Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Nuggets

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The Heat played their last home game of February on Monday night against the Nuggets, and oh look at that, another clutch game.

The Heat had their moments in this game, but they were just too under-manned for Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.

Some takeaways…

#1: A shift in the offensive base for the Heat.

As the Heat walked into the locker room at halftime, 62 points scored is a pretty solid baseline when taking into consideration the rotation tonight and the way this offense has generally looked. Part of that reason was getting aggressive Bam Adebayo in his spots early, and Jimmy Butler was heavily engaged in the half-court offense. Part of that engagement meant mid-post touches into kick-outs, which we saw an uptick with due to the fact this team was missing most of their perimeter guard play. No Tyler Herro pick and rolls to rely on, meaning more Butler/Bam in the mid-range. Butler had 7 assists at half for that very reason. As I’ll get into next, part of this should credit the hot three-point shooting, but his set-ups deserve credit.

#2: The battle of three point shooting…

Looking at the stat sheet after 24 minutes of play, you would notice a very different number next to the Heat’s 3 point shooting: 10 threes made on 48% shooting. Like I said, that’s almost double the usual number. The only problem with that: the Nuggets were simultaneously shooting 57% from three, mostly behind the automatic jumper of Michael Porter Jr. As I’ll discuss next, there’s only so much you can cover against this Nuggets team with Jokic’s ability to hit shooters. Aside from that, Max Strus and Gabe Vincent just simply weren’t shy about the shot attempts with 13 combined at half, which the coaching staff most certainly gave them elevated numbers as a goal number. When they shoot well, this offense reminisces the one of last year.

#3: The challenge of Nikola Jokic.

Nikola Jokic vs Bam Adebayo is as fun of a match-up you can get on the surface, but much of the time the Heat aren’t allowing it much screen time. When it comes to guarding Nikola Jokic, you must balance the over-committing doubles and strong close-outs when he throws a fast-ball to the opposite corner. A main element of that balance is trying to sustain single coverage as much as possible. We saw some points where they would switch, per usual, and that’s all he needs. He has a legit skill of sealing down low for quick insert passes and lay-ups. The other part of this is you really can’t go zone against him for obvious reasons. Bam Adebayo and company were giving him trouble when he was outside of the paint, but Jokic was winning the low interior battle.

#4: This Gabe Vincent starter thing isn’t going anywhere.

When it comes down to takeaway’s on a night to night basis, I seem to always walk away saying ‘yeah, Vincent’s role isn’t changing again.’ From the perspective of front office decision making, it makes the most sense to see what you have in a contract year. giving him the maximized opportunity. Yet from the basketball perspective, it most definitely makes the most sense at this current stage. It’s not that he’s having these eye opening performances, but he’s doing PG1 things. Taking control of the offense when needed, hitting spot-up triples, and bringing a certain defensive intensity. It’s hard to see this and say he’s going to be bumped back down to bench role player when everybody comes back. This is here to stay.

#5: The fourth quarter:

The Heat finally looked like they hit a wall heading into the fourth quarter. They went on a small 4-0 run to finish the third, but the game-plan seemed to be running out of gas. But well, they caught some energy. Ignited by a fading Strus three and hop step in the open floor, the Heat gained some momentum. A couple minutes later Strus catches in the corner, jabs to his left, then sprints baseline into a tough up and under. He was feeling it. The Nuggets made a run mid-way through the 4th, extending it to a 7 point lead with 5 and a half minutes to go. The Heat chipped away with some scores off defensive plays, along with Bam Adebayo getting to the line. 2 minutes to go, 6 point game. Adebayo began getting into his bag a bit on Jokic for a nice floater, followed by an insane block at the rim. With a chance to really put a stamp on this comeback, Strus took a contested floater that got blocked. Nuggets ball, down 4. And well, that pretty much sealed it after Butler missed a bunny to cut it to 2.

Useful Tips for Sports Enthusiasts on Trying Latest Online Games of Luck

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Watching or playing a sports game is something unique because it is much more than just the game. There is a higher feeling to sports than it, it is often a battle of ideals and people reaching for their ideals. It is this sense of fighting for something in these games that brings the most excitement out of these games. Sports are fun and cause a big spike in adrenaline, they are healthy and we should embrace them.

 

At one point in a sports enthusiast’s life, there is a question of testing out other games. It is the question of whether you should test out your luck in online games of chance. This is a highly debated topic and there is no way of getting around this very important category of games. It is better to break the silence than let it stay taboo, we need to talk about these games. In order to truly get the most out of these games and understand them, you should check out these tips.

Reliable websites

Before you start testing out your luck on online games, you need to make sure they are reliable websites. Whether you are into crypto games or old fashion games, it is very important to take a look at different reviews. Unfortunately, there are people out there wishing to scam you, but there are also people who do not want that. There are a lot of legitimate websites offering entertainment, and it is important to read more about them.

Casinos vs. betting

When it comes to online games of luck, you can separate them into two categories: casino games and sports betting. Before you start playing, it is very important to think about these two categories to know which one suits you the most.

 

Casino games usually offer a more social experience compared to sports betting, in online games that is. However, casino games are further split into games of skill and games of pure luck. Sports betting can be more predictable if you know what you are doing and thus give you a higher chance of winning.

Knowing the games

The most popular casino games include blackjack, Texas Hold ’em poker, and roulette. Blackjack and poker are more skill-based games and require you to know the rules and odds of winning. Roulette and slots are purely luck-based games which give them a unique element of surprise.

 

When it comes to sports betting, all you need to do is find a sport you like and there are probably betting sites for it. No matter what category you choose, you can probably find both crypto and regular money options depending on what you like.

Doing your research

In sports betting, it is all about doing your research before placing a bet. However, everyone knows that in sports the impossible can always happen, and it happens when you least expect it. This is why it is important to do your research on the teams playing and their current status. Maybe a team won a match last year but this year it can be all different because of the players. By doing your research and making reliable bets, you can earn good money from that.

Responsibility

No matter how enthusiastic you are about sports and games of chance, it is important to stay responsible. This means knowing your limits and staying within healthy boundaries before it gets too late. You may not see the boundaries at first, which is why it is important to talk to people close to you about this before you start making any rash decisions. It is possible to enjoy these games within healthy boundaries, but you need to set the rules.

 

The best thing about online websites for games of chance is the fact they offer a variety of safety mechanisms. This means you can limit the time you spend on games or the amount of money you spend on these websites. It is very important to go to these settings and apply them before it is too late. Your future self will be thankful because, in moments of heat, you may not be able to control yourself.

 

These tips are very important, so you can satisfy your urge to test your luck in online games of luck. There is no avoiding these games, which is why you should face this question with reliable pieces of information. 

 

If we just let these games stay taboo and don’t talk about them, people will fall for these games in a very unhealthy manner. However, if we educate people about them and let them know what is what, they will not be able to make the mistakes many people make with games of luck.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Magic

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The Miami Heat made their way up to Orlando on the second night of a back to back, which always feels like their biggest challenge no matter the season.

An underwhelming 44 minutes turned into a wild comeback to finish the game, heading into OT, and Miami took care of business.

So here’s four negative takeaways and one long positive takeaway from tonight (lol)….

#1: Horrid first half for Heat offensively, referring to a certain matchup.

This Heat half-court offense is already a grind in the first place. Three point shots just won’t fall, they are clearly under-manned on this roster when eyeing the reserves, and the scoring begins and ends with a mid-floor touch from either Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler. But why did it look *that* bad in the first half? Well, this Magic defense has the two components that Miami usually hates seeing: flat-out switching and length on those switches. That blueprint basically screams trouble for the guards. Every pick and roll was flattened out off that simple switch, and it doesn’t help the shooting cause when 7 foot small forwards are contesting shots off every catch. Most of the time it’s Miami doing it to themselves, but tonight it’s clear this type of matchup structure is something they want to avoid by any means.

#2: The way teams are guarding Bam Adebayo.

Bam Adebayo came out scoring pretty well with 6 early points, knocking down his dotted line jumper that he feels so comfortable with. But the water was shut off the rest of the half essentially, which was the theme of the entire half court scoring. Adebayo was still the best scorer for them through that initial 24 minutes tonight, which says some things, but I’ve been wanting to note how teams have been defending him. He has a strong base/hub, and it involved two spots essentially: off the catch in the mid post and off the roll in any space within the interior. When it comes to the regular mid-post entry, teams rarely will flat-out double him, even though we’ve seen it occasionally in the past. But when it comes to the stuff off the roll, teams are taking it away as much as possible. Pinching in from corners is the easy choice for opposing defenses, since they’re daring you to make a tough skip pass to the close corner. Bet on a struggling Heat three point shooting team to knock down that shot instead of their favorite shot making hub. It makes sense, but they have to find a consistent area of dictating their own shot profile instead of letting defenses choose it.

#3: While we’re on the first half issues topic, let’s talk defense quickly.

In the first half, the Magic shot 50% from three and basically had their way in the paint for different reasons. We know they’re going to switch everything, but one thing they are great at is sending calculated doubles to force turnovers. On the flip side when it comes to big picture comments, the Heat’s normal help defense has been off as of late. Too many times the short corner defender doesn’t rotate for the cut-off, as the Heat’s base is always to pack the paint and give up the three. You can always tell their energy level by those simple principles. In that first half, the missed help assignments created a ton of easy buckets for Orlando. And the key to Miami turning it around in the third: team defense. You can tell when they’re engaged, and clearly that was an Erik Spoelstra theme at half.

#4: Depth?

When it comes to the Miami Heat, they’ve been recently known for having a ton of depth, partly due to the revolving door of new ready to go projects at the end of the bench. But then you take a look at the reserves tonight: Jamaree Bouyea on a 10 day contract, who simply is unwilling to take any sort of jumper that’s available. Orlando Robinson, who fights on the boards and never feels to be a true negative, but doesn’t provide much offensively other than an occasional put-back. Haywood Highsmith, who I’ve been a fan of his rotational minutes in general, yet it’s clear the only scoring is the possible spot-up three you may get when left wide open. And lastly, Max Strus, who I’m sure you are familiar with by now. The point is this: when the starting lineup is inefficient, there’s no coming back from that. There’s no true offensive creation in that second unit whatsoever, which makes this so tough. It’s not only reliance on Butler and Bam being on the floor, it’s reliance on them generating almost every look. That’s basically the takeaway.

#5: Late-game comeback…

Usually I’ll start at the halfway mark of the fourth to finish these pieces, but let’s dig a bit deeper tonight. Down to the 4 minute mark, the Heat trail by 9. Bam took it down the open floor and ended up getting to the line off a leap to the basket. Shortly after, Herro found his spot in the lane for a tough floater. Timeout, 5 point game. After some back and forth, Vincent knocked down a transition corner triple to really give Miami some life, but Banchero kept answering. But then Butler began entering that mode. Mid-range bucket into easy back-door lay-in into another low block turnaround with 36 seconds left to cut the deficit to only 2. Miami ended up putting together a stop on defense off a Gary Harris missed three, and Vincent got fouled on the rebound. Free throws to come, as he buries both. Magic had a chance to take the lead off a nice inbounds play to Banchero, but Bam makes an incredible defensive play at the rim. With deja vu of the night prior, Heat inbound in a tie game with 1 second left: fading Butler three that misses. OT. And the next few minutes was all about Herro and his floater, continually finding his spot and rising up with one hand for touch shots. To put Miami up 5, Butler hit a side stepping baseline jumper with under 2 minutes left. Following some Magic moments, they had a chance down 3 to tie this thing up, but it didn’t fall in their favor. Heat win.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Rockets

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Following all of the trade deadline commotion, the Heat faced the Rockets on Friday night.

What is that? Another clutch game?

Certainly.

Some takeaways…

#1: Tyler Herro-Bam Adebayo PnR: begins with Herro’s shooting, ends with Bam’s rolling.

At the half, Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo had 16 points a piece. They were essentially the entire offense in that first half, but more importantly, they were doing it together within the same actions. Herro got some threes to fall on simple pull-ups early in the game, which changed their PnR coverages to come. Bam’s defender now began playing much higher, leading to pocket pass after pocket pass to Bam on that roll for a flurry of buckets. It should be noted this isn’t a good defense, but this sequence of events in this two-man combo is a constant theme when things break right. What needs to break right? Well to simplify things, Herro hitting from deep opens everything up. Once you force that back-line to adjust, this pairing is in business.

#2: The defensive game-plan against the Rockets.

The Heat were giving up switches every time down the floor right out the gate. Well that’s nothing new, you might be saying to yourself, but it was for very different reason. They weren’t trying to flatten out this offense, they were trying to bait it. Alperen Sengun gets Caleb Martin on a switch, as Adebayo waits for the entry pass. When he makes his first move, the double is there. They were forcing a turnover prone offense into potential turnovers. This was a good base, but we saw the overall pressure was lacking. Exactly half of their points in the opening half were paint points. Miami was getting beat on secondary attacks, and aside from that early wrinkle, the Rockets’ added burst on the perimeter was breaking them down for a 56 point opening half.

#3: Clearly a switch for Jimmy Butler.

As I talk about very often, Jimmy Butler can flip a switch whenever he chooses. Once the calendar turns into playoff time, he forms into an absolute dominant force that is as tough to slow down as any. When it comes to the regular season, we get examples of that. Some night’s he comes out, and you know what Butler you are getting. Activity in passing lanes, getting to the free throw line, etc. Other nights, such as that first half tonight against the Rockets, he’s in coast mode. It makes sense on the first night of a back to back, as he intends to play his first back to back of the season, but it’s also predictable. The Heat should be able to handle business against this Rockets club without an all-out Butler, but it speaks to this roster certain nights.

#4: No more trade talk, buyout market talk?

Let me take a moment away from the game to talk what is next. For a while there we were talking trade possibilities, but now I’m being bumped down a tier. After an insanely quiet deadline, all that is left for the Heat to gather involves the guys who have been bought out. That is a very heavy guard pool, while the Heat have clearly lacked front-court bodies all season, as their starting power forward continues to play out of position. Russell Westbrook? Reggie Jackson? Pat Bev? Yes, this is where we are now. I’ve talked frequently about the need for a change of scenery of some kind with this group, and following no trade, this is the only place left to do it.

#5: Clutch game? Clutch game!

At the halfway mark of the fourth quarter, Jimmy Butler checks in. Under the halfway mark of the fourth quarter, Bam Adebayo picks up his fifth foul. They trail by 5 points against a bottom feeding Houston Rockets team with 3:30 left in the fourth quarter. The Heat had 84 points scored at that point. As much as I noted the underwhelming defense at times, you just can’t score 84 points in that amount of time against any team in this league, especially weak defenses. The Heat finally got back on the board a minute later, as Butler got to the line on a reach in, cutting the deficit to 3. Shortly after, he took a trip right back to the charity stripe, now only trailing by 1. Heat forced a steal, flow into transition with 30 seconds left, as Vincent finds Herro in the corner covered. He leans left and buries the three, on a shot he just always seems to love. Now up 2. They ended up fouling on the other end, sending Jabari Smith to the line who buries both. Tie game, 10 seconds left. Inbound to Butler, who drives and gets fouled on his way. 2 for 2. Except off the inbound, Jalen Green converts a lay-up with less than a second to go. Out of the timeout, an incredible play by Spo draws up a back door cut for Butler for the win.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Pacers

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The Heat faced the Pacers just hours before the deadline on Wednesday night, as Bam Adebayo shines yet again.

He’s had big time offensive nights, but when it comes to that knockdown jumper: this is at the top.

Some takeaways from this one….

#1: The Heat come out with a hot offensive first quarter.

With not much focus on an actual basketball game being played tonight, the Heat came out with a surprising amount of energy. The offense was moving extremely well, as they were hitting shots from the outside and finding back-door cutters often. That interior play led to 9 first quarter free throw attempts. Gabe Vincent was the story of that early quarter, as he walked into an immediate 11 points, which is some awkward timing. The trade deadline hours away, and Kyle Lowry on the top of everybody’s mind, he found his offensive comfort in a heavy off-ball role. Spot-up threes and some PnR play got him going. That got the Heat up to 39 points in that opening quarter, but inconsistency struck again.

#2: Bam Adebayo’s high isos and elbow jumpers…

Bam Adebayo’s game has become simple on the offensive end. Not in terms of role, but in terms of approach. To finish the first quarter, he dribbles down the open floor with an expiring clock, and flows into a deep fade-away jumper at the buzzer doesn’t even hit rim. Shortly after to begin the second quarter, limited time left on the shot clock, he fades at the same spot for the same shot. Bucket. Those rhythm shots turned into a full-out elbow jumper display off every pocket pass and isolation. He was getting to the line as well, but it wasn’t in a Jimmy Butler grind it out style. The jumper was dictating. The pump-fake just kept finding buyers. He finished with 20 points in the first half alone. His scoring levels have become extremely fluid, and they fit the playoff style so well.

#3: Noting some issues, plus the TJ McConnell game.

We often talk about random scrub Heat killers, but TJ McConnell always seems to find his game against the Heat in recent years. He knows the primary spot he can score from, Miami knows the primary spot he can score from. But sometimes that’s just a shot you’ll live with in context of the offense. That was the case in the first half, where he ran off 16 early points in that short mid-range area. As much as I talked about the Heat’s early flow, they still trailed by 3 at half. Even more importantly, they gave up 63 points to this Pacers team in 24 minutes. In big picture, no matter what the roster looks like, the Heat will figure out how to operate within top ranked defenses. But this just sums up the inconsistencies way too often. Shooting variants, coverage variants. That’s what makes playoff projections tough at times due to the wide range of the unknown of who you are getting exactly.

#4: Jimmy Butler willing his way to buckets.

As much as I discussed Bam utilizing his strengths, Jimmy Butler was doing the same heading into the third quarter. Let me start by saying the Pacers are a team that defends Butler much differently than any other team in league. The match-up that Butler usually searches for, already sits there on a platter as their small guard Andrew Nembhard is his match-up each game they’ve played. It’s not a total disadvantage since they constantly shade help, but it shifts Butler’s original approach. In that third quarter, we saw him just willing his way to the basket. Embracing contact, fading for and-1’s in mid-air. Playing off misses and dump-offs around the rim. He was in his element, and most of all, he was playing with a certain level of intensity. Butler and Bam finding their way…just hours before the deadline.

#5: Hours away from the cut-off.

On a night that the Heat played a game against the Pacers, with their two top dogs in Butler and Bam leading the way, it didn’t even feel like a game night. All of the focus seems to be on that 3 o’clock deadline tomorrow afternoon, as they search for any type of improvement. We’ve talked enough names, but I just want to discuss it in the context of this game. Watching Bam Adebayo not hit rim on any jumper. Seeing Jimmy Butler score whenever he chooses it’s necessary. Get them the help they most definitely deserve. We often headline this point with Butler’s window, but what about Bam’s surge? He’s playing at an incredible level right now, and that shouldn’t be wasted either. Let’s just see how this plays out, hours away from the cut-off.

Former Eagles Players who Added to Franchise History Books

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This season has been pretty phenomenal for Philadelphia Eagles fans, and it’s understandable that the fans would be getting a little bit excited about the prospect of lifting the Lombardi this season. Apart from a Super Bowl in 2017, the Eagles have kind of been dry since the 1960s at this point, but they destroyed the 49ers this past weekend 31-7 to book their place in the Super Bowl, where they’ll face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, February 12th. The Chiefs had a little bit of a harder time claiming their place as they edged out a 23-20 win over the Bengals.

 

The 2023 Super Bowl will be played at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale Arizona between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs

Source: SN

 

Today, we’re going to take a brief detour on the path to the future and take a look behind us. The history books are full of big names when it comes to people who have represented the Philadelphia Eagles, so we’re going to look at some of the biggest names to pull on that jersey and take a little bit of time to go into what made them such important figures for the Eagles, etching their names in the history of this franchise forever.

 

  1. Reggie White – Defensive End
  2. Chuck Bednarik – Linebacker
  3. Steve Van Buren – Running Back
  4. Brian Dawkins – Safety
  5. Pete Pihos – Tight End

 

Pete Pihos

 

When it comes to players from deep in the history books, between 1953 and 1955, Pihos led the league in receiving, was outstanding for a tight end, and was a very physical player once he received the ball, to the point where defenders would genuinely consider whether tackling him was a good idea. He would go on to make the Pro Bowl six times in a row, which is an incredibly impressive feat. 

 

Brian Dawkins

 

There are few names loved more by Eagles fans than Brian Dawkins; he was picked up in the second round of the 1996 draft. He’s a member of the fairly exclusive “20/20” club, being one of very few players to ever post both 20 sacks and 20 interceptions, which is impressive. But when it comes to Dawkins, it wasn’t just his stats that made him so good; he put his body on the line like a human wrecking ball, making huge plays, taking games by the scruff of the neck, and changing the momentum with his own hands.

 

Steve Van Buren

 

Steve Van Buren led the league in rushing yards in four of his eight years playing professionally, and while he may not be one of the “greatest” running backs of all time in terms of stats, for the Eagles he was fantastic. He built up a reputation as a terrifying returner, adding five touchdowns to his career stats from returning kicks and punts. Even though he represented the Eagles way back in the 40s and 50s, it’s fair to say he is still one of the greatest Eagles of all time.

 

Chuck Bednarik

 

Chuck Bednarik is a player who will go down in history as one of the most brutal men to make tackles. He would shut down the most bold and stupid players who dared challenge him. He came to the Eagles in 1949 as the first pick in the draft and stayed with the Eagles for a pretty staggering 14 years. Bednarik is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and fully deserves that status. 

 

Reggie White isn’t just one of the greatest Eagles of all time; he’s one of the greatest to ever play the game. 

Source: Sportscasting

Reggie White

 

Reggie White is arguably everyone’s number one pick here; he was picked up by the Eagles in the 1985 supplemental draft, recording 11 sacks in his rookie season and not posting numbers below that in his time in Philadelphia. But, as one of the greatest players in history, it’s insane to put him anywhere other than first on this list. Unfortunately, some poor decisions by the top brass had him slip away to the Packers in 1993, but he was absolutely incredible for the Eagles and everywhere else he played, really, earning him a spot in the pro football hall of fame. 

 

With that being said, it’s time to look forward. The Eagles are scheduled to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 57 on February 12th at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. We’ve examined how experts believe this one will play out, who the favorite is, what the over/under is, and brought you the best odds on the big game. For fans located in sports betting regulated states like Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Ohio, there are also plenty of betting promotions that are currently available for the Super Bowl. Sadly, Massachusetts punters won’t be able to take advantage of the betting specials offered by MA online sportsbooks this time around because the state won’t be allowing online gambling until after the Super Bowl this year. However, bettors can visit retail bookies instead, as they became legal on January 31st of this year. 

 

So, without further ado, here are the odds you’re looking at! Firstly, the favorite for this game is the Philadelphia Eagles; you’ll be looking at odds in the region of -125, which will see a return of $9 from a $5 stake. For the “underdogs,” you’ll be getting around +105, which will net you $10.25 from the same stake, so it’s a tight one to call. Of course, these are two teams that have put everything on the line all season to get here, and it all boils down to this. 

 

When it comes to individual lines, here are some of the big ones: if you’re looking to bet on the spread, you’re looking at -110 for either +1.5 or -1.5, which is a return of $9.54 from a $5 stake. If you’re looking at the over/under, they’re also putting up odds of -110 on an over/under of 50.5 points. We found a pretty good parlay that comes in at +500 and returns $30 from $5; the lines are the following: Chiefs to win, Travis Kelce to score a TD in the match, and Patrick Mahomes to get 300 or more passing yards in the match! Not too bad, really.

 

That’s just about it for this one. What do you think about the players we’ve mentioned here? Are there any big names you think we’ve missed? I think when you properly look over the history books when it comes to players that have represented the Eagles, there are countless names you could put here, but with a limited amount of time here, we could only talk about so many, and we personally think we’ve picked the best of the best.

 

So, Eagles fans, how are we feeling ahead of the Super Bowl? I imagine the nerves have fully kicked in now, and you’re all chewing your fingers to the bone. But in my opinion, you have nothing to worry about. Your team has had a phenomenal season and has looked absolutely brilliant throughout, even on the few occasions where they haven’t gotten the result they were after. It’s time to push on and cap off the season with a bit of gold, right? 

Five Takeaways from Panthers blowout win against Lightning

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SUNRISE – After more than a week away from game play due to the All-Star break, the Florida Panthers traded in their flip flops for hockey skates as they returned to FLA Live Arena to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning in another edition of the Battle of Florida. 

 

The Cats didn’t miss a beat from their last game, the Jan. 28th comeback win against the Boston Bruins tonight against their cross-state rivals. 

 

2023 All-Star Game MVP Matthew Tkachuk continued his dominant season with a five-point night in the Panthers 7-1 win. 

 

Here’s tonight’s takeaways.

No post All-Star slump for Matthew Tkachuk 

On Saturday night, FLA Live Arena belonged to the Panthers’ star forward Matthew Tkachuk.

 

No. 19 won All-Star MVP with his seven point performance across the two games the Atlantic Division played in the All-Star Game.

 

Two nights later he was back in the same building with a little more at stake.

 

Tkachuk finished the night with two goals and three assists, pushing his season point total to 71.

 

“I have a really good understanding of Matthew as a player,” said head coach Paul Maurice. “He’s an elite, elite talent.”

 

It took Tkachuk 60 games last season to reach 70 points with Calgary. He hit that tonight in game number 50. 

 

Carter Verhaeghe is creeping in on 30 goals 

Season three with the Panthers is proving to be the best one for Carter Verhaeghe. 

 

The 27-year-old was sitting on 26 goals entering tonight’s game against his former club.

 

Verhaeghe potted two more goals tonight, on top of two assists, bumping his career-high goal total to 28 this season. 

 

As long as he stays on the ice, it’s looking like a sure thing he hits the 30-goal milestone, with 40 not out of the possibility.

 

His teammates spoke about how effective Verhaeghe has been offensively. 

“He’s got so much speed, so it’s all about hitting him in the right spots in the offensive zone,” Tkachuk said about Verhaeghe. “He’s got such a great shot so it’s actually really easy to play with him.”

 

Aleksander Barkov injury scare

In the second period, Panthers’ captain Aleksander Barkov took a puck off the hand, which sent him to the locker room. 

 

Barkov did not return to the game following the blocked shot.

 

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said Barkov probably won’t skate tomorrow, however they don’t think this is going to be a long-term injury. 

 

Sergei Bobrovsky makes 30 saves in his return

The Panthers starting goalie hasn’t seen game action since he got injured in the opening minutes  against Montreal on Jan. 19th. 

 

Tonight in his first start since then, Bob slammed the door on Tampa, stopping 32 of 33 shots faced.

 

“There was a tip early in that first period that he got his pad out on, [he was] real big on the penalty kill,” said Maurice on Bobrovsky’s game. “The right saves at the right time are so critical, especially against a powerful team like that.”

 

Bobrovsky’s movement was smooth across the crease; it didn’t look like there were any lingering issues from the injury that kept him sidelined for the last three weeks. 

 

Spencer Knight, who hasn’t played an NHL game since Jan. 8th in Dallas was the backup tonight, Florida sent goaltender Alex Lyon down to Charlotte (AHL). Lyon played in the last six games for the Panthers. 

 

Net front presence wins the game

When a team wins by six goals, it’s a little harder to pinpoint where they were most dominant.

 

What jumped out to me was how aggressive the Panthers were in front of the Lightning net. 

 

Goals from Tkachuk, Bennett, Luostarinen and Staal all came from around the Tampa crease. 

 

Florida is a fast team that is good off the rush, but when they are able to be the aggressor in 1-on-1 battles, it can change the dynamic of their game.

 

“The Luosatarinen goal is the way goals are scored in the playoffs and or I just say at this time of year, it gets harder and it’s a grind game” said Maurice. “Pucks from the point, pucks in the net front, Luostarinen’s tip, that’s the future of the way we have to score.”

Cannabis in Sports: How It Can Help or Harm

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Contents

Benefits of Weed to Athletes

Health Risks of Cannabis to Athletes

Does Cannabis Enhance Performance?

Is Weed Allowed in Sports?

The Debate Goes On

 

Although numerous fitness enthusiasts and athletes consume marijuana, there are questions about its benefits and side effects. Does smoking weed affect cardio, weightlifting, and other exercises? Can the herb improve your capability?

 

Using cannabis has pros and cons for sportspersons. Many assume that premium CBD seeds may produce marijuana that can enhance your performance at the gym. Others feel the plant could harm you. More information you can find here. 

 

Here are the things to know about cannabis in sports.

 

Benefits of Weed to Athletes

Whether you’re an amateur or a pro athlete, marijuana may help you in the following ways:

 

Muscle Spasm Treatment

This condition occurs when your muscles tighten and contract involuntarily. While the problem is usually harmless, it leads to a lot of temporary pain. Overexertion of the body’s elastic fibers during physical activities is one of its primary causes.

 

While running or working out, you may experience muscle spasms. Studies suggest that cannabis could treat this acute condition. Reports say the herb may speed up recovery after exercises, decreasing the occurrence of involuntary contraction and tightening.

 

Pain and Soreness Relief

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), two of the compounds in marijuana, could relieve pain. These chemical agents interact with the body to lower the soreness you experience after a workout or sporting activity.

 

Studies show that THC binds with some cannabinoid receptors in the sensory neurons. In response to the interaction, the nerve cells lower pain sensation. The psychoactive compound also makes you euphoric, reducing your level of reaction to the soreness in your system.

 

Along with using essential sports equipment to heal injuries, consuming weed before a workout could be the secret to alleviating pain.

 

Inflammation Reduction

After hours at the gym, certain body parts may swell and become red. Inflammation is your system’s means of preventing further damage to the affected areas. Although this defense mechanism often starts the rehabilitation process, it’s often painful.

 

Clinical investigators note that cannabis may reduce the symptoms of inflammation. CBD is a non-psychoactive compound with anti-inflammatory properties. 

 

The cannabinoid decreases the adhesion of immune cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines, the causes of swelling and redness.

 

Sleep Improvement

To perform well during a competition or training, an athlete must recover fully from the effects of past workouts. Adequate sleep is one of the factors that promotes rapid and complete healing.

 

Marijuana is a potential sleep inducer. Studies claim that the THC and CBD in cannabis could make slumber better, longer, and more sound. Athletes who smoke weed may enjoy more restful nights than their non-toking counterparts.

 

The herb may also subdue dreams and sleep apnea, preventing restlessness. It’s one of the ways marijuana or hemp can impact your fitness.

 

Health Risks of Cannabis to Athletes

Despite the possible advantages of cannabis to athletes, the plant could have some adverse effects. Frequent weed users may experience psychotic episodes or depression. The herb could also impair coordination, a crucial skill in most sporting activities.

 

Over the long term, marijuana could increase the risk of certain neurocognitive, respiratory, and cardiovascular disorders. Suffering from any of these conditions may decline your performance. 

 

Since chronic consumption has the most damaging consequences, moderate and casual use could reduce the risks of developing these complications.

 

Does Cannabis Enhance Performance?

There’s no evidence that the herb gives athletes undue advantages. Several studies claim weed doesn’t make you faster, stronger, bigger, or better at any sport. It also doesn’t increase your endurance. 

 

Since the plant accelerates recovery, many claim it could improve the capability of a sportsperson or fitness freak. This argument doesn’t have compelling scientific support.

 

On the contrary, numerous researchers propose that cannabis could decrease your performance. It may undermine your physical abilities by increasing your blood pressure and heart rate.

 

Weed makes you weaker in the gym or during training by promoting exhaustion. The herb could obstruct your body’s arousal system, causing tiredness and drowsiness.

 

Due to the contradicting reports on marijuana’s effects, it’s difficult to specify how it aids performance.

 

Is Weed Allowed in Sports?

Sports federations don’t approve of cannabis use. Although the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) doesn’t say marijuana improves athletes’ ability, the organization considers it a “substance of abuse.”

 

Various associations banned athletes from competing due to weed consumption. A notable example is Sha’Carri Richardson, who lost her place at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

 

Randy Gregory, Josh Gordon, Cory Juneau, and Chris Barnett suffered similar fates in other sporting events. After reviews in 2022, various federations reduced the severity of punishment for offenders.

 

Sportspersons can use the plant during the off-season, but they should abstain when participating in any international competitions.

 

The Debate Goes On

The effects of cannabis on athletes remain controversial. While some researchers believe smoking weed affects cardio and other workouts, others propose it’s ineffectual. 

 

Sports science requires more studies on the herb to provide evidence of its short- and long-term impacts.

 

The only certainty is there’s no place for marijuana in sports. Despite the calls to permit cannabis, many organizations still prohibit its use. This restriction doesn’t stop numerous sportspeople from consuming the plant recreationally.

Atlantic Division wins 2023 NHL All-Star Game, Matthew Tkachuk takes home MVP in Sunrise

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SUNRISE – The 2023 NHL All-Star weekend came to an end on Saturday night in South Florida, with the host team fans going home happy in more ways than one.

 

The championship game saw the Atlantic Division, represented by Florida Panthers’ stars Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, take on the Central Division All-Stars.

 

In the final, catalyzed by a Matthew Tkachuk goal 37 seconds into the game, the Atlantic stormed to a four-goal lead. They’d be able to hold onto their big cushion, defeating the Central 7-5 to take home the win and the $1 million bonus.

 

It was the first time the Atlantic won the All-Star game since the NHL moved to the 3-on-3 divisional format in 2016. 

 

Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk led all skaters with seven points across the two games. His efforts were more than enough to win All-Star game MVP.

 

During the pair of games, Tkachuk played on a line with Barkov and his brother Brady. 

 

“Getting to play with Barky and getting to play with Brady, it was just fun from the start,” said Tkachuk. “We had an unreal time… I really, really enjoyed it (All-Star weekend).” 

 

The Tkachuk brothers have never played together in a competitive environment before Saturday’s game. With the newest honorary Tkachuk brother Aleksander Barkov on their line, the trio combined for 16 points on the night.

 

“It was actually fun, I wasn’t expecting that,” Barkov said about playing with the two brothers. “[They are] two great guys, off-ice especially and on the ice we had a lot of fun. You never felt like you had any nerves because you were having fun and enjoying every second.” 

 

The weekend as a whole was a success for South Florida. The All-Star game was a sellout, with 19,250 fans in attendance. The league also brought in a record 7,000 guests during the week, according to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

 

Bettman said on Saturday that the estimated economic revenue from the weekend for South Florida is in the $25-$30 million range. 

 

Florida Panthers CEO Matthew Caldwell was more than satisfied with the way the events turned out over the week.

 

“I know Toronto’s got it next year but let’s get it back,” Caldwell chuckled. “ We love throwing events like this… as soon as Vinny [Viola] bought the team we’ve been trying to get an All-Star game.”

 

The NHL will return to action on Monday night, with the Panthers and Lightning starting it off in another edition of the Battle of Florida in Sunrise.

Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Bucks

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The Heat finished off their 4 game road trip in Milwaukee, and the Heat’s core guys came to play in comparison to last game in New York.

Jimmy Butler was a constant force offensively, yet so was Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Heat’s top guys were good, but that wasn’t good enough.

Some takeaways…

#1: The front-court size differences showing early.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez vs Bam Adebayo and Caleb Martin. Yeah, when looking at the height column of their player profiles, it’s a striking disparity. The early showing expressed that perfectly, as the Bucks offensive plan was strictly matchup based. Finding guys like Antetokounmpo over the top time and time again, as the shots at rim was insanely one-sides in that first quarter. The Heat’s primary first half run came when Antetokounmpo was on the sideline, which makes sense, but as I said before the game, the key to this game was going to be sitting back in zone. If they out-shoot you, it is what it is. But you can’t let the Bucks dictate matchups all day off switches. The Heat ended up tied at half, but there was still a clear need for front-court additions. Yes, that was plural.

#2: Tyler Herro controlling the offense big time early on.

After that opening explanation, you may be asking yourself: tied at half? Well I was asking myself that same question at many time stamps, but the answer in the second quarter was Tyler Herro. Even when Jimmy Butler’s crashing rim attempts were needed, Tyler Herro’s in-between game just kept saving the offense. Making quick decisions on when to utilize his favorite floater and when to stop and pop into the usual pull-up jumper. We know he likes this matchup for more reasons than it being his hometown with family in the crowd. He’s been vocal about loving this drop. His comfort was most noticeable, as he was playing extremely loose when roaming downhill or on the break. And when Herro’s playing freely, that’s when he’s at his best.

#3: So ummm, back-up big minutes were…something

Last game. Erik Spoelstra had the choice of playing Udonis Haslem or Dewayne Dedmon behind Bam Adebayo. His goal was to play them both, but ended up going with UD in that Knicks matchup. Fast forward to tonight, Dedmon was the one hitting the early scorer’s table. He went 0 of 4 in the first half. There was an incredible 60 second run he went on: a missed layup turned into an immediate takedown tackle for the foul. Shortly after, he pulled an in rhythm above the break triple that short rimmed. As much as I joke about it on social media, those seven minutes in that first half hurt. I mentioned front-court help early in this piece, but you just can’t be one big man injury away from this point.

#4: Jimmy Butler extremely engaged offensively in this one.

Jimmy Butler has this certain quality. It’s a switch. He can turn it on and off whenever he chooses, leading to incredible playoff runs when it matters most. A matchup that hasn’t always been his favorite is this drop coverage Bucks squad with the way they protect the rim, but that didn’t matter. He flipped his switch. Dominating on the downhill drives into tough bank shots, good in-between range play, and getting to the line when needed. He was seeking on-ball reps in that third quarter, which is needed from him in games like this. As I said Herro took control early on, Butler was silently taking over throughout. When his fingerprints are on games like this, you know in two areas: free throw attempts and defensively. He was extremely active in both categories, compared to his last performance in New York.

#5: More fourth quarter breakdowns…

As the time ticked in the fourth quarter with Jimmy Butler still not checking in, it felt like the Heat trailing by only 2 at the end of the third was the best it could get. Yet Bam Adebayo and company kept Miami in it heading up to the halfway mark, as Butler entered. The next issue that approached for the Heat: their constant shot making all night began to hit a wall. As the shot making dissolved, the Antetokounmpo game-plan will only go so far, as he just continued to battle to the free throw line on a ton of straight line drives. It’s simply an uphill battle when fighting past the size and shooting disadvantages. They put up a fight all the way til the end behind their top 3 guys, but it just wasn’t good enough. A summary of their season, a theme for the trade deadline.