James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant – these are just a few of the top NBA stars in the running for the league’s MVP award. Of course, the MVP race is extremely subjective with no clear definition on what truly makes a player the MVP.
After all, “value” doesn’t always equate with “best”. The MVP may be the most important player for the league’s best team, or the star with the most impressive individual statistics, or the one whose team would be the most affected by his absence…
Our friends from Betway have put together this infographic to explain what makes a true NBA MVP.
Let’s face it – the MVP race is hugely subjective, with the definition of what truly makes a player ‘valuable’ seeming to change every year.
That’s particularly true this season, with Giannis Antetokounmpo the narrow sports betting favourite over James Harden in what will likely be the closest vote in years.
If there was any doubt which player had the inside track to win the award, Giannis seemingly put that argument to rest with his statline to close out Detroit in Game 4 of their first-round series: 41 points, 12-23 FG, 15-20 FT, 2 3PTs, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 4 blocks
The Freak is on to the second round.
Whether Harden’s offensive brilliance makes him more influential than Antetokounmpo’s all-round game is up for debate, but a look back at the history of the award reveals what really matters when it comes to deeming who is the MVP.
Scoring is a good place to start.
Being the league’s top scorer hasn’t historically been a prerequisite for an MVP, but that has changed in recent years.
Four of the last five winners led the NBA in points, all of whom averaged over 30 per game.
It’s not all about putting up points, though.
Toughness matters too and James Harden had his on full display against the Warriors in Game 2. Harden suffered a brutal eye injury at Oracle Arena on Tuesday night, and it was tough to watch.
Harden got poked in the eye fighting for an offensive rebound after he missed a shot in the first quarter of the game. It was a clean play, rather than intentional contact, but it still was extremely painful, as you can see below.
Harden stayed down in the lane for a brief spell, then was eventually helped off the court, holding an ice pack over his left eye after he made his way to the locker room. The shots of his eye were pretty gruesome, as his eye was actually bleeding at one point, and you can see how red it was below.
While the MVP is supposedly a single-season award, it is rarely handed to a player who hasn’t been one of the best players in the league for a sustained period.
Of the last 17 MVPs, for example, 14 had been voted into the All-NBA first team in the previous season, and all 14 were coming off a top-four finish in the MVP voting.
Over the past decade, one individual statistic has been the clearest indicator of who will be the NBA’s MVP: Player Efficiency Rating.
This advanced metric, developed by the Memphis Grizzlies’ executive John Hollinger, boils down all a player’s statistics into a single number.
Of the past 10 MVPs, eight led the league in PER.
Harden’s statistical excellence is clear – he led the league in scoring in the regular season with 36.1 points per game and also ranked seventh in assists – but Antetokounmpo has also put up great all-round numbers and has the added edge of playing for a superior team.
The debate will continue up until – and even beyond – the NBA awards, but, if history is anything to go by, the voters will almost certainly go with the Greek Freak.
Now let’s take a look at some of the later round picks by the Patriots. These picks, although not as flashy, solidified some positions with question marks.
The Patriots certainly solidified the offensive line, at least for now. With Cajuste and Frohodlt, the Patriots now could very well contend for one of the best offensive lines in the league. Even with Trent Brown leaving for Oakland.
101. YONDY CAJUSTE, OT
WEST VIRGINIA
Yondy Cajuste said in interviews that West Virginia ran some Patriots plays in their offense. That might be one reason Belichick liked him so much. With Marcus Cannon getting older by the day, Trent Brown leaving, and Isaiah Wynn rehabbing from a gruesome achilles injury, it is no secret the Patriots needed to address the tackle position early. Cajuste is the quintessential Trent Brown replacement pick. He is a large man who will play the swing tackle role that we saw Trent play last year. This pick and the selection of Hjalte Froholdt indicates to me that if Isaiah Wynn’s achilles looks good to go, the Patriots will trade Joe Thuney or Marcus Cannon with no hesitation. Thuney is in the last year of his contract and Cannon is probably in the last year the Patriots could trade him. If Cajuste is solid and Wynn impresses, Patriots could flip either one at their max value for a defensive lineman or tight end.
What he does right:
-Wins with his length
-Balanced, well-framed stance
-Good hand technique
-Very powerful player, overwhelms rushers at times
-Good body awareness
-Does little things really well
-Displays strong football IQ
-Good functional athleticism
-Scrappy, angry player, is a bully on the line
-Strong effort and hustle
Some nuances in his game:
-Can look flat-footed against faster rushers on the edge
-Too many gaps of time of sliding feet in protection
-Not bendy, not flexible
-Struggles immensely at lateral redirection
-Has been ejected for some fights
Pro comparison: Jermon Bushrod
Instant impact: Will fight for starting tackle job, depends on Wynn’s health
Grade: B
118, HJALTE FROHOLDT, OG
ARKANSAS
This pick spells out Joe Thuney insurance. As mentioned before, Joe Thuney is in the last year of his contract and he will get paid big bucks. Hjalte is by no mistake one of the better guards in this year’s draft. Belichick figures he will draft Thuney’s replacement now and then get another third round comp pick for letting Joe leave. Hjalte will not have an immediate impact on this team unless one of our guards or David Andrews gets hurt. He will spend year one mostly learning from his colleagues and coach Scar. He will probably compete with Ted Karras for that swing guard role.
What he does right:
-Very solid in pass protection
-Good footwork, suitable for both guard and center
-Sturdy, wide base
-Can anchor vs power
-Sees twists and blitzes from mile away
-Under control on the move
-Effective puller
-Flexibility
-Moves well at 6’5, 300
-Good athlete
Some nuances in his game:
-Hand placement needs lots of work
-Leverage and drive can improve
-Not overly physical
-Never creates movement at point of attack
-Lacks power and tenacity
-Poor mental processing
Pro comparison: Sean Harlow
Instant impact: Will compete with Ted Karras for swing guard spot
Grade: B
133. JARRETT STIDHAM, QB
AUBURN
Well, I personally wanted the Patriots to draft Brett Rypien, but after doing some more investigating Jarrett Stidham’s game grew on me a little more. A very solid quarterback when he has the time to throw, he throws a great ball. Jarrett received a bad rap at Auburn for their terrible offense, but the people he had around him were really to fault for their poor performance and production. If Jarrett had some better guys around him, he would have been in the conversation with Haskins, Jones, and Grier. While I do not think Stidham is the answer in a post-Brady world, he might be able to develop himself into a starting quarterback in the NFL. This, however, would take a lot of work.
What he does right:
-Good decision-maker when given the opportunity
-One of the best in class at going through progressions
-Can run the option game, RPOs
-Nice display of anticipation, more at Baylor than Auburn (was previously at Baylor)
-Great touch on his footballs
-Looks off safeties, pump fakes
–Low interception numbers, safe with football
-Good footwork
-Strong in play-action game
Some nuances in his game:
–Ran a very prototypical college offensive scheme, will need to adjust to Patriots scheme and make more complex reads at next level. Year one might just be studying film and the playbook.
-Never asked to throw into tight windows, all routes and plays were simplified under offensive scheme
-Struggled when throwing into those tight windows, which was every blue moon
-He folds under pressure, which was frequent at Auburn
-Had limited opportunities to impress scouts, failed when had the opportunities
-Average arm
-Not prepared for NFL, although sitting behind Brady is exactly what he needs, according to scouts
-Hard evaluation because both offenses (Baylor and Auburn) did not put all his skills on display
-Loses accuracy when putting any force on his balls
-Not great poise
Pro comparison: Matthew Stafford
Instant impact: A year or two learning playbook, watching film, listening, and intense 1 on 1 work
Grade: C
159. BYRON COWART, DL
MARYLAND
Byron could play either play defensive end or defensive tackle, which is why he is listed as a DL. Many evaluators believe he will play more on the interior than on the edge at the pro level. Belichick loves defensive lineman who can move all over. Trey Flowers moved all over the line, Michael Bennett does that as well. Cowart by no means appears to be an answer to any big questions surrounding this line but he does posses some skills and flashes of ability that would indicate that he can be a contributor to this line. Much like Stidham, Cowart is another player who requires a lot more coaching and being placed into this system is the best news for him.
What he does right:
–Explosive for a man of his dimensions
-Powerful
-High ceiling
-Shows promise as a 3-technique player
-Good lateral ability, nice quick movement for a big man
-Violent tackler
-Powerhouse, stout
-Sheds blocks well
-Has potential to be a solid bull-rusher
-Good pad level
Some nuances in his game:
-Consistency, flash in the pan type player, technique holds him back from more consistent play
-Technique is very weak
-Football IQ is lacking
-Low floor
-Needs a lot more coaching
-Struggles at coming hard off the edge
-Attacking with hands can become more consistent
-Underachiever, was a number one prospect coming out of high school
-Has had it rough, apparently had off the field family issues during time at Auburn, ugly transfer
So, fans were infuriated with this pick. The reality is that Ryan Allen is a pricey punter on a one year deal, and any opportunity to save some money for close to the same production is something Belichick jumps on. Will Bailey beat Allen out for the job? Eh, we don’t really know. However, this right footed punter is very talented and could very well take Allen’s place next year.
What he does right:
-Very strong leg, had an 84 yard punt last year
-Flips the field
-Great hang time, lead NCAA with hang time in 2018
-Good direction
-Can handle kickoff duties as well
Some nuances in his game:
-Touch
-Can sometimes put too much on his kicks, high number of touchbacks
Pro comparison: Andy Lee
Instant impact: Practice squad for year one
Grade: B
252. KEN WEBSTER, CB
OLE MISS
This pick is very much similar to the selection of Keion Crossen last year. Similar skill set, falling down draft boards for similar reasons, and getting drafted in a similar spot to the same team. Webster got off to a great start at Ole Miss, but injuries plagued his college career. He never really was the same player at Ole Miss, but if he could encompass some of what he had there in the pros, he can be a solid contributor in the NFL that much like Crossen is put in for different specific assignments. He will certainly be someone to keep your eyes on during camp.
What he does right:
-Great speed and explosiveness
-Physical
-Redirects receivers in man and zone coverage
-Handsy player
-Great at coming up and covering the run
-Athletic
-Recovery speed
-Aggressive, gritty
-Upper body strength
Some nuances in his game:
-He is impatient in press coverage, press is not a strong suit
-Spacing
-Field awareness
-Football IQ is below average, pays price for mistakes rooted out of lack of awareness and understanding
-Inconsistent technique, especially at line of scrimmage
-Struggles to stay square
Pro comparison: Keion Crossen
Instant impact: Will battle to make team, could contend with Crossen for last cornerback spot
The Boston Bruins are in Columbus as they face the Blue Jackets for Game 3 of the Second Round of the NHL Playoffs tonight. Boston will be looking to redeem themselves after a loss in a second overtime in Game 2 that was played at the TD Garden. With the Bruins and the Jackets deadlocked 2-2, a penalty call on Patrice Bergeron in the second overtime lead to a power-play goal, with the Jackets winning 3-2.
TOP LINE WOES
Columbus’s Matt Duchene had the winning power-play goal Saturday night. Boston’s special team were roughed up as the Blue Jackets capitalized on penalties called against the Bruins. While much of the media narrative has focused on David Pastrnak’s lack of scoring, the team itself has had to shuffle things around as the top two lines have struggled a bit in the post-season. Pastrnak had a goal attributed to him after a shot deflected off his skate; he had four shots in Game 2. The Bruins will need to continue to come out with more physicality as seen in Games 1-2. Zdeno Chara, Connor Clifton, and Sean Kuraly all had hits Saturday night.
(Photo Credits: NHL.com)
REST FOR THE WEARY
Despite the loss on Saturday, the Boston Bruins team has had a chance to rest after playing a tough Toronto series only to face a fully rested Columbus team a day after winning Game 7. After playing two overtime games against Columbus, Boston will be looking to get their re-charged legs back on the ice.
“It came at a good time for us to get the two days between games. We had a seven-game series, obviously high intensity, back and forth. It takes an emotional toll as well. Most seven-game series do, but the way we had to come back and then get right into it. I think we fed off that first night…but I think mentally we made some mistakes (Game 2) that we wouldn’t make if we were a little more fresh. That’s where it caught up to us, the seven games. I do believe that. We had some breakdown that typically we don’t do, especially on the PK on the last goal. We broke down. They made a good play, but we weren’t in the right spots and I think that’s part of it.”
Bruins Coach Bruce Cassidy
RETURNING HOME
Sean Kuraly will be returning to his home state of Ohio where he’ll face the Blue Jackets in post-season for the first time. A native of Dublin, Ohio, the 26-year-old will be looking to disappoint some Columbus fans tonight as he continues to grind out plays for the Black and Gold.
"It's an important playoff game. Luckily I had a lot of friends and family there in the regular season…Now it's all business."
Look for Columbus to continue to shift momentum as they return to their home rink. The Blue Jackets are hoping to improve their 5-on-5 as their last few goals have come from power-plays and 4-on-4 situations. The Boston Bruins recent focus in practice has been their power-play production, and will need to stay out of the box to lessen any opportunities for Columbus to score.
What Are The Best Online Casinos in Canada (my conclusion)?
Hello there, my name is Joe Berlonga from Toronto Canada, I have been playing on the web gambling clubs for about 20 years. Its the main subject where I would state I am a specialist (truly). With an end goal to stop Canadians getting ripped off I have prescribed my 3 most loved club that I trust, as I would see it they are the best casino online Canadain 2019.
My involvement with Yukon Gold Casino
So I agreed to accept Yukon Gold Casino in July 2015, they had an idea for 125 twists for $10, not an astonishing offer, yet additionally not a terrible one. I knew about club rewards having been in the business as long as I have you become more acquainted with the enormous players. Casino rewards have been around for as far back as I can recall, I have played with them previously and dependably had great encounters so joined with the reality they have been around since 1999 makes me feel good.
My number 1 objective when joining to another online Casino is to guarantee I am not getting misled, it doesn’t make a difference how great your sign up offer is in the event that they will never pay you your rewards. Keep in mind this point, in my experience whether its unrealistic, it presumably isn’t.
Anyway, I enrolled my record, saved $10, (despite the fact that I generally play higher stakes than that), one of the manners in which I judge an online Casino is by their store strategies, in the event that they don’t have numerous its clumsy as well as a terrible sign. It implies installment organizations would prefer not to work with them for reasons unknown (those reasons are normally similar ones you would prefer not to manage them). So a decent exhibit of store techniques is constantly pleasant.
I played all the most mainstream micro gaming recreations, super moolah, Avalon and so on. I invested a great deal of energy in Immortal Romance, I ran very well for a year, I feel you get a reasonable split at Yukon Gold, different Casino I have played at I just wouldn’t hit anything, no fervor, no highlights, no good times. So from a rate payouts perspective no bad things to say from Yukon Gold. Client care was the typical exclusive expectation of club rewards.
My involvement with Grand Mondial Casino
I have been an individual from Grand Mondial any longer, since 2012. A comparative offer, somewhat superior to the later Yukon Gold offer, I got 150 twists for my underlying store of $10.
For this Casino I download the work area form and played on my PC at home, for the most part after work to unwind, you know how it is. Since it is a club rewards Casino like the other two proposals I dont need to make reference to the consistent every minute of every day client care group that really encourages you not at all like different club that I have played at (I can’t name them because of a paranoid fear of claims) yet trust me when I state Casino rewards client care resembles a 5 star lodging contrasted with others which would be what might be compared to a 0.5 star that ought to be closed down for awful administration and taking.
So the one favorable position of playing on a work area downloaded rendition is you get the advantage of included diversions, a few amusements are just accessible in the event that you download them, for example, Hot as Hades. I am not excessively an enormous enthusiast of this amusement but rather its cool to get additional alternatives. I for one played a great deal of Avalon and Avalon 2 on this Casino, in the good ‘ol days I did great. I essentially couldn’t lose for a year a half, at that point experienced a harsh a half year. Lifted back up in 2014 preceding making the move to Yukon Gold Casino.
Moreover amid my time and after they have delivered a large number, you can look at it on the official Casino rewards champs page.
My involvement with Zodiac Casino
I have both incredible and terrible recollections from playing Zodiac, I joined more than 10 years back likely something like 2004, played for a couple of months, had restricted achievement yet what was extremely significant about this experience was being acquainted with the gambling club reward’s client care. I didn’t have any acquaintance with it at the time yet it was astounding. Probably some time after a lose I went on a chase for another home. I hopped from terrible administration to trick and worked my way through a string of awful gambling clubs.
Amid this time I disregarded how great gambling club rewards was and it wasn’t until in my disappointment with different gambling clubs I chose to give Zodiac Casino another go that I understood how well I was dealt with. I recall that I had a couple of normal issues like missing stores or glitches in diversions and without precedent for months I was dealt with like an esteemed client.
Online Casino Reviews – Accurate Information and Real Players’ Reviews
Welcome to Online Casino Reviews index, which unites all the genuine cash online gambling club locales around the globe, joined by genuine players’ input and valid, unprejudiced audits for you to peruse and locate your top choice!
As there are numerous online club gateways out there, giving off base and some of the time one-sided data and assessments, our vision is to make a spot where play gambling gamescan locate a Full, Detailed, Up-to-date, Unbiased and Honest Review about any genuine cash online club out there, we figure out how to do as such by following these principle criteria on each online club audit we distribute:
Official Factual Casino Review – Providing realities about the online club (This is finished by our Research Department and Editorial Board)
True Casino Ranking – The score of the club (created just by votes of genuine play gambling games ) True Players Reviews – Real assessments by genuine club players who played and shared their input on our site. We are glad to be The World’s Largest Source of Bonuses and Information in the Online Casino industry, having gathered upwards of 30,217 Real Player Reviews and 315,321 Rating Votes.
We figure out how to complete everything the assistance of our locale of 101,854 enlisted clients, who help us stay aware of everything through their significant evaluations and legit input, and so as to demonstrate our thankfulness, we make a point to assemble whatever number subtleties as could be expected under the circumstances for all of the 1,705 online gambling clubs in our registry.
Online Casino Reviews
Our Online Casino Reviews is always refreshed with new and exact information, to guarantee our players can without much of a stretch discover anything they need about any of the 1323 web based betting destinations. As you’ll see underneath, every section has a positioning, rating, and its own audit page. Besides, we give you separating devices, for example, Country and Free reward, just as arranging choices (Version, Label, Most Reviewed, Newest, and Top Rated) to make the looking procedure a lot simpler.
Surprisingly, there are many professional athletes who are suffering from depression. Anyone can be affected by this condition regardless of fame or fortune. One in five people suffer from depression at some time in their lives and athletes are no exception. In recent years we have seen various cases in various high-performance sports in the world; the latest is the British cricketer Michael Yardy, captain of the Sussex County Cricket Club, who retired from his world of specialties, arguing that he was very depressed.
Some reasons can influence that this condition occurs in the life of an athlete; For example: athletes, especially professionals and high performers are subject to high stress levels, because the hope that they sometimes exceed their psychological abilities. They themselves set goals which, if they fulfill them, make them fall into a state of depression which they rarely express and hence can be complicated to achieve fatal consequences.
Other reasons may be lonely. Because of sports commitments, athletes, especially soccer players, rugby players, cricketers, basketball players, etc. Doing a long tour that keeps them from family for some time. This same solitude can produce professional performance below what is expected, which ultimately results in depression but in some cases, depression can be “minimized” with proper help.
Jamaicón Villegas syndrome
A strange example of this condition is remembered by Mexican fans, when in the late 50s and early 60s, what was known as the Villegas Jamaicón Syndrome appeared; thanks to José Villegas Tavares, the player at the Mexican national football team at that time. In this case there are two versions:
Preparing for the 1962 World Cup in Chile it was said that if Jamaican had beaten Garrincha repeatedly with Chivas, there was enough defense for the Mexican team. The Federation arranged tours to Europe and with Ignacio Trelles in their command to travel to London where playing was empty, Trelles decided to line up substitute goalkeeper Antonio “Piolín” Mota. When communicating the alignments, Mota was very worried but Trelles told him to be calm because Jamaican would be there to support him. The match was a defeat with eight goals against the English team, that day Villegas could not hold the England striker. When Jamaicón was interviewed by a journalist, he said: “He missed his mother, who had not taken birria for days and that life was not life if he was not on his land”.
According to journalist Carlos Calderón, the scene was set in Lisbon before the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, where dinner was offered to the Mexican team. Villegas left for dinner and when Trelles did not show up, he went looking for him and found him wandering in the hotel garden and this is where the following dialogue took place: “José, what are you doing here?” Jamaican replied: “How can I go to dinner if they have prepared a broken dinner? What I want is my boat, good soup, and not the nonsense that Mexico has.”
This, which looks like a simple anecdote, truly reflects the reality of depression about what many athletes are doing, but few outsiders are seeking professional help.
Therapy & life coaching as treatment
Talking to a professional therapist or a life coach is going to be paramount if you want to deal with this problem . This helps restore self-confidence and gives athletes the opportunity to talk to someone about their feelings. However, experts make it clear that there are no simple and fast rules about how to treat an athlete who suffers from depression.
Working with a depressed athlete is like working with someone who has lost hope and sees everything in a negative way. You have to be careful. On the other hand, what works with one athlete may not work with another. Each depression is different. In cases where the depressed athlete decides to cancel a tour and return home, the reaction of family and friends is vital to begin the recovery process.
Internet gambling has become a relatively new phenomenon. The first gambling sites were launched in the mid-1990s and became famous, especially in the United States. In fact, millions of people in the U.S. have engaged in gambling online despite its illegal nature.
Legal Issues
There were issues about Internet gambling before as the revenue was not determined because gambling sites were not allowed to operate in the country. Likewise, most countries that allowed them to operate didn’t collect or report the revenue status. At the same time, gambling websites might not be paying taxes to their home countries or paying taxes that are lower than the land-based real money blackjack establishments.
According to sources, there are no federal laws against playing online. As a matter of fact, it is legal to put wagers online as an example. Nevertheless, that wager must not be put on a website situated in the country.
The only way that you can play is when a website has been set up outside the United States. Therefore, you may bet on sites located in countries like Australian, Latin America, or the Caribbean. But it only includes casino and poker bets in which people from Massachusetts anywhere else in the U.S. can have fun and enjoy.
Online Gambling Sites
Unquestionably, there are tons of good online casinos accepting players from Boston, or other places in the U.S., it is not easy to find a reliable online casino with sports betting and poker room. The most important thing to remember when gambling online is to keep it safe. Therefore, you need to pick the most trusted apps you can find these days. One way to find the right apps is by referencing a trusted online casino guide and by following the tips below:
Tips On Finding A Trusted Online Casino
You must first pick the one that suits your needs. So you have to decide whether you want to play video poker or blackjack or play live dealer games via webcam.
Browse through online gambling sites. Basically, money is the main factor that motivates most online gambling sites. In fact, online casinos would pay huge amounts just to get their brand known to potential players. You can get more info here if you like to know more about online gambling sites. Some are in a form of referrals, commissions, or just a flat monthly fee for a banner.
Look for software options where you can take your money. Only a tiny percentage would accept players from the U.S. These are powered mostly by 1 in a dozen software providers. Take note that most of these online casinos would only lease software from a company, so they don’t use proprietary software. Therefore, they might offer better games than others or vice versa. So pick one that will only suit your needs and disregard the rest.
Find out more about the cash out policies at the casino. A lot of people complain about cashing out in slot machines or rigged games, but they might just be sour grapes. Cashing out at some online casinos will enable you to reverse your pending cash out. But the longer it is available for you, the worse it will be. This is because it will be moved back to your casino account, where you can lose it for another game you might find enjoyable.
Find out where the casino was licensed. While online casinos accept players from the U.S. are usually licensed by governments, they are not necessarily as protective of their customers as some governments might be. Thus, they offer licensing with very little oversight. However, some states in the country started regulating online casinos which provide more oversight and player protection. The best thing to do is to stick to those local online casinos and stay away from those licensed offshore.
Read reviews or comments made by online casino players. The best place to find them is to visit a number of forums from other sites about what players have to say publicly. Feedbacks can be bias but helpful on your part. Some might provide positive feedbacks because they have won, but negative from those who lost badly.
How To Win Casino Games
Pick The Online Casino Well Suited For Your Needs
Accept The Gifts They Provide
Select An Online Bank That You Can Trust
Learn Your Game
Manage Your Bankroll
Take note that gambling can be fun if you win, but it also demands you to accept the fact if you lose. This means that whenever you gamble, see to it that you don’t owe money to spend for it, rather gamble with money you are willing to lose without heartbreak.
Boston Uprising’s second annual Collegiate Cup was held this past Sunday at the Back Bay Events Center in Boston. Defending champion Northeastern University found themselves in the semifinals along with Boston University, UMass Amherst, and Emerson College. A different type of venue, crowd, and competitors brought a different experience than the typical Overwatch League match. I think the league could learn from the good and bad that the college tournament showed.
Good: Hype Videos
While some Overwatch League matches have short vignettes that try to establish some personality to the players, I haven’t seen one that could hold the Collegiate Cup’s jockstraps. Each team got to make a quick hype video where players talked trash, made awkward poses, and made their case for why they’ll win. First, filming them on scene at each school added legit authenticity to the proceedings. Second, you could tell these guys put the videos together themselves. There is some real bravado in some of them. Giving the players the freedom to strut their creativity and let their personalities shine is much better than the pretentious, forced hype that OWL struts out for some of the teams.
I won’t sugar coat it for you – this place was a notch above your typical senior center bingo hall. I didn’t go last year, but I heard Laugh Boston was a dumpster fire. Well, this place was certainly serviceable. They had enough TVs so everyone could see the action. But the seats were cramped on top of each other, it was extremely dark, and the venue just seemed forced into this esports format. Now granted, there wasn’t much of a crowd. I can’t imagine more than 100 people were there. So I don’t expect the Uprising to host this thing at the Ritz. But maybe one of the schools should host on a rotating basis – say the defending champs? Hosting the event at a school would certainly draw a bigger crowd.
Good: Saltiness
In my post-match interview with Northeastern’s captain Matthew Lucido, he said:
“…the captain of BU he’s trying to get at me, he’s trying to assert his dominance. But, like, I know he’s coming. Once you figure him out he only does one thing. He holds W at you and then dies. So, like, I’ll save my cool down, save my shift for his hook and then after that he’s dead in the water.”
Matthew Lucido, Northeastern captain
That type of direct, aggressive call-out is exactly the type of rivalry and heat that Overwatch League lacks. Oftentimes teams have cringeworthy call outs to each other that are overly sanitized and harmless. These college players have no problem hyping them and their teams up. That includes putting the other team and their players down. And that’s what makes the event more electric. You can hear the fire coming out of him:
Good: Championship Cup
Unlike that ugly ass Reinhardt trophy you get for winning the Overwatch League, the Boston Uprising hand out some sick hardware. Take a look at that cup. Who wouldn’t want to raise that thing up? Not to mention all the things you can do with it. Drink. Eat. Beer pong. Mini golf. Did I mention eat? That is one piece of hardware that’s a party unto itself.
Bad: Timing
As I mentioned the venue didn’t help get anyone to show up to support their team, but the time didn’t help either. Starting at 10am and finishing at about 2pm on a Sunday, most college students aren’t even up by then. I don’t see early afternoon as the best time for this target demographic. A mid afternoon Saturday game that serves as a pregame for their weekend antics seems more appropriate. I did spot one kid wearing shower sandals and a bathrobe. Hey, not all heroes wear capes.
Good: Schools
What’s great about doing college sports is they have one thing already built in – deep seated hatred for each other. Sure, Boston and New York will never like each other, and you can try to ham that into an Uprising – NYXL rivalry. But the Boston area colleges already genuinely hate each other. There’s no world where BU and Northeastern aren’t going to fire up the crowd. From the US News rankings to the Beanpot, students are going to be fired up to see their schools at each other’s throats. While UMass’ run to the title despite no institutional support gave them a rags-to-riches storyline, you could hear the whispers of ‘safety-school’ and looking down at the sole public school from its wealthier peers. Only colleges can give you this type of built-in drama.
Good: Pro level support
You can’t say the Uprising didn’t go all in on this event. From having Avast (former Uprising player) and ZP cast on-site to the Twitch stream, the Uprising put a lot of investment on this event. They clearly care about the college scene. There were dozens of Kraft Group employees at the venue to help organize and run the operations that makes an event like this go smoothly. Whereas you had Dallas, the first non-Blizzard Arena homestand, get hit with a power outage. This event went off without a hitch. Also getting Huk on site to speak to the crowd, be interviewed by the casters, award the championship cup, and talk to the players was a treat. The moneyball recruiting-savant of the Overwatch League rarely comes out from his command HQ, so to see him at an event like this shows how much the team wants it to go well.
AUBURN, AL – SEPTEMBER 15: Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Auburn Tigers looks to pass against the LSU Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Bill Belichick drafted a quarterback higher than he did a season ago. Tom Brady is entering the final year of his contract and will be 42 in August. He is the only player left in the 2000 NFL Draft. When Belichick drafted Jimmy Garoppolo in 2014, the Patriots hadn’t won a Super Bowl since 2004. After drafting Garoppolo Belichick said we all know Brady’s age and contract situation. However, after that Brady really stepped his game up and has won three Super Bowls and had Garoppolo traded away. This time may be different, though, because I don’t see Brady playing until he’s 50.
What will drafting a QB mean for Brady?
FEBRUARY 5, 2019 – BOSTON, MA: New England PAtriots Tom Brady waves the Super Bowl trophy and salutes the fans on Boylston St during the rolling rally. (Staff photo by Nicolaus Czarnecki/DigitalFirst Media/ Boston Herald)
Belichick drafting Jarrett Stidham is planning for the future post Brady. He knows Brady has at least three seasons left, and they’re needs to be a plan at the position whether Brady likes it or not. Brady I’m sure will not give any hint the his job could be taken. Look at how many Super Bowls he’s been too. If anything it would motivate Brady to play at the highest level and not drop at all. The slightest drop from Brady would be the signalling the end is near for thr future Hall Of Famer.
They aren’t going to draft the next Brady but they could draft the next Garoppolo. Maybe Stidham could be the next Jimmy G, we won’t really know until we see him in games during the preseason. It’s a fact that Danny Etling will either be traded or remain on the practice squad. It’s clear he wasn’t ready for the NFL when he was drafted last year. I’m sure Stidham will be anxious and nervous to get started. But if he paid attention when Garoppolo was traded he’d know that Brady never sits the bench and plays hurt constantly.
I’m hoping for some competition like we saw between Garoppolo and Brady. Belichick had a decent draft planning for the future and getting Brady some talent at the receiver position. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Does Brady show Stidham the ropes at being a good quarterback? Or does he give him the Garoppolo treatment and let him learn on his own?
Celtics fans have been confounded throughout the season because the team they cheer for has been, at times, very good but mostly just good enough. If someone told you before the season began that the Shamrocks would be the No. 4 seed in the East when the playoffs commenced, you would have to believe that your local entry either underachieved or was ravaged by injuries. Did Hayward’s leg not heal? Did the long grind that is the NBA season, take its toll on Kyrie again – only in December instead of March? How about the young guns, Tatum, Brown, or Terry? Maybe Big Al got beat up in the paint and beaten down in the homestretch? Injuries would have at least given fans a reason to forgive and forget but the lack of cohesion and team chemistry has been nothing short of stunning, considering last season’s gutsy run into the conference finals without their two resident superstars. However, sports is a what have you done for me lately kind of business and right now you can’t complain about the results. Boston is fresh off of a series sweep of the Indiana Pacers and even the most jaded cynic would be hard-pressed to complain. But now the rubber hits the road as the Celtics prepare for the beast of the East, the Milwaukee Bucks. Some of the best betting websites found all in one place at Sportsbook Review, are dealing the Bucks as 7 ½ point Game 1 favorites and -270/+230 series chalk over the lads in green. Now we will find out what this team is truly made of, and whether or not all of this talent on paper will bear fruit in April, May, and dare we say June? Enjoy basking in the afterglow of Boston’s 110-106 series-clinching win over the Pacers because the road will be quite a bit bumpier from here on out. But why not revel in Gordon Haywood’s 20-point performance and cheer another unsung hero effort by Marcus Morris? Kyrie only got 14 but played solid defense and got back in transition. Things are looking up, right? Kyrie told us the playoffs would change everything, the Celts would flip a switch, and right now it’s hard to doubt him. The Celtics’ superstar was also complimentary of Hayward. “I knew there was going to be a spark off the bench. (On Sunday) and that person was Gordon Hayward,” All-Star guard Kyrie Irving said. “This is his city. I’m glad he had a chance to put on a performance like that in a closeout game.” Jayson Tatum echoed Irving’s sentiments regarding the playoff Celtics versus the regular season Celtics. “We’re clicking at the right time. We look like the team everybody thought we would be at the beginning of the season. It took some ups and downs for us to get here, but I like the way we look.”
It’s hard not to like the way the C’s look because a sweep is indeed a rare occurrence. However,
it’s just business as usual when it comes to Kyrie Irving. Between his tenure in Cleveland and his
stint in Boston, Irving is a mind-boggling 16-0 in his four first-round series’. Don’t forget, he
didn’t dress last year when the Celtics knocked off the Bucks in seven games, thus his record
remains pristine. Irving is, of course, just one piece of the puzzle and the Celtics will need a
complete team effort if they are to get by what many believe is their biggest adversary in the
postseason. Time will tell and so too will Boston’s defense. Shutting down the Greek Freak,
Giannis Antetokounmpo, won’t be easy but this team has the ability to do just that…don’t they?
Let’s dive right into the Patriots first four picks in a draft that they absolutely nailed. Stay on the lookout for breakdowns of the later rounds and the UDFAs.
32. N’KEAL HARRY, WR
ARIZONA STATE
The Patriots pleasantly surprised on Thursday night. They not only drafted a receiver in the first round, but one of N’Keal Harry’s caliber. The evaluation of the wide receiver class this year was at times murky waters of sorts. Many passionate film buffs, scouts, and analysts had N’Keal Harry fluctuating from the fourth best receiver in this class to the first. After watching a ton of film on this kid, all signs point to Harry being much closer to that number one spot to that number four.
What he does right:
-Contested ball catcher, reminds of a DeAndre Hopkins in that regard.
-Big-bodied, yet moves at a pretty good speed for his size
-Very smart, faired really well during Patriots visit with playbook retention
-Understands how to use his body to make catches
-Will play some outside receiver, could also play a good deal of slot at the next level
-Very solid catch radius
-Makes catches look easier than they really are
-Good jump off the ball
-Like a Marshawn Lynch or Gronk once he has the ball, very hard to tackle, YAC monster
-Can be a redzone monster at a Pro level, will help replace that redzone presence of Gronk
Some nuances in his game:
-Not polished route runner
-Sometimes struggles with press off the line of scrimmage
-Occasionally struggles with focus in his game
-Not overly explosive or necessarily athletic
-May struggle to separate
-Not the greatest blocker in the world
Pro comparison: Dez Bryant
Instant impact: 3rd receiver on depth chart, gets utilized in LaFell role
Grade: A+
45. JOEJUAN WILLIAMS, CB
VANDERBILT
Oh boy, did some people get mad over this pick or what? I have never seen so many fans get angry over a great pick. Besides maybe the picks after that, like Damien Harris, Yondy Cajuste, Hjalte Froholdt, and Jake Bailey. If Belichick had a nickel for every Patriots fan that said, “What is he doing? WE NEED A TIGHT END!”, Bill would probably be dining at an expensive restaurant on that money alone. Joejuan Williams is a corner who Belichick loved coming into the draft. He is a tall, bigger corner who excels at pressing receivers and covering bigger targets. Williams brings the Patriots size at the corner position that they really have not had since Brandon Browner.
What he does right:
-Great physical traits
-Great mental processing and awareness
-Watches a boat load of film
-Tremendous press corner
-Described by many as “disruptive” to receivers
-Has shown ability to come up and play the run
-Appears to have a really good understanding of coverage schemes
-Very, very good play recognition
-Extremely physical
-Solid tackler
-Faired really well against A.J Brown, DaMarkus Lodge, and Riley Rildey, who all were solid receivers in this year’s draft class
Some nuances in his game:
-Fluidity
-Technique at line of scrimmage must improve drastically
-Not a world-class athlete
-Not a big playmaker
-Struggles against shiftier receivers, Patriots would not match him up against Antonio Brown
-Inconsistency in his game
Pro comparison: Richard Sherman
Instant impact: 3rd corner on depth chart, battles with bigger targets, get utilized in Browner role
Grade: A-
77. CHASE WINOVICH, EDGE
MICHIGAN
While he is undersized, Chase will play much like a Rob Ninkovich or Mike Vrabel. Winovich is an exciting pick for two reasons.
1. He was an early second round pick in most people’s eyes. Sometimes even a late first.
2. He helps replace some of the wackiness we lost when Gronk retired. Better hope Gronk does not come back because a nuclear war might erupt in that locker room. How crazy is he? He ate a live fish for a $20 bill.
Chase will play both defensive end and outside linebacker. This will give the linebacking core some more flexibility and the defensive line an edge rusher that does not quit.
What he does right:
-Nice hand usage
-Very measured and strategic, has a game plan every play on how to attack the quarterback
-Unreal amount of effort, will benefit that defense immensely
-Really high floor
-Good run defender
-High motor, full of energy
-Toughness
-His heart, toughness, and effort could translate well to kick coverage or punt coverage teams as well
-Loves football, wants to learn from veterans
-Brings lots of versatility
-Great execution
-Smart football player
-Recognizes blocking schemes very well
-Extremely physical
Some nuances in his game:
-Not the greatest athlete in the world
-Does not have too many pass rush moves in his tool belt
-Low ceiling
-Undersized for defensive end, not athletic enough to play outside linebacker
-Will struggle in some matchups at the next level
-Not exactly explosive
-Can be kind of slow off the ball
-Hips not very fluid, not bendy
-Not a speed-counter type of rusher
-Range
-Change of direction
Pro comparison: Clay Matthews
Instant impact: Rotational defensive end, majority of snaps on first/second down, Ninkovich role
Grade: B+
87. DAMIEN HARRIS, RB
ALABAMA
Damien Harris will be a beast behind this offensive line, sharing carries with Sony Michel, James White, and Rex Burkhead. Runningback was also a need for the Patriots in this draft class. The need not in an immediate sense, but more for down the road. Rex Burkhead and Sony Michel have struggled to stay healthy in their respective careers, and James White and Rex Burkhead’s contracts climb to higher cap numbers next season, then expire in 2021. I personally expected Belichick to go runningback at some point in this draft class, but not this early. However, I personally am glad that Belichick grabbed Damien Harris. Damien will be a beast in the run game and can contribute on special teams. Patriots now have a four-headed monster in the backfield.
What he does right:
-Played both gap and zone run schemes at Alabama
-Win first mentality
-Big-bodied
-Excellent vision
-Very explosive
-Finds open space in defense with ease
-Very balanced and solid
-Can be bell cow type of back, although it is unlikely he is utilized like this in New England’s system
-One cut
-Demonstrates good patience
-Runs really hard, runs through defenders
-Will not lose yards to gain yards, north-south runner
-Measured, collected, and controlled runner
Some nuances in his game:
-Change of direction is his kryptonite
-Instinct and creativity is shaky at times
-Slightly below average burst
-Lacks elusive traits
-Will get caught from behind because of lack of burst
-Hand technique is spotty
Pro comparison: Corey Clement
Instant impact: Rotational back, short-yardage back, will fight Burkhead for carries
