Panthers’ Aleksander Barkov wins second Selke Trophy

/4 Comments/in , /by

Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is the 2024 Frank J. Selke Trophy winner. 

 

The Selke is awarded annually “to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game” and is selected by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.   

 

This is the second time Barkov has won the Selke, with his first coming back in 2021.

 

The 28-year-old had 80 points (23 goals, 57 assists) in 73 games this season with the Panthers — finishing the year a +33. He played a pivotal role at both ends of the ice during the regular season for the Panthers — centering the top line for the team with the best goal differential, goals against average and fewest goals conceded (tied with Winnipeg) in 2023-23.

 

First awarded in 1978, Barkov became just the 10th player in NHL history to win the Selke more than once. He is the only Panther in franchise history to win the award.

 

Barkov beat out Jordan Staal (Carolina) and Auston Matthews (Toronto), who were the other two finalists for Selke.

 

Barkov won by a landslide, accumulating 1,817 points and being first choice on 165 of the 194 ballots — placing top-five on 192 of those.

 

His teammate, Sam Reinhart, finished tied for fourth with 440 points and had 12 first-place votes, which was second most behind Barkov.

 

Staal was second with 539 points and Matthews finished third with 514.

 

The NHL Awards ceremony will be on June 27 from the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas. 

Rise of Cryptocurrency in Online Gambling: A New Era in Online Gambling

/3 Comments/in , , /by

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Tether naturally synergize with online gambling. It has been gaining popularity and acceptance in various sectors of the economy, especially in the online gambling industry. Therefore, crypto is making significant inroads into online gambling. This is a fascinating convergence of blockchain technology and the large iGaming sector.

 

Online crypto casino sites that allow users to place bets and gamble using cryptocurrencies. Instead of traditional fiat currencies like the US Dollar or Euro, these platforms operate with digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other cryptocurrencies.

 

This complete guide will cover the expanding importance of digital money in online casinos, sports betting, poker, and more. Continue reading to learn everything there is to know about:

What is a Crypto Casino Site?

Here are some key features and aspects of crypto betting sites:

 

Cryptocurrency Transactions: Users can deposit, withdraw, and place bets using various cryptocurrencies. Transactions are often faster and may offer greater privacy than traditional payment methods.

 

Anonymity and Privacy: Cryptocurrency transactions can provide users a higher level of anonymity and privacy, as they are not tied to personal information in the same way traditional payment methods might be.

 

Blockchain Technology: Many crypto betting sites utilize blockchain technology for transparency and fairness. Smart contracts on the blockchain can ensure that bets are executed and payouts are made automatically without intermediaries.

 

Global Accessibility: Cryptocurrencies are not bound by geographic boundaries or traditional banking systems. This makes crypto betting sites accessible to users worldwide, as long as they have an internet connection and a compatible cryptocurrency wallet.

 

Volatility: Cryptocurrencies are known for their price volatility. This can be advantageous for users who may see their cryptocurrency holdings increase in value over time. However, it also introduces an element of risk, as the value of the cryptocurrency used for betting can fluctuate.

 

Future Prospects: Crypto & Online Gambling

Looking ahead, the integration of cryptocurrencies into online gambling is poised to grow, perhaps even at an accelerated pace. The advancement of technologies like smart contracts and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) could catalyze further industry transformation.

 

Smart contracts, with their pre-defined rules, can automate payouts, taking human intervention out of the equation and thereby speeding up processes. DeFi platforms offer the potential for users to earn interest on their crypto assets, paving the way for an extra income stream.

 

The future of online bitcoin gambling and cryptocurrencies seems bright, but it will require a sustained collective effort from regulators, gambling platforms, and players. The aim is to amplify the benefits while curbing potential downsides.

How to Get Started with a Crypto Betting Site? 

Here are the steps to get started with a crypto-betting site:                

Deposit Money with Crypto to a Betting Site

To begin using a cryptocurrency betting service, you must first deposit cash. Choose a trustworthy and secure site, then proceed as follows:

 

  • Create an account on the betting site.
  • Proceed to the cashier or deposit area.
  • As the payment method, select your preferred cryptocurrency.
  • Use the webpage to generate a wallet address or QR code.
  • Send your Bitcoin to the specified wallet address, or scan the QR code using a crypto wallet app.

 

Before transmitting, double-check the wallet address. Depending on the cryptocurrency and network confirmation timeframes, funds should be in your betting account in minutes to an hour.

Withdraw Money from Crypto Betting Sites

Withdrawing cryptocurrency from a betting site follows a similar procedure as depositing:

 

  • Navigate to the betting site’s cashier or withdrawal section.
  • As a payment option, select your preferred cryptocurrency.
  • Enter the address from your wallet.
  • Enter the amount you want to withdraw.
  • Complete the transaction.
  • Remember that withdrawal processing times can vary depending on the betting site and network circumstances.

 

Crypto Deposit & Payout Times

Deposit and payment timeframes may vary depending on network congestion and the cryptocurrency used. However, in general, crypto deposits are frequently faster than regular payment methods:

 

  • Instant to 1-hour deposits
  • Withdrawals are processed within 1 to 48 hours.

Reasons People Are Choosing Crypto Casino

There are many benefits to online crypto gambling; we just need to do it with some skills and tips. Therefore, some of the benefits of the online gambling industry are: 

The Perks of Privacy

Cryptocurrencies excel in one important area: anonymity. This is a significant advantage and a game-changer for many. Users of traditional gaming platforms are frequently required to provide sensitive personal and banking information. However, cryptocurrency transactions may be made without revealing the user’s identity, preserving their privacy and security.

Transaction Speed and Costs

Traditional payment methods, such as bank transfers and credit card transactions, are frequently hampered by lengthy processing times and transaction fees. However, there is an alternative: cryptocurrency. Transaction speeds with cryptocurrency are near-instant, and the charges are minimal. This quick and inexpensive solution is gaining popularity among players and gaming sites.

Access and Inclusion

Cryptocurrencies are available anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection. This opens up online gaming to locations where standard banking systems may not reach or where gambling is traditionally outlawed, allowing for higher participation and revenue.

The Rising Popularity of Crypto Casinos

Online casinos that exclusively use cryptocurrencies, known as crypto casinos, are gaining momentum in the gambling industry. These casinos operate entirely on blockchain technology, creating a transparent and verifiable system of transactions.

 

Crypto casinos also offer a unique selling point – provably fair gaming. This feature uses cryptographic algorithms to ensure that the outcome of each game is random and fair. Players can verify the fairness of each game themselves, adding an extra layer of trust to the online gambling experience.

 

Final Thoughts: The Future Of Cryptocurrency In Online Gambling

Investigating the many technological advancements that have influenced the crypto-based sports betting sector, it is clear that this type of gambling offers numerous benefits. Low transaction fees and quick deposits make these types of betting an appealing option, while blockchain technology allows for safe payments and transparent record-keeping.

 

As more players become aware of its possibilities, we anticipate a steady increase in usage across all gambling markets worldwide. Furthermore, with innovations being developed regularly, we predict even more advancements in this area, making crypto sports betting one of the most exciting trends in online gaming today.

Panthers advance to Eastern Conference Final, knock out Bruins in Game 6

/1 Comment/in , /by

The Florida Panthers advanced to the Eastern Conference Final after knocking out the Boston Bruins in six games on Friday night. 

 

Gustav Forsling scored the game winning goal with just 1:33 remaining in the third period, leading the Panthers to 2-1 victory.

 

Florida has ended the Bruins season in two-straight postseasons — winning six straight playoff games at TD Garden en route to that.   

 

The Bruins struck first on Friday, grabbing a 1-0 lead after Pavel Zacha scored off a breakaway with just 52 seconds remaining in the first. 

 

Replay showed that Panthers forward Carter Verhaeghe was interfered with by Bruins defender Brandon Carlo in the lead up to the goal, but there was no call made on the ice. 

 

In the second period, Florida’s youngest player Anton Lundell got his team back in the game with his second goal of the postseason, coming with 7:16 left in the frame. 

 

Lundell, 22, already had 41 playoff games under his belt. 

 

The game remained tight until the final minutes of the game and that’s when Florida took the series.

 

Gustav Forsling scored the game winning goal with 1:33 left in regulation, his second goal of the series.  

 

The Panthers will return to the Eastern Conference Final (ECF) for a second-straight year and will look to defend their title against the  President’s Trophy winning New York Rangers. 

 

Game 1 of the ECF will be on Wednesday, May 22 at 8 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden in New York. 

2024 NHL Eastern Conference Final schedule released

/21 Comments/in , /by

The NHL released the full schedule for the 2024 Eastern Conference Final on Friday afternoon. 

 

After defeating the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, the New York Rangers booked their ticket to the Eastern Conference Final (ECF) and now await the winner of the Florida Panthers-Boston Bruins series — Florida currently leads 3-2.

 

Game 1 of the ECF will be on Wednesday, May 22 at 8 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden in New York, with the Rangers hosting either the Panthers or Bruins. 

 

Game 6 of the second round series between the Panthers and Bruins is Friday, May 17 at the TD Garden. 

 

Full Eastern Conference Final schedule:

GAME 1: Wednesday, May 22, 8 p.m. ET- Panthers/Bruins @ Rangers (ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)

 

GAME 2:  Friday, May 24, 8 p.m. ET – Panthers/Bruins @ Rangers (ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)

 

GAME 3:  Sunday, May 26, 3 p.m. ET – Rangers @ Panthers/Bruins (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)

 

GAME 4: Tuesday, May 28, 8 p.m. ET –  Rangers @ Panthers/Bruins (ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)

 

GAME 5*: Thursday, May 30, 8 p.m. ET – Panthers/Bruins @ Rangers (ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)

 

GAME 6*: Saturday, June 1, 8 p.m. ET – Rangers @ Panthers/Bruins (ABC, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)

 

GAME 7*: Monday, June 3, 8 p.m. ET –  Panthers/Bruins @ Rangers (ESPN, ESPN+, SN, CBC, TVAS)

Game 6: Lomberg, Cousins in for Panthers, Marchand game-time decision for Bruins

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Panthers and Bruins will battle it out tonight in Game 6 at Boston’s TD Garden.

 

Holding a 3-2 lead entering Friday night’s matchup, the Panthers are making a few changes up front. 

 

Forwards Ryan Lomberg and Nick Cousins will draw into the lineup, while Kyle Okposo and Steven Lorentz come out, per Jameson Olive of Florida Panthers.com. 

 

Cousins played the Panthers’ first seven games of the postseason, before being healthy scratched in Game 3 of this series because of Sam Bennett’s return to the lineup. 

 

Lomberg played in Game 1 of the first round against the Lightning, but would miss games 2-4 with an illness. When Lomberg recovered, he wouldn’t return to the lineup because of the great performances from those on the Panthers’ fourth line. 

 

Looking for a spark, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice decides to remove Okposo and Lorentz from the lineup — both of whom have exceeded expectations in the postseason. 

 

“I’m looking at the two guys who are sitting out thinking they could really bring some legs tonight,” Maurice spoke about bringing in Lomberg and Cousins. “That’s why.”

 

Lorentz has two goals, and three points in nine playoff games, Okposo had two assists in eight games.

 

Lomberg and Cousins are expected to reunite on the fourth line, with Kevin Stenlund as the center. 

 

Projected Panthers lines 

Tarasenko – Barkov – Reinhart

Verhaeghe – Bennett – Tkachuk

Luostarinen – Lundell – Rodrigues

Lomberg – Stenlund – Cousins

 

Forsling-Ekblad

Mikkola-Montour

Ekman-Larsson-Kulikov 

 

Bobrovsky (Confirmed Starter)

Stolarz 

 

Boston will need a repeat of their Game 5 performance on Friday night if they want to get on a plane to Fort Lauderdale for a Game 7. 

 

Bruins captain Brad Marchand was listed as a game-time decision, per head coach Jim Montgomery. Marchand missed the last two games with an upper-body injury.

 

Trailing 3-2 in the series, the Bruins know all too well it’s not over until the handshake line.

 

They are in the same position that the Panthers were in last year against them — hosting Game 6, trailing 3-2 in the series. The Panthers won the series after overcoming a 3-1 deficit. 

 

“It’s another loud building and they’re going to bring it again,” Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour said. “Their lives are on the line and [it’s] another chance for us to find a way to close it out. It’s going to be a tough game.”

 

The Bruins played seven games in their first round against the Maple Leafs after Toronto clawed back down 3-1 to force a Game 7. 

 

Jeremy Swayman (6-5-0) is the projected starter for Boston. Sergei Bobrovsky (7-3-0) has been confirmed for the Panthers. 

Bruins stay alive, defeat Panthers to force Game 6 in Boston

/0 Comments/in , /by

SUNRISE — With their backs against the wall and on the brink of elimination, the Boston Bruins kept their season alive on Tuesday night, defeating the Florida Panthers 2-1 in Game 5 at Amerant Bank Arena. 

 

Charlie McAvoy scored the game winning goal midway through the second period and Jeremy Swayman shut the door the rest of the way out, giving up just one goal on 29 shots. 

 

The Bruins’ win pushes this series to a Game 6 in Boston on Friday, May 17. 

 

Florida still leads the series 3-2 and will have another chance to move on with a win at the TD Garden — where they’ve won five consecutive playoff games. 

 

Morgan Geekie got the game going when he opened the scoring with his fourth goal of the playoffs 4:49 into the first.

 

The Bruins would take a 1-0 lead to the break and a 13-4 shot advantage — their most in a single period all series. 

 

“I didn’t like our first,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said post game. “And good for (Boston) right. 110-109 (Panthers -Bruins season point totals), they should have a good first. 

 

In the second, the Panthers equalized after Sam Reinhart scored his fifth goal of the playoffs 6:23 into the frame. 

 

Four minutes after Reinhart tied the game, Charlie McAvoy grabbed the lead back for the Bruins, scoring his first goal of the playoffs to put Boston up 2-1. 

 

Florida would challenge the play for goaltender interference, however the goal stood following review.

 

Over the next 30 minutes, both teams would have their respective chances, but the goaltenders stood on their head to give their teams a chance.

 

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky had 26 saves on 28 shots in the loss. 

 

“He’s been exceptional all year for us,” Panthers forward Kevin Stenlund said of Bobrovsky. “He kept us in it, especially that first half. 

 

Despite seven combined power plays in the game, neither team could find the back of the net on the man-advantage. 

 

The Bruins were 0/3 while the Panthers went 0/4 — two of which came in the third period. 

 

Boston returns home to a similar situation that the Panthers faced against them in last season’s first-round. After going down 3-1, the Panthers defeated the Bruins on the road — winning the game by one goal to force a Game 6 at home. Florida went onto win Game 6 and then forced a Game 7 back in Boston, which they won in overtime.

 

The Bruins held a 3-1 lead in this year’s first-round to the Toronto Maple Leafs, before dropping two straight. They would win Game 7 in overtime to move on.


There will two days off between games before the Bruins play hosts to the Panthers on Friday night, for Game 6 at the TD Garden in Boston. 

Panthers-Bruins Game 5: Morning skate edition

/0 Comments/in , /by

FORT LAUDERDALE — The Florida Panthers are back in Sunrise tonight, with a chance to book their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. 

 

Leading 3-1 in their series against the Bruins, Florida is keeping the same lineup they had for the past two wins in Boston. 

 

“I don’t think too much changes,” Carter Verhaeghe said going into the elimination game. “We just got to keep on doing what we’re doing and playing the right way, trying to stick to what we do best in our game.”

 

Both Sam Reinhart and Vladimir Tarasenko remain in the lineup after getting dinged up at the end of Game 4.

 

Sergei Bobrovsky is set to make his tenth consecutive start of this postseason. 

 

Going back to last season, the Panthers have won their last two home-ice series clinching games (Carolina 2023, Tampa 2024).

 

If the Panthers were to close out the series on Tuesday, they’ll face the winner of the Rangers – Hurricanes series (Rangers lead 3-2). 

 

No matter who wins in the other series, if they advance, the Panthers would begin the Eastern Conference Finals on the road as they finished the season with fewer points than both Carolina and New York.

 

The Bruins will be without their captain Brad Marchand (upper-body) for a second consecutive game, per Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com.

 

Projected Lines 

Tarasenko-Barkov-Reinhart

Verhaeghe-Bennett-Tkachuk

Luostarinen-Lundell-Rodrigues

Lorentz-Stenlund-Okposo

 

Forsling-Ekblad

Mikkola-Montour

OEL-Kulikov

 

Bobrovsky (Confirmed Starter)

Stolarz

Game 5 is Tuesday, May 14, at 7 p.m.

Panthers take 3-1 series lead after Game 4 win in Boston

/0 Comments/in , /by

After scoring two unanswered goals to tie the game, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov had the game winner as Florida took down the Boston Bruins 3-2 at the TD Garden on Sunday night. 

 

The Panthers will take a 3-1 series lead back to Sunrise, with a chance to advance on Tuesday night after they took the Bruins down in both games 3 and 4 on the road. 

 

Entering Sunday’s matchup there was a lot of discourse ahead of the 6:30 p.m. puck drop in Boston. 

 

The big storyline entering Game 4 was not about the Bruins getting outscored 12-3 in the past two games, or being outshot 2-1 in each of those games, it was about the Sam Bennett hit on Brad Marchand. 

 

To be clear, the Bruins had a right to be upset regarding the hit — a new replay angle which was shown on TNT just 30 minutes before the game visibly showed Bennett catching Marchand with a fist to the face in the first period of Game 3.  

 

Marchand didn’t play in Game 4, but the reasoning behind his upper-body injury hasn’t been disclosed yet and there’s a possibility he could’ve picked that up on a play separate from Bennett, as the Bruins captain did stay in the game until the start of the third. 

 

The league didn’t think Bennett needed any supplemental discipline, so he was in the lineup for the Panthers.

 

With that being said, It should come to nobody’s surprise that the Bruins came out of the gates on Sunday with a mission.



Trailing the series on home ice, Boston needed to be the hungrier team and they were that at the start.

 

On the first shift of the game, Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy steamrolled Sam Reinhart at open ice — getting the Boston faithful on their feet and buzzing just seconds into the game. 

 

The Bruins fed off the crowd and early physicality, scoring twice in the first period, off a power play goal from David Pastrnak and a point shot from Brandon Carlo. 

 

They went into the intermission up 2-0.

 

Florida was being outscored, but they weren’t being outplayed.

 

The Panthers led in the shots department 15-5 after the first period, but they weren’t able to get past Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman.

 

Despite trailing by multiple goals, the Panthers didn’t stray away from their game and they were finally rewarded when Anton Lundell scored his first goal of the playoffs with 5:12 remaining in the second. 

 

“The first goal was obviously huge for our team,” Lundell said. “We had some good chances early in the game but it’s hard to score in the playoffs. We just stuck with it, got some more chances and finally it went in.”

 

Down one entering the final period of regulation and holding a 28-16 shot advantage, you could feel the tying goal coming and it did — but not without some controversy. 

 

The biggest enemy in Boston entering Sunday was without a doubt Sam Bennett for his hit on Boston’s captain. 

 

So of course Bennett tied the game in an extremely controversial fashion. 

 

With the Panthers on the power play, Bennett tucked away a rebound on the doorstep of the Bruins crease — evening things up at 2-2 just 3:41 into the third. 

 

The replay showed that Bennett shoved Bruins forward Charlie Coyle into Jeremey Swayman before he put away his second goal of the postseason. 

 

Boston would challenge the play for goaltender interference and the consensus in the building was that the goal would come back — it didn’t.

 

To the Bruins surprise, they lost the challenge. 

 

The NHL’s situation room in Toronto deemed that there wasn’t goaltender interference and the goal would stand. 

 

Panthers coach Paul Maurice was asked postgame, “hand on the Bible, were you surprised that goal counted from Bennett?” 

 

“No,” Maurice responded in a not so enthusiastic tone. “I will have an opinion and it would be no, in that, it will have no impact on the play of the game… the contact between the two is not egregious at all.”

 

Carrying the momentum of two unanswered goals, the Panthers captain would put his team on his back once again — this time with a highlight reel goal.

 

With 12:30 to play in regulation, Aleksander Barkov tucked his shoulder and breezed past three Bruins defenders before roofing the puck over Swayman’s shoulder, giving the Panthers their first lead of the game.

 

“It’s incredible,” Sam Bennett said of Barkov’s game winner. “It’s so much fun to watch Barky play hockey. I think for anyone else that’s a career highlight goal and for him it’s just another day in the office. It’s pretty remarkable what he can do.”  

 

Barkov’s 13 playoff points (5 goals, 8 assists) is tied for the team lead with Matthew Tkachuk.

 

It was another tough night for the Bruins offense. They put just 18 shots on Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky — with only two total in the third period. 


Since Game 2, Boston has been outshot 107-50.

 

The Panthers are 2-0 at the TD Garden this series and have won their last five playoff games in Boston dating back to last season. 

 

Florida returns home with a 3-1 lead and can end the series on Tuesday night in Sunrise — which would get them back to the Eastern Conference Finals for a second consecutive season.

Discourse on Bennett-Marchand hit continues ahead of Game 4

/2 Comments/in , /by

There will be a hockey game later tonight in Boston — an important one for both sides as the Panthers lead the series 2-1.

 

However, over the last 24 hours, the hockey world’s attention has been zeroed in on the Sam Bennett – Brad Marchand incident.

 

For those who have been off the grid since Friday night, in the first period of Game 3, Marchand attempted to hit Bennett in the neutral zone, but the Panthers forward saw him coming and reversed the hit — knocking the Bruins captain to the ice.

 

Marchand was visibly shaken up, but stayed in the game for the first and second periods. He would not return for the third. 

 

On Friday night, there wasn’t really any discourse regarding the hit from the Bruins bench. 

 

Nobody reacted, nobody went after Bennett and the game played out.

 

That would change the next day.

 

Everyone saw the hit in real time, but a few different angles of the play slowed down began circulating — which brings us to where we are today. 

 

Some believe Bennett “sucker punched” Marchand in the head as he was countering the Bruins forward’s attempt to lay the body. 

 

The day after the game, Bruins head coach Jim Montgoomery made it clear that he believes Bennett knew what he was doing on the play.

 

“Having seen it, there’s a history there with Bennett,” Montgomery said on Saturday. “There’s clearly evidence of what went on and people can say it wasn’t intentional. We have our view of it.”

 

On the other hand, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice thought the complete opposite of his Bruins counterpart.  

 

“No, no, and I don’t think most of you would’ve either,” Maurice responded when asked if he thought Bennett punched Marchand. “It was just a collision. In a perfect world, every team has everybody healthy, nobody likes to see anybody get hurt.”

 

The NHL’s Department of Player Safety appeared to share a similar view to that of Maurice’s as Bennett would not receive any supplemental discipline from the league.

 

While both coaches and the league let their opinions be known, the discourse continued in the hours leading up to Sunday’s Game 4. 

 

Boston announced that Marchand would not play on Sunday due to an upper-body injury. He’s currently day-to-day. 

 

Montgomery followed up where he left off on Saturday, letting his opinion on Bennett’s hit known after Boston’s morning skate on Sunday.

 

“I don’t think I classified it as dirty, I just thought it was outside lines,” Montgomery told the media. “I think it was someone that plays the game on the edge and he knew what he was doing. I don’t know if you’ve seen the picture from behind, but clearly he loaded up.”

 

Montgomery was then asked why his team didn’t retaliate as the hit took place in front of Boston’s bench and if Marchand was concussed on the play. 

 

While the status of Marchand’s health wasn’t fully disclosed,  Montgommery did answer why there was no response from his team.

 

“I feel it’s my fault that we didn’t retaliate to some degree,” Montgomery responded. “You’re trying to get back in a game, it’s 1-0 up until they get the four-minute power play. Then we start the third and score right away. Now we’ve got the juices going. There’s reasons why we didn’t. That’s something I personally take responsibility for.”

 

Game 4 is a big one for both sides, but the situation seems a bit more dire for the home team, especially since they’ll be without their captain.

 

Trailing 2-1 in the series, the Bruins have been outscored 12-3 in the past two games while being outshot 66-32.

 

A Bruins loss would have them down 3-1 in the series and it would give the Panthers three straight opportunities to move onto the Eastern Conference Final — two of those being at home in Sunrise. 

Next up from the Skyforce: who could be in NBA soon?

/0 Comments/in , /by

As I’ve stated numerous times, this Skyforce team had a ton of talent. The Skyforce had 5 players get NBA call-ups, but that is not all the talent they had. There are 2 players that I believe are next in line for the NBA. For today’s installment of the Skyforce season review, we will look at those players and see why they deserve the promotion.

****

Caleb Daniels

Caleb Daniels has quickly become one of my favorite Skyforce players, and no it’s not because he joined the podcast. Daniels is a player that always makes the right play. These players are valuable because you always know what you will get from them. Too many players try to force things and that gets them into trouble, but Daniels consistently takes what the defense gives him. He never tries to do too much. If a play is not there, he won’t try to force it. Daniels is also capable of hitting open threes at a high clip. Daniels is a good defender and is willing to do the dirty work on the defensive end. Maybe my favorite thing about Caleb Daniels is his physicality and his willingness to rebound. He is never shy of contact. One of the most underrated aspects of basketball is guard rebounding and Daniels excels at it, simply because he prioritizes it. 

Daniels has the mindset of an NBA player already as well. He loves to work hard, and he understands that to earn minutes you have to put in the work with no one watching. This was evident as he was able to expand his role throughout the season and by the end of the year, Daniels was one of the most important players on the team. Another thing I love about Daniels is that he’s willing to do whatever the team needs. If the team needs a spot-up shooter, He’s willing to do that. If the team needs a guy to play physical defense in the next game, he’s willing to do that. If the team needs someone to facilitate, once again he is willing to do that. He is willing to sacrifice any part of his game for the betterment of the team. If I’m scouting for an NBA team and I see a guy willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team, even for the detriment of his stats, that is the guy I want. 

There’s a large misconception out there that all you have to do is score and that’s how you’re going to become an NBA player and that is just not true. Teams are looking for players to perform a specific role and supplement their roster. When Daniels joined my podcast, The Force with Matt and Major, he discussed how Villanova prepared him for the NBA. He started his NCAA career at Tulane and was the go-to guy that could do whatever he wanted. Then he went to Villanova, and it was a wake-up call. He learned that you’ll have to sacrifice if you want to win and if you want to even play. Daniels said he learned over time how to sacrifice, and I would argue that this has been one of the biggest benefits to his pro career so far. This is because everyone who is a professional basketball player is incredible at the game. They’re all used to being the go-to guy at some point in their basketball lives, but not everyone understands how to play team basketball and understands that sometimes it is better to sacrifice a part of your game for the betterment of the team.

Daniels has proven quickly that he not only has the skills required to be an NBA player, but that he also has the mindset. I believe any team would be thrilled to have a guy like Caleb Daniels on the roster. He is a perfect plug-and-play type player, and you never will have any doubts about his work ethic. 

*****

Check out the podcast with Caleb Daniels right HERE….

 

*****

Josh Christopher

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I love Josh Christopher. He’s a flat-out bucket-getter, and when he has it going, he’s unstoppable. Christopher is a former first-round draft pick by the Houston Rockets, so we know the talent is there. He has plenty of NBA experience, so adjustment to the NBA should not be a problem. Christopher also was on a two-way contract this year with the Salt Lake City Stars and the Utah Jazz. NBA teams recognize the talent Christopher has; we just need a little bit more consistency from him. Once he gets that consistency then he is in the NBA for good.

 When I watch Josh Christopher play, I see a smooth player. His movements are fluid on the offensive end and plays like a player in control of his body. There are not many times you feel like Christopher is out of control and put himself in a bad spot. He plays at his pace and dictates the speed at which the play will go. He does not allow the defense to rush him, he understands the defense has to react to him. This was displayed even more towards the end of the year when Christopher became more of the go-to scorer. 

When Alondes Williams was up with the Miami Heat, Christopher was relied on to fill that role. This is the role he is most comfortable with, though on the Stars he did play more of a point guard role and was playing rather well. So, it is not unreasonable to think that he could develop into an all-around playmaker. I could very much see Josh Christopher developing into a microwave scorer off the bench for an NBA team. Think of a guy that you put in when you just need points. Christopher can make tough shots which allows him to combat the defense no matter what they throw at him.

 As I mentioned earlier, I would like to see some more consistency out of Josh Christopher. There are a few too many games where he has stretches when he struggles from the field. To get an NBA contract you have to be consistent. Another thing that would help Christopher land a contract would be to improve on the defensive end. He has all the tools to become a solid defender, so there is potential to do so, we just have not seen that part of his game blossom yet. 

Josh Christopher is an NBA player in my eyes. I predict a big leap coming from Christopher in the next year. I would not be surprised if he is on the Alondes Williams trajectory and by this time next year, we are talking about how his explosive scoring performances landed him an NBA contract.

Caleb Daniels and Josh Christopher are both players that deserve a chance at the next level. Though it is easy to overlook their contributions, they were both vital to the Skyforce’s success. On a team that had an enormous amount of talent, they were able to carve out their place and make a name for themselves. This time next year, I believe they both will have earned their chance in the NBA.