Goldie’s Week 6 NFL Picks: Bet on the ‘Boys (and more)

/0 Comments/in , /by

Goldie:

All Time Record: 175-81          

Vs. Spread: 124-128-1

 

21-22 Season:  49-26               

Vs. Spread: 35-39-1

 

Week 4 Record : 12-3                 

Vs. Spread: 5-9-1

 

Guarantee All Time: 12-7       

21-22 Season: 3-2

 

Upset All Time: 12-6              

21-22 Season: 3-2

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 25-3              

21-22 Season: 9-2       

Week 5: 2-0

 

Goldie’s Guarantee

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

Dallas Cowboys (4-1) @ New England Patriots (2-3)

Vegas Picks: DAL -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 33-24

Jeff and I are doubling up on the Cowboys this weekend! Not often Jeffy and I cook up this much of a lock, but we saw the minor point spread that Vegas is giving the ‘Boys and we had to jump on it. Dallas has won four straight and is starting to look like the real deal. Dak has been clicking with all of his weapons, and Dan Quinn has that defense looking legit. On the flipside, the Pats have been a mystery this season, and their inconsistency leaves you wondering which Pats team is going to show up. Don’t trust rookie Mac Jones to keep pace with Dak and the ‘Boys in a shootout. Cowboys will sail to victory in New England this Sunday, both Jeffy and I GUARANTEE IT!

Goldie’s UPSET of the Week

Los Angeles Chargers (4-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (4-1)

Vegas Picks: BAL -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Chargers Win 33-31

A lot of similarities between these two AFC powerhouses. Both 4-1, both coming off huge comeback wins at home, and both have superstar QBs under the age of 25. However, a few of Baltimore’s wins have been a little flukey. Without a 66 yard game winning field goal and a miraculous late game comeback against the Colts last week, the Ravens would be a 2-3 football team. Whereas the Chargers have been beating very good teams in very competitive games. This one’s a pick ‘em for sure, but a hunch tells me Herbert and the Chargers go in and steal this one on the road. UPSET!

 

*****

Loading
Loading...

*****

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: MIA -3

Miami Dolphins (1-4) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5) (LONDON)

Vegas Picks: MIA -3

Goldie’s Take: Dolphins Win 23-16

After a tough outing in Tampa last week, Jeffy and I agree it’s time for the ‘Fins to bounce back. Since their week one win in New England, Miami has completely fallen apart. Losers of four straight (3 by double digits), the Dolphins offense has been basically nonexistent. However, the offense should look much better this weekend, as they are getting starting QB Tua Tagovailoa back from broken ribs. A loss to the frail Jaguars would certainly put Brian Flores on the hot seat, as this is a make or break game for the Fins. Never fade the Crazy Uncle, FINS UP in London. 

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: GB -6

Green Bay Packers (4-1) @ Chicago Bears (3-2)

Vegas Picks: GB -6

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 31-20

Chicago looked pretty good last week in their win versus the Raiders, but take that win with a grain of salt as the Raiders were in the midst of all kinds of chaos. Meanwhile, Green Bay has arguably looked like the best team in the NFC during the past four weeks. Also, history is on the Pack’s side as Aaron Rodgers is 20-5 all-time against the Bears. So much going for Green Bay right now, plus I don’t trust rookie QBs in divisional games. Rodgers over Fields. Packers over Bears. Jeffy has spoken. 

 

Rest of Week 6:

 

Minnesota Vikings (2-3) @ Carolina Panthers (3-2)

Vegas Picks: MIN -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Vikings Win 32-28

After their 3-0 start, the Panthers have seemed to lose their mojo a bit. Being without star RB Christian McCaffrey for the third consecutive week certainly won’t help either. On the flipside, the Vikes are getting their star RB, Dalvin Cook, back from injury this week. Panthers D and home crowd should keep this one close, but can’t trust the Cats offense to move the ball consistently without CMC. Minny gets back to .500 with a road win this Sunday. 

 

Los Angeles Rams (4-1) @ New York Giants (1-4)

Vegas Picks: LAR -8

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 31-17

This one is a mismatch across the board. The Rams have a better offense and defense than the Giants. LA also has the edge in quarterback play, and the one advantage the Giants would have isn’t even available for this one after RB Saquon Barkley suffered a significant injury early in last week’s contest. Rams cruise to victory in the Big Apple. 

 

Houston Texans (1-4) @ Indianapolis Colts (1-4)

Vegas Picks: IND -10

Goldie’s Take: Colts Win 24-17

Colts look to bounce back after their late game collapse last Monday against Baltimore. The Texans, on the other hand, surprised many by taking the Pats to distance last week. Other than the beatdown they suffered at the hands of the Bills, Houston has hung in there against some real teams this year. No doubt the Colts should win this one, but I like the fight of Houston to keep this divisional matchup close. 

 

Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) @ Washington Football Team (2-3)

Vegas Picks: KC -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Chiefs Win 38-23

No, that’s not a typo. The Chiefs are 2-3 through five games, but they’re still the Chiefs. Even after a shaky start, they’re still given the third best odds to win the Super Bowl this season by most sportsbooks. I think this is the week they breakout of the slump and get back to their high-powered winning ways. Washington’s defense hasn’t been nearly as good as advertised this season, and I don’t see Taylor Heinicke keeping up with Mahomes in a shootout. Chiefs coast to a win in the nation’s capital. 

 

Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) @ Detroit Lions (0-5)

Vegas Picks: CIN -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Bengals Win 30-20

I have never been so fascinated by such a bad team, but for some reason the Lions have been wildly entertaining this season. Dan Campbell getting emotional after last week’s tough loss to Minnesota makes me want to run through a wall for that man. I wonder if his players feel the same way. The Lions are going to win one eventually, but I don’t think this is the week. All emotions aside, Cincy has been great this season, and I fully expect Joe Burrow and the Bengals to take care of business in Mo-town this Sunday. 

 

Arizona Cardinals (5-0) @ Cleveland Browns (3-2)

Vegas Picks: CLE -3

Goldie’s Take: Browns Win 31-30

Although they got the win, Zona’s offense was clearly hindered in their 17-10 win over the Niners. This was their first game where they didn’t score 30+, and they have another tough defense in front of them as they head into the Dawg Pound. However, that defense might not be as strong as usual as the Browns have a lengthy injury report heading into week 6. Cleveland had 17 players on the injury report Wednesday. Some of the names included defensive studs like Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett in addition to both star RBs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt also being listed as questionable. So this one could very well come down to who’s healthy. Picking the Browns to win this one, but bet on Cleveland with caution as some of their stars are iffy to play. 

 

Las Vegas Raiders (3-2) @ Denver Broncos (3-2)

Vegas Picks: DEN -4

Goldie’s Take: Raiders Win 28-22

Put all the chaos that has surrounded the Raiders recently aside for a minute, and realize that there is a football game to be played here. And when it comes to football, I think the Raiders have the advantage. Denver has still yet to beat a legitimate team, and I’m questioning their validity at 3-2. Banking on players and staff in Raiders locker room to act as professionals and focus on football. Taking Raiders to UPSET, but bet on this game with heavy caution as there are too many unknowns that go along with this one. 

 

Seattle Seahawks (2-3) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3)

Vegas Picks: PIT -5

Goldie’s Take: Steelers Win 26-20

Pittsburgh showed me something last week in their win over the Broncos. They showed me that Big Ben might have some left in the tank after all. Plus Steelers catching a break in this one as Russell Wilson is out with an injury. Don’t trust backup QB Geno Smith to go in and shine under the lights, and Steelers should show up for home fans in Primetime. Venue call!

 

Buffalo Bills (4-1) @ Tennessee Titans (3-2) 

Vegas Picks: BUF -5.5

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 38-28

Buffalo, in my opinion, is far and away the best team in the NFL right now. They’ve outscored their opponents by a combined 115 points in the past four weeks, and doing so against good teams too. This team is firing on all cylinders right now and show absolutely zero signs of slowing down. Picking Bills to win and cover every week until they give me a reason not to. 

Five Takeaways from the Heat’s Final Preseason Game

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Heat finished off a great preseason run with a win against the Boston Celtics. Miami was working with their entire squad for this one, generating some chemistry with their new and improved nine man rotation.

So, here are five takeaways from this game before completely heading into the regular season…

#1: A look into the new Heat rotation: the substitution process.

Last season, the substitution process for the Heat was a bit interesting. It was a lot of staggering Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, with the absolute need for one of them to be on the floor to survive. Adding Kyle Lowry has fixed that element, and that was seen for the first time tonight. After the starting stint to begin the game, Adebayo and Lowry went to the bench, as Butler stayed in with the bench guys. Those pairings clicked all together, starting with the continued connection between Butler and Dewayne Dedmon in those side pick and rolls. Lowry then came back in as Butler went to the sideline for more positive minutes with the bench unit. And in many ways, that stretch is the Tyler Herro enhancer, since it’s pretty clear Lowry elevates his game tremendously.

#2: Some Tyler Herro-Jimmy Butler flashbacks.

Jimmy Butler drives to the middle of the floor, does a 180, and finds Tyler Herro at the top of the key for a three in stride. Bucket. Am I describing late-game madness in Herro’s rookie season against the Chicago Bulls or tonight’s game against Boston? Actually the answer is both. That duo is playing together for their third straight season, but that type of connection hasn’t been seen since that initial year. Herro shooting with confidence over the top of defenders while Butler is creating with hard attacks into the teeth of the defense. If this combo is clicking, I think of this offense in a totally different way. With Herro playing at this incredible level when the ball is in his hands, it’s only making Butler’s life easier. And there will be a lot more smiles throughout the season than there were this last season.

#3: Bam Adebayo trying to find himself early on.

To be completely honest, this was far from Bam Adebayo’s best game early on. He struggled majorly on both ends of the floor from the very beginning: late rotations or cut-offs leading to easy lay-ins, over-dribbling in the post, etc. But when I said struggle, did you notice aggression wasn’t something I mentioned? He was taking shots, even though they weren’t great shots by any means. The point is that if the only issue in his “down” half is in terms of effort or things in the flow of the game, then it can easily be tweaked. He was second on the team in field goal attempts at the half behind Herro, showing flashes of getting the ball up at the rim. He did just that in the second half when Butler and Lowry were on the bench, and that’s exactly what is needed. Dominate the paint while Herro and company play the perimeter.

#4: More Duncan Robinson.

It feels like we may have come full circle in terms of the discussion surrounding Duncan Robinson. Last season we were clamoring to abandon the dribble hand-off in many ways, ultimately to allow the stars to just attack. Tonight, the stars were attacking, but even with some shot attempts and efficient shooting from Robinson, it felt like we may need more in the offensive flow. The starting group clearly needs more time to gel. The half-court offense wasn’t the greatest when those five shared the floor, but a main takeaway was a jumbled up interior. The counter to that is flying Robinson off back-screens and pin-downs for the intent of letting him fire, instead of as a constant decoy. Once again, this is only preseason, so we will see more of this stuff, but it definitely caught my eye in this one.

Loading
Loading...

#5: Kyle Lowry’s role is simple.

We all know Kyle Lowry is highly capable of putting the ball in the basket. Whether he needs to a ton is a completely different story. In this case with the Heat, I don’t believe his PPG will be super high. He will have big games when others are struggling on that end, but his goal is to force high attempts for Herro, Adebayo, Butler, etc. And well, he did that tonight. It wasn’t in the assist column, but he just causes controlled chaos on the break and half-court in a good way. As I said before, many have been predicting Lowry’s skill to propel Adebayo’s offensive game, but that is aligning with Herro just as well. That backcourt has looked incredible in their minutes so far, and we will see that combo plenty more. It’s just giving Erik Spoelstra more and more options, handing him the keys to that creative ability that he loves so much.

 

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

Five Young Player Evaluations from Heat’s JV Preseason Game

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Heat were handed their first loss of the preseason in Atlanta, while the entire rotation essentially was back in Miami.

The game wasn’t all that competition either, leaving us discussing individual guys. And better yet, in this environment, it’s important to address the young guys.

So, let’s discuss youthful rotation pieces, exhibit 10’s, and disappointing roster spots…

#1: Javonte Smart: High floor, high production, high value.

When watching the Heat play in Vegas during Summer League, plenty of guys were total stand-outs. Max Strus and Omer Yurtseven were focal points, Marcus Garrett and DeJon Jerreau caught eyes, and the rest were pretty much trying to find themselves as players at that level. Among that group, Javonte Smart looked like the rest of them, but a personal take during that period was that he has a “high floor,” and I believe we’re continuing to see that as the truth. His outside jump-shot has looked good, can attack the basket at a good rate, runs offense well, and pops up in random places on the defensive end. There’s no doubt he’s catching eyes on this Heat team, and he’ll have an even bigger role to showcase with the G-League. He’s a guy to keep your eye on for sure.

#2: Gabe Vincent: Looking at shooting numbers isn’t an “evaluation.”

Gabe Vincent had a rough time shooting the ball from the outside early in this game, and that’s been a struggle of his for some time now. Going from a pure outside shooter to a guy that does everything except shoot that three-ball consistently isn’t usually the case, but it was for him. And now that he’s in the back-up point guard role, many want to see that number increase, but that can’t be the full takeaway from a game like this. If that’s the first thing that jumped off the screen to you in this game from him, I disagree. I saw a player who has grown incredibly as a passer and facilitator in the flow of offensive sets, and that’s the part of his game to truly watch most. Why is that? Well, next to Tyler Herro and Max Strus, that three-ball won’t be as important. Feeding the rock to those shooters, though, will be the actual key.

#3: Micah Potter: A preseason surprise.

In many ways, a primary reason the play of Micah Potter in Summer League didn’t fully pop is due to him backing up a fan favorite, Omer Yurtseven. He showed an interesting skill-set: comfort with back to the basket, an interesting mid-range fade, and an outside three-ball. The preseason has allowed him to expand from a good skill-set to overall production. His rebounding has been better than originally expected, and more importantly, he fits the “role” player label perfectly. Constant screen and rolls, dribble hand-offs, pick and pops. Potter may not be one of those quick, young big men with a ton of physical versatility, but he gets it done in these other ways discussed. Much like Smart, he’s going to have a chance to really develop his game further in Sioux Falls, and that’ll begin with a natural feel on when to take certain shots upon reading a defense. Once that is fully obtained, then he really has something.

#4: KZ Okpala: Defensive talent continues to be only takeaway.

It’s never a great thing when a young player shows no real growth from his first season in the league to his third season. It’s an even worse thing when there was no true production being showcased in the first place. We were pretty much warned in the Summer League, when red flags were flying all over the place. Playing with a bunch of guys straight out of college with no experience at the NBA level, the guy heading into his third season should stand out. Okpala did not. In fact, he blended right in with the guys at the bottom of that roster. He’s a great defensive talent, but when that’s the only takeaway year after year in this league, it isn’t a good description anymore. Time is ticking, and no offensive game has been shown from Okpala. And decisions are going to have to be made.

#5: Max Strus: Simply, he’s going to be a run igniter.

Before tonight’s game, Coach Erik Spoelstra mentioned using the players available to him in similar roles for the season ahead to really prepare them for their minutes. Well, when things went downhill quickly for this Heat team, we saw a slight offensive shift in game-plan in the second half. Strus was no longer preparing for his in-season role, he began to be the guy like he was in Vegas. Playing with the ultimate green light, making three triples to finish the third quarter in a blink of an eye. That fiery run won’t be the last time we see that from Strus. When Miami gets back into their normal rotation to start the season, there’s going to be points when Strus is the guy that gets Miami going upon entering with the second unit. He went from a spark guy last year to a rotational piece this year, but it’s still going to be a flash from the past since that “spark” label isn’t going anywhere.

 

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

The Offensive Role of Markieff Morris Seeing an Immediate Shift

/0 Comments/in , /by

In many ways, the two front-court free agency additions for Miami this off-season can be the true offensive difference makers this year. Both PJ Tucker and Markieff Morris are better suited for the defensive side of the ball, which they’ve shown in the preseason, but releasing some offensive limitations can be huge.

Tucker has done a good job of that to start through offensive physicality on the box and great corner shooting, as we all expected. But in terms of the bench role for Morris, it always felt heading into the season it would all come down to that outside catch and shoot jumper that has been so up and down throughout his career.

But does it actually all come down to that three point shot?

I don’t believe so.

In simple terms, Morris being used inside the arc is the true key to offensive success for him. Screening, posting, and shooting the mid-range jumper.

Looking at the first clip above, this needs to be Morris all of the time in his minutes. Quick screen for Tyler Herro at the top of the key, leading to the defense holding full containment on the ball. Herro hits Morris on the roll, and he doesn’t overthink like he does with that three-point shot.

He just catches and fires. And that’s what they need from him.

Morris is going to be used as the release valve when playing in lineups with mostly bench players. He won’t be the first or second offensive option, but he can be that go-to in the middle of the floor when things begin to break down.

In the second clip above, let’s take a walk through of Morris on this possession: screen and roll down to the box, drifting away from the basket for spacing once Gabe Vincent drives, and finally passing up a good shot for a better shot right inside the free throw line.

That right there is the formula.

Many times in the past with a jumbled up interior, he would’ve sprinted up to that outside wing to provide room at the basket and a potential kick-out, but that needs to fade away little by little.

Now, that doesn’t mean the three-pointer won’t be a part of his game at all, since it’s pretty clear that he’s going to get those shots up, but shifting it away from his primary offensive go-to could be huge for offensive production.

I asked Coach Erik Spoelstra about his effectiveness in that role inside the arc instead of constant spot-up shooting, which he responded, “There’s a lot of upside with Markieff. This is just scratching the surface, he’s getting his legs, he’s getting in Miami Heat condition. He came into camp fit and in good condition, and then there’s our level.”

“He has a lot of different things that he can do,” Spo continued. “You can play him at the elbow. You can actually play him in a lot of similar areas of how you play Bam. Obviously, that really helps your versatility offensively.”

And well, there’s something that can really be taken away from that comment. Yes, Morris can play in many of the same areas as Bam Adebayo, but he should basically be given the Bam role from last season.

Constant elbow touches, a mid-range green light, and the DHO/screen guy for the guards on the perimeter. That role essentially boxed Adebayo in more than they would’ve like, but it was necessary with the supporting cast around him last season.

But that may be exactly what Morris needs. Simplify it down a bit with comfortable spots on the floor, while of course allowing the occasional spot-up three. That’s maximizing the “versatility” and talent on the roster.

Not only is scoring inside the arc an option, but there are plenty of other ways to occupy this space effectively. One way of doing that is something Morris has gone to frequently, which is passing while others develop space.

In no way am I saying to place Morris into a play-making role, since that’s not him, but these bench lineups have really called for that in the preseason. And stuff has actually been generated from it frequently.

His size has really translated to comfort in the post, or more specifically, the high post when talking about his passing ability. In the first clip above, he receives the ball on the baseline in high post position, slowly faces up and feeds Max Strus inside following a bunch of back-screens.

That’s where the versatility adjective comes into play. I believe Coach Spo is confident in placing him in some of those spots throughout the natural flow of the game, basically being a safety net when shots aren’t falling for Herro or when two of Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, and Adebayo are on the sideline.

The second clip above relates back to that middle of the floor scoring/facilitating role. There have been plenty of corner threes that have come out of his free throw spot-up sprays, and more should be coming if this role of his continues.

Morris receives the ball on the roll with a 2 on 1 in front of him while Dewayne Dedmon is sitting in the dunker spot. The pass was too hard as it clanked off the back-board, leading to a turnover, but it’s much more about the opportunities that are there for these guys.

That 2 on 1 combo will be there a ton for Morris and Dedmon, but I believe we begin to see much more Morris-Adebayo minutes in the regular season. Morris is better offensively when he’s playing next to a more athletic big like Adebayo, and it’s clear he will be mixed in with him anyway.

And let me say, that lob wouldn’t end in a turnover with a talent like Adebayo sitting on the block. In fact, they would probably overplay Adebayo and some easy lay-ins would be rewarded to Morris.

Loading
Loading...

Players with the size and skill-set of Morris are usually the ones Spo likes to put a creative spin on in terms of role. And this specific spin will be him moving in instead of moving out.

Many originally believed that Morris being used as a popper was absolutely necessary with some non-shooters in the rotation, but some preseason trends have pointed in the opposite direction.

Tucker will knock down his home-base corner three, Robinson and Strus will continually obtain that catch and shoot heave, and Herro and Lowry will be the on-ball creators who can pull-up when defenders go under the screen.

But after being middle of the pack in mid-range jumpers over the years, it seems like we’re finally going to see a change in Miami. Not just due to the strong inside shooting from Adebayo and Herro in the preseason, but due to that truly being the theme on both the court and on paper.

And Markieff Morris can be the one to truly propel that off the bench.

He can really be a make or break shooter from the outside, but at least when the emphasis is on the “break” on a specific night, there’s an alternative. A pretty great alternative at that.

 

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

Breaking down potential power play lines for the Florida Panthers

/0 Comments/in /by

During the 2020-2021 NHL season, the Florida Panther’s power play was average at best. By the end of the season the Cats finished right in the middle of the league as the 15th best power play with a 20.53% conversion rate. Come playoff time the power play percentage jumped up, seeing the team go 27.27% from the man advantage, getting six goals in 22 attempts during the first round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. As the 2021-2022 season approaches, the power play is going to look a little different from the end of the previous season. I’m going to talk about a few different options the Panther’s can run on the power play this season.

After Aaron Ekblad was sidelined for the season from injury, the Panther’s special teams looked lost on the 5-on-4. Keith Yandle had to reassume the role of power play quarterback and it didn’t go too well. Florida’s zone entries were extremely predictable; Yandle would carry the puck from behind the net, make a telegraphed drop pass from the far blueline and hope that the other team wouldn’t know what was happening for the hundredth time that season. When the Panthers were able to enter the zone, they often tried to force cross ice passes that often got intercepted. There were a handful of games that saw the Panthers concede short handed goals from their lackluster “man advantage”.

Five Top Picks

This season, the Panthers once again have Ekblad as their power play QB and Yandle has taken his services to Philadelphia. With that, the top power play unit will look different. No team in the NHL can field what Florida can on the PP; put five top-four draft picks on the ice at once. After acquiring Sam Reinhart in the off-season, Florida could put Aaron Ekblad (1st overall, 2014), Aleksander Barkov (2nd overall, 2013) Sam Reinhart (2nd overall, 2014), Jonathan Huberdeau (3rd overall, 2011) and Sam Bennett (4th overall, 2014) all on the power play at the same time. Florida had run this five man PP unit in practice during training camp, and according to George Richards of Florida Hockey Now, “it looks scary good”.

While running this rotation, Barkov would be your center, Huberdeau would be on  one of the wings and Ekblad would be the lone man on the blue line. One of Reinhart or Bennett would start the power play on the point and slide to the end boards once the Panthers retain control of the puck. This would have one guy at the point, two along the end boards on the wing, one guy in front of the net, who should be Bennett because of his size and one guy below the goal line who creeps towards the front of the net. I’d want to see Huberdeau down here because of his craftiness with the puck in tight spaces. 

Obviously on the man advantage there’s more space, which will have the players moving consistently, but this basic type of “umbrella” power play allows for shots to be fired from all angles of the ice and have one to two players crashing for rebounds in front of the crease.

The addition of Reinhart is going to be deadly for the Cats while running this set. After scoring 20 plus goals for five seasons in Buffalo, the 25-year-old will feast when he has Huberdeau, Ekblad and Barkov feeding him pucks in the slot. If you watched Reinhart throughout his 

career, you could see how good of a shot he has. On the other side you’ll have the captain Barkov, who is always dangerous with the puck. Since Barkov can shoot and pass without hesitation, he’s going to draw the attention of the other team’s penalty killers, which could leave a Panther open. At the top they’ll have Ekblad walking the blue line trying to find open players and shooting lanes. Before his injury last season, he had 11 power play points in 35 games. 

 

*****

Loading
Loading...

*****

Second Unit

Despite having so much fire power on the first unit, they can’t stay on the ice for the full duration of the powerplay. Luckily Florida is so deep at the forward position they’ll be able to put out a second power play unit that wouldn’t miss a beat. Carter Verhaeghe is going to be a mainstay on the powerplay this year for Florida after scoring 36 points in 43 games last season. Alongside him I would put Owen Tippett and Frank Vatrano on the ice. Tippett has become more confident in his game since making the jump into Florida’s top-six last season, playing on a line with Huberdeau and Bennett. Like Reinhart from unit one, Tippett can snipe the puck, which is why he will be on the wing for this PP. Vatrano’s speed and ability to score in clutch situations will pair nicely with Verhaeghe, so he will be on the opposite wing from Tippett.

Up front there’s two options I would consider looking at right now. The first one is Patric Hornqvist. When Hornqvist joined the team last season, he brought something that the powerplay didn’t previously have. A feisty net front presence. Nothing gets under a goalie’s skin more than someone who is sitting at the top of their crease and screening them while they try to track the puck. Hornqvist does exactly that and it fires up the rest of the team to keep pushing for opportunities in front of goal. Another option here would be Anthony Duclair. With his foot speed and skill with the puck, zone entries on the rush would be extremely efficient with Duclair on the power play. While he doesn’t bring that net front presence like Hornqvist, he will have more skill with the puck in the lower areas of the zone, which could help open up the other players.

For the defenseman on this unit, there are quite a few options. Florida has given Brandon Montour a few looks on the power play last season and in practice this year. He is good at jumping in the rush and controlling the puck in the offensive zone. MacKenzie Weegar could also be in consideration at some point during the season on the power play. Weegar has continued to elevate his game on both sides of the puck, and is becoming more of an offensive threat at this point in his career after scoring 36 points last season. Put him at the top of this power play unit and I see him filling out a similar role to Ekblad on PP1, quarterback of the powerplay. He looks more and more like a top defenseman and his confidence is through the roof, this could be a good move for Florida. Another player I wouldn’t count out here is Gustav Forsling. If Florida is running one defenseman on this power play unit I don’t think Forsling would get the nod over Weegar or Montour, but if they wanted to run two defenseman, his speed kills and it would make offensive zone entries and defensive transitions a lot easier for the Panthers. 

The quality of players Florida has on their roster truly makes their special teams combinations endless. I had mentioned 13 players as potential guys to look for on the power play this year and I kept the likes of Anton Lundell and Joe Thornton off the list, both of whom could potentially find some PP time during the season. Florida is going to have two very skilled power play units to cycle through this year.

The Expansion of Bam Adebayo is Upon Us Once Again

/1 Comment/in , /by

“Picking my spots where I can actually really excel at, and not getting bored with scoring off that every play.”

That was what Bam Adebayo stated on media day, recapping his off-season focuses heading into a brand new season. Many may have skipped over that specific comment of his during that presser, but it was probably the most important quote of them all.

Why is that? Well, it pretty much looked like he was getting “bored” from those same spots all of last season. What spot was that exactly? Elbow touch, elbow touch, and even more elbow touches.

It wasn’t that it was a bad game-plan, since it was highly necessary for him to be slotted there last season with the roster constructed around him. He had to be in range for the constant screening actions for Miami’s non-shot creating guards, the insert pass into a DHO on the wing was right there, and it was the first step of his evolving jumper.

He would receive that ball at the free throw line, essentially with two ways to score: drive hard to the basket with limited space or let that mid-range jumper fly. And as much as people loved to highlight his aggression last year, his jump-shot attempts sky-rocketed.

But here we are yet again, looking at a guy in the preseason who is ready to explode once more. Part of it is natural evolution of a young player, but there’s an extra element to why this expansion is occurring now.

And his name is Kyle Lowry.

Like I said before, Adebayo’s role last season was simple and closed in because it was important for offensive flow. Adding Lowry to the equation pretty much means Adebayo can throw away most of his trends from last year.

That begins with his spotting in the half-court. It’s no more elbow spectating while someone is probing on the perimeter. It’s no more strong side spamming for him. Now, it’s Bam Adebayo being Bam Adebayo.

Looking at the clips above, there’s a common theme in his offensive set-up. He’s now starting right inside the wing, which may not seem like a huge shift, but it actually is.

The first two clips are a bit different, but can be equally effective. The first is a jumbled up strong-side corner but Adebayo still manages to get to his spot for the floater, then grab his own offensive rebound for the eventual and-1. The second clip is an empty corner, leading to a back-down for a turn-around bank shot in the mid-range.

What is the difference between those plays and his elbow set-up last season? Well, the space he has to operate is so much broader right now.

I asked Adebayo about that shift in his game where that ball is being inserted, which he said, “It’s just realizing I have space. I feel like that was the biggest thing for me last year, I didn’t realize how much space I really had. So, I’m definitely looking to keep being aggressive, finding those gaps, trying to get fouled, get easy buckets, and help my team.”

And that realization in how much space he has can be a true difference maker. He has the attributes to both drive when defenders close-out and pull when defenders sink, but maximizing his spots on the floor is the crucial part. Or better yet, diversifying his spots on the floor.

Once that skill is fully attained, which it seems like he’s getting very close, then yet another leap will be happening right in front of our eyes.

The guys on this Heat team have been urging Adebayo to go into that takeover mode for a while from a verbal standpoint. But Kyle Lowry, on the other hand, is currently forcing Adebayo into that from a physical stand-point.

What I mean by that is he’s going to feed him whenever he sees an advantage, and immediately clear out. Looking at the clip above, they force a mismatch, Lowry gets it to him and spreads out as much as possible. Lowry isn’t enabling him to give it right back to his above the break safety net.

It’s go time, and that’s the only option.

Taking advantage of mismatches on the block was a major point of emphasis by many last season when discussing Adebayo. He may not have been super comfortable with his back to the basket, but when you have a guard on the block, that extra size must be utilized.

I asked Adebayo about that skill from Lowry to somehow always find him when he has a size advantage, which he said, “He’s like the director for traffic.” Adebayo paused for a second to ask how many assists Lowry had in the game, which the response was five. He says “mother-f*****” under his breath then jokingly says, “Yeah, five. Kyle’s taking all of my assists but I’m okay with it right now. I’m not really mad about it as long as we keep winning.”

“He’s controlling the tempo for us, he’s controlling the pace, and we’re just getting out and running,” Adebayo continued.

The full-court set-ups on the break from Lowry are great. The lob passes in the pick and roll are fantastic. But the ability to put him in different spots on the floor that he hasn’t been able to operate from up to this point is the true treasure of the acquisition.

Lastly, many have their opinions on the dribble hand-off. It has been a major staple of the Heat’s offense, and became an unstoppable combo between Adebayo and outside sniper Duncan Robinson.

The issue is that it became pretty stale last season, which felt like a major theme of last year’s dragged out season. Adebayo would get the ball at that elbow and drift out with his eyes roaming sideline to sideline. Offense was trying to be generated, but Adebayo’s self-creation was being held back.

Now, of course, that’ll still be a base to what Miami runs this season, but it’ll be in different ways. Like a main one: not Adebayo as the one handing it off, but instead, Adebayo receiving the hand-off.

Take a look at the play above, which wasn’t the only time this was seen in this game.

No switch is forced, no true advantage is created through that action, but this actually transcends any of that. It got Adebayo plowing to the rim in space. He wasn’t being trapped from double teams and triple teams. It’s just him, his defender, and the rim.

I asked Lowry about playing with a center who is able to create for himself in that fashion when receiving the hand-off from a guard, which he responded, “It’s great. It makes the game a lot easier and he’ll just continue to get better. He’ll find the ways to make plays for everyone else off that hand-off and off the dribble, and that’s gonna be huge for our offense long term.”

Loading
Loading...

The starting point to Lowry landing in Miami was his close friend Jimmy Butler, but the guy who will continually keep him engaged and invested is Bam Adebayo.

Adebayo is still growing, still expanding, and still proving people wrong with that continued chip on his shoulder. We’ve seen him make that leap in the past, but that definitely wasn’t his last.

Butler propelled Adebayo’s game when he first arrived, and now it’s Lowry’s turn. And it’s going to be in a much bigger fashion.

Adebayo isn’t just trying to be one of the top guys on a contending team in the East. He’s on his way to becoming “the” guy with the picture perfect supporting cast around him.

 

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

Season Primer for the Miami Heat

/0 Comments/in , /by

Check out this season preview for the Miami Heat. From major players and talking points to the first game that you simply cannot miss, this is the ultimate primer for the Miami Heat’s upcoming season. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know. 

 

Kyle Lowry 

Kyle Lowry is set to make a big difference for the Miami Heat this year, but will he be healthy enough to lead them to another championship? Lowry has been around for quite some time now, having played in many seasons already. However, while injuries have held him back in the past, Lowry seems ready and fit to take on a whole season with the Heat. 

Having played for many seasons on teams that severely under-performed, Lowry is ready to be a leader on a team of winners this season. And it seems like he’s got what it takes. Lowry has always been known as one of the best passers in the NBA, but now he’ll be sharing the ball with a couple of other superstars as well, which will make the Heat a much more exciting team to watch. 

 

Working on frontcourt chemistry

The Heat seems to have a strong frontcourt now, but getting them to work together as a cohesive unit will be key. 

The Heat’s current roster seems stacked with talent and it might be hard for some of the players to find enough minutes. As such, it’ll be interesting to see how the coach deals with the problem.

While it’s clear that this team can play well, Miami will need to work on their form before they take on any big teams. The Heat might have a tough first few weeks of the games coming up, but once they get their aggression back they’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

 

One game you must watch 

The first game of the season is the Heat vs. the Bucks on October 22nd. This will be their first test and it’ll be a good chance for the Heat to prove their talent.

This is one to get the gambling fans going whether you’re into UFC betting, basketball, baseball, or even golf. It’s a stone-cold classic that’s guaranteed to have everyone tuned in. 

 

Tyler Herro 

Tyler Herro is a young player, but he’s already making big waves in the NBA. He has been impressive so far and while his stats might not be outstanding just yet, it seems that players around the league know just how talented he really is. 

One of the reasons why people think Tyler might become such a great player is the fact that he was able to play alongside some of the best players on his college team. Herro played on teams with experienced players like Grayson Allen, Cam Johnson and Luke Maye, who may have inspired younger players like Tyler to perform at their best right from the start. 

The Heat are returning to their winning ways, which means you can expect them to play some exciting basketball this season. 

5 Takeaways from Heat’s Home Preseason Match Against Charlotte

/1 Comment/in , /by

The Miami Heat basically rolled out the entire season rotation on Monday night, except for a main factor: Jimmy Butler. Continued reps for the very important duo of Kyle Lowry and Bam Adebayo, a rough shooting night for Tyler Herro following his three game master class, and some lineup fun from Erik Spoelstra.

Anyway, here are five takeaways from this game…

#1: Caleb Martin gets the start…and I think we see this often.

With Jimmy Butler out, Caleb Martin slotted into the starting lineup against his former team, seeing a familiar match-up in Cody Martin. Looking at the history of Erik Spoelstra, two-way guys are essentially starting lineup replacers. Why is that? Well, he’s never been interested in messing up the chemistry of the rotation, leading to him pulling a guy up from the bottom of the roster. Just ask Gabe Vincent and Max Strus. Martin has looked like he can handle that responsibility as well, not just through his shot creating actions on the offensive side of the ball, but his gritty defensive presence instead. Just looking at this game for example, Martin was immediately inserted into the Jimmy Butler role, crossing the half-court line with the ball in his hands. I believe we see more of that.

#2: The size Bam Adebayo has put on is a difference maker on many possessions.

Bam Adebayo has shown major differences in the way he’s going about things in the preseason. Operating from the mid-range wing instead of the elbow, giving him more room to operate with the ball in his hands, ultimately opening up his driving game. The other big difference maker with Adebayo is his noticeable added size. How does that change things? It’s not something you’re going to see on a stat-sheet, or something that’ll jump off the TV screen, but he’s finishing possessions in ways I don’t think he would’ve last season. Grabbing rebounds in traffic, hooking defenders in the post (which I don’t think is legal,) and taking it to the rim stronger for more free throw attempts. There’s no doubt it’ll shift many parts of his game in a positive direction.

#3: The minute distribution of Tyler Herro was preparation for the regular season.

When you see Martin inserted into the starting lineup, it was an indictment on the recent play of Tyler Herro. That should go without saying since Herro has led the league in scoring through three games, but as much as it’s preseason for players, it’s coaching reps as well. Developing some type of rhythm in the rotation is necessary, and that’s what was seen for the role of Herro. Entering at the six minute mark of the first quarter, and exiting at about the two minute mark of the second quarter. The point is that Herro is going to get plenty of playing time, and it’ll be with a bunch of different combos. Today was unique since he won’t be in many lineups with 4 other bench guys, but being the lead man is important as well. And truly, Butler will plug many weaknesses that may be seen.

Loading
Loading...

#4: Once again, Markieff Morris needs to be a mid-range spot-up guy instead of the three-point spot-up guy.

Markieff Morris is an interesting piece for this Heat team. He has played his defensive role perfectly with the extra size on the interior, but the offensive stuff is still in question. Outside shooting hasn’t been his closest friend so far, but does it have to be? I mean, it would be very helpful for the team’s offensive success, but combining high volume and low efficiency isn’t a great mixture. Moving to different spots on the floor, like the middle of the court, has shown to be a much more comfortable spot for him. It places him into a simple role: corner kick-out, lob pass to the big in the dunker spot, or a mid-range jumper. Making that his home-base on the offensive end will do wonders, but I guess it is just the preseason.

#5: Kyle Lowry at the forefront of all of Miami’s most effective offensive sets.

This may be a pretty obvious statement to just throw out there, but it’s pretty much transferred over perfectly in every way you look at Miami’s offense tonight. Kyle Lowry may be that fast-break presence who can truly push the pace to get the ball up the floor, but his half-court control is what this team has missed. Running plenty of that two-man game with Bam Adebayo is a great starting point. And it’s not just about that coveted lob pass that Adebayo will see a ton this season, but instead Lowry’s ability to hunt his teammates’ mismatches. That’s an incredible skill to have, especially considering Adebayo has been a guy who has needed that extra push. And yet, it’s only the preseason. Back-to-back wing triples from Lowry may stand out from tonight, but it’s everything else that really matters.

 

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

Caleb Martin: “It’ll Allow Me to Be Me a Little More Here”

/0 Comments/in , /by

There’s no doubt that Caleb Martin is the picture perfect prospect to use your last two-way spot on. Experience, high-level scoring ability, and the definition of a plug and play guy for Erik Spoelstra.

I talked with Martin for a bit following Sunday’s practice, where he shared some thoughts on his upcoming role with the team.

After asking him if he thinks he’ll be put into a pure shot creation role with isolation possessions and off the dribble reps, he responded, “It’s gonna depend on the night and the situation. It also depends on what group I’m in. Sometimes I’m in with that first five, it’ll probably be more through actions, through the system, through kick-outs with Jimmy, Kyle, and Bam.”

He followed that up with his role aside the reserves, saying, “Maybe with the second group it’ll be more isolations, sometimes come off the pick and roll. So it just depends on the situation and timing.”

While we pretty much knew what he was going to be on the offensive end as a shot creator, it almost feels like his defensive activity has jumped off the screen even more.

I asked him if being around so many strong suited defenders enhances that skill of his, which he said, “100%. I always take pride on the defensive end. I take it personal. I want to get stops every time. But also, like you said, it’s one of those things whenever you have a whole collective group of veterans doing the same thing, and they’re all honed in on the defensive end. It only helps your standards, and you just want to meet those standards with that group of guys.”

I also asked Coach Spoelstra if Martin’s defensive abilities have almost surprised him, which he responded, “No.”

“He’s been a highly active, energetic, disruptive player. And that’s going back to college. In his opportunities with Charlotte, we really respected and liked how he played, how he approached competition, how he competes on the defensive end. He has positional size and quickness, and also the commitment to that side of the floor. You can build the rest of it after that.”

Speaking of that role when he played with the Hornets, it was clearly an interesting one to be given. In a way, it was a bit restrained in terms of role and minute distribution, but Martin stuck with it.

When asking him what the biggest difference will be from his usage in Charlotte to now in Miami, Martin said, “It really depends on the night. Sometimes I felt like I knew when I was gonna get in or when I wasn’t gonna get in with Charlotte, just based off the team and how the season and record was going.”

“But you just never know here,” he continued, “if it seems like they’re going to implement you, then it’ll allow me to be me a little more here.”

Loading
Loading...

Whenever a new guy joins a team, especially when they’re a bit younger, it always feels like they have a specific guy on the team they go to if they have any questions. When asking Martin who that guy is, he pretty much said it’s everybody.

“Everybody’s kinda given a hand with that.” He mentioned that it basically depends on what he needs to know. “I’ll ask Duncan questions about how to come off screens or how to get open on screens, or I’ll ask PJ and them defensive questions, or I’ll ask Markieff how to guard post-ups, and the same thing with Jimmy and Kyle…I pick everybody’s brain.”

And well, that just seems to be the Miami Heat way.

Finally, I finished it off by asking the hard hitting questions outside of basketball: “who are your top 3 artists?”

While he thought about it for a second, he mentioned that he listens to so many that he doesn’t pick favorites. But immediately said, “I mean obviously J Cole, that’s my dog.”

As I said before, when he has a question, he goes to the best player around him that obtains that specific skill. So, it makes a lot of sense that J Cole is the guy that comes to mind first when thinking about the music industry.

Martin just feels like the perfect tool for Spoelstra to utilize throughout the season, and it should be coming right out the gate. As Martin mentioned, he gets in some reps with the starting group already.

And who has Coach Spo continually liked to throw in the starting lineup when an injury occurs? A two-way guy.

It just lines up perfectly.

 

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

Tyler Herro: The Art of the Mid-Range

/0 Comments/in , /by

“For my first two years, a lot of people said that’s an inefficient shot,” said Tyler Herro on Friday night following a mid-range jumper master class.

“After watching the Finals, you saw Booker and Chris Paul, you saw how they worked the mid-range and got to their spots, but they were really efficient in those areas. That was an emphasis we had all Summer, working on that and being able to be efficient, not just take those shots, but make them.”

Herro has always been a bit different from the rest. When there was no doubt he would be attending the University of Wisconsin after graduating high school, he ended up shifting to play at Kentucky for a better opportunity.

When people doubted him on the floor, he continued to play his role and be a huge piece of a team that made the NBA Finals in his rookie year.

And now, when many love to look at the stats for shots around the rim and three-point bombs, he’s finding that middle ground.

As Herro said after the game, that Phoenix Suns team with Booker and Paul may have changed some people’s opinion following their play-style in the post-season. Against drop coverage, it’s a killer attribute to have that pull-up at the elbow that Herro utilized his first and second year in the league.

But to truly be effective from that area, you must have that creative blend that Phoenix duo had last season. And well, Herro’s already showcasing flashes of that development.

So, what is exactly the difference? Here are some examples…

Spacing Understanding

When watching the flurry of mid-range shots from Herro against San Antonio, it’s clear what his approach is: finding dead spots, finding dead spots, and finding even more dead spots.

Like I mentioned earlier, when running the normal pick and roll against drop, there are spaces on the floor that are being handed to you. But many defenses can live with the “inefficient” long two on a consistent basis through 48 minutes. Well, at least when they’re clanking off the rim.

Herro is at his best when those spots on the floor are being given to him, mostly due to that mental block disappearing. What I mean by that is it almost feels like a wide open jumper in an open gym when he slides inside the arc. His defender is most likely way behind, while he has the dropping big essentially in his palm.

Snake dribbles, calm positioning, and a simple rise-up with nobody in sight. That is the formula.

The interesting wrinkle to this is that we’ve seen some positive flashes when the defense is switching as well. In the first clip above, he flows to his left following the switch and uses his momentum to get a shot off with his typical right to left step-back: bucket.

This is a new Herro. Combining downhill pull-up savviness against drop with comfortable maneuvers against switches is picture perfect for his game. And it’s pretty clear that two on-court focuses this off-season were mid-range efficiency and added layers in those areas.

The Go-To Without a Screen

A common topic with Herro’s offensive game has been the amount of separation he can create. We’ve seen his way of manipulating screens from possession to possession, but with the clock ticking down late in the shot clock, can he create a bucket for himself in isolation consistently?

That will always be about the added combos that he can use before rising up for a shot, but it seems like Herro is almost finding middle ground in a sense.

Take a look at the first two clips above. It’s not that he’s creating a bunch of separation on these plays, but he’s getting good shots off in a different way: rising up over defenders while they’re still planted on the ground.

His new way of doing it is keeping defenders on their toes a bit more, waiting for his next move. Not knowing when that pull-up is coming goes a long way, especially when your release point is as high as Herro’s on those type of shots.

And now, take a look at the last clip. Herro is looking so much more comfortable when he gets the favorable switch against opposing bigs. At first glance, that possession didn’t look much different than past years. Three simple cross-overs before bursting back right for that fall-away jumper.

But well, take a look at that clip again.

Yes, the dribble combos are simple, but there’s a common denominator between all three of these plays without a screen: his hesitations. He’s using these hesitation dribbles to get to the spots he wants on the floor, and that can be a major difference maker.

Of course it’s only the preseason, but this can also be looked at like defenders won’t be able to help as freely if Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, Bam Adebayo, and company are all on the floor with him.

Probing Dribbles and Fade-away Jumpers

After discussing Herro’s ability to find dead-spots, use hesitation dribbles, and fade-away from defenders with confidence, this is pretty much a combination of all of that.

We’ve talked about the deep twos and elbow pull-ups, but finding ways to be an “attacker” without actually being at the rim every play is huge. One way he has gone about that is with the floater. It allows him to break down the defense a bit deeper, while also minimizing the odds of the shot being blocked.

And most importantly, it’s something he’s comfortable with. Tyler Herro just has to be Tyler Herro. If he’s most comfortable with the one handed push shot, then shoot one handed push shots.

But something else has entered the equation.

Herro’s actually finding ways to collapse the defense, then pop out a bit to get that fade-away shot off that I’m discussing. In the first clip, he denies the screen to attack the basket, quickly leading to the big man sliding up and the corner defender sliding over.

The usual option here would be a corner kick-out, but the defense can usually recover pretty quickly on those type of reads. This new Herro wrinkle is to loop back through for a shot that quite frankly can’t be blocked without committing a foul.

Loading
Loading...

The second clip is similar, but also different. It’s another possession of him using his momentum to get to his spot, before spinning back around for that close push-shot.

His touch has always been very good around the rim for those scoop layups that he loves, but it’s not something he can go to too much since defenses will begin to react quicker. This stuff, once again, dissolves that predictable element.

“Tyler is the one guy that has been extremely impressive. He’s been playing his butt off. He’s the one guy who truly impressed me,” said Kyle Lowry following Thursday’s game against Houston.

He’s quickly earning the respect from everyone around him, since he’s walking that thin line of hard work in the off-season and immediate production from that development. But as Herro said recently, “I haven’t done anything yet.”

 

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