Entre quejas y robots en Grandes Ligas

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Los robots y la zona de strike son el tema de moda en el beisbol profesional.

Marlins de Miami han sufrido con sentencias de bolas y strikes en sus últimas dos derrotas y eso ha intensificado el debate sobre el uso de los robots en el beisbol de Grandes Ligas.

En la Atlantic League ya se está probando este sistema, como parte de un contrato de tres años que permitirá probar varias novedades en esta liga.

Los robots ya están cantando pitcheos, y ya fue expulsado el primer manager por protestar bolas y strikes utilizando este sistema.

En Grandes Ligas, esto ha tenido su efecto, pues ya varios jugadores y personalidades del beisbol han afirmado que están listos para dar el paso y aceptar la llegada de las sentencias automatizadas al mejor beisbol del mundo.

Nuestros amigos Leandro Soto y Ricardo Montes de Oca tienen ya semanas peleando por este tema, y parece que el debate pica y se extiende.

Ricardo pide la robotización de estas sentencias lo mas pronto posible, mientras que Leandro se sigue aferrando a que los bateadores tienen que hacer un mejor trabajo protegiendo la zona de strike.

Como se ha visto en la Atlantic League, los umpire robots no son perfectos ni dejan a todos conformes, así que ni siquiera cuando se termine de implementar este sistema, vamos a tener sentencias que tengan a todos los participantes contentos.

Challenge the robots

Cuando la repetición instantánea llegó al beisbol muchos decían que esta iba a quitarle el elemento humano al deporte, y que iba a relentizar mucho el juego, pero la realidad en el terreno ha sido otra.

Los umpires aún tienen peso sobre lo que sucede en el terreno, pues la sentencia original es fundamental para el veredicto final.

Si el umpire comete un fallo claro, la repetición cambia la decisión y hace justicia, pero si la jugada es muy pequeña y no hay evidencia suficiente como para revertir la sentencia inicial, se mantiene la sentencia original.

Algo parecido podría hacerse con la zona de strike. El sistema no detecta todos los pitcheos, y los umpires en la Atlantic League tienen que sentenciar lo que ellos vean cuando la máquina no da un veredicto, por lo que el elemento humano se mantiene.

En Grandes Ligas se podría utilizar el mismo sistema del challenge para las bolas y strikes. Que el manager y/o jugador que se sientan afectados por una sentencia tengan la oportunidad de pedir que se revise la sentencia.

Tal como sucede con las repeticiones con jugadas en las bases o el home plate, lo que digan los umpires en Nueva York sería la sentencia final.

Si no hay veredicto con algún pitcheo, como sucede en la Atlantic League en ocasiones, pues que se mantenga la sentencia original.

Creo que es la manera de ir introduciendo poco a poco este sistema, y que se mantenga de alguna forma el elemento humano.

El beisbol puede seguir mejorando y siendo mas justo sin necesidad de ser extremista con los sistemas.

Así, creo que se podrá mantener a la mayor cantidad de personas contentas. De lo contrario, si se impone una zona electrónica (que no es infalible), el resultado podría no ser el deseado.

 

Disfruta de Cinco Razones Podcast haciendo click en este link. Ricardo Montes de Oca y Leandro Soto siempre van a estar en desacuerdo con respecto a los cambios en el beisbol… You can’t miss that… 

Snubbed! Howard, Tunsil Among Madden 20’s Dolphins Oversights

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In eight days, the Miami Dolphins will begin training camp.  And while we anxiously wait for the beginning of football season to arrive, many are also counting down the days until the release of EA’s popular video game, Madden.

But before the game is released to the eager public, EA must first reveal the ratings for all 32 teams and players alike.  And just like you would expect with such news, everyone agrees disagrees with their favorite player’s ratings.  This usually makes for an entertaining day on social media, message boards, and other areas of the worldwide web.  So on Monday, when EA released their ratings for Madden 20, disarray shortly followed.

There are four players that a majority of Dolphins fans believe are severely undervalued in this year’s game.  And when we asked Twitter which of those players got the ‘short end of the stick’, the answers were unanimous.

 

Here’s a look at the top four ‘snubs’ on the Dolphins’ roster in Madden 20.

John Denney – 47 Overall

Awareness – 85

Acceleration – 78

Pursuit – 72

Strength – 76

Unfortunately, EA has yet to implement the long-snapper position into Madden.  Which means Dolphins’ legend John Denney is listed as a tight end.  Tragically, however, he is rated as the worst player on Miami’s roster with a 47 overall.  That’s right, folks.  Arguably the greatest long-snapper to ever play the position, is the worst player on Miami’s lowly roster. Thankfully, and I know this might be tough to hear, but the long-snapper position really doesn’t matter in Madden.  Nevertheless, EA needs to put a little respect on the G.O.A.T’s name, and bump that overall up a good 20 or 30 points.  Then I will be happy where Denney ranks in this year’s game.

Minkah Fitzpatrick – 80 Overall

Man Coverage – 79

Zone Coverage – 79

Press – 75

Press Coverage – 87

One of the things that irks me most, is when a player is listed out of position in Madden.  And although last year it appeared Minkah Fitzpatrick would play a significant amount of snaps at Free Safety, things changed quickly.  And if all reports are true, he is expected to play a majority of his time in the slot in 2019.  However, that does not mean he won’t be utilized all throughout Flores’ defense.  He’s a playmaker that can lineup anywhere on the football field.   But when it comes to Madden, EA did Fitzpatrick no favors.   His duel 79 man/zone coverage ratings seem a bit lazy.  And although he is rated well in man-to-man coverage, according to EA, he struggles to press at the line.  Which isn’t necessarily the case with the 22-year old playmaker.  His ratings are fair, but should be a bit higher.

The future is bright for Fitzpatrick.  And I don’t think it will be long before his ratings are in the high-80’s.  He is going to be a special player.

Laremy Tunsil – 84 Overall

Pass Block-85

Run Block -79

Interior Blocking- 84

Strength – 91

When you look over the Dolphins’ roster in Madden, there are two players at the top of the list.  One is obviously Laremy Tunsil, and the other is speedy wide receiver Kenny Stills.  But with all due respect to Stills, he is not one of the NFL’s elite wide receivers.  He’s very good, but not elite.  As for Tunsil, he is currently one of the league’s top left tackles.  So to see those two players rated equally at the top of the roster, is a good indication of what to expect from the rest of the ratings.  Nevertheless, it is a travesty to have Tunsil rated outside of the top-10 at his position.  And this is something EA should look to fix in their next roster update.

Tunsil is one of the best tackles in football and should play like one on the virtual gridiron.

Xavien Howard – 83 Overall 

Superstar Ability – PICK ARTIST

Man Coverage – 80

Zone Coverage – 85

Press – 83

Press Coverage – 86

It’s perfectly acceptable to question why Xavien Howard, one of the NFL’s top defensive backs in 2018, is the 27th rated cornerback in Madden.  Sure, his ratings are a bit more favorable than the overall seems to imply, but Howard was one of the most significant snubs in this year’s game. And while each team has a player with a superstar ability, not all teams will have a superstar x-factor-that includes Miami.  Howard’s ratings in coverage are a bit underwhelming, especially for a guy that prides himself at playing man-to-man.  Nonetheless, if Howard continues on this trajectory, he will be the Dolphins only Superstar X-factor sooner rather than later.  He’s that good and with a hefty new deal in place, should exceed all expectations this upcoming season.

On this week’s episode of 3 Yards Per Carry, the guys weigh in on Jim Caldwell, Training Camp, and Madden 20 Ratings.

Below are some of the best reactions from #DolphinsTwitter :

 

In the end, the Dolphins are ranked the worst team in Madden 20 with a 74 overall rating.  And although EA will update their rosters weekly during the regular season, it would be disingenuous to expect Miami to be littered with top-level talent.  Nevertheless, EA’s rosters are not perfect, and there are plenty of players and fans that feel slighted.  Some of these gripes will be changed in the coming weeks, others will not.  Madden will always have it’s flaws.  And I, like every year, will buy the newest installment.  Death, Taxes, and Madden.

 

This article was written by Madden Analyst, Josh Houtz (@houtz)

Barcelona y su empeño con Neymar

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Neymar ha conseguido la manera de ser el protagonista de las novelas veraniegas en las últimas temporadas.

Hace un par de años, fue él mismo quien tuvo que pagar su cláusula de recisión para salir del FC Barcelona, tras decidir que debía buscar nuevos aires para salir de la sombra de Messi y Suárez.

En ese Barcelona, Neymar lucía como el actor de reparto perfecto y futuro sucesor de Messi, pero su entorno lo convenció de que era el momento de buscar ser él el principal referente de un gran proyecto.

Ahora, dos años después, tras un par de temporada de fracasos y lesiones, el brasileño ha decidido que ya no quiere jugar más en el PSG.

Así de simple…

Desde que se fue Neymar siempre tuvo buena relación con los jugadores del Barcelona, aunque su relación con la directiva y con la afición culé llegó a un punto que parecía de no retorno.

Para sorpresa de muchos, el Barcelona no ha descartado de plano el regreso del brasileño, sino que ha insistido en buscar la manera de que se haga realidad su vuelta al Camp Nou.

Neymar y su tormentoso romance con Barcelona

La manera en la que se fue Neymar, pagando su propia cláusula, en el mejor momento de su carrera, y jugando en uno de los tridentes mas letales de la historia, parecía imposible que volviese a ver de cerca la posibilidad de volver.

Sin embargo, así es la vida.

El regreso de Neymar implica una operación complicada. El PSG no va a querer dejarlo ir por menos de los 222 millones que pagó hace dos años, y tras el fichaje de Antoine Griezmann, se ve bastante compicado armar un once inicial.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogy2-0e5r3A

Neymar quiere regresar, como aquel romance que sabe que nunca debió irse, y cometió un error, y el Barcelona, aún con el despecho de las dos debacles en Champions en temporadas consecutivas, se está abriendo a la posibilidad de recibirlo nuevamente.

Como analista, siento que en realidad no le hace falta Neymar a este equipo. Como seguidor del Barcelona, creo que lo mejor para ambos es que se vuelva a dar esa relación. Un mal necesario, si se quiere…

Y ahora les explico porqué.

¿Cómo va a jugar este Barcelona?

Con la llegada de Antoine Griezmann parece obvio que Ernesto Valverde va a tener que volver a apostar por el tridente en el ataque con Suárez y el francés acompañando a Lionel Messi en el ataque.

Dembelé, Coutinho y Malcom, de seguir en el equipo, serían resignados a venir desde la banca.

En el medio campo se da un debate que puede durar horas. Sergi Busquets no es el mismo de antes, y si yo tuviese esa responsabilidad, él sería mi escogido para ir al banco.

Frank De Jong debe ser titular, y Arthur se ha ganado su puesto con su buen rendimiento desde que llegó al equipo. Si a eso le agregamos el buen concepto que tiene Valverde sobre Rakitic, uno de sus jugadores favoritos, se ve difícil armar a los tres que serán titulares en la mitad de la cancha.

Eso, sin dejar de olvidar que Arturo Vidal también es una muy buena opción para empezar desde el vamos, aunque le queda perfecto el traje de revulsivo viniendo como el segundo frente de ataque.

Incluso, el propio Coutinho podría jugar mas retrasado, como parte del medio campo. Esta zona del campo parece la mas completa, aun esperando que cierre el mercado de pases a ver si alguno de los que mencionamos termina siendo vendido.

El mal necesario de Neymar

Neymar no hace falta en este FC Barcelona, pero podría ser un mal necesario para el futuro del equipo, pensando en el futuro sucesor de Messi.

Antoine Griezmann llega a refrescar el ataque, pero no creo que lo vean como el pilar sobre el que van a construir el FC Barcelona de los años post Messi.

Neymar podría ser ese jugador por unos años, si endereza su vida personal y logra mantenerse sano. Si el Barcelona no lo toma ahora, quizás no tenga la posibilidad de hacerlo mas nunca.

Esa debe ser la presión que tiene la directiva culé. Si se hubiese ganado alguna de las dos últimas Champions League, creo que ni estarían volteando a ver que sucede con Neymar.

No estoy de acuerdo con que se apoye la falta de profesionalismo de esos jugadores que al querer salir de un equipo simplemente se rebelan, y preocupa que el Barcelona lo haya hecho en su momento con Dembelé, y ahora esté repitiendo el mismo camino con Neymar.

Cucurella solo fue un espejismo

El Barcelona recompró a Marc Cucurella desde el Eibar y muchos pensamos que iba a ser la competencia directa de Jordi Alba en el lateral izquierdo, uno de los puntos débiles que permitió al Liverpool la remontada de Anfield.

Sin embargo, el Barcelona anunció que Cucurella jugará en el Getafe, aunque los detalles están siendo definidos aún. ¿No habrá entonces competencia para Alba?

Esa debería ser la prioridad del FC Barcelona. No la llegada de Neymar… Pero amanecerá y veremos.

Disfruta de todo el análisis del mercado de pases del fútbol internacional en 90 + Cinco en el feed de Cinco Razones Podcast con Octavio Sequera, María García y Bruno Gómez. Te prometemos que te va a gustar

Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman: End of the road?

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Where to watch: Saturday, July 20th, 2019, MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Available on FOX Sports PBC PPV.

When I wrote a few weeks ago that Boxing was/is in a very good place, I had weekends like this one in mind. When Manny Pacquiao takes to the ring in Las Vegas versus the WBA Welterweight Champion Keith “One Time” Thurman on Saturday Night in las Vegas, you will have the first of what should be many “Super Fights” in the Welterweight division. Erroll Spence, Shawn Porter, Terrance Crawford, all figure to be fighting either the winner of this fight, or each other in the very near future. Exciting times.

Now, on the face of it, some might be skeptical of this fight on Saturday. Well, get this. Vegas is not. Pacquiao is actually the Favorite in this fight! https://mybookie.ag/sportsbook/boxing/ How? Well, not hard to see. Since his debacle versus Floyd Mayweather, when losing by unanimous decision (with one arm), yeah folks, I’m not making excuses, The guy had shoulder surgery after his “fight”, Pacquiao has run off an impressive string of fights. Defeated Tim Bradley handily, for the 2nd time, and let’s be real, for the third time. A win versus Jessie Vargas, and a controversial loss versus crowd Favorite Jeff Horn in Brisbane, Australia.

Then came his fight versus Lucas Matthysse. I felt this was an irresponsible fight to make. Lucas Matthysse is a killer. 36 Knockouts in 39 wins? Fighting a near 40 year old Manny Pacquiao? This was surely not going to end well. Knowing how Matthysse fights with that pressure style, I figured he would induce the diminished “Pacman” into exchanges that would surely end Manny’s career. That is not what happened. Manny Pacquiao never looked better. He annihilated Matthysse via 7th round TKO, and that setup his latest snore fest versus perennial disappointment Adrien Broner.

Which brings us to Keith Thurman. How good is he? Well, it’s hard to say really. After defeating Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia, many considered him the best Welterweight in the world. But injury and the emergence of Spence, Crawford has him as the forgotten man. What hurts him in the eyes of fans is that there is this perception that Pacquiao has hand picked Thurman due to his return to the ring against Josesito López in January of this year, being so underwhelming. He looked bad. Got rocked in the 7th round by a guy in López, that is not known for any power. Thurman has a lot to prove. Manny is attempting a pretty nice addon to his legacy. Makes for a good matchup.

So who wins? Well, Manny is now 40 years old. Thurman is finally healthy and in his prime. You have to figure that the clock will strike twelve on old man Pacquiao, sooner rather than later, and this is one dangerous matchup. Thurman is not only younger, and bigger, but boasts the superior power at this stage in their careers.

But somehow Thurman is not the favorite. Is it a gift? Smarter observers than myself are considering it a gift. Hall of Famer Teddy Atlas (who has a remarkable record as of late, picking fights) made a point to talk about how Pacquiao’s muscle tone is different, and that he seem to be taking chances at these late stages of his career that a younger opponent can take advantage of. He says Thurman by stoppage on his much heralded podcast:

This is where I remind everybody about what we have learned about these two fighters in their recent history. While Thurman had a layoff and returned to underwhelm, Pacquiao has been cutting through the division in impressive fashion. His pressure, heart and determination will give Thurman anxious moments, and we all know Manny’s penchant for beating up guys that are bigger than him (De La Hoya, Cotto, Margarito, Mosley, Matthysse). So, do I have the Pacman, once again? I really hated Keith Thurman’s last performance. I think Manny is the wrong fight for Thurman to take. I don’t think Thurman can win a decision against an active Manny Pacquiao, so he needs a stoppage. Can he summon one? I say Manny dances through the rain drops once again, and No, it’s not the end of the road.

Prediction: Manny Pacquiao by Decision.

 

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

Top 5 Dolphins training camp dark horses

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Each year when training camp rolls around, the challenge is not deciding who the starters at any one position will be – at least in most cases. Instead, it’s about figuring out who’s going to fill out the Dolphins roster and give teams the best depth possible. But sometimes that depth comes from the least likely places.

It never fails. Every season, there’s always a few players who raise eyebrows and perform better than expected. For instance, in 2016, defensive end Julius Warmsley went from a practice squad player to making the 53-man roster. Unfortunately, his production didn’t last and he’s currently waiting for another team to sign him off the free agent market.

The fact remains that teams have players who possess hidden potential, and the Dolphins are no exception. Here are the top five dark horse candidates to shock everyone and make Miami’s final 53-man roster.

Jayrone Elliott, LB

For all the issues the American Alliance of Football (AAF) had, it did give free agent players a chance to showcase their skills in-game. Of all the players from that now defunct league, pass rusher Jayrone Elliott might be the most intriguing. Formerly a 2014 undrafted free agent of the Green Bay Packers, Elliott set a record in the AAF by tying for first in the league with 7.5 sacks in just eight games. That level of pass rushing production is unheard of, regardless of what level of football it is.

So what makes him a dark horse candidate? Simply put, he had to be in the AAF to begin with. He was unable to stick with any NFL teams; he was traded from the Packers to the Cowboys in 2017 for a conditional seventh-round pick. Two weeks later, Dallas waived him, and then Elliott signed a reserve/future contract with the New Orleans Saints, only to not make the final cut in 2018.

But make no mistake, Elliott has talent. With good coaching, he could easily make more flashy plays that will not only enable him to make the roster, but give him a chance to prove he’s not just a fringe player. Miami needs 3-4 pass rushers, and look at the kind of things he’s done during his limited NFL playing time.

True, all of this is against less than elite talent, but that should not be an indictment against Elliott. You don’t become any league’s top pass rusher if you don’t have something to offer. With the Dolphins needing pass rush help, Elliott could answer that call and prove to be more than what he’s expected to be.

Preston Williams, WR

Preston Williams stands in at an impressive 6’5″, 218 pounds, and runs a 4.61 40-yard dash. That run is also, presumably, not one of his better showings, so it’s likely he’s actually faster than that, much like former Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry. However, what makes Williams a dark horse candidate is that there’s a lot of talent standing in his way.

Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson, and Jakeem Grant are likely guaranteed roster spots. Williams’s chances increase depending on how many receivers Miami decide to keep. If it’s six, he’s got a fairly good chance at making it. But if it’s only five, there are two guys in front of him who currently stand a better chance.

Brice Butler, a seven-year veteran who stands in at 6’3″, 211 pounds, made a splash during the 2018 season after being off the street due to numerous injuries. He played physically, made tough catches, and some even believed he was better than DeVante Parker. That last part remains to be seen, but there’s no denying that Butler was effective in the short time he got to play.

Then there’s Parker himself. The former 2015 first-round draft pick also stands in at 6’3″, and was supposed to be their go-to for beating press coverage and making contested catches. But Parker’s lack of maturity and durability has kept him from realizing his potential. Now, he’s getting a second chance to prove himself on a 2-year, $10 million dollar contract.

This brings us back to Preston Williams. He’s already shown the coaches he’s a physical player, and he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. In college, he made flashy plays on a weekly basis, but the talent he faced was far from elite, potentially skewing the film.

On top of that, there is the minor concern of his off-the-field concerns. In 2017, Williams had an altercation with his girlfriend that led to him getting arrested. He was arrested again later for violating a restraining order. Granted, those things are in the past, and Williams has stated as such.

Being compared to Martavis Bryant by NFL analyst Lance Zierlein, Williams has all the talent in the world. But he has shadows looming over him, so he’ll have to stand out in training camp if he wants to be chosen over his competition.

Durval Queiroz Neto, DT

Given that the Dolphins project to switch to a hybrid defense, there is need of a true nose tackle. Traditionally, nose tackles are extremely large, hulking brutes whose only goal is to take on double teams to let linebackers run in and finish the job. This fits Brazilian defensive tackle Durval Queiroz Neto to a tee. Standing in at 6’4″ and 330 pounds, Miami picked him up through the International Player Pathway Program, and he’s a prime candidate to be the Dolphins 0-tech DT, lining up over the center.

He’s a Brazilian judo champion, he played on the two best teams in Brazil these past four years, and most importantly, he’s willing to learn. He has his work cut out for him though. Miami already has four talented defensive tackles standing in front of him. 2019 first-rounder Christian Wilkins, seven-year veteran Akeem Spence, and three-year veterans Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor all have an advantage on Queiroz, and it’s hard to imagine the Dolphins keeping that many more defensive tackles.

To make matters worse, Godchaux is reportedly putting in work at the nose tackle position, making Queiroz’s niche less of a need overall.

Queiroz is a talented and impressionable player, and his body type makes him ideal as a true nose tackle. If he can make some flashes in training camp and preseason, there’s an outside chance he could make the 53-man roster as a nose tackle. He’s huge, he’s athletic, but he’ll have to show his production in Brazil can carry over to the NFL.

Maurice Smith, SS

Safety Maurice Smith always catches eyes on the field. But for whatever reason, he can’t seem to stick on the roster. The most common one is a simple lack of space on the roster. Since signing as an undrafted free agent back in 2017, Smith has been blocked by the likes of Reshad Jones, T.J. McDonald, Michael Thomas, Walt Aikens, and even veteran Nate Allen. Fair or not, established players usually have an advantage over players trying to squeeze onto the roster.

In spite of the roadblocks in his way, Smith has managed to get playing time in spurts these past two seasons. He’s played in a total of 13 regular season games, totaling six tackles and two pass deflections. On the surface, that’s not much to brag about, but one has to keep in mind that Smith didn’t play a lot of snaps in those games, usually through no fault of his own.

This season might be Smith’s best chance to stick around, but he’ll have to continue his trend of improvement. Currently, Jones and McDonald are still projected to be Miami’s main safeties, and cornerback Bobby McCain is getting in work as a free safety. Add to that the presence of Walt Aikens and young do-it-all defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, It’s hard to justify keeping so many safeties when cornerback is a more pressing matter.

Head coach Brian Flores will doubtlessly have an increased emphasis on the secondary in his defense, but Smith is still a long shot to make the roster unless he proves he can play safety above and beyond his more versatile constituents.

Myles Gaskin, RB

Some might say it’s a hot take to say that one of Miami’s draft picks are already a dark horse candidate. Nevertheless, Washington RB Myles Gaskin could already be on the outside looking in. The Dolphins presumably have two slots locked up at running back with Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage. That leaves one, maybe two, slots left for other players. Considering coach Flores has stated in no uncertain terms that Miami will carry a fullback on the roster, that means one slot could easily go to one of two players: Kenneth Farrow, or Chandler Cox.

Cox was the RB/FB chosen literally one pick before Gaskin, and his claim to fame is his blocking prowess. Farrow, on the other hand, spent time on New England’s practice squad before being released and going to the AAF’s San Antonio Commanders, where he was the lead back and ran 106 times for 372 yards and four touchdowns. Both are bruisers and both can block extremely well, which is something Gaskin trails behind them in.

If the Dolphins keep four running backs, then Gaskin’s biggest competition will be Mark Walton, who’s being given a second chance by this regime after he made several bad decisions off the field. Walton himself could easily be named an honorable mention as a dark horse candidate based on potential legal repercussions, but it goes to Gaskin here due to Walton having previous NFL experience and more projected potential.

To be clear, this is not a knock on Gaskin. In all four years of college, Gaskin was a steadily productive runner, and production is what New England coaches are all about. Reminder, Flores and offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea are part of the Bill Belichick coaching tree.

Gaskin could easily remain his steadily productive self, but Walton is probably extremely motivated to succeed now that his career may be on the line. Gaskin will have to find an extra gear and prove he deserves to be on the final roster, rather than waiting to be placed on the practice squad.

Buckets to Biscayne: What Jimmy Butler Brings to Heat’s Defense

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It took a nerve-wrecking three-week rodeo with the Minnesota Timberwolves that eventually fell apart. A few months later, a three-team trade with the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks blew up over a bad game of Telephone. It took the Portland Trail Blazers, the Los Angeles Clippers, and Tress Way-level punting of sleep for the Miami Heat to finally land Jimmy Butler.

But he’s here now. Officially.

We’ve talked plenty about the actual trade, and probably ugly-cried over Josh Richardson’s wholesomeness going to Philly, but that’s not what this piece is for. We’re here to talk about the man himself.

What does he do? How well does he do it? More importantly: Just how much can he help the Heat?

When I first started on this piece, I quickly realized it was going to run long, buddy. There’s so much to like about Jimmy Butler, professional basketball player. For your sake, and in the name of maximizing #clicks, I decided it made much more sense to turn a super profile into a two-part breakdown. We’ve already looked at what Butler brings to the table offensively. Now, let’s talk about the other end of the floor.

On-Ball Defense

This is what Peak Jimmy Butler looked like in 2017-18.

First, let’s admire Devin Booker being stuffed simply because it isn’t Justise Winslow.

On a more serious note, this is an incredible sequence. In, like, six seconds, Butler:

  • tracks Booker around a pair of screens
  • closes out before Booker even thinks about taking a corner three
  • regains his balance and stays chest-to-chest with Booker on the drive
  • contests with outside hand without falling for the pump fake
  • strips the ball on the way up

Effort. Physicality. Discipline. Disruption. That’s what Butler was. He put on his hard hat, laced up his boots, and got to work. You may have scored on Butler, but he was really going to make you earn it.

(I wonder how many more cliches I can fit in here.)

That, uh, is not the Butler we saw last season. There was a noticeable slip from his elite level. Part of that was general effort; he wasn’t necessarily a mess in Minnesota before being traded, but he didn’t defend with the same verve. Injuries played a part. A slight adjustment to Philadelphia’s switchier scheme also had Butler a little out of sorts.

Among 42 players that defended at least 12.0 shots per game, Butler ranked 40th in field goal percentage differential (+1.1), via Second Spectrum tracking data. In simpler terms, opponents shot roughly one percentage point better than their average when defended by Butler.

For what it’s worth, those numbers basically flipped during the postseason. Opposing players converted 34.5 percent of their shots with Butler as the nearest defender, a full 11.0 percentage points lower than their average.

Now for the obvious caveat: defensive metrics can be wonky, to be kind. Butler wasn’t as bad as the first number, nor was he as good as the second. As is the case with most things, the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Butler absolutely had a down(right awkward) year. I would expect that to rebound some this season. Not many wings in the league move their feet as quickly or as well as he does when locked in. His hands are nothing short of elite — your pocket can get picked in an instant. Most importantly, he knows how to throw off a ball-handler’s rhythm without fouling. Even in an off year for him, those flashes were plentiful.

Among the 26 players that have averaged 1.5 steals over the last three seasons (min. 2500 minutes played), Butler has averaged the least amount of fouls (1.6). In fact, he and Kawhi Leonard are the only players to average more steals than fouls in that time span. If you want to go with “stocks” (steals + blocks), you can add Draymond Green, Trevor Ariza, and John Wall to the list.

Butler’s combination of length, quickness, and strength allows him to defend three positions at an elite level — four when teams downsize.

Smaller guards can be swallowed up — or flat-out bullied — when Butler steps up to the plate:

Like-sized wings don’t have much luck against him, either. Poor Kevin Huerter thought he could slip by Butler with a routine hesi’:

NOPE.

Here’s Butler matched up with Rudy Gobert after a missed shot. Gobert seems to be looking for a DHO recipient, which gives Butler ample time to flash his hands and poke the ball away:

Versatility aside, Butler serves as a glove-in-hand fit in Miami’s drop coverage scheme. At his best, Butler pesters guys over screens and takes away windows.

Butler is the kind of defender head coach Erik Spoelstra loves. He gives Miami another player that you can throw on an opponent’s best scorer without having to send extra help.

Off-Ball Defense

If you thought Butler was hard to deal with on the ball, trying passing the ball in his vicinity.

Actually, maybe you shouldn’t do that:

First, let’s acknowledge just how poor this pass is from Wall. He floats that sucker. It’s not quite an Eli Special, but it’s in the family. A second cousin, maybe?

Still, the pick by Butler gives you a glimpse of the kind of range and discipline he has. He digs down on the Wall drive then rotates back to Jeff Green. He navigates around Kelly Oubre (and the trailing JJ Redick) while staying attached to Green, all while keeping his arm up in the passing lane. The pass eventually comes, and Butler is in position to make the play.

If we’re going to stick with loose football analogies here, Butler reminds me a lot of Earl Thomas. There’s obviously a “pay me or trade me” parallel to be made from earlier in the season, but both guys are cerebral, heat-seeking missiles in space. It is amazing watching them diagnose the action in front of them before going balls-to-the-wall to cause mayhem. They’re very much calculated risk takers; because they’re so smart, they rarely get burned.

Here’s a Thomas-like play from Butler:

Celtics big man Daniel Theis establishes inside position in semi-transition with T.J McConnell fronting him. Kyrie Irving sees Theis (because how could you not?) and tries to loft in the entry pass. Unfortunately for Irving and Thies, Butler already knows where things are heading. He flies in from the weakside and knocks the ball loose at its apex. An easy-two turns into a change-of-possession in the blink of an eye.

It’s one thing to be a smart or instinctive defender. It’s another thing entirely to be both, and that’s exactly what Butler is. Best believe Spo is going to have fun watching Butler roam all over the place.

There’s a non-zero chance the Heat are going to trot out a lineup of Justise Winslow, Butler, Derrick Jones Jr., Kelly Olynyk, and Bam Adebayo this season. I have no idea how that unit will score, but God bless whoever tries to score against them.

Better days ahead for the Miami teams?

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While the sports world has been buzzing and all eyes on Los Angeles with the Clippers, Lakers, Rams, and Chargers all being relevant, maybe it’s time to start looking at the other coast.

The Miami Dolphins and the Miami Heat may  not too far behind, after offseasons that have them set up to compete for titles in coming years.

You just need to be patient.

Both teams have built solid foundations going forward.

Let’s look at the Dolphins, first. Finally, they have made some moves to build a solid foundation, from hiring new head coach Brian Flores to grabbed a low risk high reward quarterback in Josh Rosen, to accumulating a dozen selections in the 2020 draft, while possibly adding two others due to compensatory picks for Cam Wake and Ja’Wuan James. The Dolphins are projected to have over $100 million in cap space in 2020, with tons of youth on both sides of the ball already.

They just drafted four guys who can start on opening day (Christian Wilkins, Michael Deiter, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Isaiah Prince). And on defense, they have promising young players at every level (Davon Godchaux, Jerome Baker, Xavien Howard, Minkah Fitzpatrick).

On offense, Laremy Tunsil is one of the game’s best young left tackles. There are two good young running backs in Kenyan Drake and Kallen Ballage who complement each other well. The tight end, Mike Gesicki, could have a breakout season in Chad O’Shea’s offense because it will create mismatches for him. And then there’s DeVante Parker, who still has a chance to show something, if he can stay healthy.

Now we turn our eyes to the Miami Heat who in many ways have had the best offseason in the NBA acquiring Jimmy Butler and getting rid of the Hassan Whiteside contract. The first round pick, Tyler Herro, has been impressive, as much as anyone in summer league and certainly better than Heat fans expected. Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson appear ready to contribute. KZ Okpala, who we have yet to see, certainly is interesting: he’s 6-foot-9 and can shoot and handle. Justise Winslow, Derrick Jones Jr, and Bam Adebayo are still here, even after the Butler deal. And so is Goran Dragic, who can be moved to position the Heat for another star. They have relieved salary cap for the coming years specifically 2021 and found a player with star potential in Herro.

We can’t say we didn’t see this coming given Pat Riley’s track record over the last 25 years and he always had a master plan needless to say in a wide open NBA and especially a wide open Eastern Conference.

Miami has good young players and will add another superstar to the team in the coming years and will win a championship by 2022.

Yes, we said it.

And we can say this:

Both the Dolphins and Heat have solid foundation going forward and you can expect the foundations to pay off in a lot of wins and some championships. For the first time, since the Dolphins have been a bit slow, both teams have a clear direction going forward from top to bottom. The future is bright in Miami. Even if it didn’t seem that way until recently.

 

Jaccare Givens can be found at @KingJock24

Buckets to Biscayne: What Jimmy Butler Brings to Heat’s Offense

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It took a nerve-wrecking three-week rodeo with the Minnesota Timberwolves that eventually fell apart. A few months later, a three-team trade with the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks blew up over a bad game of Telephone. It took the Portland Trail Blazers, the Los Angeles Clippers, and Tress Way-level punting of sleep for the Miami Heat to finally land Jimmy Butler.

But he’s here now. Officially.

We’ve talked plenty about the actual trade, and probably ugly-cried over Josh Richardson’s wholesomeness going to Philly, but that’s not what this piece is for. We’re here to talk about the man himself.

What does he do? How well does he do it? More importantly: Just how much can he help the Heat?

When I first started on this piece, I quickly realized it was going to run long, buddy. There’s so much to like about Jimmy Butler, professional basketball player. For your sake, and in the name of maximizing #clicks, I decided it made much more sense to turn a super profile into a two-part breakdown. In this piece, we’ll look at what Butler brings to the Heat offensively.

Shot Creation

What makes Butler one of the best players in the league, and so intriguing to the Heat, is his ability to get a shot off whenever he wants. He combines a slick handle, underrated footwork, and get-outta-my-face ruggedness to generate looks for himself.

Butler does most of his work in the pick-and-roll. He’s ranked in the 75th percentile or better in each of the past four seasons, per Synergy. He does a nice job of using his handle to get his defender leaning, then takes advantage of the space created to either pull-up on a dime or get to the rack.

He isn’t a Splash Brother by any stretch, but Jimmy’s jimmy (grow up) is good enough to beat drop or ICE coverage. Here’s a quick example from the 17-18 season:

The Spurs are in ICE coverage in that clip — watch how Kyle Anderson positions himself to force Butler away from the screen. Towns does a good job of connecting with Anderson on the screen, giving Butler even more room to attack downhill. With the space afforded to him, Butler pretty much waltzes into a jumper.

It’s the same ordeal against drop coverage. Here, Butler runs Josh Okogie into the Joel Embiid screen. Towns drops back way too far, allowing Butler the space needed to drill the jumper.

Of course, Butler in space can go the other way. He’s a guy that you can’t allow to get a full head of steam going downhill.

It’s not hard to imagine the kind of chemistry Butler can have with a guy like Bam Adebayo. Those screens could pry Butler loose, and Butler has proven that he can take advantage of any space given to him.

Don’t get it twisted: Butler doesn’t need a screen to get free. He doesn’t mind playing bully-ball against smaller defenders (more on that shortly), lulling defenders to sleep before pulling up, or switching gears on drives to create space for his patented turnaround jumper:

These shots aren’t, um, analytically friendly. However, they’re the type of shots that Miami needs during their third quarter lulls or late fourth-quarter possessions. In Butler, they have a guy they can rely on and feel good about.

Attacking Mismatches

Getting a smaller guard switched onto Jimmy Butler is like tossing steak to a lion. You know how it’s going to end — it’s just a matter of when. Denver Nuggets guard Malik Beasley is a fine defender. There isn’t much he can do with this:

Jrue Holiday, one of the NBA’s best defenders period, has absolutely no chance here:

Butler ranked in the 58th, 91st, and 56th percentile on post-ups from the 2015-16 season through the 2017-18 season. He generated a combined 0.818 points per possessions for the Wolves and Sixers last season, well below his norm. In general, Butler has no issue getting to his spots. He has even less of an issue rising up for shots over the outstretched arms of helpless defenders.

With the way Miami loves running inverted pick-and-rolls — think of the Goran Dragic-James Johnson pairing – there’s potential for switch-forcing action to really stress opposing defenses out.

Passing Chops

Wing creators are all the rage right now, and Butler certainly qualifies. His 4.8 assist average over the last three seasons ranks 14th among players 6-foot-6 or taller. Considering the roster and role changes he’s gone through over that time period, that serves as a small window into how effective he is as a creator.

This probably goes without saying, but Butler’s size allows him to see windows that aren’t present to smaller players. He can make the passes you need in pick-and-roll. He can float lobs or slip in passes to the roller if the big defender is in No Man’s Land, he can fit pocket passes into tight spaces, and he can find corner shooters if the help rotates down.

What impresses me the most about Butler is something simple: He always keeps his head up. Even if the defense doesn’t crack with his first or even second move, Butler makes sure to scan the floor for cutters. He really found a knack for finding guys slicing through the lane last season.

This is from the 2017-18 season, but it might be my favorite Butler assist:

Butler kicks off the play with a high pick-and-roll. Brandon Ingram is overzealous, and Butler takes full advantage by rejecting the screen and driving right.

The drive occupies both primary defenders (Ingram and Larry Nance Jr.), but also freezes Isaiah Thomas, who is ready to rotate over to take away a potential jumper on the pop from Gorgui Dieng. Andrew Wiggins reads the rotation from Thomas and darts into the lane.

Butler, who has picked up his dribble at this point, keeps his head up, spots Wiggins, and delivers a beautiful pass for the easy bucket.

Miami has been an equal opportunity offense for a few seasons now. That isn’t inherently bad — coaches generally want a “spread the wealth” system. But they want those by design, not by necessity. The latter has been the case for Miami because they simply haven’t had a guy good enough to carry their offense.

With Jimmy Butler in the fold, it’s safe to say they do now.

Christen Press, love, loss and the beauty of sport

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I think a lot of people who follow my work know me as a cryer.

I am a sensitive guy and stories tend to move me in visceral ways. In really really profound ways. It’s why I am drawn to sports, it’s theatre of the highest and most authentic order. It’s a tapestry of humanity played out by people we grow to very genuinely love. And so comes Christen Press’ goal in the ninth minute of a World Cup semifinal, burying a header (a technique she has self admitted to be bad at) in the back of the net to give the United States Women National team a lead they would never give back. She raises her hands and smiles to the heavens. “I am because of you” she says on an Instagram post with the iconic photo. “I love you mom” she says on another.

View this post on Instagram

I am because of you ♥️ 🙏🏾

A post shared by Christen Press (@christenpress) on

It’s gutting, its beautiful and it’s true to who she is. For Press this was more than a goal in a big spot, more than a tribute for her deceased mom, it almost felt like validation of a long and complicated career. A moment when everything came together in the most improbable way. A start she wasn’t supposed to have because Megan Rapinoe had a hamstring injury.

Christen Press’ road to be on the national team wasn’t so cut and dry. She was in and out of selection pools when she was young and she ultimately made a hard personal decision to leave her family and go play club soccer in Sweden. She was thrust into a new country, she started blogging while away from home, found meditation and yoga, all searching for not just inner peace but for a road for her dream. To play on this stage, to have this moment.

Her decision to leave home was proven to be the right one, it vaulted her career to a fixture on the national team despite playing with and behind generational talents at her position, Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan and Tobin Heath. She has won and scored in a world cup already, in 2015, and she has been in MVP conversations nearly every year in the National Women’s Soccer League, NWSL (the domestic soccer league).

This hasn’t however come without failures, her teams consistently failed to win championships despite being being a perennial playoff team and in perhaps her career defining mistake she missed a critical penalty against Sweden in the Olympics to give the Americans their earliest exit there. Since then she has been in and out of the starting lineup, usually filling in for an injured Tobin Heath or Alex Morgan but it was never truly her starting spot.

She was traded from her NWSL team The Chicago Red Stars to the Houston Dash and she refused to play in Houston. In a messy situation she went back to Sweden to play for Göteborg FC untill she was moved to a more favorable team. She got her wish and was sent to the Utah Royals to play with fellow national teamers Becky Sauerbrunn and Kelley O’Hara.

It’s been a strange career, all while Press is very open about her search for peace and happiness. She is one of the players suing US Soccer for equal pay, she started a company with Rapinoe, Heath and former USWNT star Megan Klinkenberg which wants to challenge how industry and gender function.

She has done a lot. A lot of failures, heartbreaks both personal and professional and so so so many successes. It’s why as she looked into the heavens I started crying. I knew everything that had to happen for this specificaic moment to happen. How it’s the intersection of so many points, experiences and tears. All to create this moment. Rapione had to not start, she had to go to Sweden, she had to miss the penalty against Sweden, it all had to happen. It’s all part of the story of that fateful header. “I am because of you” she said. “I love you mom” she said.

It’s more than your mom watching that loves you Christen. It’s the world.

Ten Players Sub-26 Who Bring Hope for Dolphins’ Future

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Miami isn’t expected to be very competitive in 2019, this we already know. 

However,  what many fail to realize, is that despite the treasure chest of 2020 draft capital they possess.  They also project to have a hefty amount of cap space in the near future.  And over the last several years, the Dolphins have started to groom their own talented crop of up-and-coming players.  After all, Miami has a ton of young talent that have shown potential.  Whether or not this new coaching staff can get the most out of those players, has yet to be determined.

Nevertheless, this team isn’t as depleted of talent as many believe.  With plenty of potential, and opportunity for players to take their game to the next level, the future is bright in South Florida.

Let’s take a look at ten players under the age of 26, that the Dolphins can begin to build their franchise around.

 

Laremy Tunsil, Left Tackle

In the next several weeks, the Dolphins will have a very important decision to make on starting LT, Laremy Tunsil.  After all, he has slowly become one of the premier offensive tackles in the NFL.  And after signing Xavien Howard to a lucrative new contract, Tunsil has to believe he’s next in line.  Which, assuming a new deal is reached, means Tunsil will likely be here for the next several years.  Good left tackles don’t grow on trees, and Tunsil is about as good as they come.  It may be a bit early to call him elite, but that is exactly where his NFL status is headed.  And to be completely honest, barring no significant injuries, he could very well go down as one of the best offensive lineman in Miami Dolphins’ history.

Christian Wilkins, Defensive Tackle

Without ever playing a down of professional football, Christian Wilkins future in Miami is as bright as any.  And although it is very likely his familiarity with Marion Hobby may have had something to do with him being selected by the Dolphins 13th-overall.  Wilkins may have been one of the safer picks in the entire draft.  Furthermore, I fully expect Wilkins to be at the forefront of that Dolphins’ defense for the next 5-10 years.  Most of all, I’m excited to see how Patrick Graham utilizes his versatility to play multiple positions.   And let’s not forget he scored a few touchdowns as a running back during his time at Clemson.  Wilkins can do it all.  And will make everyone around him that much better for many, many years.

Xavien Howard, Cornerback

We all know about the big pay day that Xavien Howard got prior to the start of OTAs. For those that don’t know, he signed a 5-year extension worth $76.5M, $46M guaranteed-back in March.  Which is all well and good for a 25-year old defensive back that looked to be one of the league’s true shutdown corners. There are very few press man-to-man corners in the NFL better than Howard.  And when the ball is in the air, he’s just as much entitled to it as the wide receiver. Howard was tied for the league lead in interceptions last season with 7. He really is a special talent, that the Dolphins have locked up for many, many years. Health will always remain a concern.  But make no mistake about it, when he’s healthy, Howard is as good as any cornerback in the NFL.

Minkah Fitzpatrick, Defensive Back

Time and time again, I have mentioned that Minkah Fitzpatrick will likely be Miami’s best playmaker, sooner rather than later.  And after proving in year one that he could play multiple positions, new HC Brian Flores is salivating over all the possibilities he has with FitzMagic.  Fitzpatrick is only going to get better and before everything is said and done, will be among the NFL’s elite players.  The question, however, is where will he play?  Obviously, he’s going to be versatile and has the ability to play on the outside, inside, or at safety.  But if all reports are true, Fitzpatrick may see more time in the slot, which is where he put up elite numbers at Alabama and as a rookie.  Hell, they even said he could play linebacker.  No matter where he decides to align, he will thrive.  Because he’s that damn good. 

Jerome Baker, Linebacker

Arguably the best linebacker on the Dolphins’ roster, Jerome Baker looked impressive during his rookie season.  And as a rookie, Baker combined for 79 tackles (4 TFL) . He also added 3 sacks, 1 interception and a touchdown, to his impressive rookie resume.  It has been questioned whether or not he would be used a bit less in the new defensive scheme.  That has yet to be determined.  In the end, he’s a quick, instinctive playmaker that can do it all.  And for as good as he is vs the run, he’s even more impressive vs the pass. Both Ohio State linebackers should be a part of the team’s long-term plan.

Raekwon McMillan, Linebacker

Baker may have been the more talented player in 2018, but McMillan is the guy I’m most excited about.  And I think in a New England-Style defense, he has the potential to be Brian Flores’ Dont’a Hightower.  He may never be a three-down linebacker and that’s okay, especially in today’s NFL.  But he’s more than capable in zone coverage and has shown the ability to make big plays vs the run.  The future is bright for this tandem.  Please don’t be surprised when McMillan is the bigger factor of the two Ohio State linebackers.

Kenyan Drake, Running Back

Kenyan Drake may always be remembered as the guy that capped off the Miami Miracle.  However, he’s much more than that. And after being limited by Gase’s poor play-calling, everyone should be excited about what Drake can do with a bulk of the touches.  Last season, Drake scored 4 touchdowns on the ground, only receiving 120 carries.  Additionally, he caught 53 receptions for another 477 yards and 5 touchdowns.  If O’Shea can utilize him properly, there’s the potential for his first 1,000 yard season.  The question however, remains, will the Dolphins re-sign Drake after the 2019 season?

Kalen Ballage, Running Back

No one knows how many carries Ballage will get in 2019, but we can certainly assume it will be more than 36.  And let’s not forget he did have that breakout game vs Minnesota, which was inflated by a 70-yard run. Nonetheless, he has a chance to see a significant uptick in production and could prove to be the long-term starter.  Unfortunately for Ballage, he needs to outperform Kenyan Drake, who deserves his own bulk of the lion’s share.

Albert Wilson, Wide Receiver

There might not be a more explosive player on the Dolphins’ offense than Albert Wilson.  And what he accomplished with limited opportunities in 2018 prior to his hip injury, was among the NFL’s best at his position.  Wilson has stated all offseason that he is fully healthy and ready for Week 1 of the season. If his body can hold up, he should have a huge impact in 2019 and beyond.  You would be hard pressed to find a receiver with the type of skills Wilson possesses.  He can do it all.

Bobby McCain, Cornerback

Early in 2018, Bobby McCain looked like he could play outside on the perimeter.  In fact, he made play after play in that Week 1 marathon vs Tennessee. And if he continued to show that tenacity and ability to keep the play in front of him, things would have been okay.  Instead, things spiraled out of control. No player in Flores’ defense is going to be one-dimensional. If rumors are true, however, McCain could be the Dolphins’ starting free safety in 2019.  And a change like this, could pay dividends for a guy that looked lost at times in 2018. 

Other potential players:

Josh Rosen

Davon Godchaux

Vincent Taylor

Jakeem Grant

Devante Parker

Mike Gesicki