Could Kendrick Nunn Actually Benefit from a Victor Oladipo Return?

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When Victor Oladipo rose up to the rim and came down grabbing that knee, there was only one guy who saw a glimmer of hope and opportunity. Kendrick Nunn.

When talking about a player that has gone through a tremendous amount of ups and downs, Nunn would have to be pretty high on that list. G-League player to immediate NBA starter. NBA starter to non-rotation player come playoff time. Out of the rotation to NBA starter again. Then starter to out of the rotation for yet another brief period, before returning to that starting point guard spot after the unfortunate Oladipo injury.

Oh, and this has all occurred in a matter of months.

Even when hearing the traditional and unoriginal quotes about his work behind the scenes and ability to stay ready, that is not an overstatement, since going through that type of roller coaster is not easy to continually come right back and produce. But he has, and it’s important to discuss what could be next for him barring a returning Oladipo.

Although there is still so much uncertainty around Oladipo’s injury status, let’s just take a brief moment to picture as if he will return at some point this season. Miami’s in a first round match-up as their returning two-way acquisition plugs back into the starting lineup. Where does Kendrick Nunn go?

Well, that answer is as clear as ever at the current stage. One of Miami’s issues lately has been bench production, since Goran Dragic has struggled, Tyler Herro hasn’t been the initiator many envisioned, and guys like Andre Iguodala and Precious Achiuwa are offensively limited. If anything has become blatantly obvious, it’s that Nunn could actually be the perfect piece in the area that Miami is lacking right now with that second unit.

Another element to this being possible is the fact that they’ve been willing to go to these 3 guard lineups night in and night out, some even including Nunn, Dragic, and Herro, which I’m not so sure is the right answer. The point is that they are capable of working them all in, especially since Nunn is probably their most consistent guard when referring to these three guys.

Obviously it’s hard to truly project on rotations and lineups when there is still so much unknown about the health of Oladipo. But if he somehow makes a return this season, the reason for Miami turning it around won’t be due to Oladipo’s two-way play. It’ll be the puzzle pieces falling perfectly into place, inserting guys into roles that’ll allow them to play to their ultimate strengths.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Denver

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The Miami Heat had a similar outcome on the second night of this back to back against the Denver Nuggets, since some issues led to yet another loss. Although Bam Adebayo was aggressive to start and their defense was there for stretches, the overall consistency is the real issue. So, let’s take a look at five takeaways from this game…

#1: Bam Adebayo begins the game with an offensive purpose.

After Bam Adebayo had 6 shot attempts in a loss against the Phoenix Suns one night ago, he came out in the first half tonight with 12 points on 13 attempts. When discussing the reason for this exactly, I’d bet it has a lot to do with Adebayo realizing himself that he must takeover at times as the second best player on the team. And as I’ve mentioned, that doesn’t mean he has to take that open mid-range jumper every play, but instead it’s necessary to move downhill on a nightly basis. Centers like Adebayo are not a common thing in this league, which is why he must utilize those strengths any chance he gets, and attacking off the dribble is a good start.

#2: The interesting sides of Jimmy Butler as a defender.

Instead of discussing some of the all-around defensive issues that were shown tonight at times, it’s important to take a second to focus in on the elite abilities of Jimmy Butler on that end of the floor. For starters, it really is interesting that he’s so good at guarding guys in the post. I don’t know if it’s something he’s always been good at, or if it has developed over time, but either way that attribute no matter the post player’s size is pretty impressive. The other element to his defensive skill-set is the continued ability to hit the passing lanes. Once again, while I’m not going to focus in on some of the soft switching occurring throughout, Butler’s backside rotations to hit passing lanes basically saves that constant blitzing, highlighting his effectiveness even more.

#3: Trevor Ariza really finding himself in the offense.

I’ve harped on Trevor Ariza’s immediate fit on defense, by guarding opposing guards or getting deflections, but the offensive fit this quickly really wasn’t expected. After he kept Miami going in the first half a night ago, he was the leading scorer at the half as well tonight with 13 points. The most impressive stat at that point was the fact that he was 3 for 3 from beyond the arc, since that was the one thing we noted that Miami missed early in the season. The only issue is that he shouldn’t be the leading scorer for this team, which just furthers the inconsistencies of this Heat team. Once Miami gets clicking on the offensive end regularly, the effectiveness of Ariza as an offensive threat will become even more apparent.

#4: The two-way guys both one-way sparks.

When a takeaway is about the team’s two-way players, that basically sums up how this game went. Gabe Vincent was obviously going to step up into the role of Goran Dragic, but clearly doing just the opposite of what Dragic does. Even though shots falling from deep hasn’t been the staple for Vincent that we once thought, he really competes on the defensive end. Miami even began going into a 2-2-1 press at one point in the season just due to his aggression. But the other two-way guy is the real interesting piece. Max Strus is an outstanding shooter that never seems to really get a full opportunity. There may not be a consistent role for him on this team, but when the team has their moments of offensive struggles, why not throw in Strus to try and spark some things from the outside.

#5: Deja vu?

This game feels pretty similar to a past performance from the Miami Heat, and that may be due to it occurring exactly 24 hours ago. Some really great offensive flow and defensive execution out of the gate, then the team begins to slowly plummet due to a bit of inconsistency. The blame against Phoenix was Adebayo’s aggression and Dragic’s lack of production, but neither of those things can be utilized after this one. The only consistent takeaway is that Miami lacks overall bench production, leading to second quarter fall-offs. Erik Spoelstra clearly notices it as well, since he took Adebayo out six minutes into the game, as he tried to stagger Adebayo and Butler’s minutes as much as possible. And well, that’s when the eyes will turn to Tyler Herro, since that’s the reason he is in that bench role.

Prop Bets: Odds and Betting Guides

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There are many sports betting games that are available to bettors such as prop betting. The prop bet’s function is more on the aspects of games rather than on the statistical data that we usually have in betting strategies.  A prop bet will allow you to wager beyond the standard game odds, and you can bet on different games. 

Different Types of Prop Bets

Prop bets have come in different types that are found at more sportsbooks.

Game Prop Bet

This type of prop bet is set by spread, moneylines, over and under totals, or yes or no format. Game props can be deliberated on the entire game and be divided into derivative winnings, halves, or quarters. 

 

Some examples of the game crops are the first team to 15 points,  the total number of yards, and the team with the highest strikeouts. 

Team Prop Bet

It focuses on the performance of each time. This type of bet is often over or under totals, yes or no formats, and moneylines. They can also be separated into derivatives too. 

 

Some examples of the team props are over and under a total of the three-pointers that have been made, the team winning in all four quarters, the team also score in a defensive touchdown, and the first-half team total points. 

Player  Prop Bet

They are decided according to the player’s performance during the game. These bets can bet on through spreads, moneylines, over or under the total, or yes or no props. It also focuses on the individual players or even two or more players against each other in the head-to-dead prop bet. 

Some examples are the first player that will score, over or under total rebounds, the particular player or team that will finish with the best first-round score, and the number of the sets to win. 

 

Exotic Prop Bet

These betting props are marketed beyond the boxscore for the contest and the game’s odds offering like the non-sporting events and pop cultures. It depends on where you bet. An exotic prop bet may or may not be available all the time due to regulatory restrictions.

Come up With Your Own Prop Betting Strategy

 It is better to make the whole system on your own than depending on other betting processes. Bettors have a difference in figuring out the specific prop betting options, betting system, stake amounts, and bankroll management. Knowing all the said things on your own is the best approach. It may be time-consuming, but it will be paid off in the long run.  

How to Win a Prop Bet

Prop bets are the best way of winning money when the game is on. It is less limited than the standard point spread and moneyline. To help you win a prop bet, you have to study the forms of the game, including the updated current forms, top scorers, and head-to-head results.

 

You have to try focusing on one sport. This will allow you to concentrate on your favorite team and track their performance well. It is also good to do more research online as betting sites will regularly offer odds on prop bets. 

 

The most exciting part of prop betting is to make more money during the game. Good research can be a great help if you have the feeling on which teams will get the score points. Additionally, you can also make a  prop bet to increase your overall odds.

Track the Prop Bet Odds

When we talk about game lines, it is simple to track the odds from the beginning until the game time. After you have seen the opening lines, you will see that there are changes based on things like market reactions and news that will break after the odds are unveiled.

 

In prop bets, pieces of information are not easy to rack since there is no centralized location for the prop betting odds. Generally, you have to observe each game to explore the opportunities. For instance, you can read the individual performance of a particular player or team. This will be a great spot for prop bets that will be related to that certain player or team. 

 

Betting sites and bookmakers offer odds for prop bets. There is a characteristic feature of the bet odds differential on bet pricing. Relatively to the size of the props market compared to the totals, moneyline, point spread. Thus, this will create a big opportunity as it will make the props potentially profitable.

To Conclude

Prop bet can be a great addition to an entertainment betting strategy. It is essential to come down to your ability to find value and choose winners. If you have knowledge about sports teams and players, then using them on betting is a great opportunity. Gambling is fun, and predicting is a match with risk. So, be prepared and follow the guides on prop bets that can be a way to potential profit for you, and always remember to do it responsibly.

 

5 Takeaways from Marlins 14-8 Win in Atlanta

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Last night, the Marlins showed the baseball world that they can compete. After sporting one of the worst offenses through 9 games, the “Bottom Feeders” broke out at just the right time to take game 2 versus Atlanta 14-8. For the first time this season, the bats carried the starting pitching in a nice turn of events for the floundering Fish bats. Former Brave Adam Duvall led the way, going 4-5 with 2 home runs and 7 RBIs. 

 

Although this is one game (and I’ll be the first to say one game means nothing), if certain aspects are continued, this Marlins team will be able to compete this season. Here are my 5 takeaways from the Marlins explosive win in Atlanta:

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Marlins CAN Compete in the NL East

 

The NL East is one-of, if not the best division in all of baseball. For a young Marlins team, competing versus the juggernauts in New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and even Washington seems daunting and near impossible. Regardless of how you order the rest of the division, the Braves are the top of the food chain. The Fish have now matched up with Atlanta twice in this young season and won. That’s not to say that the Braves won’t win every other game in the season series; however, if the Marlins can continue to play as they have the last two nights, they will be able to compete with the best.

 

The Marlins took the season series versus the Nationals and Phillies last season, while dropping the season series to both the Mets and Braves. If this team can figure out one of those matchups, they will be in good shape to maintain a steady place in the division once the Braves figure things out.

 

Marlins bats aren’t bad, they were just cold

 

There was a huge misconception spreading that the Marlins bats were not capable of much. That is simply an overgeneralization of 8-9 games of baseball in my opinion. This team boasts 6 hitters that are statistically above the league average in many categories consistently throughout their careers. 

 

Games like these show that the bats just needed to find consistency after a long offseason and inconsistent lineups. The bats are starting to see the ball better, which is the best news a Miami Marlins fan can receive. Don’t expect consistent 14-run games out of this offense, but when they are on, expect them to give solid run support to the starters.

Starting Pitching can have off nights

 

It is ironic that 3 of the 4 Marlins wins to-date have come on days where the starters are not on their A-game. Elieser Hernandez was hurt in win 1. Sandy Alcantara had his B+ stuff at best last night. Pablo Lopez was shelled last night. 

 

Last night is evidence that the Marlins don’t have to have their starters pitch like they did to start the season (led the MLB in total starters ERA) to win games. Rather, the starters just have to match an awakening offense.

 

It should be extremely exciting when the Marlins can combine the awakened bats with the stellar starting pitching.

 

Adam Duvall could be “the guy”

 

The Marlins have needed “the guy” on offense for years. We all thought it was going to be Starling Marte, Brian Anderson, or even Garrett Cooper. But it may just be Adam Duvall. He has been this guy throughout his entire career, and my guess is, it won’t be changing anytime soon. 

 

Duvall has powerful bursts of offense that can pilot a Marlins team through close games the rest of the season. Nights like last night will be few and far in between, but if he can consistently produce as he has been lately, the Marlins will finally have “the guy” they need carrying the weight of the offense. 

 

Duvall is no Mike Trout or Freddie Freeman, but he is the best power option the Marlins have had since Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich. Progress? You decide.

Marlins are making adjustments

 

The Fish are starting to make adjustments at the plate. This was evident last night , not against Max Fried, but rather against the Braves bullpen. Last season, this bullpen was kryptonite to Marlins bats in both the regular season and postseason.

 

Clearly, these arms like Tomlin and Dayton have struggled out of the gate, but it is important for the Marlins to be able to capitalize on those situations and get better with time. The Fish have gotten periodically better over time at damaging bullpens late in the game. The last two nights in Atlanta, they have put up 10 runs alone.

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Overall

 

The first two games in Atlanta have been a positive twist to an unfortunate start for Miami. They sit at 4-6 now with 2 more games to go in this series. Tonight, Nick Neidert takes the mound looking to win the series versus veteran Charlie Morton. 

 

5 Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Suns

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The Miami Heat lost to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, in a game that three point shots were clearly not their friends. From Bam Adebayo’s lack of aggression to an injury scare with Jimmy Butler, it was a long night for Miami. But they’re going to have to lock back in immediately as they face the Nuggets in Denver less than 24 hours away. Anyways, take a look at five takeaways from this game…

#1: Duncan Robinson knocking down shots in a variety of ways.

Duncan Robinson began the game with an early explosion on the offensive side of the ball, but the shots falling isn’t the key element. The actual important part of it is the different ways that he’s scoring the ball. For one, I mentioned last game that he’s starting a lot of his sets a few feet behind the three-point line, especially being a threat from that range at this stage. That means he gets into high pick and roll sets with Bam Adebayo, leading to pull-up triples instead of straight DHO’s. It’s not all shooting for him as well, since he also is putting the ball on the floor quite regularly, while one hesitation on the wing into an up and under on Jae Crowder comes to mind immediately. If he continues to diversify his ways of scoring, it takes his level of effectiveness to another level.

#2: Trevor Ariza’s comfort levels growing game to game on both ends.

Trevor Ariza had a hot start as well for Miami, scoring a quick 10 points in the first quarter. It’s interesting that it occurred in this game, due to the constant comparison between him and Jae Crowder. This showed that although Crowder had an outstanding run with the team, Ariza is capable of having hot stretches from deep as well, especially since his comfort levels with the team are still growing. But it’s not important to dwell on the offensive side of the ball with him, since his defense continues to stand out. I’ve highlighted his strengths of guarding smaller guards, but the overall consensus is that his length and quickness combination is a terror in the passing lanes. When discussing this Heat team forcing so many turnovers lately, it starts with Ariza’s initial disruption on the perimeter.

#3: Non-Adebayo minutes the real issue for Miami.

When evaluating the box score alone in the first half, the initial takeaway may be that Bam Adebayo didn’t make much of an offensive impact in the first half, due to only scoring 5 points and attempting 2 shots. But if you watched the game, it would tell you something completely different. The drop-off when Adebayo exits the floor is going to occur on the defensive end, since it’s impossible to mirror. But the offensive struggles when he exits has become more and more apparent. Although some of it has to do with his overall impact, Precious Achiuwa’s limitations as the relief guy lead to that as well. Another reason for that could be Robinson usually exiting around the same mark, but those two are a package deal when talking about the team’s offense, and it’s obvious that they must find a way to stay afloat when he takes a breather on the bench. Either way, 2 shot attempts in a half just won’t cut it when facing top tier teams like the Suns.

#4: The pre-Oladipo takeaway: lacking a secondary attacker next to Butler.

When taking a look at Miami’s offense as a whole tonight, other than the shooting struggles from beyond the arc, the overall takeaway that has been discussed for weeks on weeks has made a return. The reason the Victor Oladipo pick-up was so crucial for Miami was due to adding an attacker next to Butler, since they lack secondary downhill guys on this roster who can get there without a screen. Although Kendrick Nunn doesn’t fully fall under that category, he definitely isn’t afraid to attack hard off pick and rolls, as well as fast-break opportunities. But the foul trouble had him sidelined for significant minutes, leading to that hole in the offense being even larger than usual.

#5: The overarching Goran Dragic takeaway.

The Goran Dragic discussion is quite interesting at this stage, since it’s been an extended stretch of time where the same things continue to occur. The things he once gave Miami offensively have slowly faded away. There’s a lack of burst off the dribble, not enough lift on his jumper, and many other things pointing toward the question marks of his postseason effectiveness. A main reason he was able to go on an incredible run in the bubble was due to the amount of rest he got prior. Now, he’s battling himself in a gritty NBA season, while Miami’s overall inconsistencies aren’t helping the cause. There are still moments that this team looks to him to be that takeover player, but that’s just not him at this stage, which means somebody’s aggression must increase, beginning with the young centerpiece Bam Adebayo who has yet to realize it.

A Miami Heat-Phoenix Suns Breakdown Preview

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The Miami Heat will kick off the front-end of a back-to-back tonight against the Phoenix Suns, who are on the second night of a back-to-back, while both teams are pretty hot. The scorching Suns have won 9 of their last 10, and the Heat have won 6 of their last 7. The story-lines are pure, headlined by a familiar face, in Jae Crowder, getting a round 2 from when they faced each other a few weeks ago.

Crowder is coming off an individual hot night, scoring 26 points in the first half alone. After the game, he said, “I’m pissed cause I had more in the tank, but I’ll save that it for tomorrow night.” Will that actually happen? Well, I guess we will find out in a few hours.

Story-lines aside, it’s important to note some of the things that Miami can do to slow down this Suns team, which is pretty hard to do. As mentioned earlier, they faced each other in Miami a few weeks ago, and Phoenix got the best of them.

So, let’s take a look at some things that stood out from the last match-up between these two teams…

– Eliminate mismatches on DeAndre Ayton

This was my one key for the game when they faced each other the first time, and it occurred right out of the gate in the first 3 possessions of the game. Miami’s switching and blitzing scheme means Bam Adebayo finds himself out on the perimeter many possessions, leaving Duncan Robinson on an island with a big, interior presence.

This doesn’t mean Miami has to abort their scheme, but it does mean Adebayo has to be selective at times with it, instead of anticipating a switch before even getting screened. The reason for this against this Suns team is shown in this play. The obvious part about back-side rotations is that you trust Jimmy Butler to defend post players, since it’s something he’s oddly good at.

The issue is that this is a team of weapons, meaning Robinson being switched onto the savvy scorer, in Devin Booker, most likely isn’t the best decision. So, that left Robinson on Ayton, awaiting the double on the baseline from Kendrick Nunn. Although they got a stop on this possession, that won’t happen for long.

– Limit turnovers, limit transition offense

Limiting turnovers seems like a simple way to analyze things, since that should be a key every night, but it’s actually what comes next against this team. The Suns are obviously a very good offensive team, but giving them easy points in the first half last match-up allowed them to pull away early.

The Heat haven’t been turning the ball over as much lately, which is a key element against this team. Now, Goran Dragic definitely hasn’t been playing to his peak abilities as of late, but this may be the revival game for him. They truly missed him against this Suns team, since Gabe Vincent running most of the team’s sets off the bench didn’t cause the best flow.

This will also allow Tyler Herro to play much more freely this time around, due to the fact he thrives as an off the ball scorer without point guard duties. As seen in this clip, Herro was the point guard in many of the lineups, which refers back to the undercover impact of Dragic. If shots begin to drop for him tonight, I believe the Heat have a good chance of coming out with a win.

– Devin Booker: A Butler/Ariza problem

Devin Booker found himself with the Herro or Robinson match-up way too much the first time these two teams played, which is why that adjustment will be made from Coach Spoelstra.

When discussing the exact change that will be made, it’ll be centered around Butler and Ariza focusing in on that match-up all night. Trevor Ariza continues to thrive on smaller guys night to night, which could mean he sees the Booker match-up immediately. When I asked Jimmy Butler about Ariza guarding smaller guys, he said, “How smart he is, knowing what plays are being ran. Always being in the right spot, staying down on shot fakes. It’s the things that people don’t see that he does extremely well.”

Since the Suns are a pretty versatile team as well, this means we may see Butler take the Crowder defensive match-up as Ariza locks in on Booker. This eliminates some of their usual abilities to hunt mismatches, since the Ayton-Crowder screeners will be guarded by Adebayo and Butler respectively. The scheme doesn’t have to be changed depending on the team they’re playing, but match-ups do.

– The importance of Butler-Paul match-up

The reason Butler and Chris Paul are so crucial in this game, is not due to individual match-ups, but instead who controls the pace more. Both guys are well known for their abilities to control a game, and Paul won that battle pretty easily the first time around.

Butler really took his time getting going, which meant the reliance on role players during a period of tough shooting wasn’t really the answer. It’s not always great to lean on Butler heavily on the first night of a back-to-back, but they’re going to need him tonight if they want to get a win.

Miami’s slow starts at times cannot happen against this team, since although they were able to overcome a horrific first quarter against Portland on Sunday night, the Suns will take advantage of it immediately. There’s a better chance of Miami throwing the first punch since the Suns were playing a game less than 24 hours ago, but Buter will have to be the guy to control the pace early on.

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– Is Achiuwa the answer or will it be a Dedmon debut?

Precious Achiuwa has gotten the nod as the back-up big lately, and he actually played a pretty decent game on both ends of the floor two nights ago. The issue is the consistency questions that come with him, since there’s always some doubt about his offensive effectiveness night to night. He actually played a good game against this Suns team, and may be used again due to an interior presence matching up better than a stretch big like Nemanja Bjelica.

But when looking for a big body to throw at this team in the non-Adebayo minutes, could we see the debut of Dewayne Dedmon? I wouldn’t be shocked, and it could be an instinctive decision by Coach Spo depending on the way that this game goes. Back-to-backs seem to be the time to give Dedmon a trial run, which is why I’m expecting it to possibly happen either tonight or tomorrow night.

Anyway, this could be a huge momentum game for this Heat team, since starting off the road trip 2-0 will be a huge relief for their spot in the standings.

Marlins @ Braves Preview

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The struggling Marlins head into Atlanta to play a 4 game series against the Atlanta Braves. The Braves ended the Marlins magical playoff run last season with a clean 3-0 sweep in the NLDS before they fell to the eventual World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. 

 

Not much has changed from the rosters that competed in the playoffs last season, and the Braves look to continue to capitalize on their mismatch with the Marlins. The Fish sit at 2-6 to start the season and the Braves sit at 4-5. Both teams have been victims to terrible umpire calls to start the season, but they both have struggled out of the gate in 2021. With 4 games for one of these teams to get back on track, let’s take a look at the matchups:

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Game 1: Alcantara (0-1, 1.50 ERA) vs Ynoa (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

 

Keys for Marlins: Sandy being Sandy, early run support

 

The Marlins clearly have a pitching advantage in this matchup. The question commonly remains whether the bats will be able to produce to capitalize. Alcantara has been steadily getting better every start, so don’t expect this game to be any different. Sandy has received exceptionally poor run support to start the season, making it important that the Marlins score early, before reaching a Braves bullpen that completely dominated their lineup last season. 

 

Even in the Marlins 3-0 win against Mets, where Trevor Rogers had the best start of his young career, they left 10 runners on base. If the Fish are going to compete with the Braves lineup, they need to be able to score in these situations more consistently. 

 

Game 2: Lopez (0-1, 1.54 ERA) vs Fried (0-0, 9.00 ERA)

 

Keys for Marlins: Pablo figuring out Braves

 

It’s no secret the worst start of Pablo Lopez’s career came in the 29-9 Braves win against the Marlins last season. This obstacle looks much harder to overcome in the face of the Braves’ ace Max Fried. If Pablo Lopez can pitch to the level he has this season, and the Marlins can sneak some runs across versus Fried, the Fish have a chance to steal this game. Out of all 4 games, this win will be the toughest to get.

 

Game 3: Neidert (0-0, 2.08 ERA) vs Morton (1-1, 3.27 ERA)

 

Keys for Marlins: Bats heat up

 

After pitching 4.1 innings of 1 run ball in his first career start, Nick Neidert gets an even bigger challenge in an extremely potent Marlins lineup. He matches up against a veteran Charlie Morton. With an inexperienced arm on the mound for the Marlins, the bats need to wake up to facilitate a victory. The Braves score a lot of runs. The Marlins need to score to keep up, especially when their top arms aren’t on the mound. 

 

Game 4: Rogers (1-1, 1.80 ERA) vs Anderson (0-0, 4.35 ERA)

 

Keys for Marlins: Trevor continues upon success

 

For pitching fans, this is the game to tune into. Ian Anderson broke out last season going 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA. Trevor Rogers showed his true potential this past weekend versus the Mets, where he went 6 innings allowing 0 runs on 10 strikeouts. With Anderson looking to return to last season’s form and Rogers looking to continue upon his last start, it should be an exciting game to watch. 

 

Overall

 

This series should be another strong set of pitching duels. Miami was fortunate enough to win these battles last season, but have struggled to seal the deal in 2021. The Braves lineup makes it even harder for the Marlins to figure things out, but if the Fish want to compete in the NL East, the Braves are who they have to go through.

 

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5 Takeaways from Heat’s Impressive Win Over Portland

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The Miami Heat took down the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night to kick off their West Coast trip. After it appeared it may be a long night for Miami following the first quarter, they turned it around completely to get a solid all-around win. So, let’s take a look at five takeaways from this game…

#1: Bam Adebayo showing peak Adebayo levels early on.

Bam Adebayo’s impact against Portland began on the first play, as a deflection led to the first turnover of many for the Trail Blazers tonight. Although defense is always the hot topic with Adebayo, his offense in the first half specifically must be harped on. This isn’t just because of his 15 point box score in the first half, but actually the importance of those 15 points. Miami had a rough first quarter, with extra emphasis on rough. The offense wasn’t clicking for anybody, except Adebayo. Attacking the drop bigs, getting to the free throw line, knocking down turn-around late shot-clock jumpers. He did it all, and it’s just further assurance that he’s more than capable of doing it on a consistent basis, but it’s up to him.

#2: Tyler Herro playing his role, thriving against one specific defensive scheme.

Tyler Herro gave Miami an efficient 10 first half points tonight, but it’s important to discuss the specifics of this scoring run off the bench. He’s mentioned many times that he is more than comfortable against drop coverage, and that statement is not an overstatement. High pick and rolls with Adebayo as the screener should make anybody comfortable, but giving Herro that many options that fit his strengths are the clear indicators. He showed the ability to hit the open pull-up mid-range, make the lob pass, and most importantly, make the pocket pass after some shots begin to drop for him. It may not be as much about comfort against the scheme as it is about overall confidence when he sees it, since a lot of the time it’s more mental than physical, especially when talking about Herro.

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#3: Duncan Robinson’s defensive flashes may be minor, but they’re happening.

Duncan Robinson’s improvements on the defensive end may not be incredibly loud, but that doesn’t mean it’s not progressing. Something that is constantly talked about is his high IQ from a team defense perspective, and that was on display tonight, especially in the first half. Nunn-Herro-Robinson lineups don’t sound like the most effective defensive lineup, but Robinson basically saved them from completely falling apart. When Nunn defensive breakdowns would occur for example, Robinson predicted the rotation to get into position, either leading to kick-outs or drawing a charge. This not only increases the comfort level and willingness to keep him on the floor late in games, but it also makes the off-season contract discussion even more interesting, since a functional defender changes a lot of things.

#4: Trevor Ariza’s fit with this Heat team becoming clearer and clearer.

When talking about Miami Heat player acquisitions that just completely embody everything that they’re about, Trevor Ariza would probably be pretty high on that list. Aside from his growing comfort level in the offense as a catch and shoot guy, while sprinkling in an obvious ability to put the ball on the floor to get to the rim, his defensive impact is the true headliner. When talking about high impact guys like Andre Iguodala whose stat lines don’t tell a thing, Ariza is in the same category, since he just constantly wrecks havoc, even without discussing steals and deflections. His rotations are crisp, his length is an offensive player’s nightmare, and most importantly, he can handle his own against the best point guards in the league. He’s more comfortable on smaller guys that lengthier wings, which means this team’s confidence rises against perimeter oriented teams in the East.

#5: Kendrick Nunn back as a starter, Kendrick Nunn back producing.

Kendrick Nunn is like a revolving door on this Heat team, since he goes from starter to out of the rotation to an opportunity rising, as the cycle begins again and again. A key piece to that as well is that he always finds himself back into his role playing at a high level, since he’s surprisingly become a pretty consistent player on the offensive side of the floor. He quickly showed some of the things that he can improve for Miami, beginning with a guy that can attack bigs in drop coverage. The half-court ability is a known element, but he has proved to be pretty great in transition, which Miami has missed with their current personnel. And with the amount of turnovers they’re forcing in this swarming defense, transition offense is necessary, which Nunn brought to this team upon arrival.

Florida acquires defenseman Brandon Montour from Buffalo

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The Florida Panthers have acquired 26-year-old defenseman Brandon Montour from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a third round pick. The trade was first reported by David Pagnotta. Kevin Weekes added on, saying the return was a third round pick. 

 

Montour has one year remaining on his $3.85 million contract, he will be a UFA this offseason.

 

The Brantford, Ont. native was selected 55th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2014 NHL Draft. He was traded to Buffalo for a first-round pick and Brendan Guhle at the 2019 NHL trade deadline. 

 

This season in Buffalo, Montour had 14 points in 38 games and was a minus 13. The Sabres are currently sitting at the bottom of the NHL and rank near the bottom of the league in team defense.

 

Montour’s best season came in 2017-2018 when he put up 32 points in 80 games with the Ducks.

 

The NHL trade deadline is two days away on April 12.

Basketball Rules and Regulations You Must Know 

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Basketball is played in different parts of continents. Every sport has some defined rules to take the decisions of the game. Basketball is played in a court which is rectangular in shape and measures 91 feet long and 50 feet wide. There are 12 members in each basketball team, whereas only 5 members of each team are allowed to play on the court. 

 

The purpose of the game is to score maximum points by throwing the ball in the basket. The team with the maximum score wins the game. Apart from this, certain fouls take place due to the carelessness of the team members and are counted against them.

 

If you are unaware of the basketball rules, then this article might help you gain some knowledge about the game. 

 

Top basketball rules you should know

 

 

  • Basketball jersey

 

The first and foremost thing to keep in mind is to be well dressed in the basketball jerseys.  

If you are a part of the playing team you must wear the jersey on the court for the convenience of your other team members to pass the ball.

 

 

  • Team players

 

There cannot be more than 5 players of each team on the court. You can substitute other players as per your choice, regarding the gameplay. 

 

 

  • Shot prevention

 

The team which is trying to make a shot in the basket is known as the offense team, whereas the team that is trying to stop them from scoring is known as the defense team. Without pushing any member, the defense team must prevent the offense team either by blocking the shot or by preventing the shot. 

 

 

  • Handling the ball

 

You cannot hit the ball with their fist, or kick it. You can pass the ball to the other member either by bouncing the ball or dribbling it. A person who leaves the catch even after touching the ball does not get the chance to dribble the ball. 

 

 

  • Chance of foul 

 

If the ball is placed in the team’s half, they will win the ownership back. Within 10 seconds, It would be declared a foul, if the ball fails to make it back to the other halfway line.

 

 

  • Free throw 

 

All the fouls that took place during the game would be assembled. After this, a free throw will be given when reached a certain number. The shot will be taken by the player who made the foul from the free-throw line. 

 

 

  • The time limit for a shot 

 

Both of the teams are supposed to shoot at the basket or at least hit the rim of the basket within 24 seconds. If either of the team fails to do so, the shot clock has to restart for another 24 seconds. 

 

 

  • step to avoid 

 

You cannot move more than a single step without bouncing the ball. It would be considered a foul. Also, you must avoid double dribble, backcourt violation, and goaltending, etc.     

 

 

  • Prevention 

 

The offensive team cannot take the basketball back if it passes halfway through the line. 

 

Conclusion

 

Playing basketball for fun is okay, but if you are playing it without any clue about its penalties you might become a burden for your team. Before playing a basketball game, you must be aware of all the rules and regulations associated with it. If you’ll have better knowledge regarding the rules, you might avoid certain mistakes.