Footprint’s Post

Mavericks Secure Playoff Spot with Second-Half Surge Against Suns As the clock ticked down to the final buzzer, the Mavericks emerged victorious over the Suns in a nail-biting second-half showdown. The game, which took place on February 23rd, 2024, saw the Mavericks rise from the ashes to secure a hard-earned victory. The first half of the game was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to establish a clear advantage. The Suns, known for their high-scoring offense, were able to keep the Mavericks' defense on their toes, but the Mavericks' tenacity and grit kept them in the game. However, it was the second half that truly set the stage for the Mavericks' triumph. With a renewed sense of urgency and determination, the Mavericks came out of the locker room with a vengeance, determined to leave their mark on the game. Led by their star player, who put on a dazzling display of shooting and ball handling, the Mavericks began to pull away from the Suns. The Suns' defense, which had been solid in the first half, began to falter as the Mavericks' offense clicked into high gear. read more here: https://lnkd.in/dSDDctbG

Last Sunday evening, Dallas Mavericks star point guard Kyrie Irving was relaxing at home with his family. He had just watched the Minnesota Timberwolves defeat the Denver Nuggets in a grueling, seven game playoff series, earning the Timberwolves a spot in the NBA's Western Conference Finals. The Timberwolves would be playing against Irving and the Mavericks. So, when Minnesota star player Anthony Edwards' was asked for his opinion on the upcoming series, Irving was all ears. "My matchup [is] going to be Kyrie," Edwards said. "So that's going to be fun. We're going to see what I can do versus him." On the surface, these comments sound innocent. But they made up a soundbite that was the talk of the town in sports media and basketball circles over the next days. Many felt that the young but talented superstar Edwards was calling out the veteran Irving, implying he would limit Irving's effectiveness on the court. Irving's reply was, well...perfect. In game one of the Western Conference Finals, Irving put on a masterful performance. His 30 points proved key to the underdog Mavericks defeating the Timberwolves. After the game, Irving was asked about Edwards comments. "[I] used it as a motivation," Irving said. "When I was sitting at home and I saw it, I was like, it's just a nod of respect...But also, that's a no-fear mentality, and that's why we love [Anthony Edwards]." Irving's comments teach a master class in emotional intelligence, namely, in how to avoid taking offense in the comments of others, while still using those comments to provide motivation and focus. What are the biggest takeaways from Irving's response? And how can you apply them to your business and personal life? Let's discuss. (Read more in today's column.) #leadership #management #emotionalintelligence #mavericks #timberwolves #eq #eqapplied #MakeEmotionsWorkForYouNotAgainstYou https://lnkd.in/erYYY-CB

Lakers Favored by Model Over Lowly Spurs, But Total Trends Under February 23, 2024  Thedailycourierng https://lnkd.in/dybMCeVB The Los Angeles Lakers will seek to get back on track when they host the struggling San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. The Lakers recently saw a three-game winning streak snapped on Thursday in a lopsided loss to Golden State. Meanwhile, the Spurs’ extensive rebuild continued with another defeat against Sacramento. Heading into the Western Conference matchup, oddsmakers have installed the Lakers as sizeable 10-point favorites playing at home. The total is set at a lofty 239.5. However, an advanced computer model has weighed in with distinctly different expectations. After simulating the Lakers-Spurs contest 10,000 times, the SportsLine Projection Model has revealed strong against the spread and over/under recommendations. While the model predicts Los Angeles as having the advantage, its projection of just a 60% cover rate for such a heavy favorite gives bettors pause. The total also alarms, with simulations indicating the teams will struggle to top a sky-high number. At 11-45 overall, the Spurs own the NBA’s worst record by a wide margin. However, talented teenager Victor Wembanyama has already shown flashes of generational potential since entering the league in October. Coming off a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double, the 20-year-old phenom averages over 20 points and 10 boards on the year. Ascending wing Devin Vassell chips in just over 19 points nightly as a go-to secondary scorer. But short-handed San Antonio faces a steep test against Los Angeles’ star duo of aging yet still-deadly LeBron James and interior beast Anthony Davis. James, expected back from an ankle injury, continues to defy time at nearly 25 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists per game. Davis is fresh off a 27-point eruption with 15 boards. He remains a nightly 20/10 threat few teams can match. BetQL projects a final margin of just Lakers -5, strangely deviating from the -10 oddsmakers’ line. The model also leans Under 239.5, despite both teams’ offensive capabilities and San Antonio’s general defensive ineptitude near the basket. Since outcomes throughout a long season often defy simplistic assumptions, the computer’s contrarian take offers value. While the Lakers should firmly handle San Antonio relying upon their dynamic veterans, simulations imply the game may play out in more grind-it-out fashion than the soaring total suggests. Siding with the model over the market could pay dividends for NBA bettors Friday night. The red-hot computer just netted sports gamblers nearly $2,300 this season alone entering a profitable 60% run the past six weeks. Riding the algorithm’s down-to-the-wire projections continues yielding exponential returns. #spurs #lakers #lebronjames

And two more teams fall out... The first game of the night was a blowout, Boston over Miami, which was not unexpected, given the heart of the Miami Heat team, Jimmy Butler has sat out injured this entire series. Even Jaime Jaquez Jr's flowing locks couldn't help them pull out a win at home; Boston now leads 3-1, with the opportunity to close the series at home in game 5 on Wednesday. Second was a close, though somehow still disappointing game resulting in the Oklahoma City Thunder sweeping the New Orleans Pelicans. Without their star player, Zion Williamson, the Pels didn't really stand a chance against the youngest, hottest team in the West. The Thunder will get a rest and wait to see who wins the Clippers/Mavericks series, which is currently tied 2-2 with game 5 in Los Angeles scheduled for Wednesday. And for the nightcap, an amazing, hard-fought and extremely competitive game between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Lakers, resulting in the Lakers early exit from the playoffs. With their elimination, future hall-of-famers LeBron James and Anthony Davis join the Suns stars who were eliminated last night. So the first conference semi-finals match-up is set with the Denver Nuggets hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves. Hold on to your seats for that one; it's gonna be wild. Assuming no significqnt injuries pop up or get worse on either team, I'm gonna say Denver wins in 7, with each team winning 1 away game. Tomorrow, two more closeout opportunities in the 3 eastern conference series games. #NBAPlayoffs Let's go!!!

Dodgers last night threw their B-squad out there. In a World Series game. Here's why last nights game plan was the right call and what it says about decision making: First, let's be clear, they played to win and despite the score, they were in it until the 8th. They had runners on, they had opportunities, this was a winnable game. But they're planning a 7-game series, not a single game and I'd bet their approach involved gaming out the scenarios where New York comes back. And here's the most likely: 1. Beat just one of the Dodger's A-squad's arms (Hudson allowed the damage and was definitely an 'A' guy) and take the bullpen game 4. 2. Roll your ace - Cole - out against Flaherty and a depleted bullpen to take game 5. 3. Get a gem or a few inning of good stuff from Rodon before turning over to your rested bullpen and scratch out a close one in game 6. 4. Anything happens in game 7. The job of the Dodgers then is to throw as many obstacles in the way of that plan as well as try and execute your own plan to win one game. If you spend your A-squad in a losing game you open the door. Instead NY has to win 3 straight TOUGH games. As soon as LA's A-guys gave up the lead, they put it on the offense to win it and out slug the Yankee bullpen. They gave themselves the best chance to win 1 of 4 games which is all they have to do. Good businesses understand what they have to do to win. They also understand what scenarios happen in which they do those things and still lose. You can't create a 100% certainty in business or life. You can, however, identify a game plan to win and mitigate your risks. If you have no idea what I'm talking about - you're missing some great baseball. But you're also probably not losing months off your life with unnecessary sports stress. Follow me for more baseball rants and tangents forced into business analogies.

🏈 Football Fans, Get Ready for an Exciting Week 1 Matchup! 🏟️ The San Francisco 49ers are set to kick off their 2024 NFL season against the New York Jets, and the odds are already heating up! 🔥 According to recent reports, the 49ers are favored to win by 6.5 points, with the over/under set at 44.5 points. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan boasts an impressive 4-1 record in Week 1 games, and the team has won four consecutive season openers. 💪 With left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk expected to play key roles, the 49ers are poised for a strong start to the season. What's your prediction for this highly anticipated matchup? Will the 49ers continue their Week 1 dominance, or will the Jets pull off an upset? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! 👇 Don't forget to like and share this post with your fellow football enthusiasts, and stay tuned for more updates as we count down to the start of the 2024 NFL season! 🏈🗓️ #NFLWeek1 #49ersvsJets #FootballFever #NFLPredictions

Dolphins 24 schedule Takeaways: Five prime-time games, tough ending stretch among the highlights. Dolphins Are Prime-Time Players The Dolphins getting five prime-time games on the initial schedule (two on Monday, two on Thursday and one on Sunday) is a sign of their popularity, the exciting brand of football and the expectation they'll be good again in 2024. It's also worth that four of those games are locked and only the game at Cleveland on Sunday, Dec. 29 could end up getting moved to the daytime if it becomes an unattractive matchup or without many playoff implications in Week 17. The last time the Dolphins ended up with five prime-time games was 2004 when the schedule was made before Ricky Williams abruptly left the team and ended up sitting out the entire season. The Dolphins were among the NFL leaders in initial prime-time games, though they trailed the New York Jets with their (crazy) six appearances. Dolphins Home-Field Advantage Lessened Sure, the Dolphins open with three of their first four games at home, but they won't get the benefit of their normal (and sizable) home-field advantage because the Week 2 game against the Buffalo Bills and the Week 4 game against the Tennessee Titans will be night games where, yes, it will be hot and humid, but the sun will be down and won't affect the visitor sideline more than the home sideline, as is the case in the daytime. And the advantage in the home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, while still present, won't be as significant because Jacksonville is used to hot September games. After those first four games, the Dolphins won't be back at Hard Rock Stadium until Oct. 27 when the weather advantage isn't quite as significant and then the next home game will be Nov. 17 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Tough Ending Stretch for Miami While three out of four at home to start the season is nice, closing with three out of four on the road most definitely isn't. And those three road games will be against 2023 playoff participants Houston and Cleveland, along with the unpredictable Jets, who could be really good if all of their older, injury-prone players stay healthy but also showed last year they could be really bad. Beyond that, the Dolphins's previous two games are no gimmies, either, with the Jets coming to Hard Rock Stadium in Week 14 after the Thanksgiving night game at Green Bay. Cold weather watch From a weather standpoint, this was not a favorable schedule for the Dolphins. In addition to the home-field factor mentioned earlier, the Dolphins face three late-season games in potentially difficult cold conditions, starting with that Thanksgiving night game at Green Bay (it was 14 degrees there during the evening of Nov. 28 last year). Early bye for Dolphins With the schedule going over 18 weeks, having a bye in Week 6 certainly isn't the most ideal scenario, but that's what the Dolphins were given.

Lakers Favored by Model Over Lowly Spurs, But Total Trends Under February 23, 2024  Thedailycourierng The Los Angeles Lakers will seek to get back on track when they host the struggling San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. The Lakers recently saw a three-game winning streak snapped on Thursday in a lopsided loss to Golden State. Meanwhile, the Spurs’ extensive rebuild continued with another defeat against Sacramento. Heading into the Western Conference matchup, oddsmakers have installed the Lakers as sizeable 10-point favorites playing at home. The total is set at a lofty 239.5. However, an advanced computer model has weighed in with distinctly different expectations. After simulating the Lakers-Spurs contest 10,000 times, the SportsLine Projection Model has revealed strong against the spread and over/under recommendations. While the model predicts Los Angeles as having the advantage, its projection of just a 60% cover rate for such a heavy favorite gives bettors pause. The total also alarms, with simulations indicating the teams will struggle to top a sky-high number. At 11-45 overall, the Spurs own the NBA’s worst record by a wide margin. However, talented teenager Victor Wembanyama has already shown flashes of generational potential since entering the league in October. Coming off a 19-point, 13-rebound double-double, the 20-year-old phenom averages over 20 points and 10 boards on the year. Ascending wing Devin Vassell chips in just over 19 points nightly as a go-to secondary scorer. But short-handed San Antonio faces a steep test against Los Angeles’ star duo of aging yet still-deadly LeBron James and interior beast Anthony Davis. James, expected back from an ankle injury, continues to defy time at nearly 25 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists per game. Davis is fresh off a 27-point eruption with 15 boards. He remains a nightly 20/10 threat few teams can match. BetQL projects a final margin of just Lakers -5, strangely deviating from the -10 oddsmakers’ line. The model also leans Under 239.5, despite both teams’ offensive capabilities and San Antonio’s general defensive ineptitude near the basket. Since outcomes throughout a long season often defy simplistic assumptions, the computer’s contrarian take offers value. While the Lakers should firmly handle San Antonio relying upon their dynamic veterans, simulations imply the game may play out in more grind-it-out fashion than the soaring total suggests. Siding with the model over the market could pay dividends for NBA bettors Friday night. The red-hot computer just netted sports gamblers nearly $2,300 this season alone entering a profitable 60% run the past six weeks. Riding the algorithm’s down-to-the-wire projections continues yielding exponential returns. #spurs #lakers

🏈 🌴Touchdown in Paradise! The NFL Makes History with its First-Ever Game in Brazil – Where Football Meets Futbol! 🇧🇷🔥 🏁 Here are some basics for our Brazilian friends: 🔹The game: American football is a strategic, physical sport played between two teams of 11 players on a rectangular field. The goal is to score more points than the other team by advancing the ball into the opponent’s end zone. Each team has an offense (trying to score) and a defense (trying to stop the other team). The offense has four attempts (downs) to move the ball 10 yards. If successful, they get another set of downs. If not, they give the ball to the other team. 🔹The field - The game is played on a 100-yard field with goal lines at each end. 🔹The game has four quarters of 15 minutes, and the team with the most points at the end wins. 🔹There are two teams of 11 players on the field at any time, with each team having an offense (when they have the ball and try to score) and a defense (when they try to stop the other team from scoring). 🔹Key plays to advance the Ball: 👋 Passing: The quarterback throws the ball to teammates. 🏃♂️ Running: Players run the ball forward. 🔹Scoring - There are three ways to score points: 6️⃣ Touchdown: Worth 6 points, this occurs when the ball is run or thrown across the opponent's goal line. 3️⃣ Field goal: Worth 3 points, this occurs when the ball is kicked through the goalposts anywhere on the field. 1️⃣ Safety: Worth 1 point, this occurs when the defense traps the opponent in their own end zone. 🔹Key Positions: Quarterback (QB): Throws or hands off the ball, and leads the offense. Running Back (RB): Runs with the ball. Wide Receiver (WR): Catches passes from the quarterback. Linebackers and Defensive Backs: Defend against passes and tackle offensive players. It’s a game of strategy, with coaches and players constantly adjusting tactics to outsmart the opposing team. 💪🏈🏁 Enjoy!!! 🎉🎉 #nfl #americanfootbal #saopaulo #brazil

How to fix every sports league: NFL: Once in the playoffs, the winning team may select one player from the losing team and add them to the winning teams roster, without abiding by the salary cap or roster requirement rules. The player will remain in contract with the losing team. MLB: If a pitcher strikes a batter with a pitch, the batter may engage in fisticuffs with said pitcher, until the pitcher or batter fully step out of the pitchers mound. If the pitcher vacates the pitching mound while the batter is advancing to engage with the pitcher, the pitcher is ejected, and banned from pitching against the batters team, while they play in the MLB. Once the fisticuffs are over both pitcher and batter are ejected from the game. Any field or bench player who interferes or engages in the duel or enters the mound will also be ejected for the game. NBA: NBA teams will only play 6 game series against every team, 3 home and 3 away. Also enforcement of the leagues rules shall be enforced irrespective of player or coach status. (Looking at you, travel and palming and intentional drive fouls). Play offs remain the same with series games. Promote the G league to be a second division league, players may be signed from any G league team by any NBA team with a qualified offer during sighing window. NHL: Remove Icing, Goalies outside of the crease CAN be treated like a field player and CAN be hit, Goalies can enter corners. A player shooting from the defensive side of the ice, over the opposition goals glass is a a minor infraction. MLS: During non-league competitions, MLS teams may use the full Senior and Development roster. IE someone on FC Sounders 2 may play in the open cup for the senior Seattle Sounders side, on the same contract. Domestic players must have a inter-league release clause no more than 175% of the guaranteed value of the contract. However a team may only have one player released during the league year, and release clauses may only be triggered on the final day of the transfer window, and the player must sign a new contract before the trade can be ratified.