The 5 Best NBA Games Of Last Decade

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Watching historical games in the NBA is always inspirational and thrilling. However, some of them are left in our minds forever while others are forgotten at once. Which of the NBA games are worth re-watching over again and which of them are better to forget? Below, we have created a selection of the best matches of last decade that you’d better watch if you still haven’t. If you have though, they are definitely worth watching them multiple times. 

Unfortunately, not all of those games are available for your geo-location. This is the biggest problem for many fans. No worries, thanks to VPN servers, you can forget about it and enjoy your favorite competitions no matter where you are or where you go. A reliable VeePN extension will unlock any streaming platform and allow you to enjoy whatever you wish. Use a free trial to unlock the best matches of the decade, as well as to access all coming shows. 

A VPN hides your IP address and connects you to the necessary server. You can use a  VPN in Singapore or any other location you need. A free trial will help you not only connect to the required server and enjoy the content that is blocked in your country but also protect your privacy by not letting any third parties track your IP address and access your personal data. If you are going to watch some of the following best games of the decade, using a VPN in Singapore is a must. Enjoy your favorite games and players to the fullest!

  • Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, 2013

The sixth NBA Finals have seen everything in 2013. This was one of the most incredible finals in the history of basketball. The game is one of the worthiest ever. Plenty of historical moments accompanied that game. Gregg Popovich decided to pull Tim Duncan off the floor. Ray Allen and Chris Bosh changed history forever with their shot behind the three-point line. This was a pure masterpiece that could never be outperformed by any other player. 

  • Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Game 7, 2016 NBA Finals

The game entered history as one of the best NBA games ever. The Warriors finished the regular season with 73-9 which became the best season record in NBA history. In the finals, they were leading 3:1 before the fifth game started. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving made their team come back remarkably at 3-3. 

With 1:52 left in the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 89 points, and Andre Iguodala had a chance to give the Warriors a two-point lead with a seemingly easy shot. LeBron James came out of the blue to block the shot and give the Cavs the required possession. Kyrie Irving hit a crucial three-pointer, giving the Cavs a three-point lead.

  • San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, 2013

The game was really history-changing. The Spurs won the game and the series – Manu forever! – but it was the Warriors’ starting point, an adrenaline rush in double overtime that turned Curry and Clay Thompson’s expectations upside down. 

  • Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Game 2, 2011 NBA Finals

The Miami Heat hardly expected to win the championship in 2011, as LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined the team early in the season to play with Dwyane Wade. Despite a slow start to the season, they eventually got used to each other’s style of play and reached the NBA Finals in their first season together. 

With 7:14 left in the fourth quarter, the Heat won 88-73, 15 points into the second game, and it looked like it would be a blowout win. After that, the determined Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry took charge and led the Mavericks to an incredible comeback, and they ended up winning the game 95-93.

  • Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, 2019

A few days before Game 4, the Nuggets’ must-win, which was the peak of Jamal Murray’s career, was Game 3. Nikola Jokic (33 points, 18 rebounds, and 14 assists in 65 minutes!), Murray (34 points in 55 minutes!), C.J. McCollum (41 points in 60 minutes!) and, last but not least, Rodney Hood, who had ice water running all over his body during the final overtime. The crazy thing about this game is that it probably would have gone to five overtime if Jokic hadn’t missed free throws with 5.6 seconds to go. Either way, it’s a classic.

Conclusion

History has seen plenty of the greatest basketball matches. The last decade was especially rich for masterpieces. On the list above, you can enjoy the most incredible matches that turned basketball upside down. Even the biggest fans have not expected such an outcome. Remember that to enjoy your most anticipated games, it is necessary to use a good VPN extension or app. Then, regardless of your location, you can watch all streaming platforms and your favorite teams and players. 

 

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Raptors

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The Miami Heat fall to the Toronto Raptors this time around, after some back and forth late.

Heat now 1-3.

Some takeaways from this one…

#1: A look into an interchangeable defensive system for Miami.

As the Miami Heat trailed 48-43 at half, it always gives you a moment of reflection as to what the primary issue is. Both ends of the floor had problems in prior games, but the defensive end seemed to be cleaned up generally early in this one. From a positive perspective, I thought we finally got the defensive mix that you would be looking for with this Heat group. The first few possessions included some Bam Adebayo in drop, which I’ve been asking for. It then altered back to the soft switching, while shading help over for double teams more often than not. Following those sequences, Miami leaned into the 2-2-1 press and 2-3 zone when Gabe Vincent and Haywood Highsmith were at the top of it. The point is that Miami’s defense was problematic when it was one dimensional. Being creative and unpredictable is all you can ask for.

#2: The Dewayne Dedmon element.

While we imagined Bam Adebayo would be gunning for the DPOY award this year, I didn’t think Dewayne Dedmon would be given any credit for that. But when you open up the on/off numbers, or simply the plus/minus, the Dedmon stuff jumps off the page. But even more-so, it jumps off the game-tape when watching. He can’t truly move at this stage, which creates problems for this team on both ends. He doesn’t have the back-pedaling quickness to fully contain in drop, while his offensive role is just to simply “float” after a screen. Not much intention, not many positive outcomes. Simply, the minutes have looked bad to begin this season, and the status of Omer Yurtseven on the injury report becomes more and more intriguing.

#3: The Heat aren’t being quiet about the offensive combo that works best.

Something I’ve been discussing all off-season for Miami, when projecting the starting lineup on the season, was the Tyler Herro-Bam Adebayo pick and roll connection. And well, it’s lived up to the hype early in the season. Herro has recorded 1.47 points per possession on 61% shooting as the PnR ball handler, which only ranks behind Luka Doncic and Jaylen Brown. Adebayo has recorded 1.25 PPP on 68% shooting as the PnR roll man, only ranking behind John Collins. But the bigger headliner is that they aren’t afraid to lean into it. Heavily. The entire offense seems to be operating around that two-man action, and we’re seeing minor layers added to it and it’s only game 4. One of the more fun X’s and O’s story-lines to follow for this team.

#4: A very great Jimmy Butler approach.

As the Heat made a solid third quarter push, it required us to zoom out a bit. Bam Adebayo with some highlight-type strong attacks. Tyler Herro continues to be the shining piece. Yet Jimmy Butler was just quietly coasting to having a pretty great game. Trips to the line, a couple triples, mismatch hunting, solid facilitating, and great efficiency. We know what the role of Butler in the regular season looks like compared to the playoffs, but this is a great example of him not having to do *too* much while still putting up numbers. Combining my last takeaway with this one, a specific Herro-Bam PnR stood out late in the first half. Butler set-up at dunker spot for interior gravity, while he roams from box to box. Herro hit Butler who knocked down the floater. The shot profile mix is a healthy one.

#5: Late-game execution.

Jimmy Butler walks to the scorer’s table of a close game with 5 minutes left in the 4th. A bit of a back and forth pursued with some forced offense from Miami. A perfectly executed Spain PnR turned South late as Bam took off too early and it clanked off the rim. Raptors started to get some easy buckets down low, seemingly putting Miami in an awkward position with Butler entering with 3 mins left in the quarter. Fast forwarding a minute of a 6 point game, the Heat force a miss and run into transition. Tyler Herro, in Herro fashion, pulls up for three on the break to cut the lead to 3. All of a sudden the ball ends up back in their hands with a little over a minute to go, and we get another Spain PnR siting. Perfect result with VanVleet switching onto Bam, yet Herro shoots a tough shot that just misses. On the other end, Vincent did his best to contain, but Siakam got to his sweet spot for the mid-range bucket. 5 point game. Good play-call out of the timeout for Butler to drive on a curl screen for the easy lay-in. Yet as good of defense they played on Toronto following that play, Gary Trent just hits an insanely tough shot in the deep corner. Ends in a loss for Miami.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Raptors

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So the Heat bounced back on the second night of a back to back against the Toronto Raptors, getting a much needed win to begin the season.

This game wasn’t a very normal or consistent one, since while they were clicking on all cylinders in the first half, it tailed off and ended up being a close game.

Either way, here are some takeaways of both the good and the bad…

#1: The return of the offensive movement.

A question I posed exactly 24 hours ago was a rather simple one: where is the movement? Two-man actions were being run for this Heat offense against Boston, but not many more layers added on. Tonight, though, they showcased a total flip in that nature through the first 24 minutes of basketball. The first element of movement simply involves the ball. When things got stale, it was because isolations were most of the time the end result. This time around we saw a good amount of extra passes and necessary swings to keep the defense honest. The second element of Miami’s movement regards just bodies roaming. Off-ball screening, simple back-cuts, and perimeter hand-off searching is the engine to positive half-court offense. It was obviously the primary intention heading in, and they responded with a 71 point first half.

#2: Max Strus: doing the *other* things more consistently.

We know what Max Strus is at this stage. He’s a guy who fits next to anybody, and can shoot the heck out of the ball no matter the contest. But while watching this game tonight, I’m sure some other stuff caught your eye. Step 1 included his weak-side defense and timing. I’m not going to sit here and act like the Heat’s defensive rotations were where they want them to be, but Strus showcased incredible help timing to muck up straight line drives and account for some charges. The other main part of his performance ties back to my previous takeaway of movement and cutting. He’s just hard to continually account for. Guys find him around the rim a ton since he’s not a standstill threat. Keys to staying on the floor late in games.

#3: Kyle Lowry the off-ball threat/Tyler Herro the rim threat.

When zooming out career wise, we know Tyler Herro as a high level outside shooter or developed into an elite off the dribble scoring threat. We also know Kyle Lowry as a consistent creator both for himself and others, while always mixing in elite efficiency numbers as a spot-up threat. But sometimes the simple and original read of a player finds it’s way more consistently again. That was one of my primary takeaways tonight, as Herro pretty much continues to soar as a true rim pressure threat. He’s slashing on the ball in ways that make it so much tougher to guard within that two-man action. Lowry, on the other hand, was definitely going to be getting extra off-ball reps with the amount of creators on this roster. But 3 for 3 in the first half on spot-up triples proves this theory to be correct. Catch and shoot Lowry combined with relentless attacking Herro is a formula for very good offense.

#4: Caleb Martin with an ejection…and a lifetime Heat contract?

So things picked up a bit in the third quarter as Miami possessed a pretty comfortable lead. Some emotions were rising as Tyler Herro and Paschal Siakam got tied up a bit after the play. A few minutes later, *the* play happened. What seemed like a usual foul down low turned into a linebacker shooting the gap of the o-line. Caleb Martin stood over the top of Christian Koloko, leading into a body slam takedown into the courtside seats on the baseline. Both players ended up being ejected, but it was an interesting twist to this game. Martin may have gotten thrown out of this one, but he simultaneously may have been thrown a lifetime Heat contract after that display of emotion and toughness. Well, for the moment. It ended up being pivotal in terms of the Raptors storming back in the second half, but Miami pulled it out.

#5: I’m still watching the turnovers.

A consistent theme across all 3 games of Heat basketball this season has been turnovers. They actually forced Boston into double their number last night, but they’re still putting up a pretty uncomfortable number. Some of that is fine if it’s occurring through an offensive process of risk taking in the half court, but I don’t truly feel that’s been the case. Many of them are just playing at a different speed than the next guy, or forcing stuff that is so clearly not there for them. If this team ends up in the bottom 10 in pace again, which will be the case, a high turnover outcome can’t be the result on a nightly basis.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Celtics

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So we got an Eastern Conference Finals rematch on Friday night, immediately following a tough opening night performance for the Miami Heat.

Consistency felt like one of the main issues in this one, since even though the offense or defense was there at times, they just couldn’t sustain it long enough.

Even after making a late push, it wasn’t enough to steal a win against this gritty and skilled Celtics team. So here are some takeaways from this one…

#1: Tyler Herro: flattened offense to rim attempts to a fully open shot diet.

For scorers like Tyler Herro, the start of games hold high importance. It may sound wild, but he’s a rhythm player who needs to find his way a bit before truly popping. But that wasn’t the case early in this game. The Celtics were really flattening out the expected pick and rolls to come with Bam Adebayo, leaving Herro in a weird spot offensively. Then a few minutes into the second quarter, he found his way. Herro began getting to the rim a bunch, which is the true cursor to fully opening up his entire shot menu. That led into the free throw line floater opening up. Then the three-point shooting. Then the play-making. It’s a domino effect for Herro, but the ability to get out of the mud a bit at the start of games is a good sign.

#2: Bam Adebayo comes out aggressive…again. Just with different result.

After Bam Adebayo struggled on opening night against the Chicago Bulls, the topic about his scoring ability wasn’t the usual headliner: aggression. He was definitely getting shots up, they just weren’t dropping, which tends to happen. But the process was there. That stayed strong early in this game against Boston, as he wasn’t afraid to dive into the shots that Boston was giving him, which pretty much began and finished with the mid-range pull-up. Those jumpers led him to a 12 point first half stat line on 6 of 7 shooting. My point the other night was that inefficient nights for him will be fine throughout the season, as long as there’s a similar process along the way. Even though tonight had a bit of a different process with some early foul trouble.

#3: Where’s the movement?

In terms of the downside of Miami’s X’s and O’s, I must say I was expecting Miami to lean much more into their motion offense this year. They have multiple movement shooters on the floor together at times, a decent amount of on-ball creators, and a couple athletes. That roster construction screams nonstop movement, especially when linking that player grouping to the Miami Heat. But we’ve seen a lot of stagnant two-man actions early in this season, while the weak-side spacers are simply spotting up. Of course that can be the case depending on the action you’re running, but this team won’t be a successful scoring team off a bunch of isolations. I think they will find their identity here soon, but something to keep an eye on.

#4: The importance of the Kyle Lowry pull-up 3.

After talking about some of the minor negatives of the offense so far, it’s also important to talk some positives. And after a bad opening night for Kyle Lowry, he bounced back with some crucial buckets throughout. More specifically, it’s pretty clear that his pull-up triple changes the game for this team’s half-court offense. When he doesn’t take it, the defense goes under to flatten it, and it usually just ends up in a congested pass to the roller or resetting swing pass. Yet when he’s taking it, it puts more pressure on not only the on-ball defender, but the off-ball helpers. That’s the way to bend a good Celtics defense, and it’s with one single shot. It’ll be intriguing to monitor the efficiency and volume of it, but that’ what’ll make Lowry’s presence extremely helpful.

#5: A much needed defensive pick-up.

As I talked about the other night, Miami’s defensive rotations just weren’t there. This time around, it wasn’t as much the rotations. Instead it had many of us glued to their defensive layout. The Celtics are a heavy shot creation team, especially considering their molded around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. With that said, they enjoying picking their isolation matchup at any given moment. They were able to do that pretty easily at times with Miami’s switching, while yes it may have it’s perks with the randomized helps and doubles, just needs some type of mix-up against a team like Boston. The thing I’ve been advocating for is a mix of drop once in a while with Bam Adebayo on the floor. Maybe that says something about the point of attack defense in that first unit, but some defensive creativity and unpredictability is needed for this group with 80 games to go.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Bulls

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The Miami Heat faced the Chicago Bulls in their season opener, and well, it didn’t go as expected.

They came out playing well out the gate, but that stalled quickly. The defensive lapses began to add up, as DeMar DeRozan continued to “heat” up.

So, here are some takeaways…

#1: Tyler Herro kicks off his new role with a scoring punch…with a changing profile.

There was no doubt that Tyler Herro would be a focal point of the starting group’s offensive flow, but his usage was peaking to an even further degree early. An immediate pull-up three to kick things off will always be a good sign, but the next possession spoke volume. Herro pick and roll, Chicago Bulls blitz. He showed patience, waited it out, flowed downhill, snaked insane, and put up the floater. Bucket. Shortly after, as Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo created, the ball ended up swinging to Herro in the corner for a spot-up three. The point is that his shot profile looks much different, while simultaneously looking much better. Pull-ups, spot-ups, blitzes: you know the deal. He’s just confident against all of it to start the season off.

#2: The rotation at the moment…

The starting lineup wasn’t much of a surprise heading in, (Lowry-Herro-Butler-Martin-Bam) but the questions were pointed at the bench unit without Victor Oladipo suiting up. Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, and Dewayne Dedmon were going to form the 8, but how would they regulate the rest? Well, the answer was quite simple. They went the Duncan Robinson route, and played him next to Strus for long stretches. Yet the key about the rotation is that they are matching good combinations. For example, they want to mirror the minutes of Herro and Bam as much as possible. So, they sub Butler out first, to then have him anchor the bench unit shortly after. It’s a solid philosophy to split up on-ball threats, but the next evaluation period will include how Butler and Oladipo look together once he returns.

#3: Caleb Martin isn’t PJ Tucker, and they won’t treat him like so.

Who will be the PJ Tucker replacement? That’s a question that has been asked all off-season, and the answer to that question has been Caleb Martin. Yes, he’s subbing into the position that he filled, but he’s not truly filling his role. Martin is surprising people with his growth at the moment, since he’s doing things that we’ve yet to see from him. Step 1 was the ability to size up defensively. Miami placed him on DeMar DeRozan early for the sole reason of predicting the switch, ending with him trying to hold his own on Nikola Vucevic. He had some good possessions early, but they continued to post him up a punch in the second half, proving the difference between PJ Tucker and himself. But the offensive stuff is a change of pace as well: rim pressure, tighter handle, better shooting, and constant movement. For an unexpected example. the dude literally ran a pick and roll for a tough mid-range pull-up early on. This is a different player right now, and there’s more to explore in my personal opinion.

#4: Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry struggling.

When looking at the stat sheet at halftime, two things would’ve caught you by surprise. Bam Adebayo was 1 for 10 from the field and Kyle Lowry had 0 points on two attempts. On the Bam front, he was just missing easy buckets at the rim time and time again. Bunnies, dunks, etc. I mean he was aggressive, but he didn’t have that usual focused flare from the jump. Lowry, on the other hand, wasn’t even looking for his shot. There weren’t many actions I can recall that he was heavily involved. Most of the offense included Bam or Jimmy post-splits, or Herro created buckets off pick and rolls or curls. I truly believe the Bam element is just one of those nights where easy ones don’t drop, but the Lowry part of it is about engagement level. Herro and Butler can only do so much to keep this group afloat. They’re going to need some type of punch on nights like this from Lowry and/or Bam.

#5: A step too slow defensively?

As the Bulls continued to pull away in the third quarter, there was a consistent theme: DeMar DeRozan tough buckets and sleepy Heat defensive possessions. This Heat team goes through shooting/scoring slumps all the time, but their energy and defensive rotations, specifically, usually carry them. That wasn’t the case for long periods in this one. Bulls were getting easy buckets at the rim and simple back-cuts were end results, which is far from a Miami Heat product. If there’s one thing this Heat team can’t afford to lose this season, it’s those crispy rotations on the defensive side of the ball night in and night out.

Important Basketball Rules That Every Player Should Remember

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Basketball is a game that is enjoyed by people of all ages all over the world. While there are many rules in basketball, there are some that are more important than others. In this blog post, we will discuss the most important basketball rules that every player should remember. These rules will help you to stay safe and play fair while enjoying this popular sport!

Remembering the important basketball rules

Basketball was invented in 1891 by Canadian James Naismith. The game has two teams with five players each, and the objective is to score points by shooting a ball through a hoop. The most important rule in boys basketball tryouts is that the ball must be bounced or passed between teammates. However, there is a huge variety of different rules, like a reach-in foul, or traveling. In order to play basketball, it is essential that you understand and abide by the rules of the game. Not only will this help to keep you safe while playing, but it will also ensure that you are fair and respectful to your opponents. The following are some of the most important basketball rules that every player should remember:

Always dribble with your non-dominant hand when you can

This will make it more difficult for your opponents to steal the ball from you. Furthermore, when dribbling, always keep your head up so that you can see where your teammates and opponents are. Another great reason why you should dribble with your non-dominant hand is that it will help you to become ambidextrous, which is a very valuable skill in basketball.

Never carry the ball for more than two steps without passing or shooting

Carrying the ball is also known as “palming”. This is a very dangerous move that can result in serious injury to yourself or another player. If you do carry the ball, make sure to pass it or shoot it within two steps. Additionally, never hold the ball for more than five seconds when you are dribbling. Doing so will result in a turnover. On the other hand, if you decide to bring the ball above your shoulders, you must do so with both hands.

Do not charge into another player, even if they are in possession of the ball

This is a very dangerous move that can result in serious injury. If you do charge into another player, make sure to do so with your shoulder, not your head. Furthermore, you must give the player you are charging time to react and move out of the way. If you do not, you will be called for a foul. On the other hand, if you are the one who is being charged, make sure to protect yourself by holding your ground.

Do not kick the ball or hit it with your fist

Kicking the ball is a very dangerous move that can result in serious injury. If you do kick the ball, make sure to do so with your foot, not your knee or head. Additionally, never hit the ball with your fist, as this can also result in serious injury. Aside from obvious injuries, this type of behavior can also damage the ball, which is expensive. Finally, reacting with a lot of emotion, like in these two scenarios can also cost you points as it is considered a technical foul.

Protect your head at all times – especially when going for a rebound

This is one of the most important rules in basketball, as head injuries are very common in this sport. When going for a rebound, make sure to protect your head by keeping your elbows in and your hands up. Basketball offers a plethora of benefits for younger people, and risking an injury in such a manner will be unnecessary. Additionally, always be aware of where the other players are, as they may accidentally elbow or hit you in the head while going for the ball.

Do not hold, push, or trip your opponents

This is considered a foul and can result in serious injury. If you do hold, push, or trip your opponents, make sure to do so with your hands or feet, not your elbows or knees. Additionally, never use excessive force when doing so. Just because you are allowed to hold, push, or trip your opponents does not mean that you should do so with all of your strength. Use just enough force to stop them from getting past you.

Stepping on the line is a mistake

It does not matter whether this is a foul or the 3-point line, stepping on the line while shooting or dribbling is considered a mistake. This is because it gives you an advantage over your opponents. If you do step on the line, make sure to do so with your foot, not your whole body. Additionally, always be aware of where the lines are so that you do not accidentally step on them. Yes, stepping on the 3-point line will still count as a basket, but only 2 points. However, stepping over the line of the out-of-bounds will result in a turnover.

Avoid arguing with the referees

Arguing with the referees is a very dangerous move that can result in serious injury. If you do argue with the referees, make sure to do so calmly and respectfully. Additionally, never use profanity or obscene gestures when arguing with the referees. This type of behavior will only result in your being ejected from the game. Referees also have the right to call technical fouls, which can cost you points and even lead to your being ejected from the game.

Make sure you know where the basketball is at all times

This is one of the most important rules in basketball. If you do not know where the ball is, you will be at a disadvantage and may even get hurt. Additionally, always be aware of where your opponents are so that you do not accidentally run into them. Kicking the ball is a very dangerous move that can result in serious injury.

 

In conclusion, these are some important basketball rules that every player should remember. By following these rules, you can help ensure your safety and the safety of your opponents. Additionally, you will be able to avoid costly mistakes that could cost you the game. Finally, always remember to have fun and enjoy the sport of basketball.

The Greatest Arkansas Basketball Players of All Time

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Arkansas basketball has a rich history, and while the Razorbacks have had some of the best players in the game over the years, they’ve also had their fair share of disappointments. From the rising stars of college basketball to some of the most celebrated players in the NBA, here’s a list of some incredible Arkansas players:

1. Sidney Moncrief

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/XcBPc0Q_2h8

Sidney Moncrief, who played at Arkansas from 1975 to 1979, was a three-time All-American and can be credited with putting the Razorbacks’ basketball program on the national map.

The shooting guard’s accolades include playing in the NBA All-Star game for 5 consecutive years. In addition to his consensus First Team All-American designation during one of those seasons (1979), he was also named Consensus Second Team All-American in 1979. His scoring average of over 20 points per game for four seasons surely makes him deserving of his spot on our list.

2. Joe Johnson

Another notable player in Razorbacks history, Joe Johnson spent his collegiate days playing for the University of Arkansas. He was named the state’s Mr. Basketball in 1999 and has made the NBA All-Star team a grand total of 7 times.

When turning professional, he was drafted tenth overall by the Boston Celtics, where he stayed for just one season. He played for six other teams before returning to the Celtics in the 2021 season.

3. Corliss Williamson

Born in Russellville, Corliss Williamson played basketball at Arkansas (1992-95) before going on to play in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings (twice), Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and others.

He won a range of titles over his career and also became a coach in 2007. His 12-year coaching career included a few seasons with a team from his home state, Arkansas Baptist.

4. Alvin Robertson

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/qk03WPpOS-Q

Alvin Robertson is a four-time All-Star who played for the San Antonio Spurs from 1984 to 1989. He was named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1986 and was part of the All-NBA Second Team in the same year.

Robertson remains the only player ever to have over 300 steals in a season and also holds the record as the player with the highest average steals per game – 2.71. He started his NBA career with the San Antonio Spurs and played for four other teams during his career, including the Detroit Pistons.

5. Oliver Miller

Oliver Miller, also known as the ‘Big O’ thanks to his huge 6’9″ frame, played for the Razorbacks until his graduation in 1992. The center was named CBA All-Star in 2003 and drafted 22nd overall in the 1992 NBA Draft, where he was selected by the Phoenix Suns.

Miller played for a considerable number of teams during his career, including several international ones in countries such as Greece, Poland, and China.

6. Todd Day

Todd Day was a shooting guard who played for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1989 to 1992. He was a second and third-team All-American in 1991 and 1992, and the Razorbacks saw considerable success when he was part of the team.

Day was also named SWC Co-Player of the Year in 1991 before being drafted in the first round of the 1992 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. He then played for a range of teams, including in Cyprus and Brazil, before becoming a coach in 2016 at Philander Smith, a role he continues with today.

7. Bobby Portis

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/kXJksx1kdJ0

A professional basketball player, Portis was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. He played college basketball at the University of Arkansas before being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft. He went on to play for the Washington Wizards and New York Knicks before moving to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2020, where he still plays today.

He was an SEC Player of the Year in 2015 and made it to the NBA Championships three times, playing for the winning team in 2021.

Conclusion

Arkansas is a state with a rich history of basketball, and these players are just a few of the many who have made their mark. We know you’re going to agree that they deserve to be on this list.

 

A guide to betting on the NBA

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the most popular sports in the United States. It is a league that has 30 teams in total, and it is considered one of the major premier sports leagues on the North American continent. Not only that but it’s also considered the best basketball league anywhere in the world.

The league was founded in New York over 70 years ago and has hosted some of the most dramatic games in the history of American sports. It has spawned countless films, books, television shows and documentaries which feature the game heavily.

It has also produced a number of crossover stars who are prominent figures in American society, including legends such as the late Kobe Bryant and the phenomenal Michael Jordan.

The legendary Chicago Bulls talisman has featured in huge films such as Space Jam and recently had a Netflix documentary about him called The Last Dance, which was released in 2020 to critical acclaim.

This documentary detailed the sensational skill and mentality Michael Jordan displayed in the 1997-98 season, which was his final season with the Chicago Bulls. The league has also been home to characters such as Dennis Rodman, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James.

Gambling on the NBA has been available for quite some time. Initially, it was something that was more or less exclusive to Las Vegas-based casinos that had sportsbooks dedicated to major professional leagues, including the NFL and NHL as well.

 

NBA betting is a market that is now available in most countries around the world — the ones that allow gambling on their shores of course. There are several types of markets you can bet on when it comes to Basketball, and today we’re going to explore them in finer detail.

 

You can place a wager on a whole range of markets, this includes betting on one specific team to win a match, one team to win by a certain number of points or a team to lose by a certain number of points. 

 

On top of this, you can also gamble on the outcome of the season’s matches. You can bet on who you think will make the playoffs or who will become champions at the end of the season.

The Golden State Warriors are the most formidable team of their generation, and this excellent crop of current players added yet another title to their collection last season. They were favorites for many going in and did not disappoint.

Many analysts and players consider them to be favorites again this season, despite other teams making strong additions to their roster. Only time will tell if the Golden State Warriors can scoop up yet another title, but it is certainly looking promising for them.

Most people consider it a straight shootout between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics, two of the most legendary teams in professional basketball. Some may slightly favor the Celtics, and some people may slightly favor the Golden State Warriors. There is no doubt that it will certainly be an exciting season.

Another type of betting you can explore is parlay betting. This is a relatively new version of gambling markets, and it is very popular in countries such as the United Kingdom, where it is known as an accumulator. When several matches will start at or near the same time, you can combine the outcomes for a larger payout.

 

This – of course – is a more difficult way to place a bet. It can be hard enough to bet on one team, never mind four or five! However, it can pay dividends as the odds are multiplied together. So, if you have a hunch that a few teams might win, it could be quite the payday.

 

It is important to note here that you must only gamble what you can afford to lose. If you stop enjoying gambling but continue to do it, despite the negative consequences, you should seek help and stop.

You can also make use of gamble limits or timers to ensure you do not get too carried away on certain gambling sites. This can also help limit you to ensure that you gamble for fun and do not consider it as a source of income.

Handicap betting is a popular form of betting across a range of team sports –  it is also referred to as spread betting. Essentially, it involves giving one team a virtual deficit (a handicap) to overcome at the start of the match. 

 

When it comes to handicap betting, the higher the handicap, the better the odds usually are. This is true for the vast majority of handicap bets involving NBA teams.

 

In addition to all the markets we have mentioned, you can also combine the different types of odds. For example, you may place a bet on the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat to both win their games, you could then combine this with a bet for the Celtics to win the Playoffs.

 

This would be considered a treble bet, but you can usually combine up to about 10 specific selections. You could also look to bet on the outcome of certain playoff games and the final score.

Let’s say, theoretically speaking, that the Boston Celtics were playing the Golden State Warriors in the final. The Playoff final, as we all know, is a best-of-seven matchup. If you thought the Celtics were going to emphatically beat the Warriors, you could bet on them to win 4 games to 2.

You could also bet on other outcomes, such as 3-0 or 4-1. Although the final two are unlikely, this will be reflected in the odds.

Usually, the bulk of NBA betting consists of betting on a handicap. For example, you can gamble on whether a certain team scores over or under a certain number of points. 

 

You can combine this across the market between different teams, and it means you can get a bit more out of your bet. If you want to combine your bet across a range of different sports, including the NBA, plenty of online bookmakers also offer this option as well.

 

The Heat’s Offensive Checkpoint: Tyler Herro-Bam Adebayo PnR

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The hot topic surrounding the Miami Heat this week, with Media Day kicking off the week of training camp, has been all about starting lineups. There are three guys locked into their station, while the rest of the roster battles it out for those last two spots.

But it’s not just about being out there for opening tip-off, or having the ability to tell the world your a starter in this league. The most important element when having this discussion is overall fits, and maximizing this roster within that.

To that point, that walks us right into an area that I love to discuss: the basketball side of this.

When Bam Adebayo was asked about the way this roster can truly take the next step, his exact words were “it starts with me and Tyler.”

And that phrase is exactly how I view Miami’s offensive mold to begin the season: starting with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.

Heading back to last season, we began to see the two of them emerge as not only the two young faces of this organization, but an upticking two-man game on the offensive side of the ball.

A high level offensive scorer when flowing downhill and a dominant rolling big man who’s as athletic as any big in this league. What’s not to love there?

The pick and roll showed to be a dominant pairing slightly passed the halfway mark of the regular season, leading to coach Erik Spoelstra thinking of ways to tinker.

As we all know, late in the season the team had to shake some things up with the rotation. The main one that gets brought up is Max Strus inserting into the starting lineup for Duncan Robinson, but there was an even larger adjustment behind the curatins.

The substitution pattern was altered. Herro would enter for Jimmy Butler much sooner, so that he could share the floor for added minutes next to Adebayo. Trust me, that was intentional.

Fast forward to the post-season, Herro had some challenges on his hands with different coverages. But one thing that popped off the screen, particularly in games 1 and 2 of the second round against Philadelphia, was that the pick and roll between these two guys couldn’t be stopped.

So they did just that: they didn’t stop going to it.

That got them to a 2-0 lead in the series, as we saw it sprinkled in a bit the rest of the series and into the Eastern Conference Finals against Boston.

But the point is this: that was just the precursor. We’re just scratching the surface on this two-man game to say the least. Not only will the frequency of reps be rising with Herro possibly slotting into that starting 2 spot, but their games are rising simultaneously.

So let’s take a dip into the different stages of a Herro-Bam pick and roll, and how it can evolve this year…

Step one of this process is the base blend. Noticing Herro’s favorite defensive coverage of drop, they begin to flow downhill. Jayson Tatum fights over the screen, which is exactly why I label this the base blend.

The last thing you want is for these two guys to get you on a 2-on-1. Bam stays linear with Herro in the pocket, Grant Williams must play middle man, and Herro floats right into his coveted pull-up jumper that simply can’t be altered once he begins to rise up.

The primary goal of this action is for him to find that pull-up, but the secondary goal is to play the mental game of the off-ball defenders. The thing to watch this season is the gravity on the weak-side, since if guys like Gabe Vincent, Caleb Martin, and others can make their defenders second guess, it’ll have Herro and Bam dominating with ease.

As seen in that clip above, Robert Williams is just trying to muck up the action by playing much lower than the nail. He’s a different kind of beast since he has the leisure to dip off far with his elite recovery speeds, but the point remains the same.

As much as they’re manipulating in the action, they’re also playing the long game to manipulate outside of the action.

So now, here will be the next adjustment.

Okay so we learned not to go over on this duo to create the 2-on-1 opportunity, so let’s try going under that screen. Well, Tyler Herro learned pretty quickly this season he has one option when seeing that while the big settles in deep drop: Pull. Up. Immediately.

He began finding himself as that instinctive shooter, but as seen in the clip above, this is the most common iteration of a team that prepares to go under. They’ll just play much higher in drop, eliminating that pull-up shot from him when rounding the screen.

{Bam Adebayo enters}

Now that 4 eyes and 2 bodies are on the wing next to Herro, the pocket pass quickly follows to a momentum filled Bam Adebayo.

When I asked Tyler Herro about this evolving two-man game, he said: “I love getting Bam the ball. He loves setting screens and getting to the basket for a lob or a pocket pass. Not many 5’s can stay in front of Bam, especially when he’s running downhill…Not many guys can stop him.”

That’s something that we know for a fact. Going back to the clip I’m describing above, take a look at the end result. What kind of weak-side help can do anything with that?

I’ll wait.

If his man is the one on the perimeter for the blitz, it’s like an open lane for a running back from there.

So what’s the next coverage to throw at them? We’ve hit on the normal drop when going over a screen. We’ve hit on the high version of drop when going under a screen. So how about we blend those two coverages together.

Herro flows left with a very solid screen from Bam that trips up Korkmaz a bit as he fights over. As we see from here, Joel Embiid is playing at the level of the screen to counteract the pull-up out of the 2-on-1, as I showcased earlier in this piece.

Instead, Herro keeps his dribble alive to force Embiid to drop into his slot on the rolling Bam, leading to an easy left handed lay-up.

The key to all of this is that these two guys have options. It’s just about manipulating those around them enough, while utilizing all the tools at their disposal. Too often we see them settle with simply the pull-up or pocket pass time and time again.

But as shown here, there are multiple options within the action depending on the coverage that they see. And the funniest part of this: I’m not even accounting for the off-ball stuff with the other three guys on the floor.

Options. Options. Options.

To play off the last coverage I displayed, there’s also the ability to play at a much higher speed than the slow-paced half-court set. We all know both of these guys have a tendency to play into the rhythm of the game, which most of the time deals with overall game speed.

For example, a drag screen from Bam on this occasion forces the defense into making quicker decisions with quicker feet. Maxey doesn’t see the screen and decides to fight over, Embiid scrambles to a driving Herro, and he easily slips right by for the crafty finish around the rim.

It’s one thing to bring up pace when discussing more transition opportunities, which both Bam and Herro have the capability of doing, but it just as much points to the authority of speeding up half-court sets.

You may be thinking that this has been very Tyler Herro centric for a piece that’s talking about a two-man game, but all of the plays I’ve displayed have been a 50/50 split in terms of effort.

Bam Adebayo’s screening, rolling gravity, and perfect positioning allows Herro to get many of those good looks out of this set.

But to focus a bit more on his scoring ability out of it, there are pretty much two primary steps for it to be successful.

Number one has a lot to do with the way teams decide to guard Herro as we went through, but more specifically, the blitzes will create non-stop opportunities for Bam as a scorer and play-maker.

In that clip above, he catches in space after Herro drew two, leading to a 1-on-1 at the rim against James Harden. (I like those odds)

The play-making part of the blitzing stuff is all about playing into the numbers. Two fly out on Tyler and Bam catches in space, you now have your athletic play-maker controlling a 4-on-3. (I like those odds too)

But back to the original point, the second step to Bam’s process is the expansion to come. We’ve gotten glimpses of the pocket pass into the elbow jumper, but that frequency rising bends this PnR duo to new heights.

Herro already provides the necessary mid-range gravity, yet if Bam is doing it similarly, even on a lower clip, it changes the outlook of defensive planning on the opposite side.

To finish this off, I’m pretty sure a lot of you may know where I’m going next. If I’m talking Bam, I’m talking inverted pick and roll.

It’s all about finding ways to put the ball in his hands as a scorer, but this is also an outlet to create mismatches. A guy like Herro or Lowry screening for Bam creates chaos if he approaches it correctly.

As seen above, the delayed switch allowed Bam to get to his spot and rise up. We can also add in the fact that Herro’s scoring gravity can create mis-directions as well, which all lean in favor of Bam finding slots to be productive.

Herro recently revealed that he’s currently at 198 pounds and 4.5% body fat, which is the lowest on the team, meaning that he may not be the most useful screener on the roster when evaluating on paper.

But as I just stated, much of the time it’s simply about creating chaos.

And that’s what this two-man game of Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo will look to do this year on the offensive end.

“They’ve gained a lot of confidence in their two-man actions,” Erik Spoelstra said late in the playoffs last year about the Herro-Bam PnR. “They do a lot of different things with those actions and a lot of them are unscripted.”

Well now with another full off-season logged, we’re going to get a look at these two guys with the script in hand. And that script could end up making all the difference in this team’s half-court approach from October of 2022 to potentially June of 2023.

 

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One Thing to Look for from each Heat player in the 2022-2023’ Season

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Since signing with the Miami Heat in 2019, Jimmy Butler has been one of the top all-around wings in the NBA. The single flaw to his game has been his regular season jump-shooting, with the three point shooting aspect declining the most. Butler was a career 34% three point shooter before coming to Miami and has been a 24% shooter in the three seasons he has donned a Heat uniform. If Butler can shoot slightly below league average* at around 33-34% from three, lineup construction becomes much simpler for Miami.

* NBA League Average from 3 was 35.4% in the 2021-2022 season.

While Bam Adebayo has statistically improved as a scorer each season and has increased his ability to create his own shot by a sizable margin (39.2% of made FG’s unassisted in 21-22’), his potential for a “scoring leap” was mitigated by his inability to assert himself as an efficient mid-range scorer last season. Adebayo shot 42.4% on mid-range shots in 20-21’ but regressed to a 35.3% mid-range shooter in 21-22’ on lesser per game volume. While many want to see Adebayo stretch his game out to the three point line, it is more important for him to master the mid-range and expand his face-up game from there, asserting himself as one of the league’s most efficient two-level scorers.

The low hanging fruit for Tyler Herro’s development is the ability to handle blitzes in the pick and roll. Yes, that is an important development for Herro in a playoff setting but the most urgent development is Herro increasing his efficiency as a scorer in pick and roll to the point where a Herro and Adebayo pick and roll can be the centerpiece for a good NBA offense. In 20-21’ Herro scored 228 points on 208 shots out of pick and roll, in 21-22’ he maintained similar efficiency but on a sizable increase in volume scoring 401 points on 357 shots. While we can’t project the overall volume of pick and rolls to increase, the goal is for Herro to improve his efficiency from being an above average scorer (61st percentile) in pick and roll to being one of the league’s best (75th percentile or better).

It is no secret that Kyle Lowry’s age will impact his ability to contribute in facets that might’ve been expected upon his arrival to Miami. If last season is any indicator, the ability to drive has started to decline, as Lowry recorded his fewest number of drives per game (7.2) since the NBA started tracking the stat in 2013. Lowry can counteract this decline by reshaping his game into being more of a floor spacer, who functions both as a high volume, high efficiency catch-and-shoot and pull-up threat from three. Lowry’s ability to orchestrate offense parlayed with the ability to keep defenders from helping off of him will amplify the games of Butler, Oladipo, Adebayo, Herro and Yurtseven, who like to operate inside the three point line.

When you play in a starting lineup with Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, it’s likely that you will be hunted in isolation by good teams in a playoff setting. Max Strus took on that test and passed with flying colors in the playoffs. Of the 16 players who defended 25 or more isolations in the playoffs, Strus allowed the 4th fewest points per possession, ranking behind only Draymond Green, Grant Williams and Tobias Harris. Strus also did this on the second highest volume at 44 isolations defended, only behind Al horford, who defended 69 isolations in the playoffs. If these defensive strides from Strus are real, and he is capable of making teams look silly for hijacking their offense simply to hunt him in isolation situations, Strus can be cemented into the Heat’s starting lineup.

After dealing with injury rehabilitation for the majority of the last year and now finally having a full offseason to train, Victor Oladipo’s entire game could look differently upon return but one of the “x-factors” for the Heat’s season will be his ability to generate rim pressure off the dribble. What Oladipo possesses in terms of a first step along with craftiness around the rim is something that has been lacking in Miami for a long time. If Oladipo can assert himself, either as a starter or off the bench, as someone who can get to the rim and make the right decisions while doing so, he will elevate any unit he plays with. Having another player outside of Jimmy Butler who is capable of not only getting into the paint but also finishing at the rim is a crucial development for the Heat’s halfcourt offense. Oladipo or Herro are the most likely bets to make that leap.

Gabe Vincent was one of the few playoff risers for the Heat as his versatility on both ends proved valuable in multiple matchups. Vincent has flashed the ability to create his own buckets at all three levels thus far; however, he now needs to find “his spot” where he can consistently be relied upon to score points. While shooting threes Vincent is primarily a catch-and-shoot threat as role players typically don’t have the freedom of routinely creating a shot that’s inherently inefficient, the pull-up three. While going to the rim, Vincent is generally taking advantage of a slower footed wing or big and being crafty to finish. Being that Vincent can attack closeouts and poses the threat of getting to the rim, pulling up from mid-range is a shot that will be available often for him. After shooting 43% on pull up twos (Regular Season and Playoffs), it’s safe to say Vincent can build upon this skill to further solidify himself as one of the league’s top backup combo guards.

Caleb Martin was probably the single biggest overperformer relative to expectation for the Miami Heat last season. After going from two-way to mid-level exception in less than a calendar year, it’s reasonable to assume that Caleb is not done improving his game. One of his most valuable skills on paper was his 41.3% shooting from three, but the question remains if he can produce similar results as the sample size continues to expand. For a player who is making a career off of “3-and-D” potential, three point shooting is always going to be the ultimate swing factor. If Caleb can prove himself as an efficient floor spacer yet again this season, his contract might be one of the better ones signed this offseason.

Most Miami Heat UDFA projects come into their own in year two of being a part of the program. After seeing flashes in both the NBA Summer League and the “dog days” of the NBA season, Omer Yurtseven has earned the right to be considered to be a part of the Heat’s rotation this season. One way he can seize that spot is by proving he’s capable of anchoring a defense via zone or drop coverage. At 7 feet tall and 275 pounds with a 7’1” wingspan, it is reasonable to say that Yurtseven has the frame to make his presence felt in the paint. With his ability to dominate on the glass and as he is likely to be surrounded by multiple plus defenders off the bench, Yurtseven is in good shape to take a step forward on the defensive end this season.

Duncan Robinson’s value as one of the league’s most respected three point specialists will remain consistent independent of how the shooting percentages fluctuate throughout the season, unless teams change the way they defend him. One thing that we are yet to see from Robinson is the ability to diversify his offensive skill set. Until Robinson is able to consistently feel comfortable attacking closeouts, take and make a mid-range shot or keep a live dribble off of a handoff, Robinson will be subjected to nothing more than the ebbs and flows of being a floor spacer off at the end of the rotation. Any development of the aforementioned skills could make any actions featuring Robinson more fruitful than they have already been.

Haywood Highsmith, like Yurtseven, is entering year two of being in the Heat’s system. With a clear need at the forward spot, Highsmith’s ability to defend multiple positions, rebound despite being undersized and shoot catch-and-shoot threes makes him a contender to earn a spot in the rotation as early as training camp. While PJ Tucker has been a comparison that has been made by some, I believe Highsmith plays more in the mold of a Jae Crowder-type, where volume 3 point shooting from all over the perimeter is his calling card on offense. If Highsmith can shoot at or above league average from three on solid volume, odds are he will find his way into the top 11 for Miami this season.

Dewayne Dedmon likely won’t be counted on much if Yurtseven’s development is going according to plan, but if Dedmon were to be called upon, the hope is that he can continue to hold down the paint defensively and bring the energy on nights where the team might be lacking. The mean streak that Dedmon plays with is one that is a bit more scarce now that PJ Tucker has moved on to Philadelphia.

While he was drafted near the end of the first round, Nikola Jovic has the offensive upside of a lottery level talent with obvious question marks on the defensive end that made him slip to 27. The fix defensively likely won’t happen overnight but if Jovic can display an ability to catch-and-shoot and make quick decisions off the catch, he can find himself on the NBA floor sooner rather than later. If he does see time in the Sioux Falls this season, it would be nice to use that as an opportunity to explore his talents as an on-ball playmaker where he can function as the “big guard” he has labeled himself as. Either way, this season will likely be the equivalent to a redshirt year for the 19-year old where repetitions should take priority over production.

Udonis Haslem is back for a 20th season with the Miami Heat. If this is Haslem’s last season, all we can hope for is that the Heat and their fans give him the proper sendoff at FTX arena.

While he played on the Spurs summer league team, Darius Days was signed to the Miami Heat on a two way contract which surprised most, including the Spurs. While UDFA’s don’t typically produce in their first season with the Heat, it could be very possible that Days could be the rare exception to that rule, given he has prototypical size (6’7 245lbs with a 7’1 wingspan) at a position of need with an offensive skill set that fits next to the Heat’s best players. After being trusted as the primary floor spacing forward for multiple years at LSU, Days could be one good defensive showing in training camp away from having the opportunity to be this season’s Caleb Martin.

While the Heat’s stacked guard rotation makes it unlikely for Marcus Garrett to see NBA minutes this season barring injury, Garrett has proven himself over the last year as someone who could be worth developing. There is no doubt Garrett would be a positive defender in an NBA game if given the opportunity but there are legitimate questions where he fits offensively. If Garrett can find a niche, preferably solidifying his game as a scorer inside the three point line, he could find himself being the prized possession of the Sioux Falls Skyforce this season.

 

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