Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at the opening night event for Super Bowl 54. (Craig Davis for Five Reasons Sports Network)

Goldie’s Week 4 NFL Picks: Lions Surprise, Chiefs Recover

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Goldie:

All Time Record: 155-71          

Vs. Spread: 114-109

 

21-22 Season:  29-16                

Vs. Spread: 25-20

 

Week 3 Record : 11-4                 

Vs. Spread: 10-5

 

Guarantee All Time: 10-7       

21-22 Season: 1-2

 

Upset All Time: 11-5              

21-22 Season: 2-1

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 21-2              

21-22 Season: 5-1       

Week 3: 2-0

 

Goldie’s Guarantee:

Cleveland Browns (2-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (1-2)

Vegas Picks: CLE -2

Goldie’s Take: Browns Win 34-21

Cleveland is the real deal on both sides of the football this season, but especially on the defensive side. Their fierce pass rush landed 9 sacks last week and held the Bears to a total of 47 yards of offense. Vikings’ shaky O-Line is going to have a long day trying to contain Myles Garrett and the rest of that unit. Brownies win and cover on the road. 

I GUARANTEE IT!

 

Upset of the Week:

Detroit Lions (0-3) @ Chicago Bears (1-2)

Vegas Picks: CHI -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Lions Win 26-24

Although 0-3, this Lions team has almost exceeded expectations in some ways. In all three of their games played so far, they have shown admirable fight against teams that are simply much more talented than they are. On the other hand, Chicago got their head handed to them last week by Cleveland, posting a total of 47 offensive yards. It’s clear that Justin Fields is not ready to start yet, and Andy Dalton doesn’t seem to be the answer either. The Bears don’t have a Quarterback. So yes, give me the Lions to UPSET Chicago in a rare road divisional win for Detroit. 

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the week: DAL -4.5

Carolina Panthers (3-0) @ Dallas Cowboys (2-1)

Vegas Picks: DAL -4.5

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys win 33-27

At 21-2 all time against the spread, Jeffy is just getting more and more confident in his pick skills. That’s why this week he’s cooking up a 3 LOCK play! The first being the Cowboys -4.5. Jeffy loves what he’s seen from the ‘Boys this season, and he’s not buying the Panthers hype. He’s betting on the Cowboys to win and cover at home. If I’ve learned anything in the past few years doing picks with my Crazy Uncle Jeff, it’s to NEVER fade the Crazy Uncle. How ‘Bout Them Cowboys!

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: KC -7

Kansas City Chiefs (1-2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (1-2)

Vegas Picks: KC -7

Goldie’s Take: Chiefs WIn 31-17

The second of Jeffy’s THREE LOCKS this week is the Chiefs at -7. The fact that the Eagles and Chiefs are two teams with the same record, is quite the anomaly. Even with these teams at 1-2, most sportsbooks are still betting on the Chiefs with the best odds to win this year’s Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Eagles are currently in the midst of a rebuild. Crazy Uncle Jeff and I fully expect Mahomes to shine as KC puts on a show in Philly. 

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: TB -7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) @ New England Patriots (1-2)

Vegas Picks: TB -7

Goldie’s Take: Bucs Win 33-20

Emotions will be at an all time high in Brady’s return to the stadium that he called home for 20 years. Surely Belichick will be doing everything he can to win this one, but he just doesn’t have the pieces.It’s a statement game for both Brady and Belichick; a battle that is destined to fuel the debate between who is really responsible in New England’s for the notorious past successful legacy. Originally I had a feeling Brady would be so overwhelmed with emotion that it might affect his game, but then I remembered who I was talking about. GOAT takes care of business on an emotional Sunday night in Foxboro. Speaking of GOATs, Uncle Jeff is picking the Bucs too in his THIRD LOCK of this week

 

Tennessee Titans (2-1) @ New York Jets (0-3)

Vegas Picks: TEN -7

Goldie’s Take: Titans Win 23-10

It’s already been a tough season for Jets fans, as their team has posted a total of 20 points through 3 games, and it only looks like it’s going to get tougher. Zach Wilson has not been able to get it going, but what do you expect when you throw a rookie QB onto an offense with limited weapons and an iffy O-Line? Also it’s not like they have the best defense in the world either. The Titans will take care of business in New York as the Jets continue to be knee-deep in this rebuild. 

 

Indianapolis Colts (0-3) @ Miami Dolphins (1-2)

Vegas Picks: MIA -2

Goldie’s Take: Dolphins Win 27-21

Both of these squads are desperate for a win after subpar starts to each of their seasons. Miami lost an overtime heartbreaker in Vegas last week, and the Colts just can’t seem to figure it out. Indy has had a laundry list of significant injuries, and it’s only week 3. Like most Dolphins wins, I expect this game to mostly be controlled by the defense. Also, Brissett looked much more comfortable last week after having a full week of first team reps. Another week of Brissett as QB1 in practice will give their offense some much needed continuity. Expect the Fins to get back on track with a win at home this Sunday. 

 

Washington Football Team (1-2) @ Atlanta Falcons (1-2)

Vegas Picks: WAS -1.5

Goldie’s Take: Falcons Win 24-21

Atlanta stole a road victory last week against the Giants 17-14. Rare for Atlanta to have such a low scoring win, but it seems their defense definitely improved a bit from last season to now. Also this is a favorable matchup for Atlanta, as the No Names don’t exactly have a high powered offense. Give me Matty Ice and the Dirty Birds to get another defensive win to get back to .500. Venue call!

 

Houston Texans (1-2) @ Buffalo Bills (2-1)

Vegas Picks: BUF -16.5

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 35-20

Vegas is not sugarcoating this one at all. Almost everyone expects Buffalo to stay hot and run right through the Texans. This should certainly be the case, however I’d advise staying away from betting this one. 16.5 points is just too unpredictable. Josh Allen and the Bills “circle the wagons” once again at home this Sunday to improve to 3-1. 

 

New York Giants (0-3) @ New Orleans Saints (2-1)

Vegas Picks: NO -7.5

Goldie’s Take: Saints Win 30-20

This one was a strong contender for the Guarantee committee, as the Saints play their first game back with a full Superdome in over a year. Not only do I think the Saints are the better team, I would’ve made this pick on atmosphere alone. Daniel Jones isn’t going to be able to hear his own thoughts in the building that the city of New Orleans considers to be its heart and soul. Saints win in the dome!

 

Seattle Seahawks (1-2) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-1)

Vegas Picks: SAN -3

Goldie’s Take: 49ers Win 28-23

The UPSET of the week committee took a long gander at this one after the Niners loss to the Packers last week. However, after extensive research we’ve concluded that the Seahawks pass defense is going to be the death of them again. Last week Kirk Cousins had a field day with this Seattle defense, largely due to the fact that the ‘Hawks pass rush was nonexistent. They only managed to sack Cousins one time. The Niners have a better O-Line than the Vikings do, so expect Jimmy G to have plenty of time to make decisions back there. Niners win a close divisional matchup at home. 

 

Arizona Cardinals (3-0) @ Los Angeles Rams (3-0)

Vegas Picks: LAR -4.5

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 35-31

You could legitimately argue that the Rams have both the best offense and the best defense in the NFL. They have playmakers on both sides of the ball, and a great coaching staff to complement them. The Rams are a machine. Kyler will keep the ‘Cards in it, but give me LA to get the divisional win at home and improve to 4-0!

 

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) @ Green Bay Packers (2-1)

Vegas Picks: GB -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 35-13

Guarantee committee took a hard look at this one as well before ultimately settling on the Browns. The Packers seem to be back after that strange week one beatdown they received, and the Steelers don’t have a quarterback. Big Ben’s arm is shot, and they’re still asking him to throw 50+ times a game. This is not a recipe for success. Unless the Steelers get a new quarterback, I don’t see them winning more than 5 games this season. Packers win in a rout!

 

Baltimore Ravens (2-1) @ Denver Broncos (3-0)

Vegas Picks: DEN -1

Goldie’s Take: Ravens Win 32-28

Although undefeated, the Denver Broncos are a bit of fools gold 3-0. Their opponents thus far have a combined record of 0-9 so we can’t really consider the Broncos to be “legit” quite yet. I expect the Broncos to finally be exposed this week. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are a major step up from the competition that the Broncos have faced in the past few weeks. Denver is a solid team with a lot of promise, but they’re not quite contenders yet. Baltimore stays hot with a road win in the Mile High. 

 

Las Vegas Raiders (3-0) @ Los Angeles Chargers (2-1)

Vegas Picks: LAC -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Chargers Win 30-27

Nothing like a good divisional matchup on MNF. Both of these teams have to be thrilled with the way their seasons have started. Raiders are 3-0 for the first time since 2002, and Chargers are coming off a huge upset of the Chiefs. This one is basically a pick ’em’ in my mind, so I’m going with the home team. Chargers in a venue call!

 

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Does the Heat’s Potential Fast Pace Play-Style Sound Better in Theory?

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Looking at this Heat team on paper, there are a few things that truly stand-out: the defensive presence of this group, toughness being the theme, Victor Oladipo being the wild-card, and the potential of playing at a much faster pace.

For that last part, the key word is “potential.”

After adding Kyle Lowry to the team, it felt like Miami could turn their offensive play-style completely around from a slow-paced half-court team to a high tempo transition team. In Friday’s scrimmage, Lowry already showed his eagerness to play in that fashion.

Some Dolphins scouts may have been swarming with the amount of full-court one handed flings Lowry threw down the floor, while one ended in Jimmy Butler Mossing Max Strus before throwing the lob up to Bam Adebayo.

The other guy who really started to match that fast pace play-style was third year guard Tyler Herro.

Many immediately remember his continuous urge to pull-up from three on the break, but he really mixed some things into that transition offense. Finding that middie of his early in the shot-clock, getting to the rim with a purpose, and feeding others when they had numbers.

My first takeaway on this topic: Lowry-Herro minutes are going to play very fast.

All other combos, I’m not so sure about.

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The team began to race up the floor more and more as the scrimmage progressed, but I found a consistent result when it happened: it always ended in a kick-out for three. Sometimes it went in, other times it didn’t. And many times, it led to an eventual reset, which is right back to that previous play-style of pulling the ball back out.

Much like I said that Herro was mixing it up on the break, the team needs to mix it up as well. Obviously it’s just one scrimmage game that I’m addressing, but this feels like something that can be a topic in the near future.

When I asked Bam Adebayo after the scrimmage about playing into transition more, he responded, “I feel like in the past we’ve kinda had slow transition breaks. We’re really starting to get it up the floor, try to get easy layups, easy fouls, get to the free throw line…then all of that can get threes.”

The way that Adebayo explained it in that final sentence is how it should be approached. Allow the easy buckets around the rim and constant whistle blowing to flow into easy transition kick-outs. When it’s the other way around, nothing will end up being generated on the break, and it’ll bring Miami right back into that pull-back transition offense.

And by the way, it’s not the worst thing in the world if the Heat decide to play at a slower pace. The point is that they need a consistent approach throughout the roster, and stick to it. But in my opinion, with the weapons on this team, playing in the open court at a faster speed can do wonders for this group.

Lowry at QB, Butler and Adebayo going deep at WR, Duncan Robinson/Herro stopping at the three for the RB check-down, and Tucker at tight end for the free-flowing blocks, also known as a simple screen.

On paper, that looks picture perfect, but not everything translates over from on-paper analysis. It may take Miami some time to adjust a bit to a different game-plan potentially, but seeing it immediately seems unrealistic.

We will see simple scores from it to begin the year, but the consistency of it remains in question. It’s not just about Lowry and Herro feeling the urge to run the floor. It must be full commitment.

 

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Miami Heat Practice Scrimmage Recap

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Addressing some of the overarching takeaways from the Heat’s scrimmage today:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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

Deshaun Watson

The Deshaun Watson Fiasco

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There’s been more talk about a potential Deshaun Watson trade from the Houston Texans to the Miami Dolphins over the past several days.

Or rather, the last couple of months.

Rumor Mill

Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer recently reported that the Texans are starting to lower their asking price for the franchise quarterback.

CBS Sports HQ reporter and USA Today NFL Insider Josina Anderson updates us on the current trade rumors

What We Know

There is a growing sense that star QB Deshaun Watson will soon be traded to Miami. To repeat, here’s what we know up to this point:

  • Watson and his camp want Miami, ever since this initially began.
  • There are members of the Dolphins “brass” who are interested in pulling the trigger.
  • The current asking price for is around three 1st round picks and three additional assets.
  • Watson is not suspended or on the commissioner’s exemption list. In the event of a trade, he could play immediately.

Miami’s interest in Watson is not new.

What is known is that rumors will continue to pick up on this front despite Watson’s league situation which includes:

What’s New

In finance, this is what you would call a high risk, high reward scenario. His legal situation remains unsettled. Stephen Ross, a successful businessman, understand this very well.

Per source, Chris Grier does not want to bring in Deshaun Watson. Instead, it’s all about owner Stephen Ross wanting to bring him to Miami Gardens.

However, the Dolphins are trying to get more info on a possible suspension before any trigger is pulled. Whether something gets done on this front remains to be seen.

From Donno Daily on our YouTube network:

  • Texans and Dolphins discussing three 1st’s, one 2nd, and two 3rd round picks.
  • Possibility of Tua Tagovailoa on the move to Washington for a 2nd round pick.
  • Murmurs of Monday being the day of the trade(s)

Ross could direct general manager Chris Grier to make it happen ahead of the trade deadline. Ross is the power player in Miami. If he wants this to get done, there’s a good chance that it will happen.

The Dilemma

In this scenario, Tua would be traded to the Washington Football Team. The New NFL IR rules allow it to happen.

“Players on injured reserve can be traded if they were sent there after the aforementioned September 1 deadline. The acquiring team can then designate the player to return, or immediately activate the player if his previous team has already done so.”

Amidst the injury to Tua Tagovailoa and the losses to Buffalo and Las Vegas, Miami has fallen into a rut. Unquestionably, there is a lot of uncertainty regarding Watson, the health of Tua, Brissett’s production and the offensive line play.

The Miami Dolphins have everything needed to make a playoff push which includes a talented defense. However, it has not been up to standards. The current offense does not pull its weight.

The thought is that Deshaun Watson, arguably a top 3 QB in the league could mask deficiencies and would help, but comes with massive risk.

In year two of an already ahead of schedule rebuild, there is a risk for Tua’s development as a QB. Of course, shipping him off to a new team and giving away assets to secure Watson (with protections) will be questioned if Tua succeeds somewhere else.

“It could take up to 1 year or 2 for full adjudication in the Watson case. Though anything can always happen at any time with potential settlements talks, at this point an NFL owner has to decide to approve a trade w/o full clarity with action, not words.” 

The trade deadline is November 2nd.

Ross wanting Watson and with Chris Grier hesitant, things will be interesting in the upcoming days. After all, these are the Miami Dolphins.

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What Individual Skill Do Miami’s Young Projects Need to Showcase in Camp?

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Training camp is an interesting time in the NBA. It’s a good time for star players to begin the ramp-up process before jumping back into action, gives coaches some time to prepare a game-plan for the season ahead, and it’s just a great time to further develop an NBA level feel.

For that last part, that tends to the young guys on the roster.

The players who are awaiting a chance to prove themselves and gather meaningful minutes for the regular season. And on a Heat team, there’s some extra motivation since many of the guys surrounding them on the floor started right where they are.

Starting from the bottom and clawing your way up is a part of the Miami Heat way: just ask Duncan Robinson, Max Strus, Gabe Vincent, and others what it’s like.

Due to this time being important for a lot of those guys, I feel it’s a good time to address the one skill that should be a focus in camp for the two-way guys who always seem to be in a perfect position the following season.

(But well, I’m throwing in an extra player who is a fan favorite because I feel like it)

Omer Yurtseven:

Fitting the Team Aspect

Omer Yurtseven has already earned some respect among this group just through Summer League alone. He pretty much bypassed the two-way route since Miami felt it was necessary to lock him up immediately on a regular contract.

The reason I bring him up specifically is that many players in his position usually focus on one thing. The two guys up next in this piece seem to be heading in that direction, but why is Yurtseven different for some reason?

Well, Las Vegas pretty much was the showcase stage. From an individual skill-set perspective, they know what they have in him as a player. Against NBA competition, on the other hand, that’s the current test to put him through.

If there’s one focus for him, it’s comfortability in a fast speed, competitive game atmosphere where he’s able to make instinctive decisions on both ends of the floor. In many ways, lining him up in scrimmages on the other side of Bam Adebayo would feel to make the most sense.

The long-term hope is to see them in the front-court together, but this is the development stage. Make him defend a bunch of PnR’s in drop while covering the speedy Adebayo one-on-one, continue that pop usage for above the break threes/elbow jumpers, and of course drill those paint touches in the post with good foot-work and even better touch.

To a certain degree, this may be approaching this topic too simply, but putting everything together in game speed, even if it’s in a practice gym with his teammates, will do wonders from both a short-term and long-term sense.

Marcus Garrett:

The Catch and Shoot Fling

When we hear the name Marcus Garrett in training camp, I think of the coaching staff testing his strengths by throwing him on Miami’s skillful guards all week. His best three abilities are defense, defense, and defense, so seeing it on the next level is obviously essential.

But I don’t know if this time will be used entirely to evaluate strengths. It’s mostly to pick-out weaknesses.

There’s a lot of unknown about his offensive abilities heading into his NBA career, since ultimately, that’s what landed him in the undrafted market in the first place. But after seeing him in action during his stint in Summer League, I see a clear offensive skill to drill. And it’s actually the same thing I’ve brought up with his young, defensive minded teammate KZ Okpala.

Spot-up shooting.

He’s not an exceptional ball-handler or downhill threat at the moment, but he has shown a fluid shooting motion up to this point to potentially be a capable outside shooter. And frankly, they don’t need much. Just make your defender think twice before leaving you open in the corner, and make him pay from that spot on the floor when he does.

When he’s thrown in at some point, it’s going to be for defensive purposes, but surviving on the offensive end will be crucial.

Okpala is currently heading into his third season, and turning completely to a spot-up mentality may finally be on the way. The point of this topic is don’t waste two seasons of Garrett’s early career with offensive uncertainty.

Caleb Martin:

On-Ball Creation Upside

There’s an interesting theme when going through Miami’s guards on the roster. Kyle Lowry will be a facilitator/off-ball threat, Tyler Herro will be the straight bucket getter/spot-up spacer, Duncan Robinson will simply be a catch and shoot threat, Gabe Vincent will be in a strictly point guard role, and Garrett, as mentioned, will be a defensive threat.

What is missing among that group? Oh, a straight isolation guy who thrives with self creation.

In many ways, that’s Caleb Martin. And it’s why this two-way pick-up makes a lot of sense in case they need to plug him into the rotation in a certain scenario. The other reason for the signing was older/more experienced players were the focus for that final spot.

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When I think of the things Martin should be progressing in this period, the first thing that comes to mind is extra ways to be effective in space. He’s shifty enough to get to the rim, has no problem shooting off a step-back/side-step, and doesn’t have a problem putting the ball on the floor excessively.

If Miami ends up looking his way in a specific situation, it’s for that one skill.

Of course they’re going to be rounding out his entire game throughout the season and continuing to learn about him as a player, but the bottom line is making sure he is always prepared for when his name is called.

So, what is my main takeaway from this topic?

It’s quite simple: sounds to me like throwing Marcus Garrett on Caleb Martin throughout the week is the way to go. In a lot of ways, that’s what each of their roles will look like this year.

A game of one-on-one.

 

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Visit them at EverythingTradeShows or call 954-791-8882

Five Numbers to Know for the Miami Heat season

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Fresh off of a first round sweep, things needed to change for the Miami Heat going into the 2021-2022 season. The additions of Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker, Markieff Morris, Ömer Yurtseven, Tyler Herro’s leg day routine and others will provide a welcome shake-up for a team that looked tired of playing with each other by the end of last season. 

 

While it is very intriguing to dive into the X’s and O’s of Miami Heat Basketball, no one does it better than 5 Reasons’ very own, Mr. Brady Hawk, so be sure to check out one of his many articles for more insight into what the 2021-2022 Heat season will look like on the court. 

 

As part of a new season-long series, I will be looking into 5 noteworthy numerical trends to see if the “eye test” matches up with the numbers, or if www.nba.com/stats is telling a different story with the Miami Heat. Since there hasn’t been a single minute of basketball played this season, we will be looking into the past to find trends that potentially could paint a picture of the future: 

 

  • The 20-21 Miami Heat ranked 1st in PPP (1.25), FG% (62%) and EFG% (65.8%) on PnR plays that ended with the Roll Man. 

 

The downside to this statistic is that PnR Roll Man plays only happened 5.5% of the time (21st in the NBA). In fact, the Heat have finished in the bottom 10 of PnR roll man frequency in each of the last two seasons. Contrary to the Heat, the Kyle Lowry led Toronto Raptors have finished in the top 10 of PnR roll man frequency each of the last 4 seasons. 

 

A huge part of Miami’s roll-man efficiency is Bam Adebayo, who ranks 4th (1.32PPP) on players with 2 or more roll-man possessions a game. In addition to Bam, the Heat have Duncan Robinson (1.59 PPP) and Jimmy Butler (1.50PPP) who rank 2nd and 4th in the entire NBA, albeit on minimal volume. With 3 of the 5 starters being extremely efficient with their rim rolling opportunities, and the new point guard being capable of driving a high volume rim rolling offense, it makes a lot of sense to diversify the offense by adding in screening and cutting to the basket on almost every possession. 

 

The Goal: Maintain top 10 efficiency in PnR Roll ManPPP while increasing frequency to 7%. 

 

  • 31.2% : The Heat’s 3 point percentage on Pull-Up 3’s in 20-21’. 

 

The Heat, without any traditional shot creators, predictably struggled on pull-up 3’s in 20-21’ but should be able to come back to the league average of about 34%. The key for the Heat is to leave the Pull-Up shooting to the players who can Pull-Up from distance and shoot, and do it well. This might mean one of our best players: Butler (17% on 42 attempts) will have to be more like Tucker (0 Attempts) when it comes to shooting off the bounce. 

 

Pull-up 3’s are an inefficient shot; however, if that type of shot is funneled through  Robinson (37.9% on 151 attempts) or Lowry (37.7% on 175 attempts) it can provide a valuable weapon for the Heat’s offense, especially in a playoff setting where the game slows down and clean “catch and shoot” looks are at a premium. 

 

The Goal: Shoot 34% from Pull-Up 3’s on about 20 attempts a game, as a team.

 

***Sidenote: Tyler Herro has shot 33% on 2.5 Pull-Up 3 Attempts per game over his first two NBA seasons. If Herro improves this to be slightly above league average then it unlocks a potentially deadly layer to the Heat’s offense 

 

  • 34.2% : The percentage of Field Goals made that Bam Adebayo was unassisted on in 20-21’. 

 

Adebayo has improved leaps and bounds every year he’s been in the league, and quite frankly he does everything at an All-NBA level, except get his own bucket. Through 4 years in the NBA, Adebayo’s scoring output has largely been contingent upon those around him, which is not a problem at all for most centers in the league, but Adebayo, who is unlike most centers, has the ability to transform the Heat into a legitimate championship contender if he masters the art of creating for himself. The addition of Lowry will make it easy for Adebayo to up his PPG total to about 20-22 points but that number will ring hollow if Bam can be an afterthought for a team game planning against Miami in the playoffs. 

 

There is evidence of the scoring potential: 41 points vs Brooklyn, 32 points vs Boston in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, a team-leading .91PPP on a team-leading 10.5% frequency in Isolation in 20-21’. 

 

Despite being built differently, Adebayo possesses a very similar offensive skill-set to that of an Anthony Davis, he likely won’t become a primary shot creator but he can play alongside the Heat’s facsimile of Lebron in Jimmy and become someone who dominates the Elbow/Mid-Post/Baseline area with Face-ups that give him options to go into his “bag” against a slower, smaller, or weaker defenders. 

 

The skill-set is evident, now it is time for the mind-set to catch up. 

 

The Goal: Bam gets up to 37.5% unassisted on field goals made. 

 

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*****

 

  • 26: The number of starting lineups the Heat used in 20-21’ 

 

Injuries are outside of the Heat’s control, but having continuity is going to be key for this group. Only 4 core players from the bubble run remain on this team (Butler, Adebayo, Robinson, and Herro). Having players in the same role night-in and night-out is going to be essential, especially for the less-experienced group of Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, and Ömer Yurtseven. 

 

Tinkering with the rotation early on is okay, but come the dog days of the season in January, February and March, the Heat must find something that works and stick to it, whether it’s the playoff lineup or not. Take the 19-20’ Heat for example, who rolled out a sub-optimal lineup of Nunn, Robinson, Butler, Adebayo, and Leonard but that continuity led the group to a 28-10 record when those 5 took the opening tip. 

 

There is no reason why a more talented grouping of Lowry, Robinson, Butler, Tucker, Adebayo, five players who coach Spoelstra trusts, should not be the go-to starting lineup as long as they are healthy.

 

The Goal: 16 or fewer different starting lineups in 21-22’. 

 

  • 52: The amount of games that Victor Oladipo has played in since injuring his quadricep tendon on January 23rd, 2019. 

 

While I stated earlier that the Heat’s championship upside lies in Bam Adebayo, that same statement can be applied to Victor Oladipo. Despite struggling with injury over the last few seasons, it sounds like Oladipo truly believes this time will be different. If healthy, the addition of a secondary ball handler, downhill threat, primary POA defender, and passing lane menace will take Miami’s lackluster bench and turn it into one of the stronger units in the league. 

 

The Heat lack what Oladipo brings, and Miami can finally give Oladipo what he needs to get back to playing basketball in the way he believes he can: time. 

 

The main problem is getting Oladipo 100% healthy by the trade deadline. If this problem is solved, one could argue that Oladipo is going to be the most impactful acquisition that any team makes at the deadline. 

 

The Goal: Victor Oladipo returns by the Trade Deadline (Early February) playing how he did last year or better.

Reminiscing about Classic Basketball Video Games as Miami Heat Season Nears

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When the basketball season gets underway or if a big game is taking place on the weekend, you can bet your bottom dollar that some basketball fans turn to basketball-themed games at some point. Whether it’s through playing with their favorite Miami Heat stars or simply because the temptation to silence an arrogant friend is there, basketball games are hugely entertaining. Over the years, we have seen some truly memorable releases, too. 

 

Many of the games which came before have helped shape the basketball gaming options of today. Of course, we have been on the receiving end of some shoddy releases over the years, but, on the whole, this particular sporting genre has served up numerous gems. As such, today’s offering is better than ever before. Fans are rushing to buy the latest releases like NBA 2K22, alongside attempting to win one of the five jackpots available in the Basketball Star on Fire slot game. It’s what has come before that we’re focussing on, though. Fans of the sport undoubtedly grew up with a basketball title they regularly played with friends or a sibling, forming a huge part of their basketball-supporting life. So many games are simply iconic.

 

Let’s take a look at some of them below. 

 

NBA Street

 

Released on PS2 and GameCube in 2001, NBA Street was a game many fans of today grew up with. An attempt by EA Sports to revamp 90s fan-favourite NBA Jam, NBA Street was a blast to play. Instead of serving up the traditional points-scoring method by slamming the ball in the net, the game focussed on three-on-three battles where players would aim to get the highest score possible with the best and most unimaginable tricks ever. You could do some pump-faking or slam-dunking is this classic title. 

 

NBA 2K13

 

As we’ve touched on already, fans might be flocking to snap up the latest 2K22 release, but it’s the titles that came before it that many gamers remember fondly. In the case of NBA 2K13 – which was actually produced by rapper Jay-Z – it offered some of the most entertaining All-Star Game events ever. Players would tackle the Slam Dunk Contest, the Three-Point Shootout, and the Rising Stars Challenge, as well as having the opportunity to design and then create their own sneakers to wear on court. Its online gameplay was a particular highlight, too. 

 

NBA Street Vol. 2

 

With its selection of classic hip hop tunes, four game modes, and 29 unlockable players, NBA Street Vol. 2 is a game that many basketball gamers will never forget. Released in 2003, the game was adored in particular for its Be A Legend Mode, which essentially tasked players with climbing up through the rankings and cementing themselves as a basketball legend. NBA Challenge mode was a great feature also. 

 

NBA 2K1

 

It might’ve been released on Halloween in 2000, but NBA 2K1 was far from horrifying. In fact, as basketball games go, it’s up there with the best ever. A Sega Dreamcast release, it was the first in the series to offer online gameplay. Street courts were a popular feature regularly accessed, too, as well as its impressive Franchise Mode, which enabled fans to manage a team. 

 

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NBA 2K2

 

The debate will rumble on for years to come over which NBA 2K title is best, but for those who aren’t backing the aforementioned NBA 2K1, the follow-up to it is even better. In NBA 2K2, familiar faces were added to the game. You could play with the likes of Jordan, Johnson and Bird, while also making use of a whole heap of modes.

The Key to Miami’s Offense: Giving Bam Adebayo “The Room to Just Go”

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Kyle Lowry being inserted into Miami’s updated offensive scheme elevates them immensely. The growth of Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson improves things greatly. Jimmy Butler’s continued downhill effectiveness will alter them in a positive direction.

But nothing changes things more than a full aggression commitment from Bam Adebayo when the ball is in his hands.

Following the Miami Heat’s media day on Monday morning, plenty of story-lines are flying, beginning with Adebayo’s comment stating “I want to be a shooter.”

The part that stuck out when this was said was his sense of urgency on the subject. It was the first thing brought up when addressing the things he worked on most, and he said it with supreme confidence. And well, that’s how he will need to let that ball fly as a shooter: with confidence.

Another interesting comment from Adebayo was when he mentioned “not getting bored” by scoring in the same way every time. As most players want when trying to progress their offensive game, Adebayo wants diversity in his role.

Last season, the void of a true initiator left him in an odd spot. Constantly finding himself stationed at the elbow, before passing out, squaring up for the jumper, or exploding to the rim.

Anybody would be bored with that layout, which is why we’re going to see a much freer Bam Adebayo this season. Potential three-point attempts, spread out mid-range game, and much more.

All that stuff is great to hear before the season starts, but the most interesting comment regarding Adebayo came from Jimmy Butler during his initial presser.

When asked about the things Kyle Lowry unlocks on this team, Butler said it “gives Bam the room to just go, and be who you are, and not worry about too much else.”

That right there is the key. As I’ve said many times before, Adebayo will receive plenty of Lowry enhancements through the lob pass, easy buckets on the dive following a blitz, etc. But that pure takeover mentality is what knocks this team up to the next tier.

“Just go” should be on the wall walking out of the Miami Heat’s locker room. Victor Oladipo may be a wild card, young progressions may do wonders, but Bam Adebayo being Bam Adebayo is the true X-factor.

How can this be done exactly?

Well, adding around 15 pounds heading into the season screams extra attacking opportunities for him. He has always had the speed to get past opposing 5’s on a face-up, but the ability to take it up strong instead of acrobatic and athletic finishes every time will be huge.

On a team that seems like they’ll live at the free throw line on paper, Adebayo will need to be in that mix as well. That extra muscle up top can really do wonders as a downhill threat, and I think we’ll see that translate immediately.

What is the theme of that topic as well? Just going.

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Adebayo’s off-season mostly consisted of a ton of polishing, but it’s time to understand that it’s okay if that polish is removed in the process. It can always be re-layered.

And that’s why you always hear that connected nickname: “No ceiling.”

 

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

Full Miami Heat Media Day Recap

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The Miami Heat kicked off media day early this morning with some familiar faces, while mixing in some unfamiliar faces. Erik Spoelstra, Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, and Kyle Lowry all discussed this team heading into the season.

Spoelstra was up first, and he gave the injury news up front. He said he doesn’t have a timeline on Victor Oladipo at the moment, adding, “He’s had a tremendous off-season…There’s sunshine ahead.”

I don’t think we’re going to be hearing anything about a specific timeline any time soon, so I wouldn’t get any hopes up for that. But there’s no rush for him this regular season. Just heal, prepare, and repeat.

Now, of course Spo jumped right into the overarching topic of this Heat team: Kyle Lowry. Initially mentions he always think of that half-court heave in game one that sent the game to overtime a few years back.

“He’s a great winner. He knows how to impact winning,” Spo says. “His mind of the game is as high as anybody in this league, and I’m looking forward to learning from him.”

When talking from an X’s and O’s standpoint, which I personally enjoy much more, he touched on something that has been discussed all off-season: “He also has a unique way of playing off the ball.”

That is very much the case, and it’s very much needed on a team with Butler and Adebayo who can truly control a game with the ball in their hands. And speaking of controlling a game with the ball in hand, that’s one of Spo’s favorite tendencies when evaluating Lowry.

“Getting easy baskets and generating a pace where guys will run and know they will get the ball…His pace is one of the things I dreaded most competing against him.”

Spo also touched on the other newcomers, in PJ Tucker and Markieff Morris, which noted our first culture comment of the day. When talking about Tucker, he said, “The way he competes and puts himself out there just screams Miami Heat culture. He’s fierce, he’s tough, he’s edgy.”

His opinion on Morris, on the other hand, was a lot of looking in the past, as he noted, to his days on the Washington Wizards.

“Versatility, positional size, 4 or 5. I really respect how he has played a lot of different roles in different programs in this league,” Spo adds.

This led to the finishing touches of Spo’s presser, talking about some of those familiar faces. “He has an incredible iron will and a work ethic that will continue to grow his game,” Spo said about Adebayo. “That’s why I’ve called him no ceiling.”

When Tyler Herro’s name was brought up, he mentioned that the most important thing for him was to “handle some adversity, handle when the narrative changes.”

He said that he had a great off-season and it was a springboard from last season. Even adding, “Everything his first year was roses and compliments.”

And well, last season seemed to be quite the opposite from the public. Spo replied that it’s funny since his second year was better statistically, but obviously the narrative shifted.

He ended this topic by saying Herro gained 10+ pounds over that span. “He changed his body.”

When Bam Adebayo began listing the things he worked on in the off-season, there was an interesting starting point. “Obviously shooting,” he said.

He then reiterated that statement down the line: “I wanna be a shooter.” And when asked if he will attempt more than one three a game, he laughed and gave a one word answer.

“Yeah.”

The reason for that being important isn’t because he worked on it for a couple months this off-season. It isn’t because he told the public that he’s willing to work it into his game. But instead, that he said it with confidence.

Since well, if that three-point shot is going to be effective this season, confidence needs to be aligned all the way through.

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He then began to talk about potentially chasing specific accolades like Defensive Player of the Year, which he said, “It’s deeper than accolades. Everybody in this league chases something…I love when people doubt me. I feel like a chip will make a monster.”

(Feel like I’ve heard that same statement from a close teammate of his.)

Anyway, he continued on that notion, “I  don’t think that chip will ever leave. It’s embedded in me.” Adebayo mentioned that he likes to try and find stuff to motivate him daily, even “UD’s rebounding record.”

Finally, it’s important to mention the Lowry addition will be huge for Adebayo’s success. Butler’s continued play-making willingness will drive his game further as well. But nothing seems to be as important as the duo of Adebayo and Duncan Robinson.

When I asked about that expansion, Adebayo replied, “Keep building that connection as a lethal threat. The more our games grow, that’s what makes it more lethal and it’ll make it unstoppable.”

One of my main takeaways from any Heat presser today occurred when Lowry was at the podium. Not his Heat-like demeanor. Not his unselfishness and willingness to make others better. Not even his comments about Butler when he wasn’t in the room.

Instead, it was the back and forth joking manner between Lowry and Butler in the middle of the presser, as if they’ve been teammates for 10 years. Some stuff just exceeds the X’s and O’s, and that’s exactly what this duo will do.

Between self promoting his brand while Lowry is talking or Lowry laughing at Butler’s braids, it just works.

My second big takeaway from today was something Butler said when talking about Lowry’s impact. “He takes a lot of pressure off myself, off Bam…He gives Bam the room to just go, and be who you are, and not worry about too much else.”

That last part matters. A lot.

Adebayo may not have a ceiling, but the peak he reaches will be how far this team goes. “Just going” will be huge for him this upcoming season.

My final overarching takeaway is about something that wasn’t said. Actually wasn’t said at all.

In a 30-40 minute Erik Spoelstra presser, Butler’s name didn’t come up. Neither by question or throughout an answer of this team, essentially the team’s best player wasn’t brought up.

That’s rare, but that just says a lot about this team. Does the public take Butler for granted? Is there so much consistency from him that there’s nothing new to know?

In these environments, his personality is the shining light, while his game is somewhere in the background awaiting opening night on October 21st against the Milwaukee Bucks. And that’s a scary thing.

 

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

Goldie’s Week 3 Picks: Betting on Josh Allen, Russell Wilson… and Jacoby Brissett

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Goldie:

All Time Record: 144-67          Vs. Spread: 104-104

21-22 Season:  18-12                Vs. Spread: 15-15

Week 2 Record : 9-6                 Vs. Spread: 6-9

Guarantee All Time: 10-6         21-22 Season: 1-1

Upset All Time: 10-5                 21-22 Season: 1-1

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff 

All Time: 19-2              21-22 Season: 3-1       Week 2: 2-0

 

Goldie’s Guarantee

Seattle Seahawks (1-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (0-2)

Vegas Picks: SEA -1.5

Goldie’s Take: Seahawks Win 31-20

Although the Vikings are desperate for a win and at home, I’m still not comfortable betting against Russell Wilson. Especially considering Seattle is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Tennessee. Russ and the ‘Hawks bounce back and get a win in Minnesota… I GUARANTEE IT!

 

Upset of the Week

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: GB +3

Green Bay Packers (1-1) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-0)

Vegas Picks: SF -3

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 30-24

For the third consecutive week Crazy Uncle is riding with the Packers. Rodgers has never been one to fold in primetime games, plus he’s still salty about the Niners passing on him in the draft years ago. Rodgers makes the Niners pay in an offensive showdown! UPSET!

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: BUF -7

Washington Football Team (1-1) @ Buffalo Bills (1-1)

Vegas Picks: BUF -7

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 24-13

Along with not having a team name, Washington also decides its best not to have a quarterback. Heinicke is going to have a very tough time against a defense that just last week held the Dolphins to a goose egg. Bills stay hot and “circle the wagons” at home this Sunday

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Arizona Cardinals (2-0) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)

Vegas Picks: ARI -7.5

Goldie’s Take: Cardinals Win 36-21

Sorry to say it, but it’s going to be another long season for Jags fans. Kyler and the Cards are going to have a field day on this poor Jags D. ‘Zona stays undefeated with a beatdown in Jacksonville. 

 

Baltimore Ravens (1-1) @ Detroit Lions (0-2)

Vegas Picks:

Goldie’s Take: Ravens Win 31-17

Although I do admire the fight of this feisty Lions team, there’s no way they beat the Ravens this week. Baltimore is riding high after a momentous win against KC last week. Expect that momentum to carry right on into this one for a ‘Birds win. 

 

Indianapolis Colts (0-2) @ Tennessee Titans (1-1)

Vegas Picks: TEN -5

Goldie’s Take: Titans Win 28-24

The Titans looked a lot more like the Titans last week, feeding King Henry 35 carries for 182 yards and a TD. This guy is a monster. Expect a similar game plan this weekend against a desperate Colts team. Titans win a close divisional matchup at home. 

 

New Orleans Saints (1-1) @ New England Patriots (1-1)

Vegas Picks: NE -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Patriots Win 23-20

Jamies and the Saints came way back down to earth last week after obliterating the Packers in week 1. Usually I would take the Saints in a game like this, but they’ve been living out of a hotel for a few weeks now due to the hurricane that struck their hometown. Plus the Pats are at home. Safe play is the pats in this one, although I do expect Saints to keep it close. Venue call.

 

Los Angeles Chargers (1-1) @ Kansas City Chiefs (1-1)

Vegas Picks: KC -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Chiefs Win 40-27

Can you name a more unlucky professional sports franchise other than the LA Chargers? Last week a bad call cost them a win against the ‘Boys, and now they have to go into Kansas City to play an angry Chiefs team. Good luck. Patty and the Chiefs put on a show and get a divisional win for the home fans. 

 

Atlanta Falcons (0-2) @ New York Giants (0-2)

Vegas Picks: NYG -2.5

Goldie’s Take: Falcons Win 28-26

Only 0-2 vs 0-2 battle going on this weekend, and once again I’m puzzled on who to pick for the Atlanta game. This one seems like a pick ’em for me, so I’m going with the more experienced QB. Give me Matty ice and the Birds to pull off a road UPSET this weekend. 

 

Chicago Bears (1-1) @ Cleveland Browns (1-1)

Vegas Picks: CLE -7

Goldie’s Take: Browns Win 31-20

Rookie QB making his first career start against one of the best defenses in the league, AND it’s on the road in the DAWG POUND? The kid is going to struggle. Once again I say the Browns are legit this season. Brownies cruise to a victory at home

 

Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)

Vegas Picks: PIT -3

Goldie’s Take: Bengals Win 24-23

Here I go again picking the Bengals to upset for the second consecutive week. I see promise in this Cincy team, the offense has proven they can really move the ball in spurts. They just need to put it all together. Plus Big Ben and TJ Watt both iffy to play… could be just enough to put the Bengals over the hump for a road UPSET!

 

Miami Dolphins (1-1) @ Las Vegas Raiders (2-0)

Vegas Picks: LV -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Dolphins Win 21-19

Miami bias may be kicking in a bit on this pick, but hear me out. Yes, Tua is out, but how much of a downgrade really is Brissett from Tua. Brissett has proven he can win games in this league, plus he’ll be far more prepared for this one after taking first team reps all week in practice. I think the Raiders get knocked off their high horse this weekend as the ‘Fins D looks to steal them one on the road. UPSET!

 

New York Jets (0-2) @ Denver Broncos (2-0)

Vegas Picks: DEN -10

Goldie’s Take: Broncos Win 26-13

Denver has been gift wrapped the easiest first 3 games of any NFL team this season. Both New York teams and rebuilding Jacksonville. Broncos will get the win at home and improve to 3-0, but I can’t regard them as “legitimate” until they beat a good team. 

 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) @ Los Angeles Rams (2-0)

Vegas Picks: TB -1.5

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 30-28

Heavyweight bout on SNF includes the only 2-0 vs 2-0 matchup this week. Both of these teams have come out the gates ROLLIN. This very well could be an early season preview of the NFC championship. I think Matt Stafford is anxious to perform on the big stage after all of those years wasting away in Detroit. Plus, the home field advantage should play a factor in this one. Rams win a close one on Sunday night. 

 

Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (1-1)

Vegas Picks: DAL -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Cowboys Win 38-27

Interesting stat in this one: ‘Boys have lost 7 consecutive primetime games, whereas the Eagles are 4-1 in their past 5 Monday nights. I expect this game to serve as a trend breaker as I predict the Cowboys offense to score early and score often in this one. Cowboys win in a Monday night shootout. HOW ‘BOUT DEM COWBOYS!