CBD and Sports: Can Cannabidiol Improve Athletic Performance and Recovery?

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Nowadays, many people, from individuals struggling with anxiety and stress to athletes, turn to CBD. It’s also called cannabidiol, and pain relief and inflammation are the properties that CBD provides. Many athletes take CBD products to improve their performance, enhance their physical abilities, and accelerate recovery, but there are doubts about their effects. It’s better to learn more about the potential benefits of CBD for athletes. Can it actually improve performance and recovery? 

 

CBD is a compound of cannabis, among other cannabinoids like THC. But unlike THC, it doesn’t produce a high effect, and many people choose it because of the therapeutic effects. Many people notice anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-anxiety benefits after taking CBD. These properties can be highly effective for athletes experiencing pain and inflammation from intense training or competitions. It’s possible to find a variety of such products on the market, and if you decide to look for “stores that sell delta 9 thc near me“, you’ll be able to find many suppliers with a wide selection.

 

The ability to reduce inflammation is one of the most notable therapeutic benefits of CBD for athletes. Basically, inflammation is a natural response to stress or injury. However, it can lead to pain and hinder performance, and that’s why many people turn to CBD. It has anti-inflammatory effects that reduce pain and improve recovery time. Also, CBD helps athletes train harder and recover faster by protecting them against chronic conditions like arthritis.

 

Moreover, reducing anxiety is another reason for people to take CBD products. Many athletes struggle with performance anxiety and pre-game stress that negatively affect their performance. CBD has anxiolytic effects, promoting relaxation and reducing feelings of anxiety. It can help athletes become more confident and focused, leading to better performance.

 

In addition, CBD  has beneficial effects on the quality of sleep, which is essential for athletic recovery. Proper sleep is highly important for mental clarity, energy restoration, and muscle repair. By getting enough sleep, athletes can positively affect their performance, improving their sleep quality and duration. Also, athletes can recover faster with CBD, leading to good preparation for the training session or competition.

 

It’s important to note that there’s not enough research to fully understand the effects of CBD on athletic performance and anxiety. It’s worth mentioning that athletes should ensure that CBD products don’t have any prohibited substances. The World Anti-Doping Agency banned THC and other cannabinoids but removed CBD from the list of prohibited substances. 

 

Also, it’s essential to use CBD with other methods of injury prevention because CBD is not a cure for everything. If you have proper nutrition, hydration, and rest, taking CBD can help you get the best results. Additionally, keep in mind the potential side effects. They may include fatigue, changes in appetite, and gastrointestinal issues.

Conclusion

The number of beneficial effects of CBD is incredible, from improved sleep and better recovery to reducing inflammation and anxiety. But it’s necessary to take this substance responsibly, after making sure that there are no impurities. And it’s better to consult with a healthcare specialist to avoid struggling with any side effects. A proper approach can help you get the best experience and reap all the benefits of CBD.

Five Takeaways from Panthers’ Game 1 win over Maple Leafs

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TORONTO — Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs officially got underway Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena. The Toronto Maple Leafs played host to the Florida Panthers as the two began their first ever  playoff series against one another. 

 

The Panthers walked out of Game 1 tonight with a 4-2 win and a 1-0 series thanks in large part to the hometown Ontario raised Panthers. 


Here’s tonight’s takeaways.

 

Tkachuk, Bennett, Cousins line is on fire

The Panthers are a few games into this new line combination, with Nick Cousins playing alongside the dynamic duo of Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett. 

 

Florida’s second line was the best trio on the ice in the first period. Tkachuk and Bennett are both players who dominate when working the puck down low in the offensive zone. Nick Cousins doesn’t over complicate his game, which makes him a good support player with those two.

 

Nick Cousins scored the first goal of the series tonight just that way. The line went to work down below the net – winning another  puck battle while being outnumbered, eerily similar to the Game 7 OT winning goal in Boston. 

 

Cousins freed himself from his defender in front of Ilya Samsonov’s net, leading to a fairly easy backhand shot for his first goal of the playoffs. 

 

On Florida’s second goal of the game it was much of the same. While Nick Cousins wasn’t on the bench, Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Bennett had a sort of double screen in front of Toronto’s net. Aaron Ekblad’s point shot was tipped in by Bennett, giving Florida a  2-0 lead. 

 

Florida gives up another two-goal lead… but survives again

Florida had a 2-0 lead eight minutes into the second period on the road. The Toronto crowd was stun and out of it… for 11 seconds.

 

Immediately following Florida’s second goal,  the Leafs won the faceoff, quickly entered the zone and fed 20-year-old rookie Matthew Knies in the slot. 


Knies calmly waited out Sergei Bobrovsky to tuck away his first career NHL playoff goal, which was also his first ever goal in the NHL.

 

Later in the period, a defensive zone collapse by Florida led to Micheal Bunting having a wide open look at Sergei Bobrovsky. The Scarborough, ON. native tied game with his first playoff goal of the season.

 

Last game in Boston, Florida also had a two goal lead and the Bruins were able to not only tie it at two, but take the lead. 

 

Florida wasn’t going to let that happen again – Toronto didn’t hold the lead once tonight.

 

Sergei Bobrovsky stands tall in fourth-straight win

The Panthers’ goaltender won three elimination games in a row against Boston to get Florida into the second-round.

 

Bobrovsky got the nod again tonight as Florida’s playoff journey shifted to Toronto. 

 

Early into Game 1 Toronto had the Panthers on their heels. The Leafs two early power plays produced a plethora of chances around Bobrovsky, but he was able to close the door on most shots, while the Leafs had a few bounce wide.

 

Toronto peppered Bob in the third, putting 14 shots on goal. In the dying minutes of regulation, the Leafs had sustained pressure in the Florida zone – a goal looked to be coming. 

 

Unfortunately for Toronto, Bob looked a lot more like the goalie who was winning Vezina trophies in Columbus down the stretch. 

 

Bobrovsky finished the night with 34 saves on 36 shots, including all 14 in the third. 

 

Ontario Panther Party

There’s a lot of players on the Florida Panthers with Southern Ontario roots. 

 

Playing against what was many of their childhood team tonight in the playoffs didn’t slow down the Ontario born Cats tonight. 

 

Florida scored four goals – all of which came from players born within a few hours of Toronto.

 

Nick Cousins (Belleville, ON.), Sam Bennett (Holland Landing, ON.) Carter Verhaeghe (Hamilton, ON.) and Brandon Montour (Brantford, ON.) all scored in Game 1. 

 

“We just got a lot of Ontario boys,”  Brandon Monotur said postgame. “We enjoy playing these games, playing in Toronto.”

 

Panthers get the early series lead and another road win

The Panthers haven’t won the first game of a playoff series since 1997.

 

Florida also didn’t lead the Bruins series until they won the whole thing in Game 7 overtime. 

 

Tonight they not only broke that Game 1 winless drought, but they also grabbed that win on the road. 

 

The Panthers have been better on the road in their eight playoff games than they have at home. In their five road games, they won four of them – while their three home games only garnered a single win, which came in Game 6 last round. 

 

For the first time in a very, very long time, Florida doesn’t have to fight back early on in a playoff series, they are in the drivers’ seat.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Knicks

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No Jimmy Butler, no Tyler Herro. Tough task ahead for the Heat in game 2.

But the Heat show major fight all the way through, but the lack of that fourth quarter closer leaves them short.

1-1, heading back to Miami.

#1: Heat adjusting back to that 2-3 zone.

As there was some potential that the Heat could be playing without Jimmy Butler in game 2, that left me with one adjustment in mind that Spoelstra would lean to heavily: the 2-3 zone. It puts your role player bunch in a much more settling scheme, as you also want to force a team who barely shot 20% from three in game 1 into those exact looks. So the Heat’s first half of game 2 consisted of a heavy dosage of it, while the Knicks knocked down 35% of them. Better than game 1, but the Heat dictated the shots for New York. Win for Miami. The only issue at times with that adjustment is that it can hurt the rebounding, but it was only a 6 board deficit at half and didn’t feel overwhelming at any point. But Love was doings this positionally, Highsmith swarmed, Adebayo anchored, and the guards played their role enough. It was a win for the defense in the first 24 minutes.

#2: Who replicates Jimmy Butler’s rim pressure? We got that answer.

When it came to the offensive side of things, the blueprint was clear: Bam Adebayo and shooting. The one question I had was if they could get decent enough looks without having much rim pressure on the roster tonight, but man did one guy emerge in that range. Caleb Martin not only slotted into Butler’s starting role, but he was slashing with a purpose and getting to the rim consistently. That was the turning point for the offense early. They also had him playing much more of a ball-handling role to free up Vincent at times and pull certain defenders away from the play. His usage was absolutely perfect to start this game, and he was also capitalizing on his looks. We shouldn’t be surprised, since he has been filling in for whatever is needed all year, but this was big time stuff.

#3: Haywood Highsmith minutes…

As Martin got a nightly promotion, so did Haywood Highsmith right behind him. He’s a player that can do his job on the defensive end when you need him to, and man did he do that early. Getting into the body of Julius Randle, even as he hit tough shots, but the point was that he was making him at least semi-uncomfortable. Then as I talked about the zone earlier, that seems to be his happy place. When he can just run around and disrupt, it’s when he looks his best. But his impact didn’t stop with the defensive side of the ball. They were actually using him as an offensive hub early in this game. Setting up handoffs, flipping dunker spots, filling that corner. One play stood out: screen for Robinson into a Adebayo hand-off, both defenders job at Robinson, Highsmith slips down the right slot as Bam hits him. 3-on-2 and they get a score out of it. His minutes are always situational, but man does he impact in that short stint. He still needs to tame the turnovers and rushed on-ball reps, but that’s in due time. Not everything at once…

#4: Outcome aside, one thing is clear: this Heat team is extremely confident.

As I walked out of the Heat’s practice an hour before they got on their flight to New York before game 1, one thing struck me: this team is confident from top to bottom. An 8 seed? With top of the roster injuries? Yes. After taking out the Bucks in that first round, they have this mentality that they can beat anybody, which you simply need to have in this league. Fast forward to the day of game 2, my main thought process to playing without Butler was that this is house money. It’s a trap game potentially for the Knicks that they absolutely need to get, and well, the Heat’s guys can go out there and play freely. An overly confident team getting to play free? That’s always a fun combo. And as the Heat walked out of the third with a 1 point lead, there’s no doubt this team’s role guys are as confident in their individual abilities as ever. The only issue was they don’t have that pure closing ability that Butler, or even Herro, have to put things away late.

#5: The fourth quarter…

As the Heat lead by 1 heading into the fourth, it was clear they were going to need a go-to scorer to settle this group. Hello, Gabe Vincent. Vincent went into a semi-Butler mode over a 3 possession stretch: spot-up three, insanely contested pull-up 3, tough flip shot in the lane. He was channeling an insane version of himself. Now with extra attention the next time down, he finds Martin weak-side for the triple. Past two-way contracts, current playoff saviors. But yet, the Knicks make their run right back into a tie game, behind some favorable calls that they got along the way to extend some plays. Either way, it was 93-93 with 6 minutes left. Vincent answered with another possession of drawing attention, right into a pull-up 3 where he gets fouled. Three free throws. The longest play of all time follows that with Hartenstein’s rebounding, finally into a Hart 3 in the corner. Energy shifting, Heat miss, Brunson pulls up for 3, and the Garden goes nuts. Knicks now up 3. Another missed call doesn’t go Miami’s way as the ball grazes the rim before a Vincent put-back, but called a shot clock violation. Lowry hits a floater, then finds Bam on the roll for a tough lay. 1 point game. But the Knicks respond with a Hart corner triple. Back to four. And well, they ran away from there as they fed off the energy on offense. But it wasn’t completely over yet. They still fought, Vincent lays it in, and Randle commits an over the line violation. Inbound, Robinson catch, Robinson 3. Somehow a 3 point game again with 22 seconds left. Knicks make 2 free throws, Heat miss on other end, and that’ll do it.

How to Get a Job as a Sports Nutritionist

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Are you interested in sports nutrition?

It can be a rewarding career path, but you should plan to ensure you secure the position you’re interested in. Whether you want to work for a professional team or you’re more interested in helping people in your community get healthy. There are steps you can take to secure the job you want, like earning an online nutrition degree and obtaining additional certifications.

Are you wondering how to get a job as a sports nutritionist? When you follow these steps, you’ll secure the sports nutritionist job you want.

Keep reading to learn more about sports nutrition and the career path.

Get a Certification From a Professional

Taking a course with professional accreditation will make the job seeker stand out from other applicants. It allows employers to know that the job seeker is taking the profession seriously. The certification should relate to the specific field of nutrition careers.

Candidates should also update their knowledge by attending conferences and reading relevant literature in the field. If you want to be a certified sports nutritionist, you can get a sports nutrition certification to expand your knowledge in nutrition fields and to make you more qualified.

Having a certification is a great way to build credibility and show potential employers that you’re capable and reliable.

Build up the Qualifications and Skills Required

All sports nutritionists should have a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, dietetics, or a related field. It is also beneficial to be certified in sports nutrition by a reputable organization. Other qualifications and skills include strong interpersonal communication.

It is also an expert in food and customized meal plans. By building up qualifications and skills, you can get a job as a sports nutritionist. It can also increase your chances of being hired.

Do Research Into Job Vacancies

Start by checking sports nutrition listings online while signing up for relevant job boards. There may also be specialist agency websites you can use. After gathering the list of sports nutritionist jobs, identify what qualifications and experience employers are looking for. 

Once satisfied that you meet the job requirements, you can apply directly by email. Make sure to include a professional and compelling cover letter along with up-to-date references.

If your application is successful, you may be invited to a job interview, which is a great opportunity to present your knowledge and enthusiasm for the role.

Reach Out to Potential Employers

Network with professionals in the sports nutrition industry, fitness centers, and sports teams that might need a sports nutritionist. Research organizations in your area and then reach out via website contact forms, phone calls, or e-mails. You can use websites to find potential employers.

Make sure to provide these employers with information about your skill set and sports nutrition experience. If you establish a good relationship with potential employers, this will significantly increase your chances of getting a job as a sports nutritionist.

Consider This Guide to Becoming a Successful Sports Nutritionist 

Overall, becoming a sports nutritionist takes hard work and dedication. It is useful to stay on top of the most current industry trends. Remember to take the necessary steps, such as getting a certification from a professional and building up the qualifications and skills required.

Also, do research into job openings and reach out to potential employers to advance your career and stay organized. Use these tips and put yourself ahead. Start your journey to become a sports nutritionist today!

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Basic Differences between Men’s & Women’s Basketball

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Have you ever wondered about the differences between men’s and women’s basketball? If yes – then you are here at the right place as we are about to go through the details of the differences, including rules and playing style.

Let’s jump into the basic differences between men’s and women’s basketball without further ado.

Keep reading!

 

Size of Basketball

The primary difference between men’s and women’s basketball games starts with the ball itself. In the NBA, professional men’s basketball players use basketballs that measure 29.5 inches. On the contrary, the basketballs that women players use in the WNBA measure 28.5 inches.

 

Playing Style

Starting from the difference in the basketball size, the playing style in the basketball leagues for men and women also differs. In a typical men’s basketball game, you can expect more dunks and, eventually, more scoring.

On the contrary, in women’s professional basketball games, you can expect less scoring and more layups. An interesting fact about the difference in the playing style between men and women is that professional women basketball players are about three percent better than male players regarding shooting the ball from the free-throw lane.

 

Difference in Popularity

The greatest noticeable difference between men’s and women’s basketball leagues is the difference in the game’s popularity – especially in connection to television ratings and the number of people who are attending the games.

WSN reports the difference between the game’s attendances for 2022, where the NBA had an average crowd of more than 20,000 through their home games. The game attendance for WNBA had an average of approximately 10,000 fans for each of their home games.

When comparing the attendance gap between men’s and women’s basketball at a college level, men’s basketball games have approximately 3,000 more fans than women’s games.

Regarding television ratings, the average viewers of men’s games are in the millions, whereas the average viewers of women’s basketball tournaments are in the thousands.

When it comes to women’s top collegiate sports, softball has stolen the spot as it is more popular than basketball among women, which is quite evident in the offering of youth softball training at most colleges.

Nonetheless, if we were to determine the popularity of women’s sports based on television ratings, then basketball clearly takes the crown.

 

The Difference in the Backcourt Rule

According to the backcourt rule in basketball, the player who possesses the ball has a specific timeline to cross the half-court line. In men’s basketball, the player with possession of the ball has no more than ten seconds to cross the half-court line,

On the contrary, in women’s basketball, there are no time-associated rules for the player in possession of the ball to cross the half-court.

 

Playing Time Difference

The playing time for men’s and women’s basketball – both at the college and professional levels – is different. The NBA comprises four twelve-minute quarters, whereas each of the four quarters for the WNBA is ten minutes.

At the college level, men’s basketball has two halves, with each half being of 20-minutes, whereas women’s basketball at a college level comprises four quarters, with each quarter being of ten minutes.

Carter Verhaeghe sends Florida Panthers to second round

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It seemed improbable, maybe impossible. Down 3-1 against the greatest regular season team in NHL history, the Florida Panthers were written off by the hockey world. 

 

The only group that believed in the Panthers were themselves.

 

The Panthers shocked the hockey world tonight, defeating the Presidents’ Trophy winning Boston Bruins in Game 7 overtime, 4-3 to advance to the second round.

 

After clawing back in the series to force Game 7 in Boston, the Panthers once again found themselves in a hole tonight, trailing 3-2 with exactly a minute left in regulation.

 

Brandon Montour kept his team’s season alive, rifling a shot past Jeremy Swayman to tie the  game at 3-3.

 

With the late equalizer, this series went to overtime for the second time – both being elimination scenarios for the Panthers in Boston.

 

Winner takes all overtime in Game 7. Next bounce wins. Losers go home, winners move on. 

 

The extra frame saw both teams get their fair share of chances to win the series, but the two goaltenders kept their nets shut. 

 

Boston had a few early chances on Sergei Bobrovsky, while Florida had two great looks in front of Swayman from Matther Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe. 

 

The final shift of the game came from Florida’s three best players in the series.

 

A great forecheck from Sam Bennett and Matthew Tkachuk prevented the Bruins from breaking out of their own zone. After an aggressive puck battle behind Boston’s net, Bennett fed Verhaeghe at the faceoff circle and the Panthers forward scored his second series clinching ot goal for the Panthers in consecutive years. 

 

The Panthers just snuck into the postseason, clinching their playoff berth before the final game of the regular season. The odds were against them as they took on a Bruins team that set the NHL record for both wins and points.

 

Florida will head to Toronto for the second-round to take on a Maple Leafs team that just got over a 19-year playoff series winless streak.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Knicks

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The Miami Heat walk into the Garden and take care of business yet again.

Battling through more and more injuries, getting big time contributions down the roster, and a Kyle Lowry fourth quarter masterclass.

Some takeaways as the Heat go up 1-0 in the series.

#1: Taking a look at the Heat’s matchups, and defensive structure.

As I was hinting at before the series, Jalen Brunson is the head of the snake, so they need to try and cut him off early. That means Jimmy Butler should get the assignment, especially since Erik Spoelstra always dares RJ Barrett to beat them with Gabe Vincent defending. With all of that said, the Knicks were having their way on the interior pretty much the whole first half. How? Brunson was doing Brunson type things by getting to his spots in that mid-range and play-making from there. While I mentioned Butler defending him, it didn’t matter since the Heat were giving up switches all over the place. Attacking Max Strus or Duncan Robinson, sliding by Kyle Lowry to get inside. It may not be an individual assignment. It’s about loading up with extra help most likely. We will see the adjustments to come.

#2: So, the bench points?

If there was a positive for the Heat heading into halftime, it was that they only trailed by 5 in a game that felt like a grind on both ends. One of the main reasons for that aside from Gabe Vincent’s shot making? The Heat’s bench coming to play. When I asked Duncan Robinson about that total flip from regular season to playoffs, he told me it’s “rising to the occasion.” Kyle Lowry felt important in that first half to control things on-ball a good bit when Butler went to the bench or when he needed to get the insert pass in the low post. Caleb Martin was their source of instant energy and perimeter defense, but he also did a good job of trying to attack off the help that got sent away from him and onto Butler. Miami had 16 bench points to the Knicks’ 10, which felt like a battle that was going in the opposite direction.

#3: The Knicks eyeing down Jimmy Butler.

While both teams do play a similar base in drop coverage, the defensive structure of the Bucks and Knicks is completely different. The Knicks play higher up to the level, they load up on-ball, and well, they’ll adjust to send more help at the main threat, which in this case is Jimmy Butler. He opened the game 1 for 4, and credit to Josh Hart for digging into him down low in a way he honestly didn’t feel in the first round. But as I said, this was more team wide. Every drive to the basket was met by his defender, the roller’s defender, and the corner shooter’s defender. He was seeing three guys around him consistently, which forced him to play that play-making role with the reliance on shooting. Clearly, that’s what you want as a defense. He still found ways to work through that in his own ways, but this just sets the blueprint for the series. He’s going to be working through some shifting adjustments this time around.

#4: Kevin Love’s timely moments, making the outlet pass.

When it comes to third quarter takeaways as the Heat made a bit of a run, there wasn’t one bigger than the energy shift from Kevin Love. He got things started with a pick and pop with Butler as both defenders flew down, yet Love knocked down the open left wing three to make them pay. Timely. Shortly after, the Heat got in a defensive flow by getting some stops and securing the boards, and Love took things upon himself to make plays. Flings it down the floor to Strus for the layup. A few plays later, overhead pass down the floor to Butler over the top: layup. Then capitalizes on one final one to Butler in stride to force a Knicks timeout. The half-court offense was a grind with the Butler doubles, but Love getting the outlet passes going and playing into the open floor was a game changer. He’s been crucial in this post-season so far.

#5: Kyle Lowry’s fourth quarter masterclass.

As the Heat led by 6 walking into the fourth quarter with Jimmy Butler ready to stay on the floor the entire second half, they needed to find ways to close it out. Kyle Lowry did a good job of settling the offense with the necessary pull-ups that they’re missing without Tyler Herro. He found his shot multiple times at the head of the offense, keeping the Knicks on-ball defense honest to a degree, for somebody not named Jimmy Butler. With 6 and a half minutes left, the Knicks call timeout to settle their group as they trail 93-86. The Knicks made a run, but that’s not why things got dark. Butler drove to the basket, turned his ankle, and went down. He was in clear pain, but eventually got up to shoot his free throws. Better yet, he stayed in the game. Lowry decided to make a pair of game changing plays, making a swiping steal to force an extra possession then forcing a jump ball in the lane. Shortly after, he takes a baseline pull-up out of the timeout and knocks it down yet again. Full Kyle Lowry masterclass on both ends.

 

*****

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Caleb Martin, Duncan Robinson on some Heat-Knicks schematics, Playoff Jimmy, and more

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From any Heat fan’s perspective following the Heat’s game 4 and 5 wins to close out the Bucks, you would usually get the same answer when thinking about the all time performances from Jimmy Butler.

When asking his teammates that same question 60 hours after it’s past by, you get the same exact response.

Simply, amazement.

When I rehashed his play to Caleb Martin, he looks at me and laughs, saying: “That was very new to me bro.”

“Obviously one of the best performances I’ve seen in the league in the four years I’ve been here,” he continued. “It was pretty dope to see.”

Duncan Robinson’s take was very similar, as he starts off saying: “That was crazy. That was 1 of 1. That was a special performance.”

Everybody’s minds are on New York, but everybody’s hearts are still in that Milwaukee series just a tad. It’s human nature, following a series of events that just simply are tough to just “wear off.”

To continue on the Butler subject, after his 56 point night in game 4, I asked him a rather simple question: “Is Playoff Jimmy a thing?”

It’s something he has denied in the past, and he flowed right back into the sentiment telling me, “It’s not a thing. It’s not. I just be hoopin.” The latter portion is definitely true as he was giving every Bucks defender buckets in that series, but it’s hard to eye down this production from him in April and May every year and say there isn’t a trend.

So, I talked to multiple teammates and brought up the “Playoff Butler” label that he’s gotten.

Robinson quickly cuts in with “If he says it’s not a thing, it’s not a thing. He’s a great player regardless of the time of year. When the competition is at its highest, I think that’s when he’s probably his best.”

That last part is the answer I’ve gotten from anybody I’ve brought it up to. Martin told me, “That’s just Jimmy. I don’t think it’s Playoff Jimmy, I think that’s just Jimmy, it’s who he is.”

“He’s a competitor and it just comes around that time of year with the highest level of competition, so it just comes out,” he adds.

All of this Butler propaganda leads us into the true story 24 hours before game 1 of the second round between the Heat and Knicks: we know Butler is playing at an incredible level right now, and so do the Knicks who are being directed by somebody Butler knows well, Tom Thibodeau.

To that point, Butler is not going to see anywhere close to the same amount of single coverage that he saw in the Milwaukee Bucks series. The Knicks are going to send doubles his way, so a major way to open things up is by the guy being helped off of makes them pay.

Many times this season, that guy is Caleb Martin.

“I get to come in knowing how I’ll get those open looks,” Martin said about reacting to his defender being a helper. “I just gotta be ready to knock them down.”

As for Robinson, he won’t be as lucky to be dipped off of on the perimeter. “He’ll (Jimmy) probably see different coverages throughout the course of it. They’ll mix up a few different things. For us, it’s just about being ready to make a play and be aggressive. Not just reactive, but proactive and try to make something happen.”

The other main element about this series for Martin is going to be the baseline roaming aspect. Why in this series compared to the first round? Well, while both series involve a heavy amount of drop coverage, it’s a total different scheme.

Robinson even detailed some of the obvious differences, “They guard it very differently. With the way Milwaukee was guarding, really not giving away a lot of air space, especially on like kick-outs and stuff like that. It’s different schemes, but you just gotta find a way to attack it.”

The Bucks use their dropping big to completely protect the rim with helpers on the side, while the Knicks run Mitchell Robinson much higher up to the level. When bringing up the schematics favoring Martin in that realm, he felt the same way by operating corner to corner.

“Definitely get on the baseline and those slides will be very important for spacing. Obviously for our rollers, for Bam to get open against those taller, longer guys. Mitchell Robinson is a guy we have to try and get him out of position a lot, and that’s going to do a lot with our drives and our slides.”

Out of all the conversations I had today on the schematic side of things, that was by far my biggest takeaway. The Heat are heavily focused on moving Mitchell Robinson into different spots to find offensive openings. The Knicks can do some intriguing things defensively, but Miami can bend certain things in a way that they just couldn’t against the Bucks.

With Milwaukee staying in that base and not adjusting, Miami walked in knowing what shots they were getting every night.

On that same Mitchell Robinson topic, they’re trying to move him in ways to force easier looks for Bam Adebayo. As I mentioned here, it’s about getting him behind the second line defense more often to get to the rim.

Now that Tyler Herro won’t be involved in this series again, it puts more pressure on some of the other guards to shine as pocket passers in that PnR or other Heat sets. And in my opinion, Duncan Robinson could be the best pocket passer on the squad.

I brought up the focus to get Bam to the rim in this series with that higher drop, which he responded, “It’s an important aspect for sure, just getting the ball back to Bam really regardless of what the coverage is. Just try to get it back to him so he can play-make and be aggressive, so definitely a component for sure.”

Just as the Heat are going to try to move Mitchell Robinson around defensively for openings, Jalen Brunson is going to try and shift things for the Heat defensively. I personally believe Butler starts on Brunson, but Martin is going to see a good amount of time on him as well when there’s not a switch.

What makes guarding Brunson different than some of the guards in the Bucks series?

“He’s very patient, very crafty,” Martin starts to note. “He knows what he wants to do, very poised, not very sped up at all. So that’s going to be the biggest thing: staying down on shot fakes and being disciplined.”

It’s going to be a series of on-court counters, and the Heat seem prepared. Let Jimmy Butler off his leash, see the reaction to him, then react to the reaction.

Should be a good one.

(Extra content)

One last thing away from the court, that Caleb Martin shot in the corner on Giannis Antetokounmpo right before an amazing celebration just keeps gaining attention for obvious reasons.

Is it going to make an appearance in the garden?

“It might come out again.”

Where did it come from?

“It just came to me in the moment.”

Panthers defeat Bruins 7-5, force Game 7 in Boston

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SUNRISE — Facing elimination for a second straight game, The Florida Panthers kept their season alive once again on Friday night, defeating the Boston Bruins 7-5 in Game 6 at FLA Live Arena. 

 

Coming off a huge 4-3 overtime win in Boston on Wednesday, the Panthers returned home, where they were yet to win a playoff game this year.

 

The Panthers struck first and early in tonight’s contest, which has been important all series as the team to score first won all the previous five games. Brandon Montour’s 4-on-3 powerplay goal beat Linus Ullmark just 2:01 into the game. 

 

Florida wasn’t able to hold onto the lead for long, which was also the case in Game 5. Every Time the Panthers scored tonight, the Bruins answered.

 

In this twelve goal game, neither team held more than a one goal lead until the last 28 seconds of the game. 

 

The Bruins once again were dangerous on their power play, scoring on three of their four attempts. 


Entering the third period, the Panthers had a 3-2 lead due to their captain Aleksander’s Barkov’s first goal of the series. 

 

With the Panthers leading and 20 minutes to go, one of the hottest Bruins on the ice Tyler Bertuzzi quickly scored his second goal of the night  1:31 into the third, tying the game at three. 

 

Minutes later the Bruins took their first lead of the game off of David Pastrnak’s second goal of the game – Boston’s third on the power play.

 

Trailing for the first time in Game 6, the Panthers didn’t waver. They were pulled back into it by Zac Dalpe, who spent a large portion of the season in AHL Charlotte as their captain.

 

“That’s just a great story, Zac Dalpe,” said Panthers head coach Paul Maurice. “That’s the right guy to come up and pull us out of the fire.”

 

After Dalpe’s tying goal, the Bruins kept pushing. Now 4-4 and the Panthers on the power play, the momentum was swinging Florida’s way.

 

Boston’s first lead came on the power play. They grabbed the lead again, but this time they were short handed. Jake DeBrusk jumped into the play and Pavel Zacha slipped a pass between two Panthers players – DeBrusk gave Boston the 5-4 lead.

 

Needing to get the tie back, Florida still had some power play time after giving up the short handed goal. The one to get them back even was none other than their star Matthew Tkachuk. 

 

27 seconds after DeBrusk’s go-ahead goal, Tkachuk relentlessly whacked at the puck in front of goal until it made its way past Ullmark.

 

This wild third period had the building energized and the roof nearly fell off  minutes later when the Panthers regained the lead from Eetu Luostarinen’s second goal of the series. 

 

“I couldn’t really hear what was going on in my head for the last 20 minutes,” Barkov said about the noise in the building. “It was insane, it was awesome.”

 

With the Bruins down one, they gave it one final push to try and tie up the game. A few big blocks by the Panthers eventually led to Sam Reinhart sending this series to seven with his 7-5 empty net goal. 

 

Florida trailed the series 3-1 last time they left for Boston – they will return to Massachusetts tomorrow riding a two-game winning streak in a 3-3 series. 

 

The two sides will face off for the final time this season on Sunday in Game 7. Winner goes onto the second round, the loser packs their bags and heads home for the year.

Final 2023 NFL Mock Draft

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Another 2023 NFL Mock Draft! As the hour winds down to Draft night, there’s been a lot of movement in the last 48 hours and things are radio silent in the NFL World.

While last night I ran a mock, things have started to shake up a little

This 2023 NFL Mock Draft answers the biggest questions on where the quarterbacks will be going, potential trades and big surprises. In this 2023 NFL Mock Draft I will be focusing on the first round. So here is my predictive 2023 NFL Mock Draft round 1:

Top 10 Mock Draft

1) Carolina Panthers (from Chicago): QB Bryce Young

2) Houston Texans: EDGE Will Anderson

3) Tennessee Titans (Projected Trade with Arizona): QB Anthony Richardson

4) Indianapolis Colts: QB, CJ Stroud

5) Seattle Seahawks (from Denver): DL Jalen Carter

6) Detroit Lions: CB Devon Witherspoon

7) Las Vegas Raiders: QB, Will Levis

8) Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Tyree Wilson

9) Chicago Bears (from Carolina): OT Paris Johnson Jr.

10) Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans): RB Bijan Robinson

The Middle picks

11) Arizona Cardinals: OT Darnell Wright

12) Houston Texans (from Cleveland): OT Peter Skoronski

13) Green Bay Packers (from New York Jets): EDGE Nolan Smith

14) New England Patriots: OT Broderick Jones

15) New York Jets (from Green Bay Packers): Jaxon Smith Njigba

 

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16) Washington Commanders: CB Joey Porter Jr.

17) Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Christian Gonzalez

18) Detroit Lions: DL Calijah Kancey

19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Myles Murphy

Rounding out the teens

20) Cincinnati Bengals (Projected Trade with Seattle): TE Dalton Kincaid

21) Los Angeles Chargers: WR Quentin Johnson

22) Baltimore Ravens: CB Deonte Banks

23) Kansas City Chiefs (Projected Trade with Minnesota): WR, Zay Flowers

24) Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Anton Harrison

25) New York Giants: WR Jordan Addison

26) Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Lukas Van Ness

27) Buffalo Bills: DL Bryan Breese

28) Seattle Seahawks (Projected Trade with Cincinatti): G O’Cyrus Torrence

29) New Orleans Saints (from San Francisco through Miami and Denver): DL Mazi Smith

30) Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Keion White

31) Minnesota Vikings (Projected Trade with Kansas City): SAF Brian Branch

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel