Where should Miami look for its next coach?

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Wizards

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

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

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

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

#2: Jimmy Butler spamming moves and getting buckets.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Goldie’s NFL Best Bets Week 11: Backing the ‘Boys

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Goldie:

All Time Record: 211-109-1          

Vs. Spread: 152-165-1

 

21-22 Season:  85-54-1               

Vs. Spread: 63-76-1

 

Week 10 Record : 6-6-1                 

Vs. Spread: 4-9

 

Guarantee All Time: 13-11       

21-22 Season: 4-6

 

Upset All Time: 12-11              

21-22 Season: 3-7

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 29-8              

21-22 Season: 13-7       

Week 10: 0-1

 

Goldie’s Guarantee

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

Vegas Picks: GB -1

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 24-13

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

 

Goldie’s UPSET of the Week

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

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

Vegas Picks: KC -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 33-30

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

 

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

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

Vegas Picks: BAL -4.5

Goldie’s Take: Ravens Win 26-20

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

 

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

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

Vegas Picks: CAR -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Panthers Win 23-20

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

 

Rest of Week 11:

 

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

Vegas Picks: BUF -7

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 30-24

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

 

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

Vegas Picks: CLE -11.5

Goldie’s Take: Browns Win 28-17

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

 

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

Vegas Picks: TEN -10

Goldie’s Take: Titans WIn 30-17

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

 

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

Vegas Picks: SF -6

Goldie’s Take: 49ers Win 24-20

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

 

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

Vegas Picks: MIA -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Dolphins Win 23-15

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

 

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

Vegas Picks: PHI -2

Goldie’s Take: Eagles WIn 27-23

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

 

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

Vegas Picks: CIN -1

Goldie’s Take: Bengals Win 28-26

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

 

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

Vegas Picks: ARI -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Seahawks Win 28-24

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

 

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

Vegas Picks: LAC -6

Goldie’s Take: Chargers Win 31-14

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

 

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

Vegas Picks: TB -10.5

Goldie’s Take: Buccaneers Win 30-20

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over the Wizards

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

So, here are five takeaways from another Heat win…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Pelicans

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The Miami Heat were without Kyle Lowry, Bam Adebayo, and Markieff Morris on Wednesday night, but it didn’t matter. Even after falling behind early, Miami battled back to beat the Pelicans, which all begins with the returning Jimmy Butler.

So, here are five takeaways from this one…

#1: Pelicans come out hot. The Heat do not.

The Pelicans started out the game shooting 5 for 7 from three. To put that in perspective, they were shooting 5 for 7 from the field at that point as well. Not only were they letting it fly often, but they were dropping, giving them quite the amount of padding early on. Some of that was the lack of strong defensive rotations, but it was also just talented offensive players making shots. On the other side of the floor, Miami couldn’t get anything going out the gate. Jimmy Butler did his part with 10 first quarter points, which I’ll discuss next, while the rest of the Heat had 11 total first quarter points. When you’re down 2 starters, 1 strong bench piece, a struggling Tyler Herro to begin the game, and some foul trouble with PJ Tucker and Dewayne Dedmon, that’s usually not a formula for a “hot” start.

#2: Jimmy Butler returns, and he looks like Jimmy Butler.

Jimmy Butler missed the last 3 games and 3 quarters, but much like he usually does, he came back firing. A 21 point first half is the perfect starting point of how he was getting things going on the offensive end for Miami. But the interesting thing about that was it was done in a multitude of ways. For starters, while the rest of the league is doing anything they can to draw a foul, Butler continues to do it effortlessly. He drives so hard that it’s hard for a player one-on-one not to make contact with him. But that wasn’t where his points were coming from, since that mid-range turn-around was falling early. When he can use that drop-step and let it fly in that inner wing, it’s usually a good night for him, which it was.

#3: KZ Okpala’s offensive restrictions expanded even further tonight.

We pretty much know the story of KZ Okpala on this team: an athletic, defensive build with many restrictions on the offensive end. But the early part of this game took that to another level. As I said before, Tucker getting himself in early foul trouble meant an early insertion for KZ Okpala. And well, the Pelicans’ seemed ready for this moment. The plan was to sag off of him in a total disrespectful way, and they took the bait. Okpala came in shooting that open jumper right away, and it led to Miami’s offense plummeting even further. I’m not saying it was all his fault, but when the Heat offense is relying on Okpala making his threes, that usually means they’re in a tough spot. But ultimately, Butler’s unconsciousness to a double team on the attack negated that a bit.

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#4: A different type of game from Tyler Herro, but an important one.

As I mentioned early, the start of this game for Tyler Herro was simply awful. It started out with him playing a spot-up role right out the gate, but then the consensus was that he just wasn’t in any type of offensive groove. Not only could he not get a shot to drop, but he couldn’t keep the ball in his possession, as he kept getting it ripped. But then he got it going. The reason I say this game for him was so important is that we need to see him face this type of self imposed adversity. When the struggles of you’re biggest skill and pure talent is shining through, what’s next? And well, he showed that keeping it up and not getting away from his game is the way to go. Even if he has to shoot an accidental half-court shot in the meantime.

#5: Udonis Haslem. That’s it. That’s my takeaway.

Let me start by saying this: Udonis Haslem is the best big not in the Miami Heat’s rotation. They went the Okpala route early which didn’t work out, then transitioned into a single minute of Omer Yurtseven. But as a second half switch-up was needed, Udonis Haslem was the way to go after the continued foul trouble. And not only is he a step-up in terms of knowing where to be on the floor while being a much more trusted plug and play guy, but he’s also just more effective. Sliding into certain slots on the roll, rising up for blocks at the rim, and awaiting the incoming attacker for the usual charge. When Miami’s down this many bigs, it shouldn’t take this long to know Haslem is the right move. And I think we see him more frequently moving forward when needed.

 

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How are Duncan Robinson’s Looks Shifting for the Better?

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Duncan Robinson has been a very hot topic surrounding the Miami Heat this season, and not in the way you’d probably expect. He’s struggled for most of the season until the final two games of the West Coast trip, and there’s no doubt Miami would probably have a positive road trip record if he played his game in LA.

Aside from that, there needs to be some perspective on the topic: Duncan Robinson is currently 5th in the NBA in 3 point makes this season. Obviously he’s not shooting a great percentage, but it has only been 14 games, and his trajectory on the season is rising as we speak.

As I said after his slump buster in Utah, he needed to string two games together to really be “back.” The reasoning is if he struggled in Oklahoma City, that confidence may drop even more since the thought process is the breakout against the Jazz was a fluke.

But clearly that wasn’t the case. He followed that one up with some big shots in the third against OKC without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, coming up big for Miami to close out the trip on a high note.

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Now, we know that slump was all mental and in his head, but there seems to be some pondering on whether it had anything to do with his looks shifting.

And well, they’re definitely shifting.

But for the better.

Let’s take a look through Duncan Robinson’s shot profile against OKC, since there are some intriguing points to make.

For starters, there’s something interesting about the usage of Robinson in general, from his first year in the league to now: he’s a first quarter and third quarter killer. Why is that? Well, much like the first drives of the half in football, it’s scripted.

When I asked Tyler Herro about Duncan Robinson the other night, he said, “We try to get him going as much as we can in those first and third quarters.” It’s the adjustment before the adjustment. Robinson turns opposing coaches into defensive mad scientists, so the continued goal is to get him going before the change is made.

Aside from that, looking at the clip above, we’re seeing a very promising connection between Robinson and PJ Tucker. Tucker has really taken control of getting Robinson good looks, much like Bam Adebayo has done in the past, but we see something different here.

An initial Robinson DHO for Tucker. That is seen more frequently. Not because Tucker’s going to cross up his defender and drive to the rim to make a play, but it resets the spot of Robinson.

Tucker immediately hits Kyle Lowry on the wing, as if they’re going to run a PnR, and Lowry instinctively hits Robinson in that corner while all 3 defenders are eyeing him. He fires and knocks it down.

Speaking of players catching eyes when the ball is in their hands, Tyler Herro is the perfect example of that. Just off the pure eye test, it feels like Herro is seeing more doubles than anyone on the roster, which isn’t something I personally expected heading into the season.

Herro has it in the corner, refuses the screen, and drives baseline. With Tucker and Robinson cleared out on the weak-side, one of the defenders come over for the help on the Herro drive. And that’s exactly what Miami wants.

When that is seen, that’s an immediate signal for a Herro pass, a Tucker hammer screen, and a Robinson triple.

That’s exactly what transpired, and that’s exactly why Robinson’s looks are changing for the better. Not only will many of his triples have one less hand in his face, but the spot-up frequency is rising rapidly, thanks to the addition of Lowry and the emergence of Herro.

Robinson’s catch and shoot attempts have gone up from 6.4 a game last season to 7.8 this season. Once again, we’re only 14 games in, but that’s a major jump, and more importantly, a promising jump.

The perfect formula for this team was that Adebayo can be freed up from Robinson little by little, while Robinson can still generate good looks without him. And all credit to PJ Tucker, they’ve figured that out. Now it’s just about actually hitting those shots.

Another action that we saw against OKC that I’d like to see a lot more is Robinson slipping screens, specifically with Kyle Lowry. That’s something I talked about a ton in the off-season, just because Lowry’s respected enough in that department for opposing defenses to think twice on flashing at Robinson.

Guys like Kendrick Nunn were good in their role previously, but the consensus was to force Nunn to make a play and at worst case scenario send two at Robinson. But with Lowry, miscommunications consequently occur.

As seen above, Dort gets caught eyeing Lowry after the slip, meaning Robinson has more than enough room to fire. No help is sent from the other side of him as well, mostly since he’s lined up next to a 45% catch and shoot guy named Tyler Herro.

Options and weapons help Robinson. It means that a team can’t outright scheme him out of the game, since if they do, Miami has plenty of other avenues to explore.

The last thing that should be noted is that the interior game is coming. Not on high volume. Not due to a needed reliance. But when that deep ball begins to fall, it was obvious the two point attempts would quickly follow.

Just because it took Robinson 14 games to shoot his first mid-range jumper, doesn’t mean he didn’t work on it in the Summer. He didn’t add that to his package to become this all-around scorer. He added it as a counter to when defenses send two to the ball.

Looking at the second clip above specifically, this is when you know things are changing.

Aleksej Pokusevski flies out at Robinson, he pauses and side-steps which totally loses him, and begins to drive to the rim. I’ve talked about this resulting in a pull-up mid-range, but Robinson looks to have picked up a shot that the entire Heat team is thriving with: a floater.

PJ Tucker has embraced it as a short roll guy. Tyler Herro has showcased a beautiful tear dropper when going down the lane. And now Duncan Robinson shoots probably the first one of his career.

(Coincidence, I think not)

This isn’t to say that Robinson still won’t have some off-nights moving forward due to him figuring out his new role, but the point is that when he does fully pick up on it, he will absolutely take off.

His new task with the surrounding cast is so much easier than the constant DHO swarming and high PnR ball-handling from last season. Now it’s just about the simplicity of the catch and shoot jumper, which aligns with Duncan Robinson as much as Jimmy Butler aligns with Big Face Coffee.

 

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Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over OKC

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The Miami Heat finished off the road trip in Oklahoma City without Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, and still pulled away with the win.

An ugly start, continued defensive steadiness, and Tyler Herro tough shot making was the outlining description of this game.

So, here are five takeaways from this one…

#1: Well, ugly basketball begins right out the gate.

43-43 was the halftime score between the Heat and Thunder. And well, that doesn’t even tell the full story of how awful this half of basketball really was. For starters, on the offensive end for Miami, the three-ball was surprisingly falling, thanks to Tyler Herro who I’ll address in a second. But with that said, the Heat were 4 of 21 on twos through that span, which is exactly why this game was so ugly. Forced drives across the roster jumped off the screen while missing the team’s two best interior threats, leading to Miami letting the three ball fly more often. The Heat holding the Thunder to 43 first half points wasn’t just plainly elite defense either. They had good looks throughout, but Miami’s 2-2-1 press/2-3 zone mix up altered their pace early.

#2: All eyes on Tyler Herro.

No Jimmy Butler. No Bam Adebayo. That usually translates to a high shot attempt night for sixth man of the year candidate Tyler Herro. And yet, that was exactly the case, but not in the way you may expect. The OKC defense was ready for that as well, and the surrounding pieces on the floor with him meant the focus can expand even more. For example, he played a decently long stint next to KZ Okpala and Gabe Vincent, which was basically an immediate indicator to duck off their man to collapse onto the driving Herro. That led to him drifting out to the three-point line and letting it go, ending with a 4 for 4 stat-line from deep at the half. We know how good Herro is, but seeing him continue to score when 10 eyes are on him at all times is really intriguing. Every shot is a difficult shot, and he’s never fazed.

 

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#3: Miami’s depth tonight showcases the questionable tags early in year.

Before the season, a primary observation of this group was the depth on this Heat team. There are unknowns when Victor Oladipo will return, Tyler Herro is the headliner, and some veterans fill it out. But when you’re without 3 rotational players, things shine through. Gabe Vincent has embraced his own defensive coverage called the 2-2-1 press, but the three-ball just hasn’t seemed to drop. KZ Okpala, in year three, still doesn’t seem to have the trust from the coaching staff. beginning with the continued offensive incapabilities. Omer Yurtseven, Caleb Martin, and others have taken advantage in their small spurts, but you get the point. The depth really isn’t a strong-suit. And when I say “depth,” I’m not talking about that nine man rotation, but instead the guys outside of it. Hence, the reason many await the return of Oladipo.

#4: Duncan Robinson looking like…Duncan Robinson.

As I’ve been discussing throughout Duncan Robinson’s struggles, we won’t see many mid-range jumpers or two point attempts until the three begins to fall. And well, we saw a Duncan floater tonight, so that explains the night he had. He can actually get down there in space when the close-outs are extra hard once they’re falling, and that was especially the case in the third quarter. Shooting it with confidence within different sets, and more importantly, from different spots. It’s not that he’s just hugging that three point line and looping it like a roller coaster track, but instead that he’s providing space between him and that line, forcing defenders to make a decision. And that decision becomes harder and harder when he’s shooting like…himself. Now, stat-sheet wise, that wasn’t completely the case, but in the game flow, his shots were big.

#5: Max Strus playing his role perfectly on a night it’s hardest to play your role.

When three guys in your nine man rotation are out, it usually means there is an incoming universal shift across the roster to step up. But in many ways, Tyler Herro did that for everybody. That allowed Max Strus to be Max Strus, and my takeaway is that he’s going to be huge with a healthy roster. When I talk about this team being both emotionally sturdy and positionally sound, Strus is a big reason for that. Not only through his placement on charges and steady shooting night in and night out, but also the trust the team has in him. He’s mentioned recently that getting back in shape will be a focus after recovering from that knee injury, but when playing a pure role, limited movement is requested. And when Butler, Adebayo, and Morris are all playing, the game will only grow simpler for him.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

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Goldie’s Week 10 Best Bets: Steelers, Bucs Roll

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Goldie:

All Time Record: 205-103          

Vs. Spread: 148-156-1

 

21-22 Season:  79-48               

Vs. Spread: 59-67-1

 

Week 9 Record : 7-6                 

Vs. Spread: 4-9

 

Guarantee All Time: 13-10       

21-22 Season: 4-5

 

Upset All Time: 12-10              

21-22 Season: 3-6

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 29-7              

21-22 Season: 13-6       

Week 9: 0-2

 

Goldie’s Guarantee

Los Angeles Rams (7-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (3-5)

Vegas Picks: LAR -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 34-21

The Rams were stunned on home field last week by a Derrick Henry-less Titans team. The Titans defense gave them all kinds of fits, as it was Stafford’s worst game as a Ram so far. On the other side, the Niners have been all kinds of bad this season, losing five out of their last six, the Niners have no continuity and no team identity. San Francisco is floundering and they don’t even own their first round pick. Things go from bad to worse for the Niners as the Rams should come into their home and steamroll them. Rams bounce back and coast to 8-2 in the Bay, while Niners continue to search for answers. I GuaRAMtee it!

 

Goldie’s UPSET of the Week

Cleveland Browns (5-4) @ New England Patriots (5-4)

Vegas Picks: NE -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Browns Win 24-23

Cleveland’s defense is finally healthy, and that’s the sole reason I’m picking them in this one. Yes, the Pats have kind of found their groove of late winning 3 out of their last 4, but they haven’t faced a defense as strong as Cleveland’s. Myles Garrett and that dangerous Cleveland front seven should make for a long and difficult day for Rookie Mac Jones. Also, Baker looked great last week in his first game post-OBJ. I’m a little concerned about the Browns without star Nick Chubb, but I still expect their defense to do enough to get them the UPSET in Foxboro. 

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: PIT -7.5

Detroit Lions (0-8) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)

Vegas Picks: PIT -7.5

Goldie’s Take: Steelers Win 27-20

After Jeffy’s first ever winless weekend, he looks to bounce back as he’s locking in his Pittsburgh -7.5 pick!  Oh the poor poor Lions. The more I look at the rest of their schedule the less faith I have in them to get a win. The bottom line is, this team just isn’t good at anything. There is no one positional unit where the Lions have a consistent advantage. When that’s the case it doesn’t matter how many kneecaps they plan to bite off, it doesn’t result in wins. Pitt gets their fifth straight win at home against the lowly Lions. LOCK IT IN!

 

Rest of Week 10:

 

New Orleans Saints (5-3) @ Tennessee Titans (7-2)

Vegas Picks: TEN -3

Goldie’s Take: Titans Win 24-17

Last week’s upset of the Rams proves that the Titans are capable of winning without Derrick Henry, and I only expect their offense to get better as they continue to adjust to life without Henry. However, the big story in that SNF game last week was actually the Titans defense. They held a high powered Rams offense to just 16 points (including a TD in garbage time). The Winston-less Saints are going to have a tough time moving the football on a stingy Tennessee D. Titans stay hot with another win. 

 

Buffalo Bills (5-3) @ New York Jets (2-6)

Vegas Picks: BUF -12.5

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 33-20

Week 9 was one of the wackiest weeks that the NFL has seen in a long time, and the Bills losing to the Jags was a perfect example of that. Before last week’s anomaly, Josh Allen was playing at an elite MVP-like level. I believe things come back down to earth in this divisional matchup. Bills get back to their winning ways and cruise past the Mike White led Jets.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) @ Indianapolis Colts (4-5) 

Vegas Picks: IND -10

Goldie’s Take: Colts Win 34-28

Say what you want about Carson Wentz and the Colts, but they have scored 30+ points in four straight contests. The Colts defense has stepped up big time with seven INTs in their past four games. Speaking of defenses stepping up… the Jags defense held the mighty Buffalo Bills to just six points last week. SIX! And the Bills had had the highest scoring offense in the league heading into last week. Who in the world saw that coming??? I don’t think the Jags defense can perform consistently like that, however expect T-Law and the Jags to keep this one close. Colts get the divisional win in a venue call!

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2) @ Washington Football Team (2-6)

Vegas Picks: TB -9.5

Goldie’s Take: Buccaneers Win 34-20

What happened to the so-called great defense Washington was supposed to have? After all of the offseason hype that they received, the No Names rank in the bottom five of the league in points allowed and passing yards allowed. Not to mention their offense has been a disaster this season. Now this week they’re challenged with facing a rested GOAT? (The Bucs had their bye last week.) Bucs cruise to victory in the nation’s capital. 

 

Atlanta Falcons (4-4) @ Dallas Cowboys (6-2)

Vegas Picks: DAL -8

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 28-23

Expecting the Cowboys to put that ugly terrible performance they had last week behind them. I mean what was that?? After six consecutive weeks of high level football, they find themselves down 30-0 to an average Denver Broncos team. It was fluke. On the other side, Atlanta enters this one after a nice road upset in New Orleans. I think Atlanta is better than most give them credit but I still don’t expect them to pull off two road upsets in a row. Dallas takes care of business at home, How ‘Bout Dem Cowboys!

 

Carolina Panthers (4-5) @ Arizona Cardinals (8-1)

Vegas Picks: ARI -10.5

Goldie’s Take: Cardinals Win 38-27

We will have to wait at least one more week to see the return of Cam Newton in a Panthers uniform, until then backup QB PJ Walker will get the start. Too bad it’s against arguably the best team in football this season. It doesn’t matter what the league has thrown at them, the Cardinals have just found ways to win. Bottom line, they win games. This week at home against a backup QB led Panthers, expect that trend to continue. Arizona sails past big Cats to improve to 9-1. 

 

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*****

 

Seattle Seahawks (3-5) @ Green Bay Packers (7-2)

Vegas Picks: GB -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 31-30

Both of these squads get back their superstar quarterback’s this week in what has been widely considered the game of the week. Upset of the week committee took a long gander at this one, but in the end couldn’t pull the trigger to bet against Aaron at home. That being said, Russell and the Seahawks do their best work when the pressure is at its highest, and sitting at 3-5 they can definitely start to feel the heat. An upset wouldn’t shock me, but safer play is to pick Pack to win a tight one in Lambeau. 

 

Minnesota Vikings (3-5) @ Los Angeles Chargers (5-3)

Vegas Picks: LAC -3

Goldie’s Take: Chargers Win 32-24

Once again Kirk Cousins failed to perform under the bright lights as he was a non-factor in their overtime period against the Ravens last week. On the other hand, the Chargers finally got back to their winning ways with a hard fought win against the Eagles. Justin Herbert should have a field day against this subpar Minnesota defense, plus give me LA with the venue call!

 

Philadelphia Eagles (3-6) @ Denver Broncos (5-4)

Vegas Picks: DEN -1.5

Goldie’s Take: Eagles Win 27-23

The Broncos destroyed the Cowboys last week which nobody saw coming. However, trading their franchise cornerstone Von Miller shows where this team’s direction is truly headed. The Eagles, on the other hand, have bought into Jalen Hurts and are giving him the whole season to get better. The situation for Hurts and the Eagles is perfect. They’re allowing their team to get better and develop together, knowing that they have a slew of draft picks to help improve this team in the offseason. Eagles UPSET the Broncos in the mile high. 

 

Kansas City Chiefs (5-4) @ Las Vegas Raiders (5-3)

Vegas Picks: KC -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Raiders Win 31-28

The AFC West has not gone as everyone has expected through nine weeks, with the Chargers/Raiders at the top and the Chiefs sitting tied for last. However, things have changed and the Chiefs aren’t as high and mighty as they have been in recent memory. They’ve struggled everywhere this season, and a Primetime road date with the Raiders should be no easy task. On the flipside, amidst all of the chaos surrounding the Raiders this year, they have still found ways to win games. Derek Carr has been great, and their defense has been in the top half of the league. Give me Derek Carr and the Raiders in a venue call, and in an UPSET. Al Davis said it best, “Just Win Baby”

 

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Jazz

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The Miami Heat had a very rough start to the road trip, but they got it back on track in probably the most unexpected matchup. They beat the Utah Jazz on Saturday night, and it wasn’t just one guy.

And well, to win without Jimmy Butler, you must have full contribution from the squad, which Miami did.

Anyway, here are five takeaways from this game tonight…

#1: Duncan Robinson. That’s my takeaway.

Seeing the ball go through the hoop for Duncan Robinson was not only important for Heat fans, but Robinson himself. Once one dropped early, it led to a flurry that quickly followed, which is exactly the type of stretch so many have been awaiting. As I’ve been saying all season, it wasn’t anything mechanical that has changed. And it wasn’t anything schematically that changed majorly either. It was just all in his head, and a two-game stretch where he shoots the ball well is all he needs. Some may say that one game will do the job, but him building on that confidence to do it two straight will be key for what’s to come. And well, it’s coming.

#2: PJ Tucker deserves some love.

We all know PJ Tucker is a good basketball player, and an important one at that for this team. But I truly don’t think he gets enough credit for all the small stuff he does on a nightly basis. Bail out wing threes with the shot clock expiring aside, the dude just does the dirty work. For his size, his rebounding is just so absolutely impressive, and it begins with his high level box-outs on guys who are much lengthier than him. Another element to this is his ability to step up into roles on this team that you wouldn’t expect. One of those was his offensive filler for Jimmy Butler, leaving him crossing half-court with the ball in his hands, and play-making from the mid-post position inside the wing. That’s not PJ Tucker, but it is when he’s called to do a task. And that’s why he deserves some love.

#3: The need for a back-up point guard is harped on, but it’s actually not the biggest hole.

Switching into some transactional/roster construction talk, there’s a common theme about this Heat team whenever guys go out. The need for a back-up point guard. Seeing Gabe Vincent continue to struggle offensively in that role upon being inserted may have put that on blast a bit more, but there’s a position that is needed so much more: front-court depth. Two guys get injured and what’s the plan for Miami? Just substitute Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, and Caleb Martin in for each other at the 4. We’re overlooking the element that Miami’s utilizing their guard depth to fill front-court holes, which is the bigger issue. It’s clear this team doesn’t trust Omer Yurtseven or KZ Okpala at this time, and Udonis Haslem is just unable to play for extended stretches. Hence, the bigger issue at hand in the big picture.

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#4: Bam Adebayo had a good game, but one skill shined through.

Bam Adebayo is one of those guys who just does everything well on the basketball court. He can score in a multitude of ways, lock up your best player, and rebound at a high level. The one thing I didn’t mention: his passing. In my opinion, this was by far his best passing game of the season. Not in terms of assists in the box score, but through pure vision. His head was on a swivel, he was finding back-door cutters, and really taking matters into his own hands in that department without Butler, and even Kyle Lowry for a stretch. We know how good of a passer/play-maker he really is, but sometimes it needs to be reminded how much of it is just pure talent for his size and position.

#5: Kyle Lowry the scorer returns. As Bam says, “I like that aggressive Kyle.”

Much like Bam Adebayo, many Heat observers “like that aggressive Kyle.” That’s even more important to see when Jimmy Butler is out, but as we took away from the loss against the Clippers, waiting until the fourth quarter for Lowry time just won’t do the job. And it doesn’t always have to be the three-ball that allows him to be that guy. Actually, it’s preferably just the opposite. When he’s getting to that elbow pull-up and taking opposing bigs in isolation seems to be when he’s at his best as a scorer. Even fluctuating from that transition passing threat to transition scoring threat. Bam Adebayo loves aggressive Kyle. Jimmy Butler loves aggressive Kyle. Everybody loves aggressive Kyle. Why is that? It almost always translates to a W in the win column.

 

Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.

Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882