What Part of Jimmy Butler’s Game Will Kyle Lowry Take the Most Pressure Off?

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Kyle Lowry has been a hot topic among Heat conversations this off-season for obvious reasons. He was the first name on the free agency big board, and his all-around game has led to the belief that he will elevate every player on the floor by doing many different things.

The first thing many have looked to is the impact he will have on Bam Adebayo. I have talked about this extensively, just due to the fact it will essentially be the first true point guard he has played with in Miami.

It’ll be a slight flashback for him, taking him back a few years when he was a rim runner following the draft process. But clearly his talent exceeded those expectations. Other than being a lob threat, we will see a ton of Lowry’s off ball spacing making an impact on the hopeful offensive takeover for Adebayo, plus many more beneficial offensive sets.

The point is that always seems to be the starting point.

Next on that list has to be Jimmy Butler, since well, that’s basically what got Lowry to Miami in the first place. The off-court connection of Lowry and Butler seems like it’ll translate well to the on-court duo. But as many things as Lowry will change for Butler, what will he benefit from the most?

A case can be made that it’s that secondary attacker finally lining up next to him. Of course there were capable drivers on the floor with him previously, but none who can put as much pressure on the rim as Butler does, while doing it in isolation possessions instead of constant screen work.

While that may be huge for Butler and company, I don’t see that being the ”number one” element.

Another point that I’ve constantly made is the idea of another play-maker at the top of the roster, releasing the passing pressure that is put on Butler and Adebayo at all times. Both of them will obviously still be play-making a ton on the team next season, but they can do it much more freely instead of the forceful way in the past.

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All of the offensive stuff is great, which I’ve spent a ton of time going over in the off-season, but the number one shift in Butler’s game will occur on the defensive end. And yes, it’s a positive shift.

Why was Trevor Ariza added at the trade deadline last season? Part of it was that they needed a starting four after the Moe Harkless experiment didn’t work out, but the main reason was that they needed some defensive pressure taken off both Adebayo and Butler.

Adebayo constantly found himself in an uneven spot on the perimeter while guards were being taken advantage of on the block. Butler, on the other hand, had too much of a regular season burden guarding the opposing teams’ best guard. That was the Ariza task upon arrival, and he played that role pretty well.

This new Heat roster won’t have many defensive issues, and that’s because Jimmy Butler will be in his comfort zone, and in my opinion, his number one strength on the basketball court: weak-side defending.

Let me just say he will get plenty of on-ball reps against talented wing players like Jayson Tatum, Khris Middleton, etc. But with Lowry guarding each team’s most talented back-court member and Adebayo ready for the switch, there won’t be as many lapses. Lowry’s ability to fight through screens will be on display, and less rotational frenzies will occur.

Butler may have to be less of an offensive decision maker with Lowry on the roster, but now he will have to be more of a defensive decision maker. Choosing when to avoid the corner shooter for lane cut-offs, instinctive doubles at the elbow, or pure off-ball denial to eliminate that weak-side shooter.

That is when Butler is at his best, and that’ll be his role for a majority of the season. Yes, less hard fouls will be taken with Lowry in the offense. Yes, he can play off the catch a bit more with Lowry setting others up. But allowing Butler to slide into weak-side dominance is the true key.

Adebayo will be right up there at the top this season for DPOY once again, but don’t be surprised if Butler’s name is high on that list as well. And it’s all due to that one awaited piece who has the ability to propel others around him in a major way: Kyle Lowry.

 

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Will Fuller

Will Fuller could provide a jolt to the Dolphins offense

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The Miami Dolphins have gotten off to a very positive start to the season, having beaten the revamped New England Patriots in Week 1 and ruining Mac Jones’ rookie debut.

 

The Dolphins eked out a win by the slimmest margin, beating the Pats 17-16, with Xavien Howard forcing a turnover to preserve a precious lead.

 

“Every game I feel like I have to make something happen for the team and give the ball to the offense. My mindset was get the ball out,” Howard said after the game. “We needed it and it was crucial. So I made it happen.”

 

Howard led the NFL in forced turnovers last season and wasted no time enhancing his reputation as a threat in the defense. 

 

The Dolphins will play their first game at home against the Buffalo Bills next Sunday and are not favored to win. The NFL lines have them at 7/5 for a victory while the opposition, one of the Super Bowl favorites, have been attached to odds of 5/8.

 

Meanwhile, the Dolphins will be hoping to get maximum output from Will Fuller when he returns. The wide receiver has seen his career stunted by injuries, with various issues causing him to miss spans and also bringing an end to his campaigns prematurely.

 

The player is reported to have an undisclosed injury which could fashion another slow start to 2021. Fuller served out the last match of his six-game suspension for the use of performance-enhancing drugs when his team beat New England and he is eligible to play in the remaining 16 games of the season. However, coach Brian Flores is cautious over playing the WR who has caught 209 passes for 3,110 yards along with 24 touchdowns since he came into the league as a first-round pick five years ago.

 

Flores has noted that the player has been out from most practices since training camp began in July. He also worked out on his own during OTAs in the spring and it could possibly lead to chemistry issues between himself and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has struggled with his own form at times.

 

“We’ll work him in and see how best to utilize him in the offense and see how things go during practice this week,” the coach said on Monday. “We have a lot of guys in that room.” 

 

Flores seemed to suggest that Fuller wouldn’t simply usurp Jaylen Waddle, DeVante Parker and Albert Wilson in the offense.

 

The aforementioned receivers were played quite heavily against the Patriots and they have all spent time working on their chemistry with Tagovaiola over the summer. Miami passed for a total of 202 yards in the first game of the season.

 

“We have an idea of where we want to play him. But at practice we got to get timing,” Flores added. “It’s not putting people on a page as far as drawing something up. Getting timing with the quarterback, getting timing with the run game. You have to practice.”

 

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Fuller did practice for two weeks before he had to take time away from the team due to the suspension he earned for taking a banned supplement while he was on the Houston Texans roster last year.

 

The Dolphins signed him to a one-year deal worth $10.5 million, plus incentives that should add on another $3 million. He joined the team as its biggest summer acquisition and Flores will hope he can give them the same playmaking and athleticism he gave the Texans whenever he was healthy.

 

Parker has gone through similar struggles with fitness and missed most of training camp, as well as pre-season, because of a shoulder injury. He has gotten off to a great start this term, however, making four catches for 81 yards against the Pats. Waddle, the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, also caught four passes, resulting in 61 yards.

 

None of the team’s other receivers had a reception during the game, though.

 

As for Fuller, it remains to be seen whether he will be allowed any action in the Dolphins’ home opener against the Bills and it will also be interesting to see if he has an immediate impact should he play in the team’s second game of the season. 

 

The Dolphins would have to make room on the 53-man squad by either waiving a player and possibly signing him to the practice squad, putting an injured player on the injured reserve, or keep Adam Shaheen remain on the COVID-19 reserve list for an additional week. They announced having cut fullback Carl Tucker from the practice squad on Monday.

 

Shaheen, though, was dealing with a knee injury that would have kept him out for a few weeks anyway. Using his roster spot does seem like the option that makes the most sense.

Breaking Down the Heat’s Second Two-Way Caleb Martin

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The Miami Heat’s second two-way slot has been a hot topic recently as the off-season continues to wind down, and according to Shams of the Athletic, the Heat are signing Caleb Martin to that spot.

For starters, I wouldn’t say it’s a huge surprise that Miami looked outside of their Summer League bubble, but I will say I wasn’t expecting this name to pop up as an option. When I’ve been addressing this spot, I have been pretty consistent that Miami has a specific player type in mind: a pure scorer.

That is why among the Exhibit 10 contracts given to some on Miami’s Summer League roster, DJ Stewart made the most sense. After adding Marcus Garrett on the first two-way, a bucket getter who can produce right now was going to be the focus.

And well, that description fits Caleb Martin.

Usually when I breakdown the games of certain players that Miami signs, there are a bunch of avenues to navigate through. But with this specific player and spot, the role and play-style is simple.

So, let’s hop right into what this utilization would look like…

An Outside Shooting Role?

As I said before, Caleb Martin is a pure scorer. But more importantly, he’s an experienced scorer. He will be turning 26 years old in exactly two weeks, meaning the full college experience and two years in the league is exactly the type of guy Miami was looking for to use right away.

Now, as we immediately look at his offensive structure, it’s always important to start with outside shooting. There’s something interesting when you look at the clips above.

Do you notice anything weird? Well, I do. It’s a bunch of possessions where he *made* that outside shot.

I wouldn’t say he’s the most efficient outside shooter, after shooting 25% from three this past season, but they really don’t need him to be. In that two-way spot, he will be a spark scorer. A guy they can throw in the mix early in the season before Victor Oladipo returns. The Gabe Vincent role of last season with much more experience under his belt.

Even thought those shooting inconsistencies are clear, he did shoot 54% from three on a similar number of attempts his rookie season. He’s not known for really being a catch and shoot player, but he did shoot 63% on spot-up threes his rookie year on 1.7 attempts.

The point is that it’s in there somewhere. It’s not always about the outside shot, but when discussing a pure scorer, that ability must be in there.

The worst combination with those type of scorers is inconsistencies and turnover problems, but Martin has always been pretty comfortable and confident as a ball controller. You can trust him in certain sets due to his viable passing ability, while mostly he will be outside the action for a potential curl into a drive/pull-up.

And well, that’s what I will dive into next, as the overarching point to his offensive skill.

Isolation, Isolation, and More Isolation

When I’ve brought up the point about Miami adding a scoring wing, I didn’t mean a Max Strus type who can just shoot the ball at a high level. On this team, that spot had to be filled by a guy who can create for himself when the team needs that “spark.”

And after watching Martin quite a bit in college and seeing his usage in Charlotte, I see a ton of potential in his self creation when the team needs it. In the big picture, Martin-Herro minutes might be tough just due to them probably getting in each other’s way at times on the floor, but he can be a Herro filler if injuries were to occur.

As seen in the first two clips above, Martin’s a guy that can come off a screen or curl and get to the basket with ease. He’s a pretty solid finisher when he gets a head of steam. Bouncy, good touch, and isn’t afraid to take it into the defenders chest.

And while the stuff in offensive actions/including a screen may look pretty, the isolation aspect is what makes me comfortable with the acquisition.

Looking at the final two clips above, I see a guy with a decently quick first step and can blow past positive defenders without a screen. Those type of things speak volume.

A corner cross-over, blow-by, bump, and finish over two defenders isn’t something to overlook. His all-around package isn’t incredibly broad by any means, but his scoring package can be used in a variety of ways.

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In many ways, they added the anti-Marcus Garrett. As I’ve stated many times in the past, while Garrett’s offense may be in question, his defensive capabilities are so impressive that he can be used in a multitude of ways. Baseline to baseline pressing, battling through screens with ease, off-ball excellence with doubling.

That’s how I feel about Martin on the offensive end as a two-way. Forget past usage or being cut by the Charlotte Hornets, he has a ton of offensive potential to be used right now when they need him.

As I’ve continued to say: high floor, high floor, high floor. And that’s my final takeaway of Martin’s game. He can do the things that Coach Spoelstra asks of him, and he’s not a long term project. If they need a system player who can put some points on the board in a time of need, he’s their guy.

Obviously we aren’t evaluating all-stars when talking about final two-way spots, but in this case, they got incredible value for what they’re trying to do. Now heading into training camp in two weeks, they can figure out his game at a deeper level for when the time comes for him to enter.

And my guess is that time isn’t very far away.

 

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

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Could the PJ Tucker Acquisition Be Flying Under the Radar for the Miami Heat?

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One of the primary surprises in NBA free agency this season was seeing PJ Tucker land in Miami, strengthening the Heat’s theme and weakening Milwaukee’s. But as surprising as that was, how come it seems as if this pick-up is being slightly overlooked?

Well, the answer to that question is quite clear.

Over the past two seasons, the starting front-court player next to Bam Adebayo has been an interesting discussion. The Meyers Leonard stretch had positive regular season aspects, but it was clear it wasn’t going to last through the post-season. This led to a trade deadline transition to Jae Crowder, who performed at a high level on both ends of the floor.

After that hot bubble stretch from Crowder, many began making instinctive observations about that starting 4 spot: a scorer is needed to maximize this team. In a lot of ways, that was correct. (Emphasis on *was*)

Kendrick Nunn was fantastic for Miami in many stretches, but one of the overarching issues was consistency. Miami didn’t really know what they were going to get from him on any given night, meaning the combination of an inconsistent 1 and a non-scoring 4 was never going to work.

But now, the conversation shifts.

Many seem to be upholding that same point about the acquisition of Tucker, but there aren’t any true parallels. Adding Kyle Lowry means that inconsistencies in the back-court will no longer be an issue. Of course everybody has off nights, but a player of Lowry’s caliber can counteract that with strong defensive play and offensive control with veteran leadership and facilitating capabilities.

That one major element makes the Tucker pick-up an obvious fit into what Miami is looking to do. And ultimately, it’s leading to this move flying under the radar quite a bit, which the Heat always love.

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He’s not going to be huge in the scoring column in the regular season. He may not even be that huge on the entire stat-sheet many nights aside from his minutes. But that type of player is what Miami needs with the emerging weapons on the current roster.

They need a guy who can semi-slow down players like Kevin Durant in a playoff series, allowing their defensive player of the year candidate, Adebayo, to do what he does best by constantly switching to cause major disruption on that end of the floor.

Tucker is Adebayo’s safety blanket, and it’s been quite some time since Adebayo has had that. A tough minded 4 who won’t back down. A versatile defender who can not only guard down like Trevor Ariza, but guard up when Adebayo ends up in isolation on the perimeter. If you want to let that type of guy fly under the radar, then I don’t know what to tell you.

That’s an Erik Spoelstra weapon if I’ve ever seen one. That entire description and dialogue is what Coach Spo will trust down the stretch game after game. Not to hit big shots on the offensive end or take total on-court control, but to be super sound on both ends in an understanding role to allow others to succeed.

When I asked Tucker after the signing about playing in that type of role next to Jimmy Butler specifically, he responded, “He’s always been one of those guys that everybody knows his competitive edge. He brings it every single night, and that’s the number one thing for me.”

And while Butler may be the headliner for that type of comment, there are multiple guys on this updated roster that quote could relate to. And well, one of those guys is PJ Tucker.

Ever since Butler joined the Heat, the roster has never been defined by a specific theme. Of course they had a team get to the NBA Finals without a certain theme, but it’s still never been apparent. Now, for the first time, this roster will be walking into opposing arenas with teams immediately knowing what they’re getting themselves into.

A feisty and tough group who will play in the mud for as long as it takes on the defensive end. Playing like that consistently in the regular season may wear them down, but that will be more of a playoff staple.

The point is that aside from Tucker embodying everything the Heat embody, plugging him into this group makes more sense than some think. It wasn’t as important to find a scoring threat at that spot, considering the Lowry pick-up and the hopeful Adebayo ascension.

They just need him to do the small things, and he will do just that. PJ Tucker may be flying under the radar due to his age and play-style, but for close Heat observers, that shouldn’t be the case.

 

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Bam Adebayo: Balancing Lowry Enhancements and Pure Takeover

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When evaluating the development of Bam Adebayo, it’s pretty incredible to see a guy make a complete jump in one statistical area year after year. The most notable ones occurred over the last two seasons, jumping from 9 points a game to 16 points a game in his third season before going on to make an NBA Finals run in the bubble.

The second one displayed itself this past year, while even though he went from 16 to 19 points a game, it was much more about how he was getting those points. After entering the league as an effective rim runner, he flipped the switch into a true shooting threat from the mid-range area.

Now, he leaves us making predictions on what is next in his NBA progression.

The Heat adding Kyle Lowry is the first sticking point for Adebayo’s future, since it’ll be the first time he lines up next to a true point guard on this Miami team. A play-maker who can get him the ball in his comfort spots, float it up above the rim as a lob threat once again, and ultimately control the offense around him.

As much as that stuff will be absolutely huge for his offensive game, there is a specific balance that must be a primary focus.

When watching Adebayo this past season, there was one part of his game that the public knew we needed to see more of: aggression. Not only in terms of shot attempts, but taking advantage of favorable match-ups that he can 100% take off the dribble to create his own shot for a bucket.

That’s the balance to keep an eye on.

Of course his role will be a very big mix this season, which won’t be the case for a lot of guys. Guys like Kyle Lowry will either be distributing at the top/getting Miami into their actions or spotting up off the ball. Jimmy Butler will have a lighter load, meaning he can just worry about the things he does very well. And Tyler Herro will have a simplified agenda to just get buckets off the bench.

Adebayo, on the other hand, will be flying in a whole bunch of directions, which is exactly what he needs. Yes, he’s going to get many more easy opportunities with an extra play-maker and downhill threat, but there must be an overarching theme to be an on-ball pest as well.

Lowry and Butler aren’t getting any younger, so Adebayo taking control as an offensive threat in the regular season will be urged from those veterans. None of this means his play-making will take a dip in any fashion, since his unselfishness will never fade, but there must be that confident swagger that “I can score when I want.”

As I’ve brought up many times in the past, Butler will be urging this as well. As he said when I asked him about Adebayo’s hot scoring stretches, “He’s damn near unguardable whenever he’s playing like that.”

The reason for that is it creates a rotational frenzy on the defense, which Butler quickly followed with. Adding another driving threat in Lowry, while knocking Adebayo up a tier in that sense shifts this entire discussion. Duncan Robinson, Herro, and Lowry will hit threes, but that interior element changes a whole lot about this team’s offensive structure.

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Will Adebayo be able to immediately balance what is being thrown at him? I believe so, since it would be more worrisome if he had less on his plate. Giving him multiple options as teammates, different avenues as a scorer, and an improved offensive bag are all indications that he can be in line for yet another leap.

It’s just up to him to do it. Many have said the potential of this team depends on the health of Victor Oladipo, but I believe it’s actually the level Adebayo is playing at. Of course he will be a DPOY candidate and a good offensive weapon, but him increasing his aggression levels takes this team from being a very good playoff team to an immediate Eastern Conference contender.

And well, that’s why he has “no ceiling.”

 

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Goldie’s Week 1 NFL Picks: Charging On, A-Rod Stars, Ride with Russ

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In Year 1, Goldie provided consistent winners and insight, paired with at least one Crazy Uncle Jeff LOCK of the week. Seriously, check out his record, Jeffy doesn’t miss.

 

YEAR 2. HERE WE GO!

 

You can bet all of this at BetUS.com using the code “five” for a promo bonus.

 

******

 

Goldie’s All Time Record: 126-55              Vs. Spread: 89-89

Goldie’s Guarantee: 9-5

Goldie’s Upset: 9-4

Crazy Uncle Jeff: 16-1

 

Goldie’s Guarantee

Los Angeles Chargers @ Washington Football Team

Vegas Picks: WAS -1

Goldie’s Take: Chargers Win 23-21

I truly believe the NFL landscape underestimates the LA Chargers. This team is loaded on both sides of the football. The Bolts virtually have no holes in their offense. Solid O line, receivers, and running backs all revolving around the second year stud QB Justin Herbert. LA’s defense also has a lot of playmakers such as guys like Derwin James and Joey Bosa. Washington will take some time to adjust to aging QB Ryan Fitzpatrick running the offense. I’m looking for the Chargers to make a lot of noise this season, and I definitely anticipate them to win this one in the nation’s capital, I GUARANTEE IT!!!

 

Goldie’s Upset of the Week

Baltimore Ravens @ Las Vegas Raiders

Vegas Picks: BAL -4

Goldie’s Take: Raiders Win 27-24

UPSET ALERT! The Ravens have been losing Running Backs left and right this preseason. They’ve had to scramble and sign 4 running backs in under a week’s span. This offense is going to be in disarray. In addition,it’s going to be the first full capacity Raiders game in Vegas. Raider fans have been waiting for this one since Gruden won with the Bucs, even longer maybe. Expect the Black Hole to come different Monday night.  As if this game needed another storyline, Derek Carr is out to prove why he’s one of the most underrated players in football. I like Gruden and the Raiders to end NFL Week One with a sneaky upset against the Ravens. Al Davis said it best, “JUST WIN BABY”

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week: PIT +6.5

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Buffalo Bills

Vegas Picks: BUF -6.5

Goldie’s Take: Bills Win 24-17

After months of preparation and research, Crazy Uncle Jeff is finally back in the lab this week! Jeffy concludes that this is too hefty of a Week One spread for the Bills to cover. Big Ben and the Steelers are historically better early in the season, we saw this last season when the Steelers started red hot, winning their first ten games. Expect the Bills to win the game, as they are the better team, but don’t be surprised when this is a much closer game than many people anticipate.  Both offenses will struggle, but I expect a hard fought victory for Buffalo. After all ,”nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills.”

 

Crazy Uncle Jeff’s Lock of the Week

Green Bay Packers @ New Orleans Saints

Vegas Picks: GB -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Packers Win 34-21

Jeffy is cooking up a two lock special for Week1! The Saints will be missing one of their most valuable players this weekend… the Superdome. Unfortunately this game had to be moved to Jacksonville, Florida due to Hurricane Ida that recently devastated southern Louisiana. This is a huge factor for this matchup as the Saints have one of the most hostile home crowds in the NFL. Crazy Uncle and I both expect the reigning MVP to go into this one and prove why he’s still a top QB in this league. This game can easily be the Aaron Rodgers show from start to finish, although it will be interesting to see how Jameis performs at the helm of this Saints offense that’s trying to win one for the morale of Nola. Still, Pack by at least two scores.

 

New York Jets @ Carolina Panthers

Vegas Picks: CAR -4

Goldie’s Take: Panthers Win 28-20

Sam Darnold revenge game! The Jets traded Darnold away for a bag of chips and a loaf of bread this offseason. Expect Darnold to take this one personally, and be out for blood this Sunday. Plus I expect the rookie Zach Wilson to struggle on the road in his first NFL start. Carolina by at least a TD. 

 

Seattle Seahawks @ Indianapolis Colts

Vegas Picks: SEA -3

Goldie’s Take: Seahawks Win 30-23

I like both of these teams a lot. They’re both well run organizations with overall solid units on both sides of the football. In a game like this it could come down to one player who is the X factor. This matchup’s X factor is Russell Wilson. The biggest advantage in this game is the quarterback position. Wentz is coming off another injury and he’s not yet adjusted to his new offense. Expect a close game but in the end I’m not betting against Russ. LET RUSS COOK!

 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans 

Vegas Picks: JAX -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Jags Win 24-20

The toilet bowl of week 1 kicks off at 1PM in Houston this Sunday as the Jags face the Texans. Houston has been a wreck all offseason largely due to all of the chaos surrounding Deshaun Watson. At first it seemed as if he was getting traded, then for a while it seemed he was going to jail, now nobody knows what’s going on at all in Houston. The Jags, however, aren’t as much of a disaster at all, they’re just a rebuilding football team. I expect T-Law and Urban to start their NFL careers off right with a hard fought victory. 

 

Arizona Cardinals @ Tennessee Titans

Vegas Picks: TEN -3

Goldie’s Take: Titans Win 35-30

Both of these teams made big moves this offseason to try and elevate their roster to the next level. For Tennessee the big addition was on the offensive side of the football adding all-pro receiver Julio Jones to an already stacked offense. On the other hand, the Cards added all pro Defensive End JJ Watt to their front 7. Both veterans should do wonders to help each of their teams, but this weekend expect the Titans to come away with the win. This should be a high scoring affair between two high powered offenses, but at the end of the day I don’t think there’s a defense on the planet that has an answer for Titans RB Derrick Henry. T’s win in a shootout

 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Atlanta Falcons 

Vegas Picks: ATL -3.5

Goldie’s Take: Falcons Win 31-26

I honestly don’t have much faith in either one of these birds. Both teams are amidst a rebuild, and don’t have much expectation on them for this season.Give me the veteran Matt Ryan to get a win at home in week 1. Atlanta’s beautiful stadium will be rocking full capacity for the first time in a while. Venue call. 

 

Minnesota Vikings @ Cincinnati Bengals

Vegas Picks: MIN -3

Goldie’s Take: Vikings Win 31-26

Cincy’s QB Joe Burrow will be making his first start since the brutal injury he suffered that ended his Rookie year early last season. I think he’ll be a bit rusty, not to mention the struggles that rookie WR Jamarr Chase showed in preseason. I just think the Vikes are the more complete team in this one. Give me the Vikings to win and cover in Ohio this Sunday. YOU LIKE THAT?!?!

 

San Francisco 49ers @ Detroit Lions

Vegas Picks: SAN -8.5

Goldie’s Take: 49ers Win 24-20

The Niners situation is one of the more interesting ones across the league. Many forget that Jimmy G had this team leading in the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl just 2 seasons ago. Now his job is in jeopardy. The Niners are an overall very solid team but the incontinuity of the QB position does worry me. Also expect the Lions to come out with a lot of heart in front of the home fans. Detroit has an island of misfit toys that might just surprise some people this season. Expect the Niners to win but don’t be surprised if the Lions keep this one close. 

 

Cleveland Browns @ Kansas City Chiefs

Vegas Picks: KC -5.5

Goldie’s Take: Chiefs Win 31-30

The Chiefs are many expert’s favorites to win it all this season, and for good reason. The Kansas City roster is easily one of the most talented in the league. However, Cleveland also has one of the most talented rosters in the league. The Browns definitely are going to come out with a vengeance in this one to try and avenge the loss that the Chiefs handed them to end their season last year. I expect a back and forth down to the wire football game, but I’m making this one a venue call. Chiefs win a close one in KC. 

 

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Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots

Vegas Picks: NE -3

Goldie’s Take: Dolphins Win 20-13

Although these teams both made moves in the offseason to improve their offenses, I still expect this game to be built solely around defense. Both teams have defensive minded head coaches, and two young starting quarterbacks. The Fins had one of the best defenses in the league last season, evident by the fact that they led the NFL in defensive takeaways. Miami’s D should pick up right where they left off and have a feast against brand new rookie QB Mac Jones. Expect the kid to struggle.This game was a very honorable mention to the Upset of the Week committee. Rookie quarterback Mac Jones is being thrown into the fire against one of the league’s best defenses? Fins are going to Foxborough and leaving with an ugly, low scoring, defensive victory. UPSET!

 

Denver Broncos @ New York Giants

Vegas Picks: DEN -3

Goldie’s Take: Broncos Win 21-17

The Teddy Bridgewater era begins this Sunday for the Broncos, and after a lot of thought it seems Denver made the safe call. Backup QB Drew Lock may have a higher ceiling than Teddy, but at least with Teddy you know what you’re going to get. A very consistent solid game manager. Additionally, I don’t trust Giants QB Daniel Jones at all. So far in his career he has performed like a bottom 10 starting QB in this league, and has shown little flashes of greatness. Expect Denver to win a defensive battle. 

 

Chicago Bears @ Los Angeles Rams 

Vegas Picks: LAR -7.5

Goldie’s Take: Rams Win 24-10

So many reasons why the Rams are going to win this game. First game with fans in the new stadium on Sunday Night Football, all momentum is with LA already. Also the Rams upgraded at the QB position by acquiring Matt Stafford this offseason. And finally the biggest reason the Rams are going to win this one is because the Bears are starting QB Andy Dalton. If Dalton couldn’t perform last season with all of the weapons on Dallas’ offense, how does Chicago expect him to thrive with lesser weapons on the Bears offense? The Rams should steamroll the Bears on Sunday Night

The Future is Bright for Miami Heat’s Omer Yurtseven

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The Miami Heat have an interesting past of finding diamonds in the rough. When all eyes were on the 13th pick in the NBA draft on Miami’s Summer League team in 2019, other guys emerged into the team’s focus. Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn went from undrafted guys fighting to make a roster, to immediate starters on a team that eventually made the NBA Finals.

It’s safe to say Miami has a pretty good eye in that department specifically.

Toward the end of last season, some young 7 footer was added to the roster in hopes of potential off-season developing. While there may not have been many expectations on this young kid, it kind of felt like deja vu was striking Heat observers.

Omer Yurtseven had a monster Summer League a few weeks ago, leading to him earning a regular deal and roster spot for next season. And although it’s a contending team with a crowded front-court, the Heat always find ways to work in these young, hungry, and supreme talents.

So, let’s continue my Heat preview series, answering some questions from you guys about individual players on the roster. Why is the future so bright for Yurtseven?

After watching him in action through different environments, including playing with Turkey and Heat’s Summer League team in Vegas, it’s clear that his offensive bag is pretty broad. When watching this 7 footer on the offensive end, the first word that comes to mind is versatility.

In this instance, a lot of stuff is going to tie back to Miami’s young centerpiece Bam Adebayo. The reason for that is the overarching point to these discussions is asking how they would potentially mesh in the future. And well, that transitions us right into how he will be used most on the offensive end.

For starters, I’ve said this frequently, but I believe many of Yurtseven’s spot minutes will come next to Adebayo this season. He’s going to be the sub-in starter if injuries were to occur, and the Dewayne Dedmon back-up plan since he won’t be playing close to 82. It’s the Gabe Vincent/Max Strus role of last year.

To that point, Yurtseven’s two best offensive skills are probably Adebayo’s two weakest skills at this stage. The first one is the outside shot since his high release point means it’s close to impossible to alter. With Adebayo occupying space on the roll or mid-range off the catch, he needs a floor spacer next to him at all times.

The second offensive wrinkle is post-play. As the league continues to evolve, you see more and more bigs picking up Yurtseven’s shooting trait, instead of his back to the basket trait. And when the footwork continues to improve against bigger defenders on the block, it’ll only make that soft touch down low even deadlier.

Ultimately, his role will be very watered down and simplified. They will most likely run some double screening/horn sets for Adebayo to roll and Yurtseven to pop, just due to the fact it maximizes spacing and places Yurtseven at a favorable spot at the top of the key. He may be able to knock down the corner three consistently, but above the break popping will be his home-base.

Once that offense is perfected, the all-around expansion and added layers can begin to be flooded in.

This is a very good question, and I think it should be evaluated from a few different angles.

Once again, we have to start by relating this to him playing next to Adebayo. In those minutes specifically, he just has to do what he’s done at a high level for some time now: protect the rim, deter drivers, block some shots, and grow in that drop coverage.

That would be Adebayo’s safety blanket in a lot of ways. It would allow each of them to play to their strengths in terms of defensive capabilities, which is what I see them using at different points in the regular season to switch it up.

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Now, back to the question, I’m not sure the “quick twitch” or “quick feet” is something I would really bet on in his immediate future. He has very good defensive instincts from what I’ve seen, but the other original attributes don’t really jump off the screen to me at this time.

Due to that, I don’t think I see him being an “above average defender,” but I can see him being an average one who can make plays. If he gets some extra reps by the basket, improving his all-around pick and roll defense, then I can see him being an above average rim protector.

But addressing “NBA defender” as a whole, I don’t think I’d put that expectation on him. His true skill is on the offensive end of the floor, since there aren’t many players with that size who can utilize the level of touch on the ball that he possesses.

I spoke briefly before about the opportunities that he will be given, but I just don’t see this being his breakout season with the role he will be given.

As much as I’ve said he will get plenty of spot minutes, sprinkled in starts, and chances to prove his game, the roster construction just doesn’t mirror this being his big year. Once again, this team did a total 360 from a crowded back-court to a crowded front-court.

Obviously other than Dedmon off the bench, nobody has the undeniable size and skill that Yurtseven has, which is why he will get his chance. If he came out and dominates whenever given that opportunity, then that’s a different story. That would lead to a bench front-court punch of Yurtseven-Dedmon minutes, which would be quite a handful.

But realistically, that doesn’t feel to be the case. He will progress behind the scenes, receive playing time to get a taste of what he needs to continue to develop, and make the eventual leap that so many undrafted Heat players have in the past.

There feels to be an in-house formula on how it’s done, and I believe Yurtseven’s formula is the easiest to predict this upcoming season. They now have another young wild card that they can utilize if things were to go downhill, which is something Coach Erik Spoelstra won’t be afraid to use.

The final takeaway: his future is bright. From what I’ve seen up to this point, there’s so much potential within his current game, and he just turned 23 years old. The Heat may have dug up a hidden gem once again, and this time, there isn’t an unorthodox fit with other skill-sets. Instead, it blends in quite 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

What are the Next Steps for KZ Okpala?

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The Miami Heat kick off their first preseason game in less than 4 weeks, which leads to the beginning of some season previews. I’ve already broke down the roles, fitting offensive actions, and needed improvements from everybody on the roster, which leads us into this new article series.

I’ll be going through the entire roster once again, answering any questions you guys may have heading into the new year. And when evaluating certain player’s next steps in their game, there’s no better way to start than KZ Okpala who has plenty of questions to be answered.

Now, I think the only one who can truly erase some of those question marks is Okpala, and it’s most likely going to have to come behind the scenes. Anyway, let’s hop right into the future of Okpala in this league.

The answer to the first question above is absolutely, and I’ll tell you why.

For starters, there isn’t one part of his offensive game that has shown any flashes. An inability to create separation on the attack, no smooth element as a scorer, and a lack of a three-point shot. But with that said, the one thing that can actually be developed and save his overall production is outside shooting.

It doesn’t mean he has to be a great three-point shooter. He just has to do enough to survive on that end of the floor.

3 and D is best case scenario when talking about Okpala’s offensive focus, and as mentioned in the second question, I also agree that corner shots are most important. The reason for that is Okpala won’t ever be used within offensive actions in the near future, but if he’s put out on the floor, he has to occupy space beyond that corner three.

When talking about guys who take up space in the corner without a consistent jumper, I think of the way defenses treated Andre Iguodala in past years with Miami. As much as that was an offensive headache for some, it was schemed around at times due to his high IQ to cut at perfect times and hit the middle of the floor to play-make.

That just won’t be a staple of Okpala’s game. To have a chance at cracking the rotation in the future, that three-point shot has to fall consistently, and the urge to continually try and drive to the basket will probably have to lay back.

Although I highlighted the role of Okpala that would be most ideal, the point that I’m making is about the future. After seeing him in Summer League a couple weeks ago, there aren’t any major on-court offensive strides taking place, meaning there isn’t a specific offensive scheme that stands out from the others.

I will say that getting out into transition would be hugely beneficial for him if he’s used as a plug and play guy at different points of the season. That’s where he was effective in college at times, due to his length and speed beating others down the floor for easy buckets.

And by the way, his baseline to baseline ball pressure led to plenty of that as well. On a defensive team with the updated Heat roster, we should see an increase in frequency when discussing getting out on the break.

Now to the second question above, I’ve watched more than enough film on Okpala to know that his defensive perception isn’t a myth. He has the prototypical length and quickness, but that’s not even the part that carries him on that end of the floor.

He’s fantastic one-on-one, which we saw on a different level when Miami played the Brooklyn Nets, leading to him defending Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and Kevin Durant from possession to possession. I’d say his number one attribute is just pressuring full-court, which was seen in the 2-2-1 press throughout the season.

Although there are plenty of positives about his defensive skill-set, there are two very clear issues that will need to be cleaned up. The first one is foul trouble, due to his over-aggression consistently leading to a frenzy of whistles in his direction. A lot of that had to do with him trying to prove himself as a player when he got on the floor, meaning he was going to be up in everybody’s grill to show his tenacity.

The other issue that has been problematic at times was mentioned in the parenthesis in the question. There have been a bunch of lapses in his team defense, and there’s a couple reasons for that. The first one is the obvious answer, which is that team defense comes with playing time, and there’s a good shot it would look better once his offensive game grows enough for him to stay on the floor.

Secondly, as I said before, he’s a ball-watcher. It’s one of the main reasons he is so good on the ball, but it seems to get him in trouble frequently off the ball. Corner spacers see his eyes lurking, leading to simple back-cuts for easy lay-ins.

None of that should be worrisome, since the positives far outweigh the negatives, but it’s just something to monitor. But back to the original question, if there are some that think his defensive perception is a myth, you’re completely wrong.

I’ve talked about the importance of him leaning away from the driving game, but I haven’t addressed the reason why.

He’s had plenty of isolations in Summer League, receptions off the catch in real games, and back-cuts to relocate defenders. But when any of that occurs, I have the same takeaway: that just won’t ever be a strong suit of his game.

In my honest opinion, I don’t feel that a tighter handle will move the needle enough for him to be a better rim attacker. As we saw in Summer League, his issue isn’t about getting to the rim, it’s finishing at the rim. There were moments where he beat defenders off the dribble, or threw some elbows to create space, but lacked that true soft touch to finish the play off.

It just seems a bit unorthodox to worry about developing at this stage.

The other part about his downhill ability is that the scoring element isn’t even the section with the most question marks. It’s actually decision making with the ball in his hands as a passer.

When getting reps last season with the real team, defenses adjusted to his game quickly. The reason for that was him putting the ball on the floor to the middle of the court meant one thing and one thing only: a kick-out to the weak-side wing. He never looked at the rim in that scenario, it’s just stuff sideline to sideline. Defenders began to front the perimeter which eventually resulted in the turnover issue.

Now, I do believe a tighter handle can enhance other things. If he was to become a quicker decision maker over time, then that handle can bail him out when he’s looking to play-make.

But there’s yet another overarching takeaway when discussing this: there’s so many “ifs.” Okpala doesn’t have to eliminate all of those ifs right now to be effective. It just has to be one or two of them to progress in a decent fashion to make the team feel good about it.

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We will see what happens with Okpala in the near future, but I will say that I don’t think the current roster construction is benefiting him. Previous opportunities came up due to the team’s roster consisting of back-court depth with no true front-court depth.

And now, the tables have turned. Following the projected starting group of Bam Adebayo and PJ Tucker, Miami will have some options considering the bench usage of Markieff Morris and Dewayne Dedmon, while Omer Yurtseven feels to be next in line.

It’ll come down to the development behind the scenes for Okpala, and in my opinion, spamming some work-outs of straight outside shooting would probably be the best off-season decision.

 

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

5 Potential Miami Heat Lineups that Fulfill a Specific Skill

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Plenty of things can be debated about this updated Heat roster. Are they missing total scoring production off the bench until Victor Oladipo returns? Will the newest front-court additions make the difference? What level will Kyle Lowry be playing at during the regular season?

While there is some truth to a lot of those questions, one thing is universal when evaluating this team: Erik Spoelstra has way more weapons on both ends of the floor. And well, that is more important than anything else heading into the season.

To that point, they will have a lot more flexibility with specific lineups. Of course we know what the starting lineup or closing lineup will look like, but how about the creative lineups that fulfill a specific skill on the roster?

That’s what I’ll be diving into here, so let’s hop right into some lineups that may be intriguing as potential sparks throughout the season…

1) Maximizing Offensive Actions with Creativity

Lowry /Robinson /Strus /Adebayo /Yurtseven

When I went through this exercise of thinking about truly creative lineups, this is the first one that came to mind. I’ve gone over a bunch of offensive sets that Miami will be running this season, and it’s clear they will be looking for certain lineups that truly plug every hole in that type of utilization.

The Heat’s offense rides off total movement off the ball on the weak-side to trigger specific actions within the set. That would be the Duncan Robinson and Max Strus role here, since they can start them on the same side, and run them off a baseline screen to flow into the weak-side. That’s the type of pull that makes a Miami Heat offense run.

Obviously Kyle Lowry would need to be the head of the snake in these lineups, since his passing is so dynamic that he can put the ball into the spots of his teammates to make a play, while possessing a deep ball threat to keep his defender honest from totally going for the double.

And of course, the Bam Adebayo and Omer Yurtseven factor. Yurtseven won’t be a part of the rotation in any way, but as I’ve reiterated many times this off-season, he’s going to get plenty of minutes. And I believe a lot of them will be next to Adebayo.

The reason that front-court combo is needed here is to truly maximize Robinson and Strus’ shooting abilities. Using Yurtseven as a potential popper and Adebayo as a roller makes things work much more smoothly. Horn sets with Lowry at the top, and Robinson/Strus in corners can be so effective with the bigs at the elbow.

We’re going to look into some other lineups that are much simpler and probably more likely, but this one specifically feels like an Erik Spoelstra wrinkle.

2) Importance of Non-Butler/Lowry Minutes

Oladipo /Herro /Robinson /Tucker /Adebayo

This lineup is one that will hold high importance late in the regular season for Miami. How much will Lowry and Jimmy Butler be used before the return of Oladipo? Well, that’s a question I don’t have an answer to.

They want to find ways to preserve those two guys as much as possible due to the fact this is a team built for the post-season. Miami just has to find a way to get there at a decent spot in the East to make that late push.

These five guys together is intriguing for a couple reasons: 1) there’s enough of a mixture between offense and defense and 2) there are two combos within the lineup that can be the difference makers for the Heat this season.

On paper, Oladipo and Tyler Herro as a back-up back-court can be deadly. Herro gets a partner in crime who takes pride in the defensive end and puts pressure on the rim, while Oladipo gets a floor spacer who will have the ball in his hands a ton. If these two can develop a rhythm, it makes the lives of Lowry and Butler so much easier.

The other combination that I’ve discussed is Herro and Robinson. With those two guys being the only weak defenders on the team following the departures of Goran Dragic and Kendrick Nunn, the two can be used together more often. And the expectation that some sort of offensive leap will occur from each of them makes this even more intriguing.

This lineup may explain the projection of this Heat team. Can Adebayo step up as the guy in the non-Butler/Lowry minutes? What level of play will Oladipo be at? Can Herro create offense enough to allow Robinson to work next to him for long stretches? If a couple of those questions end up being a yes, then I have Miami a lot higher on my season board than previously.

3) Death Lineup

Lowry /Oladipo /Robinson /Butler /Adebayo

It’s always necessary to address the death lineup that can be used heading into a season. When people debated this entering the bubble, there was an expectation that the Heat’s death lineup would be Butler at the 4 with offensive weapons surrounding him.

But as we quickly found out, Jae Crowder was the full-time “death lineup” 4. And as much as I feel Erik Spoelstra will develop that confidence in PJ Tucker in a similar fashion, the team’s deadliest lineup this year would be Butler at the 4 depending on the match-up.

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Many are excited about the defensive lineup that Miami can use with Tucker instead of Robinson, but that all depends on Oladipo’s offensive production when he returns. If he’s that same shot creator that he was previously, then that defensive five can be a problem. If that isn’t the case, I don’t believe there’s enough offense within that group.

But throwing Lowry, Oladipo, Butler, and Adebayo on the floor late in playoff games with Robinson as the spacer seems like the inevitable move. Obviously Robinson hasn’t been much of a closer over the years, either due to foul trouble, defensive worries, or just scouting reports eliminating him by that point of the game, but that should 100% change this season.

I believe he closes a bunch of games this year and not just because he’s getting paid like a closer. For those defensive lineups to work, Robinson must be on the floor, since frankly, he’s what makes this five a “death lineup.”

4) Front-Court Size, But No Front-Court Length

Lowry /Herro /Butler /Morris /Tucker

There’s no doubt in my mind that Tucker will be the starting 4 for Miami this season and Morris will be filling in for him off the bench. But will they end up seeing the floor together?

Some have brought up the point about Morris playing the 3 next to Tucker at the 4 at times, but once again, I just don’t see that as an offensive possibility. Well, unless one of Tucker or Morris have a Jae Crowder bubble run in the regular season.

To that point, I can see Spoelstra trying some stuff with Tucker at the 5 and Morris at the 4, but definitely not for long stretches. It all depends on match-ups, but it’ll be interesting to see some stuff that can be ran in a five out offensive with some extra versatility.

With a roster that has Adebayo, Dedmon, and Yurtseven, you may be wondering why they would want to go that small. And honestly, I would agree with that point. There aren’t many opposing lineups that will enhance Tucker at the 5, but it’s all about finding small wrinkles that can be adjusted to potentially.

This is what I mean by extra weapons. Maybe Miami had more offensive weapons previously when subbing in similar back-court players like Nunn and Dragic, but now the Heat have roster diversity and flexibility. And that was needed after the Heat flamed out in the post-season.

5) The Rebounding/Rim Protection Go-To

(Insert Backcourt of Choice) /Yurtseven /Dedmon

There’s a common theme when going through this exercise and I bet a lot of people caught it. Bringing up names like Nunn and Dragic showed they had more back-court depth last season, but one thing they didn’t possess was front-court depth.

They took late-season chances on two guys that didn’t play for over a year, in Trevor Ariza and Dewayne Dedmon, which definitely worked out to a certain degree. Now the team has 5 strong front-court players, and another guy that Miami has hoped would be one soon, in KZ Okpala.

With this many guys in that department and a previous rebounding struggle, why wouldn’t the Heat use the exact opposite of that last lineup discussed? You can use whichever back-court combination you’d like next to Dedmon and Yurtseven, since the whole point of it would be to throw out some size and rebound the basketball at a high level.

Possibly a Pat Riley regular season request.

Now, I’m not totally sold on Yurtseven’s rebounding ability yet, especially since he hasn’t gotten any run at the next level, but his size and length alone makes this possible.

The mold of this team is clear, and it makes things much simpler for the coaching staff. You don’t want total inconsistency at the guard position, and that’s exactly what they had before. By playoff time, they will have their strong 4 of Lowry, Robinson, Oladipo, and Herro which means they won’t have to stray off.

But the position they can stray off from is the coveted power forward/center spot next to Adebayo. There’s enough flexibility in that area that doesn’t ruin game flow when constantly interchanging, leading to the overarching point that the team’s off-season roster construction was a success.

Some of these lineups may look better on paper, but it’s a trial and error thing. And it’s very obvious that Coach Spoelstra will do a ton of trial and error with this group.

 

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

QB Controversy Brewing in Gainesville?

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This past Saturday, Florida played FAU in its first game of the season, defeating the Owls, 35-14.

 

Redshirt junior Emory Jones patiently waited his turn since 2018 to become the starter this year after Kyle Trask got drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Going into this season, Jones has played in 24 Florida games, making the FAU game his 25th game to play in and his first career start. There was a lot of preseason hype surrounding him, as he’s on the Johnny Unitas and in some conversations for the Heisman. This being said, Jones didn’t play as well as we all expected him to. He finished the night 17-27 with 113 yards, 1 TD pass and 2 interceptions. Jones did contribute to the team’s 400 rushing yards, with 74 total. The two interceptions were definitely surprising, with the first one a forced pass to the end zone. There was also confusion on 4th and goal in the first half when Emory ran a quarterback sneak with coach Dan Mullen visibly upset afterwards. 

 

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I’m not going to sit here and say Anthony Richardson, otherwise nicknamed as AR or AR15, was perfect when he came in but his energy was just great. He finished 3-8 for 40 yards passing but what stood out to me the most was his rushing attack, running seven times for 160 yards. Two of his carries were electric, which included a 73 yard rush touchdown and a run for a first down in which he hurdled over the defender, both coming in the 4th quarter. With AR in the game, the energy was just different and you could tell he needs to have playing time because he’s got something special.

 

After the game, coach Dan Mullen said, “Obviously Emory’s our starter.”

 

We certainly don’t want to count Emory out after just one game as a starter, but it will be interesting to see who will have the most playing time with a key game in just under two weeks against top-ranked Alabama. This weekend, Florida faces USF, who didn’t look great in their season opener against NC State, losing 45-0. Only time will tell but there’s definitely a quarterback controversy brewing in Gainesville.

 

Photo from Al.Com