Kawhi Leonard should sit next season if he wants

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The NBA regular season returns in two months and the arms race known as free agency is nearing a cooldown. With most significant signings now complete, the league’s formidable opponents are some of the usual suspects, but a group among them reloaded thinking towards the future of 2022/2023.  

 

Who else but the Los Angeles Clippers?  That’s no fault of theirs either.  Kawhi Leonard’s partially torn ACL mucked up any ambitions this team had of competing for the title last season, after round 2.  

 

This summer, the Clippers made the logical decision: extend Leonard for $176 million over four years.  Even with the injury, Leonard had the leverage to get an opt-out year in the final season of his deal.  However, LAC shouldn’t expect to see him back anytime soon.  Given Leonard’s history of taking the conservative approach with his health, the Clippers might reach the Playoffs as a mid-seed or perhaps through the play-in-tournament if #2 takes the year off.  

 

Adding to speculation that Leonard might miss the upcoming season is the significance of the trade between the Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies.  Per ESPN, Eric Bledsoe is off to LAC in exchange for Patrick Beverly, Rajon Rondo and Daniel Oturu.  This trade saves the Clippers $30 million in luxury tax penalties. Still, that development is noteworthy because it potentially indicates that owner, excuse me, governor Steve Ballmer doesn’t want to break the bank any more than he has to for a team that’s star player may never get fully healthy next season.  

 

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Regardless of Leonard’s injury being a partial tear, it’s still one of the more serious wounds an athlete can suffer.  Anyone who wants to break Leonard’s balls over coming back as soon as possible can kick rocks.  He was already misdiagnosed once before by the San Antonio Spurs doctors, as Peter Vecsey pointed out on the Duke Loves Rasslin podcast.  In 2017/2018, the Klaw played in nine of 82 games due to feeling pain and discomfort in his knee.  

 

While prioritizing health and future finances, Leonard’s relationship with the Spurs soured because he didn’t capitulate to the peer pressure of coming back too soon.  In the following offseason, Leonard, who was on the last year of his deal, was traded to the Toronto Raptors.  

 

Toronto, with a burning desire to keep Leonard for more than a year, was comfortable allowing him to employ his ultra-careful methods of “load management.”  It worked. In their partnership, Leonard led the Raptors to the first NBA Finals trip and came away with a ring.

 

The title with Toronto not only validated Leonard as the real deal, but it vindicated his character that the Spurs tried to taint.  Who can forget when Tony Parker of the Spurs said he suffered the same injury, only that his experience was 100X worse?  

 

Understandably, missing an entire year while collecting checks is frustrating to management and the fans, but it’s wiser to act cautious, in the Klaw or any athlete’s case, than regret it later.  Let’s not forget that Derrick Rose sat all of 2012/2013 recovering from his torn ACL.  In 2019/2020, Klay Thompson followed the same school of thought nursing his injury.  If Leonard wants to shut it down next season, the Clippers’ primary responsibility is not doing what the Spurs did, alienating him.

 

Shaquille O’Neal, playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, imparted his wisdom when he said, “I got hurt on company time, so I’ll rehab on it.”  O’Neal was already a made-man, a multiple-time champion, like Leonard is today.

 

When people show who they are, you should believe them. Leonard, close to a clean bill of health, is as lethal a player as it gets in the NBA. Just ask Toronto and San Antonio.   

 

Is Kevin Durant Right about USA Basketball’s Place in the World?

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 Team USA basketball captured their fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal with their victory over France in the championship round on Friday, Aug. 6. As they proudly flexed their new jewelry, dripping in champagne, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green looked to settle the score with doubters of their mission in Tokyo. 

 

Durant and Green took exception to ideas that Team USA wasn’t the favorites in some power rankings and that some media members picked them to lose. The former NBA teammates and current Olympic champions first directed their ire towards Kendrick Perkins, a former teammate of Durant and ESPN pundit. 

 

Green said, “Act like you’re American,” in reference to Perkins saying he wasn’t confident after the U.S. beat Argentina in Las Vegas before the trip to Tokyo. 

 

Then KD said, “this skill is unmatched,” referencing the discussion about the rest of the world’s place in the sport’s hierarchy. 

 

Durant’s comments seemed disingenuous, considering the win over France ended in a two-possession game. The deeper U.S. squad had 12 NBA players in contrast to the French team’s eight, who are not all on the same level as the Americans. 

 

In large part, most of the world’s elite basketball players come from the United States and work for an NBA team.  Yet, the NBA’s population consists of 24% foreign-born athletes. Their impact is not going unnoticed.

 

The MVP of the league, Nikola Jokic, is Serbian.  Second in line for that honor, this year was center Joel Embiid from Cameroon.  Rudy Gobert from France was the Defensive Player of the Year, an award he has claimed three of the last four seasons.  Giannis Antetokounmpo of Greece is the reigning Finals MVP.

 

The final four teams of the Playoffs included a foreign big-man.  Out west, Deandre Ayton of the Bahamas was the mismatch that doomed the Clippers in round three, rarely failing an attempt near the basket.  Ivica Zubac of Croatia, was serviceable near the rim for the LA Clippers, even after the team lost the help defense of Kawhi Leonard to injury. 

 

 On the other coast, there was the Greek Freak for the eventual champions Milwaukee Bucks whose performance in the Finals is reminiscent of Magic Johnson and Bob Pettit’s during the title round.  Clint Capela of Switzerland, for the Atlanta Hawks, was the NBA’s leading rebounder and was an integral component to the Hawks’ breakthrough season. 

 

In the past few years, the impact of 3-point shooting hasn’t been the primary focal point for winning teams in the NBA. The Milwaukee Bucks splashed 32.1% of their deep attempts during the Postseason. The mean for this latest year was 36.7%, according to basketballrefence.com.  In the bubble, the Lakers shot 35.6% from deep when the average for 2020 was 35.8%. In 2019, the Toronto Raptors converted 34.4% of their triples through four rounds when the average for that season was 35.5%. 

 

Nonetheless, signature qualities of the last three championship teams were their defensive versatility and size. The Bucks were unforgiving in their pursuit of rebounds, limiting Phoenix’s second opportunities. The Lakers overpowered the Miami Heat in similar fashion, snatching 45 more rebounds through six games.  The Raptors were relentless in their hounding of Stephen Curry with multiple defenders, and more so after the injuries to Durant and Klay Thompson when the Raptors implemented a box-and-one, completely disrespecting every other Warrior on the floor. 

 

Keeping in mind that as of late, size has shown to be more valuable than perfecting a circus shot, how has the world not caught up in some aspects of the game, according to Durant, when the best big men in the NBA are no longer American? Pat Riley famously once said, “No rebounds, no rings.” A term that applies to all but the anomaly Miami Heat during title runs for 2012-2013. 

 

The Marlins wasted a promising season

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Entering the road series with the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, the Pythagorean theorem had the Miami Marlins at 55-54 and competing for their first ever National League East division title.

Instead, Miami was in last place of the division with a 47-62 record. The Pythagorean theorem predicts a team’s expected record based on the number of runs scored and allowed. Prior to losing 18-1 to the Washington Nationals a month ago, the Marlins had the highest run differential in the division throughout much of the season.

That mathematical system has likely flipped on the Marlins since after being swept by the Rockies in embarrassing fashion. Seeing Sandy Alcantara get tagged for 10 runs on Friday certainly didn’t look good. The most recent prized pitching prospect, Jesus Luzardo, gave up seven runs in less than five innings the next game and what’s left of the bullpen gave up 13 runs in the series finale. 

The main reason why the Pythagorean did not match reality was the amount of close games that did not go Miami’s way. Of their 65 defeats this season, 39 were by two runs or fewer. The Marlins have played 33 one-run games and won only 11. That’s tied with with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the team with the league’s worst record, for most defeats of such nature in baseball.

This feels like a total waste of a promising season especially at a time where the NL East felt the most vulnerable. The division leading Philadelphia Phillies rose to the top on an eight game winning streak but is barely above .500 on the season. The New York Mets long had a flimsy lead and it only took a four-game losing streak to drop all the way to third place. Despite being 18 games below .500, the Marlins are closer to the top (12 GB) than any other last place team in baseball. 

The Marlins were supposed to build off their first playoff appearance and instead wasted a promising season. Not having Sixto Sanchez at all didn’t help but the pitching staff had a top 5 ERA in the NL prior to being victims of Coors Field.

The Marlins made shrewd moves when they added veteran bats like Jesus Aguilar, Starlin Marte and Adam Duvall but they seemed like the sole source of offense for Miami this season. 

Aguilar has been the Marlins best hitter since his acquisition and along with Miguel Rojas, the most consistent and relied on hitter on the team. He currently leads the NL in RBI (79) and along with Rojas — who is the leader of the team years after being a throw-in of a 2014 blockbuster trade that brought over Dee Gordon — are top priorities during the upcoming offseason. 

Duvall was brought to Miami on a reasonable salary to hit 30 home runs and he was living up to his end on the deal prior to being traded back to Atlanta for catching prospect Alex Jackson. The Marlins front office has proven to bring in competent veteran bats to bolster their refreshed pipeline and will be counted on to do it again this offseason. 

The rebuild was a success on the pitching side, but a complete failure on the hitting side. Outside of Jazz Chisholm, there has not been a prospect acquired in a trade since the new ownership whom has had success on the plate. 

A silver lining this season has been the gradual improvement of Lewis Brinson. After spending the first two seasons batting below .200 after being the centerpiece of the infamous Christian Yelich trade — which only happened because the eventual National League MVP wanted to leave — has been batting above the MLB average (.242) at .261 in 45 games. He has been a guy throughout his four years with the Marlins whom has been a disappointment due to his stature as a No. 1 prospect but always a good person from the area that makes you want to root for. 

Trading away the entire starting outfield has given Brinson another opportunity but this time, he’s capitalizing on it. He has one more hit in 51 at-bats after the All-Star Game (.317) than in 68 at-bats prior to the Midsummer Classic. It has been the best stretch of his career without any end in sight. With a .944 OPS during that stretch, he has outperformed everyone who has been slated to replace him. 

It seems like the rest of this season has now been dedicated to monitoring the new prospects brought over in the trades. Jackson has demonstrated plenty of power in the minor leagues and in seven games with the Marlins, two of his four hits have gone yard. Bryan De La Cruz was traded from the Houston Astros for relief pitcher Yimi Garcia and made his big league debut after batting .324 in his first Triple-A season. This season has been an objective disaster for Luzardo (7.36 ERA in 15 games, eight starts) but the 23-year-old prized pitching prospect will be given every opportunity to succeed for his hometown team.

There’s still hope that the 2022 Marlins could feature a starting rotation of Trevor Rogers, Pablo Lopez, Sanchez, Alcantara and Luzardo and a revamped lineup of veterans and breakout rookies. Nothing short of a playoff series at home will bring fans in LoanDepot Park.

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Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes: 2021 Fall Camp Positional Preview

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By Jazz Santana

Fall Camp is finally here! This is arguably the most anticipated Canes football season we have had in quite some time. There is so much excitement surrounding the 2021 Miami Hurricanes football program. However, there are still many questions that need to be answered. Is D’Eriq King ready? Who can replace Phillips, Roche, Rousseau? Do we have enough at Linebacker? Can Gurvan Hall cement his spot at Safety? Who starts opposite of Tyrique Stevenson and is the OL finally ready to dominate? That and so much more still remains to be answered.

Now is the time for those questions to be answered. Can the Miami Hurricanes live up to expectations?  Will there be an epic “UNC” meltdown again?

Head Coach Manny Diaz seems to have all his guys now ready to go! This is potentially the best staff Miami has had in almost 20 years. The Canes will field the best offense they have had in many years and now with Coach Diaz calling the shots once again on Defense, that side of the ball should take a step up as well. This is what is so exciting about this years team…the potential to be great!

Let’s answer so if those questions and break down this years Miami Hurricanes:

OFFENSE

QB

This is D’Eriq King’s team! Make no mistake about it. The question is, will he be ready? King injured his knee in the lost in last years Bowl game against Oklahoma State. Since then he quickly had surgery and began his rehab. His rehabilitation has gone so well, that Manny Diaz himself has said that King will be a full go and ready for the September  4th opener against defending national Champion Alabama. If he stays healthy this can be an absolutely lethal offense.

So who’s his backup? Is it Tyler Van Dyke or highly touted freshman Jake Garcia? The good news is, both has shown to have the skills to be QB2. Right now it’s too close to call and that’s exciting! We haven’t had this level of talent in our backup quarterback since, well, put it this way…Mark Richt was playing! If I had to give one the edge right now, in my opinion, it’s TVD. He has shown high IQ, has one year under Rhett Lashlee’s offense and has shown the arm strength and accuracy to compete at this level. However, Jake Garcia is the heir apparent for the Canes and is the more talented skill wise. There is very little separation of any between the two, if any. Chances are we will see them both on the field this year.

QB1: D’Eriq King

QB2: TVD/Garcia

RB

Too many injuries for any one running back to really take over as the lead back. Cam Harris comes in as the starter, but not necessarily the best back on this team. For me, that guy is Don Chaney, Jr. Chaney’s first year was slowed down by injuries that kept him off the field a bunch, but when he was on it, he was the clear cut lead back. Jaylan Knighton, better known as “Rooster” also showed explosiveness and great hands out of the back field. With the addition of Thad Franklin and Cody Brown, this looks to be one of the deepest and best running back cores in the ACC.

RB1: Don Chaney, Jr.

RB2: Cam Harris/Rooster

Sleeper: Cody Brown

WR

At the top, this one is easy…

Mike Harley, coming off his best year, is poised to have an All-ACC type season. The transfer portal was good to us again, with the addition of former Oklahoma Sooner, Charleston Rambo. He has cemented himself as WR2 and could challenge Harley for WR1. WR3 was up in the air for quite some time, but the emergence of Keyshawn Smith has been absolutely exciting! His ability to take the top off defenses and create separation has been impressive. He can play inside or outside. Equally as impressive, has been the play of the X Man, Xavier Restrepo. He is a smaller guy, prototypical slot receiver that can get lost in the defense and create big plays. His is quick, strong and has very good hands. Those are my top 4 guys. There are a bunch of guys that can emerge as that 4th or 5th WR and push for playing time. But lookout for the incoming freshmen class of Brashard Smith, Romello Brinson and Jacolby George.  This is an exciting and talented group.

WR1: Mike Harley

WR2: Charleston Rambo

WR3: Keyshawn Smith

WR4: Xavier Restrepo

Sleeper: Romello Brinson

TE

Will Mallory may be the biggest weapon and game changer for this Hurricanes offense. Last year he was able to show what he could do in this offense when Brevin Jordan went down with an injury. Mallory is an All-ACC/All-NCAA caliber TE. The biggest battle is for TE2. Larry Hodges comes back as the guy with the most experience and Dominic Mammarelli can also come in and get some playing time. But for me, Elijah Arroyo is the next man up. The scary and exciting thing is, he may be the most talented TE of all. I can even see him pushing Mallory for significant playing time. This one will be fun to watch.

TE1: Will Mallory

TE2: Elijah Arroyo

Sleeper: Mammarelli

OL

I’ll keep this one short. Depth is the name of the game here and the Canes finally have it! This biggest battle I believe is on the right side. This is where quality depth comes in to play. It will be interesting to see who gets the nod to start at both Right Guard and Right Tackle. Here’s how I see it:

LT: Zion Nelson

LG: Navaughn Donaldson

C: Corey Gaynor

RG: Jalen Rivers

RT: Jarrid Williams

Depth: DJ Scaife, Jakai Clark, John Campbell, Jr., Issaih Walker

Sleeper: Zalontae Hillery

DEFENSE

DL

The biggest question remains: who replaces the production from Jaelan Phillips, Quincy Roche, and Greg Rousseau? It will have to be a true team effort. The addition of transfer portal newcomer Deandre Johnson(via Tennessee) looks to have solidified his spot on one side. Jahfari Harvey is the player all Canes fans thought would be the next big time DE. The jury is still out. But if there is a time for him to breakout, it’s now! Zach McCloud in my opinion is a very nice addition to the Edge position. I truly believe this may be his best opportunity to be productive and make a big impact. His ability to rush the QB I think will earn him significant playing time. After that, Coach Jess Simpson will have to do what he does best and develop these kids. It’s not to say the talent is not there, but u believe with Simpson coming back, players like Cam Williams, Jabari Ishmael, Elijah Roberts, Chantz Williams and others.

The interior line is undoubtedly our strength. As the interior goes, the whole defensive line goes. It starts with Nesta Jade Silvera. He will anchor that interior along with guys like Jared Harrison-Hunte, Jon Ford and 5 Star Freshman Leonard Taylor. This will be an exciting group to watch!

DE: Deandre Johnson & Jahfari Harvey

DL: Nesta Jade Silvera & Jon Ford/Harrison-Hunte

Sleeper: Jordan Miller

LB

The biggest question mark on this defense remains, what are we doing at Linebacker? Simple answer is, everything and anything!

Corey Flagg has been the biggest and brightest spot at linebacker and will continue to anchor this group. Last year was rough, to say the least. Good news is, everyone is back! There will be a ton of competition and the addition of Keontra Smith moving over to WLB I believe will start to solidify this position even more. This is an ever-changing and developing story and the most important one to watch throughout fall camp. Look for guys like Sam Brooks, Jr., Avery Huff, Bradley Jennings, Jr., Waynmon Steed and others to make some noise. Here’s how I see it:

MLB: Corey Flagg/Sam Brooks/Bradley Jennings, Jr.

WLB: Keontra Smith/Avery Huff/Waynmon Steed

Sleeper: Tirek Austin-Cave & Tyler Johnson

DB/Striker

The secondary could arguably be the most talented group on the Canes defense. But that doesn’t come without it’s questions…

The Safety position may be the best in the ACC, as it returns on e of the top players in the nation, Bubba Bolden. Bolden has shown he can be potentially a 1st Round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. However, the talent does not fall off much from there. We have seen glimpse of what Gurvan Hall has been able to do along side Bolden at the safety, although he has had his bouts with inconsistency along the way. Can he win the starting role against the likes of very talented players like Keyshawn Washington, Brian Balom and Amari Carter, who will most likely play both the Safety and Striker position?

In my opinion his biggest competition will not be from those guys, but from the two young bucks. 5 Star incoming superstar Freshman James Williams and stud Kamren Kinchens are the future at Safety for the Canes…and the future might be now! Look for those two to be a force and make some noise early on.

CB

The transfer portal strikes again! This time bringing in big time help from Georgia. South Florida native Tyrique Stevenson transfers back home and immediately takes a hold of one starting cornerback spot. The other is still up fro grabs. Will it be DJ Ivey? Can he bounce back and play like the corner we all thought he would be? Is Al Blades, Jr. healthy enough to contribute? Should we give Te’Cory Couch a shot outside? For me, if Blades is healthy, he may be the most talented of the group. But if not, the emergence of Isaiah Dunson could be one to keep a close eye on. This will be a great battle all throughout camp.

I have to admit, early on I was not sold on Gil Frierson at Striker, but he has proven me wrong time and time again, to the point where I believe he may be the best player on this defense. He has developed into one of the nations best Outside LB/Strikers and I am very excited to see him play this year. He will be pushed for playing time by the aforementioned Amari Carter and legacy Chase Smith. Smith has already made some noise this year during Spring football. Ultimately Smith’s future is at Linebacker in my opinion but he will make his mark early on at Striker.

CB: Tyrique Stevenson & Isaiah Dunson(if Blades can’t start)

Safety: Bubba Bolden & Gurvan Hall

Striker: Gil Frierson

CB Sleeper: Malik Curtis

Safety Sleeper: Kamren Kinchens

Striker Sleeper: Chase Smith

Special Teams

Doesn’t get easier than this. The best punter in the land, Lou Hedley comes back for more. The Aussie has a chance to be one of the best to wear Orange and Green.

Lose one Borregales, no problem, get another. Andres Borregales replaces his brother, who is off kicking field goals for Tom Brady in Tampa Bay!

The returner competition is another to follow. Lots of players in the mix.

P: Lou Hedley

K: Andrés Borregales

KR: Xavier  Restrepo & Malik Curtis

PR: Xavier Restrepo

Returner Sleeper:  Brashard Smith

Stay tuned for updates throughout Fall Camp.

Eric Rowe admits Chan Gailey’s offense “really wouldn’t let Tua show his arm”

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For much of the offseason, a civil war has broken out amongst #DolphinsTwitter.

Some believed that Tua was handed the raw end of the stick, being tied to a 68-year old offensive coordinator. Others believed that was an excuse. “iF a 17 yEar vEt lIkE rYaN FiTzpAtRiCk cAN dO it, So CAn a RoOkIe” some old head on Facebook probably said.

Many see the flaw in that. But we won’t make excuses.

Nevertheless, there has been this narrative since the beginning of days that Ryan Fitzpatrick had a different playbook than Tua Tagovailoa. Or at the very least, he was handcuffed by Chan Gailey—who admitted he burned all of his old football stuff to start over fresh. (That’s like me opening a restaurant or getting a food truck but beforehand nuking every recipe I know. Hell, I have a goldfish brain and I’d probably remember most of my memories. Did Chan?)

Today, Dolphins safety Eric Rowe basically confirmed what many of us already believed. And that is that last year’s offense was as vanilla as those gross wafers you can buy at the grocery store.

Now there will still be folks that believe Tua Tagovailoa was an utter failure a season ago. I tend to understand he wasn’t perfect. It was this year that was always going to show what quarterback the Dolphins truly had under center. And early on, I think we’ve seen a different player than what we did a season ago.

Tua Tagovailoa is heating up like Larry Johnson in the OG NBA Jam

Through one week, without pads, Tua Tagovailoa has looked #moneymoneydingdong. He’s looked decisive, accurate, and has displayed a big-a$$ rifle for an arm connecting on one big play after another. Tuscaloosa Tagovailoa as some may call him.

And he’s been doing it with a variety of different receivers.

Most impressive, The Samoan Southpaw hasn’t thrown an interception since last Wednesday and continues to get better and better. Like a nice bourbon barrel stout.

Now the real test is tomorrow when teams put the pads on for the first time.

Chan Gailey is gone and the handcuffs have been removed. It’s now time for Tua Tagovailoa, and his new arsenal of weaponry, to go out there and light the sky on fire.

“Siri, play Outkast: Bombs over Baghdad”

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What Kyle Lowry Means for the Direction of the Heat

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A look at what the signing of Kyle Lowry means for the Heat and how it shows they’ve learned from past mistakes.

Ladies and gentlemen, they got him. After what seemed like a year of wondering when, not if Kyle Lowry would join the Heat, it’s become official. The most wanted point guard on the Free Agent market will be making his way to South Florida straight from Tampa. The Miami front office’s pressure to make a move after such an unfulfilled season can be slightly lifted now that they’ve got their man. We can all look back at the Trade Deadline, wondering what might have been in the playoffs. We can daydream about how far they could have gone in the playoffs with all that happened to break. But the brain trust of the Heat isn’t looking to daydream anymore — they’re ready for a reality check.

Every front office has to go through rough spots here and there, but for Pat Riley, one misstep is too much. Last offseason was one giant hiccup that Riley will not get over. The moves made in the previous year were with the idea of a future acquisition that may be coming to fruition. Now everyone has learned that holding on for a dream without a clear indication from the opposing party is a futile gesture.

The Heat went after a player in front of them, who gave signs that he would be all aboard the Heat train. Kyle Lowry giving such a straight answer is precisely what the front office wants this year. No more beating around the bush and looking at pipedreams through tinted windows.

The Miami Heat were in between a youth movement and a bundle of old vets prying for a final run last year, not knowing which direction to go. Heat fans hope that this is a sign they know what direction to take. That direction feels led by Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo; no one else matters. It’s time to stop waiting on the younger guys to be more than what they are. It’s time to surround Jimmy and Bam with solid to great basketball players. There won’t be any more waiting for the perfect fit or trying to inch your way to the ideal roster. Fit can be a part of the algorithm — it just can’t be the entire equation.

The remaining part of the equation still has time after the Lowry signing. This move is only the beginning of what should be a significant facelift for the team. This change hasn’t come without its price, as the Heat had to say goodbye to a beloved Slovenian Dragon. While everyone assumed Miami would operate as an over-the-cap team if it picked up Goran Dragic’s option, it was still possible that he would return. But it looks like the Heat had to change course due to circumstances. There are tons of obstacles but there are none. These are the kind of cutthroat moves that need to happen to maximize the window Miami has in front of them.

We all saw how too much emotional attachment did to them last year — they’re not going down that road. It’s not to say that the FO shouldn’t treat the players like emotionless robots. There always needs to be a human element at the core of everything. Look at how much the friendship between Lowry and Butler has played into this entire situation. But you have to reach a certain point where you need to put emotions aside and do what’s best for your top players and franchise as a whole.

While it may sting in the present, it’ll all be better in the long run. And that’s what the team has come to understand after last year. Everything is different this summer, and it might be difficult to swallow at times — but it’s needed.

The frustration of a lost season after a Finals appearance has run through everyone’s veins. The fans should feel confident that everyone is on the same wavelength now. And even though it may not have been for a whale, a giant marlin is sometimes enough of a catch. I don’t expect the Heat to be done nor satisfied with the Lowry move as their marquee maneuver. There seems to be an indication to make more moves in the future. What those moves are, I have no idea. What I do know is that the team is ready to go all-in on Bam and Jimmy. Everyone else is expendable. It’s time.

 

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Miami Dolphins Camp Notes Day 5 (Tua, Hollins, Needham, more)

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This is day 5 of camp, and day 2 of fans in the stands, but the news was made before this practice started as Head Coach Brian Flores offered some optimism on Xavien Howard by commenting that “Contract talks are going in the right direction.” So there is that. There was also a loud “We love Howard” chant that emanated from the stands today, so we know where this whole saga stands with the fans.

Tua Tagovailoa. This is what you call a “strong camp”, so far. He has full mastery of the playbook it seems, and his decisiveness is noticeable. The offense is also much more aggressive and resembles a Dolphins pass offense from 1994, hunting big plays, taking shots, and putting constant pressure on the safeties. There is a deep element on almost every play, and all the safety valves are threatening (Waddle crossers, Jakeem drags, etc.). Tua had another big day statistically, as he grabbed TD’s on every Red Zone Install portion. Tua is coming off his first read, and whipping it to all levels. It’s now been several days of this, so this must be a feature, not a bug. His confidence is in full display each and every practice.

Nik Needham. This is a guy to watch. Nik Needham is quietly putting together a very good camp and has several impressive 1v1 snaps versus Jaylen Waddle in 6v8 drills. That alone is impressive. With the absence of Xavien Howard, Needham has been pressed into duty at several positions, and he is showing a strong leg up on the on going battle at slot corner. We have an early favorite for the Nickel guy, and it’s Needham as the slot corner. His technique is not only solid, but he seems leaner, longer as an athlete. Good start to camp.

Mack Hollins. Mack Hollins is not only finding the end zone often in red Zone install, he is putting some good reps together in 11v11 as well. Hollins had an impressive inside release on the goal line and caught a TD versus 1st team zone coverage, he then beat Byron Jones on an RPO. Hollins on this day, found himself lined up everywhere, including some reps at where you might find Mike Gesicki who is out due to the Covid protocol. He gets my Practice MVP today due to the sheer volume of plays, and his consistency across the board while being asked to do plenty.

 

 

 

Solomon Kindley. The starting offensive line as of now is (from left to right) Austin Jackson, Liam Eichenberg, Michael Dieter, Robert Hunt, Jesse Davis. Kindley is finding himself on the 2nd and 3rd units as the LG, and RG. He does however have a saving grace. Pads have not come on yet. They do go on Tuesday (Tomorrow). Once that happens, we can begin to talk about depth charts, and doghouses. But for now, Matt Skura has a battle at center on his hands, and Kindley has lost snaps to Liam Eichenberg.

Defensive Line rotation. This has taken shape. The edge rotation is essentially set. It’s Emmanuel Ogbah working strong side duty with several guys spelling him, while Andrew Van Ginkel and Jaelen Phillips work the weak side. On the Phillips front, he did not practice, but there was no noticeable physical issue and he was not wearing any protective padding as he watched practice. Adam Butler floats from 3 tech to 5 tech on several fronts, but the 6 to 9 rush belongs to the Ogbah, AVG, Phillips group.

Practice MVP: Mack Hollins
Struggled: Matt Skura (hello, competition)

 

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

Cavaliers Luck Out Again with Evan Mobley

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I am not a gambler, its just not my style. However, I’ll tell you what, the day I decide to play the lotto or  place a bet on MyBookie it will be in Cleveland, Ohio.

For the past 20 years, this franchise has just been  in the right place at the right time. The most well-known example was in 2003, being tied with the  Denver Nuggets at 22.5% chance of winning the #1 overall pick and on that fateful Spring evening, luck  bounced their way and they earned the right in drafted who many believe is the greatest player of all  time, LeBron James. Fast-forward to lottery night, May 17th 2011, a season removed from when LeBron  decided to take his talents to South Beach. Cleveland, having 19.9% odds, again are GIFTED with the #1 overall pick and top prospect Kyrie Irving becomes a Cavalier.

The fortune is far from over though. Two  seasons had passed, Cleveland still suffering the effects of losing LeBron, and in the 2013 NBA Draft  Lottery, with 15.6% odds, Cleveland obtains the #1 overall pick once more and chooses Anthony Bennett  (proving that luck can only take you so far).The very next seasons, the Cavaliers, with 1.7% odds (!!!)  AGAIN jump up to the #1 overall pick, drafting the best player to come out the NBA Draft since LeBron  James, (or so we thought) Andrew Wiggins. FYI, there was a 0.00012% chance for Cleveland to win 4  NBA Draft a Lotteries in 12 years. If you thought the city of Cleveland couldn’t get any luckier, this same  off-season the Cavaliers were blessed with having their prodigal Son, LeBron James, return home for one  last run at bringing a championship to the land. 

So, why did I just give you that history lesson? Because the Cleveland Cavaliers just lucked-out, again.  This past Thursday the Cavaliers with the #3 pick, selected USC standout Evan Mobley after Houston  passed up on him and selected Jalen Green instead, a fine prospect in his own right (I do, however,  disagree with that draft selection).

Mobley, as I described in my 2021 NBA Mock Draft recently, is a  special talent who would be the consensus #1 prospect in almost any other draft. His calling card is his  defensive ability where he displays his high basketball IQ both on the ball navigating through screens  and off the ball taking advantage of his length being 7ft with a 7’4 Wingspan, disrupting passing lanes  and putting a lid on the rim with his shot blocking prowess. He has the hips and lateral  movements needed to legitimately defend 1-5 and knows exactly how to time his shot contest and maneuver in mid air to avoid being called for a foul. Offensively he has the court vision to find the open  man and make the right reads, staying calm and composed under the pressure of double teams. While  he is no Nikola Jokic, there is no reason to believe he can’t be used in a similar role as he progresses. He  can handle with both his left and right hands effectively and owns a smooth mid-range J that I look for  him to extend to the 3-point line to maximize his offensive impact. Mobley has clean footwork down  low and seems comfortable bring the ball up the court even in fast break situations. Evan Mobley has  legit DPOY potential. 

In terms of projections to the next level, many of gone as far as to compare him to future HOFers  Anthony Davis and Chris Bosh. I myself liken him to a combination of Myles Turner and Bam Adebayo. Yes those comparisons seem a little extreme, and one might wonder if he has this kind of potential how  did he fall to #3?

I have the same question.

I can understand taking Cade Cunningham #1, when two  prospects are similar in talent the guard/wing will get the nod nowadays because the NBA has slowly  evolved away from the days of the Big. And I can give Houston a pass (for now) on picking Jalen Green due to his exciting offensive capabilities as well as his elite athletic profile. But in my humble opinion,  unless Jalen Green becomes this generations Micheal Jordan, Houston will lament passing on Evan Mobley. Give the big man some time, he might not win Rookie Of The Year, but he will have the city of  Cleveland counting their lucky stars for having a talent like him fall to their laps, Again.

Miami Dolphins Camp Notes Day 2 (Tua stars, Griffin, X, more)

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Day 3 of camp, and the intrigue has just begun. Xavien Howard stretches,then leaves the field. Then returns. Then is seen all smiles with Jason McCourty. Then watches practice. Does a little coaching. Then it is revealed he has a “minor” injury. Exhausting. Moving On!

Tua Tagovailoa. This was a good day. A Strike to Gesicki in traffic, a well placed wheel route for Savon Ahmed for a huge play. Another 65 yard touchdown on a deep corner route to Albert Wilson. Tua Tagovailoa was really sharp today. His Red Zone install work was also very good with very few negative plays. He had very good chemistry with Myles Gaskin on option routes, and those two were a terror near the goal line. This was likely his best practice of the last two training camps.

Byron Jones. Tua Tagovailoa tested Jones on a 9 route with Jaylen Waddle,and the ball was on the money. But so was Byron. Pass break up. With McCourty floating around different units, and Xavien Howard being wherever Xavien Howard is, Byron Jones exhibited great leadership on the field on this day. His play was also a standout on a day where the offense seemed to have a step on the defense. How quickly people forget that at the time of signing, most football people thought Byron Jones was a better cornerback than Howard. He might have to prove that once again.

Albert Wilson. Ok, I might have been wrong. Any thoughts/takes about Albert Wilson possibly being cut are quickly evaporating. With the absence of DeVante Parker (PUP, but he was out there today), and whatever physical issue Will Fuller is dealing with, it has been Albert Wilson, Allen Hurns, and rookie Jaylen Waddle to the rescue. Albert Wilson has also started a streak. Wilson has consecutive practices with 65 yard touchdowns on deep routes. Today’s on a deep corner route, that he ran in for a TD and then emphatically spiked the ball. Tua and Albert have a connection early on, and it doesn’t look like it will go away anytime soon. Oh, did I mention, he almost had two 60+ yard TD’s today?

 

Shaquem Griffin. What a breath of fresh air. Huge smile, giddy while answering questions, and will crack a joke or two. His availability with the media was a hit today, but his play is getting notice. He plays fast, fires off the edge like a shot, and has shown an ability to get into his zone in pass coverage with the kind of ease that only Jerome Baker usually displays. He looks the complete football player, they will find a role for. Some good special teams play in the preseason could land him a roster spot, as Griffin has a very useful look to him. Arrow up. Excited to see him in pads come Tuesday.

Mike Gesicki. Enough with Hunter Long already. Maybe Mike Gesicki feels the same way? He sure showed up today, stretching the field deep down the middle, hauling in a tight pass from Tua Tagovailoa for a big gain. He also made a good attempt on another pass where Tua led him too much toward the boundary. Gesicki was looking dangerous today, and reminded all, that he won’t lose his grip on targets anytime soon. Big standout day for Mike. After practice, he also took some extra work on the Juggs machine, as he caught 50 balls from each side (left, right). Welcome to training camp Mike Gesicki.

Practice MVP: Tua Tagovailoa
Struggled: WR Unit (health)

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

Miami Dolphins Camp Notes Day 1 (Tua, Waddle, Palardy, more)

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This is day 2 of camp, but actually day 1 of action. Blessed with good weather, I get introduced to the new facility. So, lets start with a brief review.

When you arrive, parking is much clearer, and the location could not be better (on the Stadium grounds). Dolphins staff as always is very courteous even though the NFL Covid protocols are much stronger/better than last year. The design of the building is modern, practical and the shear size of it has to be comfortable for the players. It features an indoor field, as well as two outdoor fields sporting the CORRECT grass (same grass they play on, unlike at Davie). The stands where fans can watch practice, feature ample, comfortable seats, they will surely enjoy. Only complaint I can have is that our old media perch in Davie, was a bit more comfortable for laptop wielding journalists. Other than that, bravo Mr.Ross. The Miami Dolphins have a first class training facility.

Tua Tagovailoa. His work on his body is evident. He has a stronger lower body and looks fantastic physically. He had a long touchdown on a bomb to Albert Wilson, which was not perfect, but it was there for the score (which is what you care about). He had a sizzling 15 yard out that Albert Wilson dropped, and a waggle boot strike to Adam Shaheen for another TD that was the most impressive throw of the day. he had one miscommunication that led to an interception, and another lazy throw in installs that got picked. Overall, it was a good day for the 2nd year QB, and this quote, was the highlight of his press avail:

 

Michael Palardy. No Hyperbole. Today was a punting exhibition. His directional punts were all perfect, and his hang time impressive. That concludes punter talk.

Jaelen Phillips. Working as a linebacker. You kinda knew he was an impressive athlete, but it’s a different thing to see him in person and watch such a long, strong athlete move like he does. If his first day is any indication, fans are going to love watching him play, and the comparisons to another long , lean, rangy Dolphins defender will be inevitable. Can’t wait to see the pads go on.

Jaylen Waddle. Is it possible to be surprised with how fast a “fast guy” actually is? Waddle has unusual speed,that I haven’t seen on this team since Mark Duper. You know he is fast, when he makes Jakeem Grant look run of the mill. His twitchy, quick stride might be playing tricks on my eyes, but what a trick it is. Jaylen Waddle is as advertised early on, with a clean practice under his belt, while being asked to do plenty. Game action is where we are going to see his impact. You are not going to be dazzled by a guy like this in what was essentially a “install day”.

Hunter Long. He is a noticeable athlete. Even while standing next to all the 6′-6″ plus guys in the Tight ends group, Hunter Long stands out. His size, and athleticism is not the only thing that is noticeable. He is almost as athletic in practice as Mike Gesicki, and while Gesicki has a long, gliding stride, Hunter Long has choppy, twitchy steps that could bode well for some YAC from the Tight end position. Of all the rookies, this is the one I am most looking forward too, to watching in game action.

Practice MVP: Michael Palardy
Struggled: WR Unit (some drops)

 

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.