites most people who are into it.
For instance, the Pegasus World Cup Betting is giving so much fun to people who are into horse racing. Betting and winning in such a sport requires enough knowledge. Hence, making the most out of your bet begs the question of how. Also, it makes you wonder what might be the most effective ways of making your bet worthwhile.
To help you find the answer to those questions, here are ten useful betting strategies you might want to consider.
1. Acquire Enough Knowledge of the Sport
Betting on a particular sport might not necessarily need the “know how” if you are doing it one time. However, if fun and profit are equally important to you, it is, therefore, necessary to acquire enough knowledge of the sport you are betting with. You need to have an understanding of every aspect of the game. It might include identifying the team, the ace player, the win-loss record, and the like.
For instance, if you are betting for football, you need to consider which team won consecutive games. You should also look into the in-game scenarios such as who scored the winning goal or whether the team is good at keeping ball possessions. This information will help you decide which side to bet next time.
2. The Favorite Does Not Always Guarantee a Win
It is evident that the favorites in a sport have the likelihood of getting the highest bets. And the odds of winning through betting on the crowd favorites are agreeably high. However, this does not mean a win guarantee. Unexpected events might occur turning the tables around and might cause you to lose your bet.
For example, an injury occurred to a star player of a basketball team. The likelihood of losing the game becomes high compared to the time when the star player suffered no injuries yet. Sometimes, betting on to the underdog gives you the win.
3. Shop Around: Do Not Stick To Just One Bookmaker
In the betting business, brand loyalty is a thing. The competition between companies is close. Great offers and freebies are presented to bettors to make them a loyal customer. However, a thinking-bettor is willing to brush loyalty aside. Looking around for different bookmakers provides more room for bet variety, thus, elevates better chances of winning.
4. Fewer Options, Better Chances
Betting more means more chances of winning. However, it is not always the case. Having fewer options are better. Therefore, lesser bets yield a higher probability of winning.
5. Stay Away From Odds-On Prices
Padding out your accumulator with odds-on selections is not a good thing. You are just diminishing your chances of winning.
For instance, in tennis. At the opening Grand Slam week, all top players are drawn against unknowns relatively. It would be a great deal to bet on all of them and win easy money. However, that would be a wrong move. A ten-fold bet on the world’s elite and still you barely have 3/1 scrape returns.
6. Try Looking For Less Popular Markets
Researching about the sport helps your find value over markets offered by the bookies. Most bookies give you more options where you lose more. However, you can also find good betting price if you look hard enough.
7. Understanding the Market Is a Must
You should make sure that you know the markets. One frequent error is betting between halftime/full-time bet and “to win both halves.” Placing your bet on HT/FT infers that during halftime your team has to be winning, then win the match. On the other hand, backing your team with “both halves” means your team must win the first half and the second half separately.
The tendency of betting with your heart is that you disregard the losing factors because of your firm belief that your team will win this time. Some bettors are like this. They rationalize on sticking to that losing bet hoping that it will and can win in the long run.
9. Wait for Your Moment
It is indeed hard to pick when to place your bet. For instance, in horse racing, betting is usually done during the day. It has nothing to do with anything, but it is your instinct that is dictating you. Hence, your gut instinct will lead you to the right moment more often than not.
10. Follow Not So Popular Sports
The list of sports and markets are expanding. Thus, bookmakers will try to offer more and more ways for you to bet more. Following less popular sports can provide you with essential information on winning probabilities. It will then give you an idea on how to bet on more popular sports later on.
Takeaway
It is always wise to remember that there is no definite formula in winning on betting games. If there is, then the betting businesses have long been closed. Hence, this list of strategies is only your guide on how to bet better. Have fun and enjoy the thrill!
Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is a focal point in the team’s offense, as he can beat defenses all different ways.
McCaffrey can run both inside and outside, but he can also catch passes out of the backfield, which is why he’s an every-down back.
Not only that, we learned he can do something else during Monday’s game against the Saints — he can throw. McCaffrey attempted his first career pass on a trick play on fourth down, and he threw an absolute dime to tight end Chris Manhertz for the 50-yard touchdown.
Of course if you live outside the US, it may have been difficult to watch McCaffrey’s play. Americans take for granted the fact that they can watch the NFL whenever they’d like. Outside the US, NFL games aren’t always available on TV and need to be streamed. Due to restrictions, even streaming can be blocked depending on the viewer’s country. That’s why it’s important to use a VPN to access NFL streams from outside the US. Using a VPN can help you bypass restrictions and ensure that you can stream NFL games no matter where you’re located.
It was the first touchdown thrown by a non-quarterback in Panthers franchise history.
Unfortunately, McCaffrey’s play was not enough to lead the Panthers to victory, and it’s appearing as if the Panthers’ losing streak is taking a toll on head coach Ron Rivera, judging by his actions during a press conference on Tuesday.
The Panthers were once competing for the NFC South division title, at 6-2 — but they’ve somehow lost six straight games since then, which is difficult to fathom, given the talent on their roster.
Rivera was asked about the possibility of him being fired in the future — specifically, if he hates hearing questions about it.
“Absolutely, because I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve been through it a couple of times my first two seasons. But at the end of the day it comes down to one person, and that’s the only one that knows.’’
The Panthers head coach was then asked if he wants to return as head coach, and that’s when he got snippy with the reporter.
“That is a stupid question,” Rivera responded. “That really is, and I’m not going to answer that one. I’m very happy where I am. I do appreciate my place here on this football team and in this city and in this community.’’
Ron Rivera says he "absolutely" hates being asked about what his future holds because he is not the one who makes that decision.
That was a bit of a trollish question, and it did appear that the reporter was trying to push Rivera’s buttons, in hopes of getting a reaction out of him (and it worked).
