Kendrick Nunn has been on the outside looking in this year when it comes to his role on the Miami Heat. Nunn has only played in seven games this year after starting 67 games for the Heat last season.
However, a strong performance Monday night against the Detroit Pistons showed a glimpse of what he could provide for Miami moving forward. Nunn put up 18 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals while shooting 8-of-15 from the field in a strong 34 minutes of game action.
Many were quick to banish him from the rotation in favor of Miami’s second year two-way contract player Gabe Vincent, but Nunn has proven he can play as well as he did last year. What could be Nunn’s role with the Heat after his latest strong performance?
The best role for Nunn may be as the ninth or tenth player coming off of the bench. The trends from Erik Spoelstra has shown that Goran Dragic, Precious Achiuwa, and Andre Iguodala will be the first few players off of the bench.
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Maurice Harkless was another name who played well Monday night who could find himself in the rotation moving forward. Harkless had a relatively light stat-line, but his impact on the court defensively can not be overlooked with eight deflections and solid play.
This leaves Nunn as the ninth or tenth man coming off the bench. This spot may ultimately be the best spot for him at this point. If he can have a hot scoring night on different occasions, it will provide a nice bench boost scoring wise for Miami as they rank mid-pack at 15th in the league.
Nunn has made many mistakes in his previous games this year, but a set rotation the rest of the season would do wonders for every player on the team. They rank dead last in the league when it comes to turnovers per game, which is contributed to the lack of consistent rotations through 12 games.
If he can average 10-20 minutes per game in a set rotation, I believe he could have a positive impact for the Heat. Nunn played relatively well last year and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. There are reasons why he could be out of the rotation, but there are positives such as his ability to score and chemistry with other teammates.
It wouldn’t be a big loss for Miami if this didn’t turn out well for Nunn. They can easily take him out if he is inefficient and possibly package him in a deal at the deadline. There are many different things they can do with him and Erik Spoelstra has those options.
Jimmy Butler and Avery Bradley still remain out due to health and safety protocols and who knows how much longer they may be out. Nunn should have a significant amount of minutes during that stretch of time and he could string off some consistent performances.
While many fans think his inconsistency is a detriment to the team, it may be best to not give up on Kendrick Nunn quite yet.
Basketball is an exciting sport that many people love to play professionally or practice as a hobby during their free time. Many people, however, often struggle to find time in their busy schedules to go to a club or court to practice their favorite sport. To overcome this issue, some people who have enough outdoor space in their homes choose to build their very own basketball court where they can play whenever they want. If you are keen on the game and have enough space, here is how you can set up the best possible basketball right at home.
Determine the Available Space
The first step you would need to take once you consider having your own basketball court at home is to determine the available space that you have for that purpose. If you already have an area that can easily be set up then you should be alright to begin. However, if you are going to do some remodeling work outdoors to fit the court, you might need to hire a professional to measure the space and examine whether or not it would fit a basketball court. Many people remove old swimming pools or fountains or even gardens to fit their desired court in. Make sure you measure the space accurately and get some expert help if you need it.
Set a Budget
Having a basketball court in your home does not necessarily have to cost you a fortune. But before you start any DIY projects or hire a professional, you must first set a budget. If you are looking to save some money while still getting what you want, you can check out this list of best portable basketball hoops here, and play your favorite sport anytime you want without burning a hole in your pocket. If you have enough open space and your budget allows it, you can invest extra money in building a bigger court as you see fit.
Do the DIY Work
Once you have established the kind of space you have for the court and set yourself a proper budget, it would be time to start doing the DIY work and fit everything together. You would need to start by getting the proper hoops that you have chosen, whether portable or fixed, and you would also need to do some paintwork on the floor to mark the court sides. Make sure everything is tightened up securely and get an extra pair of helping hands to get the job done if you need to.
Setting up a basketball court at home can be great for basketball fans who want to stay active but struggle to find the time to go to a basketball court. It is super easy and cost-effective, and all family members can enjoy some quality time playing together in the backyard court. Before you get your court designed and your hoops fitted, make sure you set a budget and determine how much space you have so that you can enjoy your very own court for many years to come.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/image-2.png416624Five Reasonshttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgFive Reasons2020-12-03 17:04:442020-12-03 17:04:44Setting up the best home basketball court
Let me tell you the story of Tyree Ricardo Davis, you may know him as “Ricky”. Ricky Davis was J.R. Smith and Dion Waiters before there were memes, a misunderstood player with a long NBA career that spanned more than an entire decade and two different stints in Miami.
You think you would remember him more clearly if he was with the Heat twice in his career, wouldn’t you? In fact, he didn’t miss a single regular-season game the second time around during the team’s disastrous 2007-08 campaign. However, you struggle to come up with an image of him in the red-and-white jersey and all you seem to come up with is “Oh yeah, he is that guy that went AWOL for mysterious reasons for a while, isn’t he?”
Maybe this anecdote about his fine money funding a team outing to Atlantic City best sums up what his career was in Miami and elsewhere:
The time Ricky Davis didn't know he was getting fined & all the $ went toward a Miami Heat night out in Atlantic City
Rejecting the Screen with Don MacLean, @NaismithLives & me
Allow me to introduce you to the kid born in Las Vegas that bet it all on himself, thought he was better than a certain future King and certainly put on a show until time found him destined to become yet another “Forgotten Heat”.
AN OVERLOOKED PRODIGY
Davis spent the first 12 years of his life in Vegas, but it wasn’t until his family moved to the small city of Davenport, Iowa that he truly tapped into the potential he had as a basketball player.
Imagine the buzz around Davenport North High School as the kid who had dunked as an eighth grader in a junior high game was about to join its ranks. Davis was the most exciting thing to happen to a city of fewer than 100,000 people since…well, ever. How many times can you walk up and down the Riverfront before you say “Yeah, this is nice, what else is there?”
Davis played for Davenport’s varsity team since he was a freshman and was named to the All-State squad as a junior, he even played Center for Davenport at one point, but he was never a state champion or named a McDonald’s All-American. The national spotlight eluded him, and the gap between what he perceived himself to be and what others saw him as started to widen along with the chip on the shoulders that carried the weight of expectations.
Heading to the League
Ricky could have emulated fellow prep star Tracy McGrady and entered the 1997 NBA Draft out of high school, but he opted to play for coach Tom Wilson at the University of Iowa, a preseason Top 15 program, instead.
That team had four future NBAers and was led by a determined Davis, who averaged 15.0 points per game to become the highest scoring Iowa freshman of the past 25 years, a mark that still stands to this day.
Iowa went 20-11 in the 1997-98 season with Ricky as its offensive stalwart, but it didn’t make the NCAA Tournament. Davis didn’t garner any individual honors either while Michael Olowokandi, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter and Paul Pierce hogged the spotlight.
He decided to enter the 1998 Draft after just one year of college basketball anyway. In hindsight, a year or two more of development would have been ideal for him…but he was going to show them. He was going to show them all that fame and glory were his destiny.
HELLO, MIAMI
Olowokandi went first, Jamison fourth, Carter fifth, and Pierce ninth. Davis had to wait until the 21st pick to be selected by the Charlotte Hornets, where he played with future Miami Heat teammate Eddie Jones. In fact, Jones helped him in the 2000 Slam Dunk Contest, where he was a last-minute addition after Jamison was injured, but he was no match for “Vinsanity”.
Eddie Jones was an All-Star and had asked for a trade out of an underachieving Hornets team, so Davis ended up joining him in a nine-player extravaganza that would become the largest trade in Miami Heat history.
The Heat were poised to contend and reach the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history during that 2000-01 season, but Davis barely played seven games before breaking his right foot and watching the Heat get unceremoniously swept by his former Hornets teammates in the first round of the playoffs.
That had to hurt.
Davis wouldn’t make long-term plans in Miami. The 22-year-old guard was traded in a multi-team deal to the Cleveland Cavaliers before the 2001-02 season for Chris Gatling, a marginal veteran.
The Cavs would go on to be 29-53 that year, but Davis had a successful individual season playing all 82 games and improving his scoring average from 4.6 to 11.7 points per game off the bench.
He seemed to be finding a home in Cleveland, blossoming as a potential franchise player and getting recognition for highlights such as a beastly dunk on Steve Nash.
“I dare him to try that again,” Nash said. Don’t mess with Canada, Ricky.
Davis’s Production
Davis averaged a career-high 20.6 points per game and starting 76 of them. However, Cleveland was going from bad to worse collectively at 17-65 and Davis was getting a bad reputation. His misdeeds included butting heads with coach Paul Silas and intentionally missing his own shot to grab a rebound and get a triple-double as time expired in a 120-95 Cavaliers win at home over the Utah Jazz
That pissed many people off, including the commonly reserved Jazz coach Jerry Sloan ( “I would have fouled him too. I would have knocked him on his ass”) while some sportswriters even called for his suspension and fans nicknamed him “Wrong Rim Ricky.”
Davis and LeBron
None of that truly mattered anyway. Cleveland was eagerly awaiting the arrival of “The King”, the hometown hero who would make everything right.
Ricky Davis initially thought that LeBron was there to be his sidekick, but the rookie had other plans and averaged 20.9 points as Cleveland’s leading scorer while Ricky averaged 15.3 in 22 games before being traded to the Boston Celtics in December as his lack of on-court chemistry with LeBron was evident and Davis was no mentor for him.
“I knew (LeBron) was the real thing when he came in….it was the era when no boys where allowed.”
The Cavs had chosen sides. LeBron was selfless, while Davis was selfish. A self-centered shooting guard that put the emphasis on “shooting”. Davis was becoming a basketball nomad with his fourth team in six seasons.
That wouldn’t change in the upcoming years as he would be traded from Boston to Minnesota in 2006 despite being appreciated by fans, and then back to Miami for an unexpected second stint under Pat Riley that Davis called “life changing.”
That trade was seen as a win for the Heat, which was able to unload the Antoine Walker deal. But in reality it was just exchanging one erratic shooter for another.
“It was a good trade for Miami; I didn’t think it was a good trade for Antoine,” Paul Pierce said at the time, and he was wrong as usual.
Wade’s Wingman
Ricky Davis was supposed to be Dwyane Wade’s sidekick and help lead Miami’s resurgence just two years removed from a championship. However, Wade was hampered by a shoulder injury that would limit him to 51 games that season. The Miami offense ended up running through Davis most of the time.
“We will run all of the things we run for Dwyane for [Davis], so we don’t have to change our offense that much,” Riley said before the 2007-08 season.
Bad idea. Davis played all 82 games for the second time in his career in a sixth man role. He started 47 of them, but barely averaged 13.8 points while playing 36 minutes a game. He also dealt with personal issues, including a five-game suspension for failing the league’s Anti-Drug program.
His lone shining moment came in April, 2008. He went off to tie a Miami Heat record of three-pointers in a single game with nine. His 33 points weren’t enough in a 109-95 loss against the Wizards.
By this point in his career, over a decade in, his demons were stronger than his talent. They would also be his demise.
Just like in Cleveland, Davis’ expanded role didn’t translate into wins. The Heat went 15-67. Davis helped drive Riley into coaching retirement before being traded to the Clippers in July, 2008.
His life as a basketball nomad continued with two forgettable seasons in Los Angeles before being waived in 2010. He would never step foot in an NBA court again.
Ricky Davis: WANDERING AND WONDERING
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 16: Ricky Davis #31 of the Ghost Ballers. (Photo by Rob Carr/BIG3/Getty Images)
The following decade would see him play in Turkey, China, France, Puerto Rico and the NBA D-League between 2011 and 2013, where he suffered one final indignity after being waived by the Erie BayHawks having averaged 8.5 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11 games.
He seems to have found a home with the “Big 3” basketball league as the co-captain of the Ghost Ballers. But he also never forgot about Miami. Davis actually made it a point to give back to the South Florida community before playing there in 2018.
If Davis hadn’t had such a big chip on his shoulder, if he had been more about “we” than “me”, then maybe he would have won a ring as a supporting player in a contender. Now he is just a fleeting memory of what could have been.
For the first two chapters of the “Forgotten Heat” saga, click here and here.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Ricky-Davis-1.jpg9001600Martin Baterhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMartin Bater2020-07-14 08:18:482020-07-15 10:57:21Forgotten Heat in Miami: Ricky Davis
Hace apenas dos días, el entrenador del Miami Heat Erik Spoelstra hablaba con la prensa sobre el entusiasmo que generaba el poder volver a entrenar con un plantel casi entero antes de que el Heat tenga que reportarse a Orlando de cara al reinicio de la temporada el 9 de Julio.
Ahora las prácticas deberán esperar hasta que el equipo pueda ingresar a la burbuja protectora…y hasta que el equipo se disponga a su auto-cuarentena.
El Heat ya de por sí estaba sin Derrick Jones Jr. debido a un test positivo de COVID-19, y este jueves saltó otro jugador con resultado positivo. La primicia fue reportada por Five Reasons Sports Network esta tarde.
Se cree que el jugador estuvo junto a un asociado que a su vez también dio positivo, y dicho jugador ahora está en cuarentena. El Miami Heat cerró sus instalaciones de entrenamiento después de que un segundo jugador dio positivo por coronavirus.
Sin embargo, es la política de Five Reasons el no develar la identidad de nadie que de positivo.
El equipo planea reportarse a Orlando puntualmente. Se espera que Jones pueda participar de la preparación en Orlando, y (todavía) no hay razón alguna para creer que el otro jugador no podrá emularlo. La escolta de Heat, Derrick Jones Jr. dio positivo por coronavirus la semana pasada y ha estado trabajando a través de los protocolos de la NBA en un plan de regreso al juego.
El Miami Heat debuta el 1 de Agosto contra los Denver Nuggets.
El Heat ya sabe lo que es lidiar con situaciones delicadas de salud. Dos de los jugadores más importantes de su historia — Alonzo Mourning, Chris Bosh — vieron a sus carreras desviadas, o en el caso de Bpsh terminadas, por enfermedades tan serias como inesperadas.
Para más información, visite este sitio web y síganos en Twitter por @5ReasonsSports (en inglés) o @CincoRazonesNet (español).
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Miami-Heat.png21603840Martin Baterhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMartin Bater2020-07-03 18:39:592020-07-06 12:07:26Miami Heat cierra su predio por otro test positivo de COVID-19
Sure, we know when the NBA is planning to return: July 31st in a bubble in Orlando’s Wide World of Sports complex. And we know that they hope all players report a couple of weeks earlier for training camp.
And yes, we know that there are supposed to be eight regular season games for each of the 22 participating teams, including the Miami Heat, prior to a possible play-in for the bottom seeds and then a regular 1-to-8 4-of-7 playoff format divided by conference.
But we don’t know if it will actually…happen.
If Covid-19 concerns, or protests for social equality, or fear of injury will suspend or even cancel the resumption of the 2019-20 season.
But let’s say it goes off as planned.
Here are five reasons to like the Heat’s playoff chances…
(And why you may want to place a wager. Since the game schedule is not yet announced, odds are also not available but if you really want to get on those lines early, SBD’s NBA odds will most likely get updated pretty quickly. Keep in mind that it is automated and can only be updated once sportsbooks have released their odds.)
1. Heat’s Playoff Chances – They’re all in.
I’ve heard this consistently over the past month, and Bam Adebayo confirmed it on a recent conference call with reporters. Heat players may have particular concerns, from the constraints of the bubble to the distraction from more important issues such as social justice to injuries, as Adebayo is among those seeking a contract extension early. But the overwhelming sentiment from Heat players is that they should play, which is what you would expect from this organization. And, as I was told, “when Jimmy (Butler) tells you to get your ass somewhere, you get it there.” Since this is such a strange circumstance, desire to play and win will be an even bigger factor in results than it usually is. And the Heat want to be there, whereas some other teams may be more conflicted. This group has great team chemistry, and don’t overlook that four members of the team (Goran Dragic, Meyers Leonard, Jae Crowder, Derrick Jones Jr.) are all free agents after the season, with strongly stated desires to re-sign. They’ll give their best.
2. Heat’s Playoff Chances – They’re healthy.
Miami struggled without Herro and Leonard, especially Leonard, since they were without another big body to support Adebayo while also spacing the floor. They’ve been the two most active Heat players on social media during the break, for different reasons. More importantly, the reports on both health situations have been positive. So this would conceivably make the Heat the healthiest they’ve been all season, since Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson were fairly useless prior to the trade, and then Herro and Leonard weren’t around much after Crowder and Andre Iguodala were acquired. After the lengthy break, not every coach will know what he has to work with, so it should help Erik Spoelstra considerably that he has such a deep bench of options.
3. The playing field’s been leveled.
Yes, the Heat were among the NBA’s top home teams, and that advantage won’t exist, even if Miami secures the fourth seed. But they were starting to struggle there some too. And the road thing? Well, that was ugly. And now everyone is on the road in Orlando. So you don’t have to worry about some of the young guns getting the road playoff yips. And least for the Heat, it’s a short trip, and they’re used to all this humidity and sunshine. Hey, every little bit helps.
4. They have a top tier coach and leader.
This will matter. A lot. They have someone who has won championships under adverse conditions, and unusual formats — Spoelstra got his first in the lockout shortened season. Which coaches in the East are you taking over him? Mike Budenholzer, Nate McMillan, Brad Stevens and Nick Nurse are all excellent, but only Nurse has won a title. And leader? We did this exercise on the Five on the Floor podcast. Look at the leaders on every team in the East. Who has a better chance to energize and terrorize his guys than Jimmy Butler? Maybe you take Giannis since the Bucks seem to fall in line behind his talent. But no one else. And Butler has newly-40 No. 40 to back him up.
5. Youth and experience.
You need a combo. The youth to get legs back into playing shape quickly. Miami has five core players who are 26 or under. But they also have Butler, who has been through long playoff battles for the Bulls. And they have Dragic, who has been dynamic in odd formats, lifting surprise Slovenia to a European championship.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Heat-group-photo-scaled.jpg16932560Ethan Skolnickhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgEthan Skolnick2020-06-19 09:47:032020-06-23 14:05:515 Reasons to Feel Good about the Heat’s Playoff Chances
For context, Butler is lower than Donovan Mitchell (20), Kemba Walker (17), Ben Simmons (15), Rudy Gobert (14) and CJ McCollum (13). In my humble opinion, Jimmy Butler is an all around better player than all of the players previously listed. However, it is not a surprise to me that Jimmy Butler was ranked lower than less talented players. If you’re asking why, well, the answer is simple: Jimmy Butler plays for the Miami Heat.
Yeah, this guy….
Jimmy Butler bringing that intensity to the Heat already 🔥
The national media hates the Heat, and has ever since LeBron James said he was taking his talents to South Beach. Sports media made Pat Riley and the Heatles the villain of the NBA because they believed they cheated the system. But why the hate now? Well, this is because the Heat just got Jimmy Butler– with absolutely no cap space. So, after the national media ranted and raved about cap space, flexibility and max slots, Pat Riley got his man without it. In the national media’s eyes, Pat Riley and the Heat cheated the system again. Therefore, the hate returns.
However, hate isn’t always a bad thing; the Heat, along with their loyal fans, are used to being the villain. In fact, Heat fans eat it up. There is something deep inside each and every Heat fan known as “The Cocky Heat Fan”, of which has been dormant for awhile. Now that Jimmy Butler is here, The Cocky Heat Fan has awoken from its long slumber. So bring on the Miami Heat hate, ESPN and national media…
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Jimmy-Butler-t.jpg795828Alex Masferrerhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgAlex Masferrer2019-09-26 08:21:012019-09-26 10:39:15ESPN underrates Jimmy Butler… as expected
The Miami teams lose every time we hold a watch party.
But maybe we play better.
Five Reasons Sports and Miami Heat Beat each entered teams in the 2019 Miami Heat media challenge today at AmericanAirlines Arena. We had enough players — 14 — that we sacrificed David Friedman right after the birth of his boy Wade, giving him to CBS4 because they needed a player and we needed luxury tax savings.
Both teams started 2-0, with Chris Cochran (part-time producer of the Five Reasons flagship) anchoring the Five Reasons defense, and Alphonse Sidney and Giancarlo Navas being phased out of the Miami Heat Beat rotation.
— Five Reasons Sports Network (@5ReasonsSports) June 29, 2019
But like the modern day Heat, both teams regressed to the mean right as they were set to clash in the semifinals, each losing its final two games and being eliminated.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/Heat-media-game-1.jpg15122016Ethan Skolnickhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgEthan Skolnick2019-06-29 18:18:352019-06-29 18:18:35Five Reasons doesn’t embarrass itself at media game
El Miami Heat anunció el despido de Rodney McGruder tras la derrota ante los Toronto Raptors.
¿Sorprendidos? Muchos de los que seguimos al equipo sí..
¿Porqué en este preciso momento?
El famoso tope salarial era la principal razón de esta extraña movida, y algunos analistas de Five Reasons asomaron la posibilidad de que este fuera un golpe letal a lo que se le llama la “cultura” del Miami Heat.
A falta de dos juegos solamente para que termine la carrera de Dwyane Wade con el Miami Heat (a menos que pase algo improbable), se asoma la posibilidad de que ese concepto, que ha sido clave en la manera de construir esta franquicia en los últimos años, se deje en el abandono.
¿Fue el despido de Rodney McGruder la clara señal de que el equipo va en otra dirección?
¿Quién mejor que él para personificar lo que en escencia es la cultura del Miami Heat?
Ese fue el tema principal del episodio 29 de Cinco Razones Podcast, en la víspera del último juego de Wade en el American Airlines Arena:
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/HeatBench.jpg507800Alejandro Villegashttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgAlejandro Villegas2019-04-08 20:19:512019-04-09 15:48:02¿Se acabó la Cultura del Miami Heat?
