There are innumerable gambling websites. But when we talk the best betting sites for US-based bettors, that narrows the field. It is somewhat ironic that American sports are the most popular in the world, yet it’s hard to bet on them in America. For example, Super Bowl sportsbooks more often than not operate out of Europe. Or the Caribbean. Before we go deeper into that, though, these are the top betting sites for bettors in the United States.

• MyBookie.ag
• GTBets.eu
• Intertops.eu

Not too long ago, that list would have been longer. However, the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA) was passed into law in 2006. The UIGEA changed online gambling in the US as we knew it. It was after this act was passed that many of the best betting sites no longer accepted US customers. That is to say, they no longer were the best. They took that measure mainly because the UIGEA rendered it illegal to process financial transactions related to online gambling. Mark this though; the UIGEA did not make it illegal for Americans to place wagers or play gambling games on the internet. Nonetheless, a great many people were concerned that it did. Therefore, many US citizens decided to steer clear from online betting and gaming. 

Now, we are not lawyers. Nor do we play lawyers on television. Our advice should not be construed as legal counseling. The way we see it, any American who wishes to use the internet to bet can do so. Nay, should do so without having to worry about legal rami-percussions. The UIGEA had in its sights operators of gambling websites and financial institutions who enabled payments to and from them. But not individuals who make a conscious decision to spend their money on a harmless form of entertainment. That several states have introduced legislation to legalize and regulate appears to indicate the tide is turning. Still, there are a lot t’s to dot and i’s to cross and that’s not an ideal situation for US bettors. That’s why we have chosen the best betting sites to cut through the red tape. 

We only recommend websites of which we ourselves are users. That means we trust them; they make us feel comfortable. A few of the words that describe these sites include but are not limited to reputable, trustworthy, safe, secure, and user-friendly. Not only do they accept customers from the US, but even give them priority over other countries. All of these websites’ performance in all important categories is constant and consistent. You’re in for a fun and satisfying experience. These are sites that provide a wide variety of gambling alternatives. This is good for people who enjoy more forms of betting and gaming than just one. It’s very hassle-free to have the ability to do this at a single website. Though there is something to be said about joining more than one site. For instance, you get to enjoy multiple sign-up bonuses. And that would just be the start.

Notwithstanding that, many people prefer to concentrate on just one form of gambling. On just one site. That’s the reason why the websites we recommend have the best sportsbooks, casinos, and poker platforms for gamblers living in the United States. Once again, we have made 100” sure our recommendations are limited to  places that are dependable and secure, include US-friendly banking methods, and comply with all other important requirements. All things considered, you and not the government is the only one who should regulate your gambling. And to make it easy to keep tabs on yourself, we only recommend sites that support responsible gambling. 

Author: Johan H.

Its mid-November and people are slowly getting ready for the upcoming Christmas festivities, and all that it entails. Poker players from around the world are winding down and preparing to spend some time with their loved ones and enjoy some time off from the game we all love.

When it comes to live poker tournaments across the world, there are 3 major events that stick out compared to others. We have of course the World Series of Poker which is held in Las Vegas every year, attracting thousands and thousands of players who want to participate in some or as many of the events as possible. This year was a special year for the event as it was the 50^th event held since its inaugural event.

Given that the event was celebrating its 50^th anniversary, organizers had set it to be one of the most impressive events held, with tons of different tournaments catering to all types of players. While it takes years of practice to get to one of these events, you can click here now and start your own journey to the festivities. A total of 73 was played during the 6 weeks the event was held, starting on May 28 and finishing with on July 16. 

Winning the event and cashing in $10 million dollars was Hossein Ensan after beating Dario Sammartino a tough heads-up battle. A total of 8569 players paid the $10,000 buy-in to get a chance to walk away with this enormous purse, the second largest to this date. This is also why the event is considered to be in high regards like the NFL Super Bowl of poker tournaments in the northern hemisphere. 

The second of the big three poker tournaments World Series of Poker Europe, an addition to the World Series of Poker brand that was created and added to the live tournament schedule in September, 2007. This year’s event concluded with the Main Event that saw 541 players paying the €10,350 entry fee, creating a first price worth €1,133,678 making this the second-largest main event in 12 years. 

After a tough battle at the final table we saw the Greek player Alexandros Kolonias taking home the trophy after beating Claas Segebrech. However, this wasn’t what caught people’s attention the most, instead they were all focusing on the runner up in the WSOP Main Event, Dario Sammartino, who yet again made it to the final table. He couldn’t beat his 2^nd place from Vegas, as he had to settle for 6^th, walking away with €341,702 adding that to the $6 million received just a few months earlier.

The third and final major poker event held each year is the Aussie Millions, the southern hemispheres largest and most prestigious event, the Super Bowl of “down under”. The very first Aussie Millions event held at the Crown Casino in Melbourne, Australia went under the name Australian Poker Championship and was played in 1998. The event saw an A$1,000 buy-in which attracted a total of 74 players. During the 2018 version of the event, celebrating its 20^th anniversary, organizers arranged several interesting events, alongside the main event including a whopping A$100,000 High roller buy-in event.

With 46 entries, the event generated a total prize pool of A$4,17 million, out of which the winner, Cary Katz, walked away with A$1,481,760 making this the third-largest A$100,000 since its inaugural event back in 2005. 

The main event that same year saw a record-breaking field of players attracting a massive 822 in total generating a combined prize pool of A$8,220,000 out of which A$1,850,000 would go to the winner of the event. 

It took 5 days before a winner finally could be crowned, with Bryn Kenney bring it home. However, with just 3 players left in the event, the remaining players decided to discuss a deal, splitting the remaining prize pool between them and with that taking away the pressure but also speeding up the 3-way battle. 

Instead of the 1,8 million, Kenney settled for A$1,27 which is also what Mike Del Vecchio walked away with while 3rd place finisher, Andrew Hinrichsen, cashed in A$1,079,739 just over A$400,000 more than what third place should have paid.

Next Aussie Millions is scheduled to start on January 4, 2020 and will be the biggest event to be held at the Crown Casino. A total of 23 events are planned, scheduled to be played over 21 days. The anticipated Main Event is expected to break all previous records. 

The poker world is one of excitement, suspense and constant change. Players from across the globe vie for supremacy in high-stakes matches again and again, each determined to claim the top spot.

It’s not easy. And it’s a challenge only the very best players can rise to. But who are these skilled players? 

Here are the 10 best poker stars from around the world in 2019 (all information and stats are based on the Global Poker Index, correct as of October 2019).

1. Stephen Chidwick

Score: 3,660.03 points

Brit Stephen Chidwick has accrued more than $5.1m in online earnings and has held his number-one spot in the GPI rankings for almost three months at the time of writing. His all-time winnings exceed $30.8m.

2. William Alex Foxen

Score: 3,533.91 points

William Alex Foxen, who hails from New York, USA, has earned over $5m online during his career. His all-time winnings total more than $12.7m. 

3. Rainer Kempe 

Score: 3,402.97 points

German Rainer Kempe’s poker skills have earned him all-time winnings of more than $18.8m throughout his career. 

4. Bryn Kenney

Score: 3,401.29 points

Bryn Kenney, another American based in New York, has claimed over $430K in online winnings and over $54m in all-time money.

5. Manig Loeser

Score: 3,372.84 points

Manig Loeser, who resides in Bad Homburg, Germany, has all-time earnings of over $10.9m to his name. 

6. Sean Winter 

Score: 3,220.73 points

Sean Winter, a US native based in Jacksonville, Florida, has all-time earnings exceeding $13.6m. He ranked second in the No Limit Hold’em tournament in Las Vegas 2019, claiming $60,000. How to short sell Bitcoin on NAGA naga.com While there’s always a chance the bull run continues, it’s worth knowing how you may profit also when the market is going down.

7. Timothy “Tim0thee” Adams

Score: 3,214.40 points

Timothy “Tim0thee” Adams is a Canadian with over $18.1m in all-time money under his belt. He finished 5th in the No Limit Hold’em – Platinum High Roller (Even #8) tournament, with over $128K in winnings.

8. Jeremy “TheTaker” Ausmus

Score: 3,196.95 points

US-born Jeremy “TheTaker” Ausmus has earned over $580K in online winnings and all-time money of more than $7.7m. In July 2019, he finished second in the No Limit Hold’em – Millions Vegas tournament, with $650K in earnings.

9. Michael Addamo

Score: 3,194.74 points

Michael Addamo, an Australian residing in Melbourne, has all-time money earnings of more than $6.1m and finished third in the No Limit Hold-em (Event #24) at Casino Barcelona, in August 2019. 

10. Nick Pupillo

Score: 3,192.66 points

Last but by no means least is Nick Pupillo. Based in Gilbert, Arizona, this American poker player has all-time money earnings of over $2.9m. He finished fourth in the No Limit Hold’em – Main Event at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana, with more than $38K in earnings.

Want to try your hand at poker? It’s a thrilling game for players of all ages and experience levels, with several exciting variations (Texas Hold’em, 5-Card Stud, 5-Card Draw to name just a few). And, as you can see, there’s big money to be won.

How can you get started? Mena Casino has all the online casino reviews and details you need to find the best poker sites available. Check out our list of reliable online casinos now!

It has been over a year now since sports betting was legalised at a national level and we can already see some trends emerging. Americans, prefer to bet via their mobile and betting on the NFL appears to be the nations favorite gambling pastime – no surprises there!

There is one unexpected gambling habit that sportsbooks have been quick to notice and that is in-play betting. This form of betting means that you can bet on an event as it is happening. The amount of in-play bets placed per American customers is higher than in other places in the world.

So, why would the Americans be more prone to an in-play bet than other nationalities? The answer lies in how this form of betting has developed over the years. In-play betting or live betting as it is known in Europe has existed for a number of years, but no-where near as long as other forms of betting. This meant that online gambling habits were formed long before the advent of live betting. In America on the other hand, the only way to legally bet on sports has been as a physical sportsbook, which would mean betting on a game whilst watching it live. This has meant that Americans have developed their sports betting habits which are more in line with in-play betting.

This has not gone unnoticed. If you look a list of all the best US sportsbooks you will find that every single one of them offers in-play bets in some capacity. Bettingscanner.com recently looked at the sportsbooks offering the most in-play bets and found that there is a significant discrepancy between the number of in-plays offered but also the value in the in-play odds offered by sportsbooks in the US.

The sportsbook comparison site found that Draftkings were the best sportsbook choice for the in-play punter. The sportsbook may have been given a helping hand by the fact that it is also a fantasy sports operator. To be able to provide in-play bets, sportsbook needs a massive amount of live-data, which you also need in fantasy sports. This data is used to provide the customer with the correct information but also to be able to set the odds. This means that Fanduel also performed well in their ranking, as it also began its life as a fantasy sports operator. 

As it stands, your choice of sportsbooks is still limited to where you are based geographically. It is New Jersey that is the real trailblazer in the US when it comes to sports betting. It is also the state that prefers betting on basketball over football. If you are based in New Jersey, then we suggest you check what sportsbooks in NJ are currently active and offering in-play betting.

In a year or two, we expect that all sportsbooks in the US will offer a large selection of in-play bets for all sports. However, until then, sportsbooks rushing to launch in the US will not be able to ace everything – that means certain sportsbooks will place more emphasis on in-play compared to others.

I am not sure how many of you here know what is a softball? It is a very classic sport that is a modified version of baseball. As I said, modified version, there are modifications and these bring the difference between the two. Softball is being played with a comparatively larger ball than baseball. When it was first invented in 1887, it was named softball as it was played with a softball. But later the balls became hard with the usage. 

The game explained

This game actually has a pace that is faster than a baseball game. As a softball player, there are certain things that one should know. It is the basic technique that is important as a softball one should know. The batting and bowling have many forms. Each of these forms is unique and mastering these is all that would take to win a match. These are the tricks that every player should know. 

This game consists of two teams. There are 9 players in each team. They line up in positions namely, pitcher, catcher, 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd baseman, shortstop, left fielder, centerfielder, and the right fielder. A batter can stand on either side on the batter’s box. The choice of the side of the batter’s box lies with the player. Their job is to score runs by hitting the ball when it is pitched to them. A batter continues to play for either 3 strikes or 4 balls.

The umpire calls for play ball. This is when the game starts. There are three groups of players. The pitchers, the batsman, and the fielders. The fielders stand in their fair territory. Once they are ready in their place, the batsman also is ready in his place and then the pitcher throws the ball from the pitching plate.

The pitcher should pitch the ball in the underarm motion only. His aim should be to pitch the ball over the batsman to the gloves of the catcher. The catcher stands behind the batsman. The throw by the catcher also should in underarm motion. The pitching styles are of three kinds. It is medium pitch, soft pitch, and fastpitch. 

Practice brings it all

In order to a successful player, one must practice a lot. When it comes to softball, any number of hours of practice is not sufficient. All three skills should be given equal importance. The art of fielding, throwing, catching and hitting, all are important. For a hitter, the most important thing would be the choice of a bat. Throwing can be practiced by using a bigger ball than the actual ball. In this case, gloves play a major role. 

Now going into the choice of a bat, let us see some popular choices of best slowpitch softball bats this year. 

Miken DC-41 SuperMax

This Miken DC-41 SuperMax is a two-piece bat. It is one of the best softball bats. This bat provides a wonderful swing that enables the ball to go the distance. It is also a full complex bat and it is made in the US. It is made in the state-of-the-art and radical formula. It is called the 100 comp formula. This bat is durable even after the season because of the carbon fibersthat are comprised of this. These carbon fibers are used for aerospace technology. This bat provides end load and thus ensures maximum power. Also, it has a F2P technology that gives a good speed to the bat.  

DeMarini Flipper OG ASA

This is one of the best slowpitch softball bats. This is the right choice for those who are looking for a balanced slowpitch bat. This is because of the two-piece equal construction pattern. It has got an alloy handle that allows increased stiffness which in turn provides durability and also the outcome of results is maximum.

Easton Ghost Double Barrel 

This is also a two-piece composite bat like the other bats. It is approved for play in ASA. The double-barrel design of this bat provides a classy feel.  It has also got all the features of a good bat. This would be chosen by a good player for the outcome it may give. It has also got a swing weight that is balanced. 

Miken Freak 23 Maxload

This bad comes in a very attractive color. It is a combination of neon yellow and blue. This makes the bat attractive. It also has got an amazing power that will stick on to you from the moment you look at his bat. This bat is preferred by players who want more power behind their swing. It is made from the 100 Comp technology as well.

Worth Legit XXL

This is a very well-known bat. This company makes signature bats and are known for their best softball bats. This bat has a larger hit surface that makes it stand out. This also comes in the popular neon yellow and blue combination. Players with heavy swing are recommended to choose this bat. It is got an ultra-thin handle. 

DeMariniJuggy OVL ASA

This is a complete composite bat that is approved for play in the ASA only. While most bats are approved for both ASA and ISA, this bat is allowed in the former alone. This bat has a swingthat is loaded at the end of the bat. This bat has a special quality of transforming negative energy. This is transferred into extra power and all this is because of the fusion handle of this bat. It has got a barrel length of 12 inches.

Miken Vicious ASA

This bat is a unique piece. It approved for ASA, USSSA, NSA, and ISA. This is an alloy bat and it has got a balanced swing. This bat is unique for its durability. This is achieved by the e-flex 700 aluminium construction. 

Take a look at all these bats, also go for reviews and choose the best bat that will suit you and your style. 

If you want to stay up on the latest and greatest, get all the hot takes, and make sure that you’re in the know for all things sports then we’ve got your back.

Every week we’re inundated with articles, news releases, conference updates and the like. This data dump of information helps us stay on top of the sports world and gives us unique insight into the stories that matter most to our readers and to the people who come to us for the inside take on sportsbooks, like the deals being offered right now at Indiana gambling. We combine all this info, package it up, and here… we’re passing it off to you. Enjoy!!!

Large Alfred saw Kemba Walker average 30.3 points on 49.4% shooting against the Celts last season — but go 4 for 18 (1-6 on 3’s) on the way to just 12 points in this one.

“Obviously that wasn’t his best night tonight,” said Horford. “He’ll be better. They all will.”

…

For Hayward, it wasn’t good to see his team shoot 36.7% from the floor (7-26, 26.9% on treys).

“Well we got good looks,” he said. “We got a lot of good looks, so you’ll take that every day of the week and bank on us making more of those. Sometimes you just miss some of those.”

Added coach Brad Stevens, looking at Walker and Tatum in particular, “I’m not worried about that. (Walker)’s a great offensive player, so some of those shots will go down.

Boston Herald

Last season the Celtics opened against the Sixers at home and beat them 105-87.

And we all know how the rest of the season went for the Celtics.

So I’m just going to throw that out there for context.

The Celtics are going to be alright.

Meanwhile, Chris Forsberg’s got reactions to the reactions from Wednesday’s game:

Gordon Hayward is back!

Judgment: Not an overreaction

When Hayward struggled a bit in the opening minutes, it was fair to wonder if the summer hype train had been a mirage. But by the second half he was playing with a swagger we haven’t often seen in his Boston days. The NBA’s tracking data credited him with 18 drives — tied for the eighth-highest total in the league after the NBA’s opening slate of games. What’s more, Hayward generated nine field goal attempts off those drives and six of his 11 free throws were a direct result of drives.

NBC Sports

Coming off the All-Star break in 2019, Hayward’s points in the paint, as a percentage of overall points went from 35.1% to 47.4%. That’s a significant shift over a fairly meaningful slice of games (19 of 82), and if it holds through this season, we’re going to see a very different Gordon Hayward than we saw last year.

The NBA should get rid of coaches’ challenges and find a way to speed up video reviews

Judgment: Indisputably not an overreaction

Sixty-three fouls were bad enough. Players, coaches, and fans alike would prefer to get an occasional call wrong over these interminable, energy-killing reviews.

NBC Sports

The NBA does not want to fix the ‘problems’ with its officiating, because it does not view them as problems. They seem to like having crews that are whistle-happy and crews that ‘let ’em play’. They still have this rule on the books:

A player who is dribbling may not put any part of his hand under the ball and (1) carry it from one point to another or (2) bring it to a pause and then continue to dribble again.

But have you ever seen it enforced?

The issues with the NBA’s rulebook and its officiating cannot be solved by applying patches like the risible ‘two minute report’, which is about as useful as hip pockets on a shirt, or these ‘challenges’. All they do is remind everyone that the system is busted.

Page 2: Where there’s another game tonight

Over at MassLive, John’s got a preview of tonight’s home opener against Toronto:

2. Will the ball move more?

As good as the attacking was at some points, there still wasn’t enough of the side-to-side ball movement that Brad Stevens preaches.

Part of the issue, if you can call it an issue, is that Boston has guys who can handle the ball and get by defenders. Still, getting past one guy doesn’t mean another won’t rotate over to help. Tatum was guilty of forcing what might be considered “make-able” shots in situations where a kick-out might have been more appropriate.

The value of collapsing the defense by driving comes primarily from two distinct (but not mutually exclusive) circumstances:

• When you get past your primary defender, another defender will have to rotate over to cover you. This leaves someone on the court unguarded.
• You will likely have an advantage of some sort over the help defender. He may be taller, but you’re quicker. He can’t establish position fast enough to contest the shot without fouling, etc.

A good player can read the situation and decide which advantage gives the team the best chance to score. And often the choice comes down to giving up a good shot for a better one. Tatum and Brown are both still young guys who are learning the game, and learning how to recognize when to shoot and when to pass.

Finally: College Game Day comes to Brookings

See you Saturday, South Dakota State! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/zW5NmndmGq

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 24, 2019

The College Gameday crew will be setup on the college green at South Dakota State University. I spent a lot of time walking across that green–and most of the time it wasn’t:

The rest of the links:

MassLive: Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter out Friday night vs. Toronto Raptors with knee contusion | Jaylen Brown contract extension: Boston Celtics ‘improved their offer significantly at the end’ (report) | Boston Celtics rookie Javonte Green’s family drove more than five hours to his first game: ‘It’s better than everything’

NBC Sports: Kemba’s history of rebounding from bad games | Ainge: Brown deal is a ‘bet on his future’ | Hayward’s aggressive approach encouraging | Amid whistles & bricks, Stevens sees positives | Here’s what caused Tacko Fall’s concussion | C’s injury report: Kanter ruled out for Friday

As Australia’s most famous annual Thoroughbred horse race, and one of the country’s biggest sporting events in general, it’s little surprise that national spotlight shines on the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday of November every year. This may be the epicentre of Australian and Melbourne horse racing, but if you think it’s just all about the horses, think again. It’s known as the Race that Stops a Nation for a reason – and in 2019 it’s set to be as big as ever. If you have any interest in the event or plan to visit yourself, it’s best to prepare by brushing up on the basics.

Get in the Holiday Spirit

Australia doesn’t just ‘stop’ metaphorically for this racing event; it’s an actual public holiday (for everyone working in Melbourne at least). This is worth bearing in mind because it can affect transport links in the area, and it’s therefore recommended to plan your route in advance. Don’t expect to arrive in Melbourne on the day and have to explain what you’re there for. Chances are everyone is either going to the race or working to accommodate those who are. At least you won’t be short of assistance with directions if you’re at risk of getting lost.

Have Fun with Sweepstake’s and Betting

Unsurprisingly, the race represents a great opportunity for spectators to have a punt. Most workplaces and bars will run their own sweepstake in which practically everyone likes to take part because you never know when you might get lucky. For individual bets, some of the less trained eyes, shall we say, may prefer to just pick a random number or name of a horse and see what happens. Others really put their minds to it in an effort to win big.

If interested you can keep one eye on the Melbourne Cup form guide to see how horses have been performing, but simple geography can’t be underestimated either. Typically horses that have to travel far to get here, such as British thoroughbreds, won’t do so well, whereas Australian and Asian horses have the advantage of less exhausting travel time. Australia stakes for the home-bred horses may, therefore, be lower but also represent your best chance of winning. Who doesn’t love a hometown hero, after all? Well, probably you, if you end up betting against them.

Know Your History

The Melbourne Cup 2019 is set to join a long history of Melbourne horse racing, dating back to 1861 when just seventeen horses contested this event. To think it rose from such humble beginnings to become one of the biggest, most internationally renowned horse races in the world is fascinating. Those who are interested may want to dig deeper to find some great stories from the event’s history, including that of 1930 New Zealand-born winner Phar Lap, nicknamed “Australia’s Wonder Horse”. He had an unusually large heart for a horse of 6.2kg, which can be seen on display at the National Museum of Australia if you’re into that kind of thing.

Summary

If the Melbourne Cup seems a little overwhelming at first, rest assured it’s an experience that lasts a lifetime in memory. With attendances averaging over 100,000 since its record attendance of 122,736 in 2003, the event has endured in popularity in recent years and the Melbourne Cup 2019 would surprise no one if it were the best yet. So get set to add this one to the bucket list if you’re not already planning your trip as we speak.

The term anomaly is vague enough that it allows me get away with picking almost anyone for each respective team. The rules are simple though: no first or second-year players, and no touching of the hair or face. And that’s it. So without further ado, here are your Eastern Conference anomalies, the players to keep an eye on for one reason or another that will tilt their respective teams in a positive or negative direction depending on their individual development. As usual, the projected lottery clubs receive more consideration, while the projected playoff squads are limited to a couple lines.

New York Knicks

Dennis Smith is essentially where Elfrid Payton was last year in NOLA. Whether Smith knows it or not, this could be his last chance to prove he’s a starting-caliber point guard in the NBA and may be fans last time, for a while, to take advantage of New York state’s betting sites. Payton bounced from Orlando to Phoenix to New Orleans and now New York, and he’s still yet to prove he can exist in a complementary role offensively, thanks in large part to his shortcomings as a shooter. (For those of you saying: “but what about Frank Ntilikina? He’s from the same draft class as Dennis. Don’t you know that?” Yes, I’m fully aware of Frankie Smokes, but Ntilikina’s combination of size, defensive versatility and offensive potential mean he’ll keep getting chances to prove himself even if he has another poor campaign. Sorry, that’s neither here nor there.) Unlike Payton in his previous stops, Smith cashed in catch-and-shoot threes at a solid clip in Dallas, but he’ll be put to the test again in that regard playing next to rookie R.J. Barrett. While not to the same extent as Luka Doncic, Barrett is a prized prospect with the size of a forward and skillset of a guard. The expectation is almost certainly that R.J. is the future of the franchise, so DSJ will need to fall line; but that didn’t happen in Dallas.  If Smith wasn’t willing to cede the spotlight to Doncic, why would he step aside for Barrett? Regardless, the clock is ticking for the former lottery pick.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Larry Nance Jr. isn’t just the son of his Hall-of-Fame father. The 26-year-old big man is a player in his own right. In his first full season with the Cavaliers last year, Nance notched career-high per-game averages in scoring (9.4), rebounding (8.2), assists (3.2), steals (1.5), made threes (0.5 per on 33.7 percent shooting) and minutes (26.8). He made 33 threes after making 13 through his first four seasons, but more impressively he more than doubled his previous career high in dimes (1.5 per game in 2016-17). Kevin Love could end up being traded and Tristan Thompson turns 29 in March. Like Alex Len, Nance probably isn’t meant to man the five full-time on a team built around a weak defensive guard (or two), but he’s locked into his current contract through the 2022-23 season, so it’ll be interesting to see if he builds on last year’s strong showing and takes another step forward in 2020.

Charlotte Hornets

Malik Monk is the guy to keep an eye on in Charlotte this season. Through two years he hasn’t done much of anything to inspire confidence. But those memories of Monk making shot after shot at Kentucky still linger. On a team as bad as the Hornets, it is not surprising that Monk will crack the regular rotation this season, this despite averaging just 7.9 points (on 37.6 percent shooting) in 15.5 minutes across 136 career appearances. Giving up on a former lottery pick (11th in 2017) who showcased the ability to put the ball in the basket from anywhere, at least at the college level, isn’t something CHA can get away with. It’s safe to say at this specific point and time that Monk is lucky he’s a Hornet. There aren’t a lot of other squads where he’d still be in the mix for consistent minutes. Will he make the most of them?

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls are being hyped as a potential playoff team, including by yours truly. It’s a deep, talented club with the potential to be better than the sum of its parts. And it all starts with Zach LaVine. LaVine exploded last season, posting career-high averages of 23.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 0.4 blocks per game. His scoring surge was accompanied by a rare improvement in efficiency as well, as he sank a career-best 46.7 percent from the field. The uptick in assists was almost as impressive, though LaVine did commit 3.4 turnovers per night. That ratio improved with Otto Porter aboard. In the 15 games that Porter and LaVine shared the floor prior to being shutdown in mid-March, LaVine upped his assist average to 5.3 while (ever-so-slightly) decreasing his turnovers to 3.3. The 24-year-old combo guard still has time and room to improve offensively, particularly his passing and shot selection. The main question for LaVine is whether he’ll address his clear weakness: the defensive side of the ball. Even pretending to give a flying f*** would be a great start, and enough to catapult him into his first All-Star appearance.

Detroit Pistons 

Luke Kennard is coming off a modest sophomore season that saw him up his averages across most counting stats while more or less maintaining his efficiency (less, but barely). However, Detroit needs him to make a more sizable leap here in year three. Points per game is rarely the ideal standard for measuring improvement, but in this case that’s exactly what I’m looking for. Kennard needs to not just break through the double-digit barrier (9.7 ppg in 2018-19), he should try to shatter it. If Blake Griffin can’t stay healthy it’s going to be a depressing year in Detroit, but if he can Kennard needs to become that super reliable three-point shooting threat that Griffin or Andre Drummond can kick the ball out to off of drives or offensive rebounds. If Kennard is going to make a name for himself beyond being the guy that was drafted before Donovan Mitchell, the sweet-shooting lefty will probably need to step up and score 15+ points per game in 2019-20. Is he up to the task?

Washington Wizards 

I remember watching Thomas Bryant when he was an Indiana Hoosier. Thomas the Tank Engine scratched the Myles Turner itch for me then, and he still does. After transforming his body last summer, Turner was arguably the most overlooked defensive player in the league last season. Not since 2013-14 had the league leader in blocks been omitted from both All-Defensive teams. In all likelihood that isn’t in the cards for Bryant, but at least it proves it’s entirely possible for a big man with somewhat awkward footwork to improve. Bryant is already Washington’s second-best player behind Bradley Beal, though considering the rest of the roster that isn’t saying much. He held his own against Joel Embiid in last Friday’s preseason finale, and his instincts defensively have always been pretty decent in my opinion. If Bryant builds on his breakout performance in the second half of last season, Beal will have $72,000,001 reasons to feel good about his recent contract extension.

Orlando Magic 

Markelle Fultz remains a mystery box for the Magic and an enigma to everyone else. After drafting injured Auburn forward Chuma Okeke instead of reaching for Carsen Edwards in the 2019 draft, the Magic are still accepting applications for their point guard of the future.

Philadelphia 76ers 

There’s no way around it. With J.J. Redick no longer around, the Sixers need as much shooting as they can get to complement the likes of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, and Furkan Korkmaz has been patiently waiting his turn. Can he rise to the occasion?

Toronto Raptors 

Norman Powell reappeared seemingly out of nowhere during last year’s playoff run and didn’t disappoint. He was a bench warmer for the majority of the last couple years, but perhaps he’s the most likely Raptor to step in and fill the void along the wing.