The Boston Bruins continue with their western trip when they face the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at the T-Mobile Arena. With a thrilling overtime win over the San Jose Sharks, the B’s are looking to make it seven in a row. With the uncertainty of when David Pastrnak will return to the line-up, the time for “next man up” has been more pronounced these past few games.
(PHOTO CREDITS: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports)
OFFENSIVE PLAY
In the past four games without Pastrnak (which the B’s have won), the team has scored 19 goals, with many coming from second-year players that have been going through their sophomore slump. Both Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen have finally found their voice, and are enjoying the recent burst of offensive play. DeBrusk has had goals and assists in all four games, while Heinen has had a goal and three assists. The fourth line has also contributed with three goals and four assists.
“We miss Pasta…we have enough solid leaders that it’s –next man up is the term, no passengers…next guy that goes in has to do the job. Did we expect to score this many goals without Pasta? No. We were trending as a lower-scoring team…Maybe that’s just the guys saying, ‘We’ve got to pick up the pace here.’
Coach Bruce Cassidy
(PHOTO CREDITS: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports)
DEFENSE
Defense has also stepped up for the B’s with Torey Krug, Zdeno Chara and Charlie McAvoy each picking up goals in the recent game against the Sharks. McAvoy has netted three goals in six games and scored the winning goals in Los Angeles and San Jose. With the trade deadline fast approaching and rumors flying, the team’s focus continues to be assertive with the puck and racking up crucial points.
STATS
The Bruins are now second in the Atlantic Division, two points ahead of Toronto, and fourth in the league with 78 points (tied with San Jose). They are now 35-17-8. Brad Marchand leads the team with 70 points and 47 assists. The injured Pastrnak still leads the team with 31 goals; Marchand has 22, while Bergeron has 21 (DeBrusk is fourth with 18). Coach Bruce Cassidy announced that Jaroslav Halak will get the start in net tonight. Halak is sixth in the league for goals against average (2.35) with a 15-9-4 record. Goaltender Tuukka Rask has been playing stellar as of late: he is 12-0 in his last 12 games played.
(PHOTO CREDITS: Review Journal)
VIVA LAS VEGAS
The Vegas Knights are coming off a 3-0 shut-out loss to the Colorado Avalanche this past Monday night in their final road trip game in February. They have dropped their last four out of five games and are 3-8-0. Right-winger Alex Tuch leads the team with 42 points and 26 assists. Jonathan Marchessault leads the team with 19 goals. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury leads the league with 29 wins and six shutouts. Fleury has a record of 29-18-4 with a 2.61 goals against average and a .908 save percentage. The Knights are third in the Pacific Division and are 32-25-4.
The two teams last met on November 11, with Boston winning 4-1.
WHEN TO WATCH:
Tonight with puck drop at 10:00 PM here in the East Coast
Healthy living isn’t always about staying on course with a Paleo, Ketosis or a south beach diet. Your mind, spirit and soul equally need stability and nourishment. Thus, exercise becomes an integral part of leading a healthy and happy lifestyle. But, before exploring further, ask these questions:
What is the right amount of exercising?
Do you need a yoga expert before you can roll a mat?
Yoga: A mindfulness exercise like no other
Yoga is as old as the hills, and with asanas (postures) that come with it, most of which require not only intense focus and deep connection with self and surrounding, you also need a mentor to do it right. Thus, a question that would probably come to mind before you can get started is this: do you I need someone I can pay to do my homework on mindfulness exercises?
Well, that’s a topic for another day, albeit, a good write-up on the benefits or yoga, including asanas will go a long way in helping you remain focused while also doing the right thing. Let’s face it, without someone to oversee your training sessions, you could run into dangers associated with practicing yoga alone.
Consider Yoga retreats
Over the years, holiday goers have continued to change their tact and purpose. Whether it is during summer or winter, yoga has become an integral part of getaways to wonderlands. In as much as you will be looking forward to having lots of fun, journaling a fitness retreat wouldn’t be a bad idea after all. You will not only get to meet expert yogis and teachers, but also interact with nature in serene places, and, at a deeper level.
The catch here is that once you get to appreciate the benefits of mindfulness training at the end of this post, a retreat would help improve your skills and wellness. You can check out these upcoming Yoga getaways and choose one that fits into your schedule.
Benefits of Yoga
Apart from hearsays, and perhaps firsthand experience as a yogi, listing a few benefits of mindfulness exercise should be effortless. However, that is as far as it goes, unless you get up-close with some of the most reputed yoga trainers. In the next sections, you will learn as much as this post is able to explore, experts views on yoga training, especially, its benefits. Take a look.
Posture Improvement and flexibility.
While Yoga helps with weight loss, it is also important to note that one of the key goals of every yogi is to realize a perfect body balance. With different poses (asana), you can be sure of improvement in flexibility in every joint and muscles.
It helps boost self esteem
Confidence is not only an important necessity for everyone but also vital towards achievement of one’s goals. Thus, apart from Yoga being hugely linked to spiritual wellness, studies have indicated that those who practice it often experience higher levels of confidence than people who do not. Mental relaxation as well being able to establish a strong connection with inner self inspires improved self-esteem.
Reduces chances of body injuries
When you are fit physically, it is easy to remain so even when the body tilts at awkward angles. And, given that Yoga practices are often a manifest of forced movements and asanas, they not only help strengthen muscles and bones, but also help yogis withstand strenuous exercises. You are assured of a more balanced body to support your weight.
Lowers blood pressure and improves breathing
A deep breathing process in Yoga enhances lung capacity, but, that is not all. Yogis are some of healthiest people alive and can endure many physical challenges. It is all thanks to optimal blood pressure and heart rate, all of which are benefits that come with consistent practice. It has also been reported that yogis have a healthier immune system.
A remedy to depression, chronic pain and improves sleep
While how Yoga helps fight pain is a topic for another day, there are several studies that back this claim. Yogis have also reported improved quality of sleep. These notwithstanding, it is also a great antidepressant. By helping reduce levels of cortisol and huge influence or serotonin hormones, it is a practice that helps depressed persons embarks on a path of speedy recovery.
Final Thoughts
In the end, Yoga remains of the most powerful and transformative exercises ever invented in human history. This post has looked into only a few benefits that every aspiring yogi ought to know. Nevertheless, the best dissertation service would help come up with a phenomenal research write-up on this subject. Yogis, according to studies, are some of the happiest people in the world. There is no way anyone would want to miss on these amazing benefits of mindfulness training.
Whom Is Misleading Us About Assistance With Composing a Paper?
the beginning of assistance with composing a Paper
a lot of the minute, it is difficult to think about a thesis as soon as you first begin composing, and it’s really typical to ensure that it to alter once the paper develops. Any less is simply too weak therefore the thesis shall be unable to the stand by position it self. Continue reading →
The concept of fantasy sports appeared back in the 1950s (when a fantasy golf league was created) but gained worldwide acceptance in the 1990s (when introduced online). During the last decade, this industry has grown enormously. Compare the numbers from 2012 ($2.9 billion) and 2015 ($26.4 billion) to see how in a period as small as three years online fantasy sports has increased the revenue. Already in 2015, this industry was larger than event promotions in the US!
Fantasy sports require building a virtual team of known professionals. Participants earn points for successful performance of a team they’ve built. It’s all about statistical information of particular leagues and athletes which defines how they will act in a fantasy team.
Daily fantasy sports (designed for competitions that last for a week or less) are now responsible for the biggest part of spendings and participants. In 2013, Major League Baseball became the first American organization that invested in this industry. This led to the emergence of many partnerships and fantasy-oriented content. There are currently two dominant services in the US: FanDuel and DraftKings. There’s also a number of competing services oversees that offer interesting alternatives such as Bookie Viet Nam.
Not a Form of Gambling
The question of whether fantasy sports is pure gambling was, and still is, actively discussed. With this entertainment growing in popularity, legislators were pushed to make new decisions. In 2017, 18 states legalized paid-entry contests like this. Fantasy sports ads on television are a normal thing, and this type of gaming is proven to be skill-based.
Knowing the roles of every sports team player can be compared to knowing the value of cards in skill-based table games. For example, blackjack is quite similar to fantasy sports betting in this regard, while baccarat card game (which is not countable and can’t promise positive expectations based on skills) is not. Keeping up-to-date with the world of sports, analyzing players’ performance, and thinking about how to find participants who will fit the best in your fantasy team is the core of this entertainment. For a seasoned fan, it is a fun way to beat others by using actual skills.
The research from 2012 suggests that we can determine that a game is based on skill rather than on chance if a player’s performance is persistent. It’s usually true that sports fans involved in gaming keep it constant over multiple rounds. Another research, targeted specifically at daily fantasy competitions, confirms such a view.
Skills You Can Improve
Also, there’s an opinion that fantasy sports betting can help you improve some skills that you can use in life:
analyzing the numbers (fantasy sports is all about making research and analysis, which is not an easy thing to do);
collecting information (reviewing reports and knowing how to apply data from them);
negotiating (performing trades to your league’s benefit is a great negotiation practice);
following a schedule (it can sharpen your time management skills.)
Betting on a virtual league is fun, however, it should be based on a strategy. Personal likes and dislikes have nothing to do with the players’ performance. While choosing a team, experienced sports fans don’t rely on individuals they like – they go for those who perform better. This is the only reasonable strategy: no matter to what extent a player corresponds to your preferences and principles, what you need to evaluate is how they score.
Motivation
The FSTA (Fantasy Sports Trade Association) statistics show that the majority of players are well-educated men with decent salaries. As for their motivation, it’s rarely driven by monetary prizes. Fantasy sports lovers enjoy the opportunity to shape a virtual team using their knowledge and observance. It’s the competition with other sports fans that matters. Many players also claim this entertainment to be a form of quality time with friends.
Patriots rookie Sony Michel had a breakout rookie campaign, rushing for close to 1,000 yards and 6 touchdowns. He fared even better in the postseason, setting a record for NFL rookies by rushing for 6 touchdowns, including the game winner in Super Bowl 53.
After Roger Goodell announced the 31st pick in the NFL Draft, there was a bit of an outrage in Boston. The selection was Georgia running back Sony Michel, who had a history of injury and not the most impressive measurements. It was also a strange pick due to the lack of depth at other areas for New England, who could have used another speedy linebacker or defensive tackle.
As we all know however, the pick looks to be one of Belichick’s finest in years. Michel was the Patriots feature running back in 2018 and looked dominant at times. Coupled with an exceptional offensive line, New England’s run game was the most explosive its been since 2014. So, assuming Michel stays healthy and the offensive line stays intact, what does the future hold for No. 26?
There is a certain stigma that surrounds a first round running back. It seems as though they’re either a perennial Pro-Bowler or an all-time bust. The recent trend of first round backs has been favorable, with the likes of Ezekiel Elliot and Saquon Barkley dissipating the stigma little by little.
However, it terms of New England and high picked running backs, lets just say history is not on their side. And we’re not talking about third down backs like James White or Shane Vereen, who were great picks. This is about first and second down workhorses who can carry the ball 20 times per game. Stevan Ridley and Laurence Maroney are the two names that stick out, but especially Maroney.
Picked at 21st overall, the former Minnesota Gopher didn’t have a bad career with the Patriots per se, but injuries and a lack of production cut his time short in the NFL. There were a couple of seasons where he garnered over 700 yards, but it always seemed like he needed a Trent Brown sized hole to gain any yards.
The same can be said for Stevan Ridley, who apparently didn’t remember his time in New England too fondly. With one season above 1,000 yards, Ridley looked like he was set to be the next Patriots feature running back. However, like Maroney, Ridley failed to improve on his best season and declined slowly. A slew of injuries forced New England to cut him and stick with LeGarrette Blount for the rest of 2014.
So with this history of feature backs selected high in the draft, it was reasonable to question the 31st pick. Michel was never a full-fledged starter at Georgia, being behind Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb, and it was obvious that the Pats picked him to be just that. But after proving many people wrong, especially Tony Massarotti, Michel looks to be on the rise for the 2019 season.
Sure, Michel isn’t the fastest running back on the Patriots roster. He also benefits from having one of the NFL’s most dominant offensive lines in front of him, including James Develin. Even with these factors benefiting him tremendously though, the future looks bright for Michel.
It took a few games for the former Bulldog to find his footing, but once he did there was no looking back. He was accelerating through open holes, finding space in tight situations, and handled the ball extremely well. Pro Football Focus awarded him a 77.4 grade, and that was without incorporating receiving into his game.
Something he did very well at Georgia was catch the ball out of the backfield. While Nick Chubb and Todd Gurley were having a field day running the ball, Michel was juking defenders out of their shoes as the third down back. With James White already on the roster, there wasn’t a need for Michel to develop this part of his game during 2018. However, a big part of his future will be his ability to turn into a two-dimensional back.
When you look at the success of Gurley or Ezekiel Elliot, running the ball is a huge reason for it. What separates them however, is their prowess at catching the ball underneath and turning upfield for a huge gain. This is the part of Michel’s game that will turn him into a potential 2,000 all purpose yard running back.
If you watched the latter half of the 2018 season, then you saw the glimpses of greatness in Michel. The work ethic is there, along with the talent and ability. Being a rookie in New England can be a tough thing, especially on offense. Learning the playbook is no easy matter, which can attribute to the mistakes made in Michel’s first few games. However, he handled his rocky start with great aplomb, and should have an even better sophomore campaign.
After three long, grueling months since Boston won a world championship, the Patriots snapped that drought with their sixth Super Bowl title, all under Tom Brady’s watch. If you’re new to the wonderful world of sports wagering and want to learn how to bet then click on over to Sportsbook Review, and you will find an excellent primer.
The good news is that TB-12 will be back under center to try to take the Patriots to the Promised Land. But the bad news is that New England may be without the services of All-World tight end Rob Gronkowski. The parting will come sooner or later but the verdict is still out on just how much gas Gronk has left in his tank. Until this season, Gronkowski has been as stunning and reliable as a Rolex but cost about as much as a top-of-the-line Timex. It’s been a good deal for Gronk but a great deal for New England.
Yet, this season proved that Father Time is winning the battle over the soon-to-be 30-year-old as all those punishing hits in the past have finally taken their toll in the present. Gronk demonstrated in the team’s Super Bowl victory over the Rams that he can still flash his brilliance when he caught a pass thrown on a dime by Brady to set up the eventual touchdown scored by Sony Michel. He also remains a top-notch blocker, an often-overlooked aspect of what makes him so special and will ultimately see him reside in Canton, amongst all the other greats of the game. When the regular season ended, Gronk tallied 47 receptions for 682 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games. But what many didn’t know was that he had been ailing throughout with a bulging disk in his back and an Achilles injury.
When asked about the punishing position he plays and how he deals with the aches and pains, Gronkowski replied thusly, “To take hits to the thigh, take hits to your head. Abusing your body isn’t what your brain wants. When your body is abused, it can bring down your mood. You’ve got to be able to deal with that, too, throughout the season. You’ve got to be able to deal with that in the games.”
The operative sentence in all of that is, “Abusing your body isn’t what your brain wants,” which essentially means “I am just so sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Gronkowski isn’t the first professional athlete to feel this way and he won’t be the last. But walking away from throngs of fans genuflecting at your altar is not easy. The national, and even international, acclaim is an intoxicant, a dopamine rush that never gets old. But in a few months, Gronkowski will be 30-years-old, an age which generally spells the beginning of the end for professional football players. There is also the reported $9 million salary the Patriots will have to pay on Gronk’s contract if he chooses to return but a number that the Patriots may find untenable.
We should hear sooner than later regarding Gronk’s decision and undoubtedly the Patriots will want to know before the draft. There are three very good tight ends in this year’s NFL meat market, including the Hawkeye tandem of TJ Hockenson (who will most likely be long gone by the time the Pats pick at No. 32) and Noah Fant with Alabama’s Irv Smith completing the triumvirate. If New England does decide to opt for a premier tight end to replace (although there’s no replacing) Gronkowski, then they will most likely expend their first-round pick to get the job done. But until Gronk declares his intentions, the Patriots will wait – while Canton awaits.
New to Overwatch? Please read our introduction to learn about and get caught up on everything Overwatch League here.
Overwatch League’s opening week is in the bag. All the preseason power rankings and hot takes are starting to fade out against the cold indifference of reality. Unexpected heroes, disappointing performances, and POG plays abound throughout the league. Now it’s time to pull up the VODs, crunch the numbers, and have a realistic look at how the Uprising look.
Boston Uprising vs. New York Excelsior
Much has already been said about what this match means and what many expected. Would Boston get rolled 4-0? Could they steal a map? How could a team with last year’s MVP not dominate? Lastly, can a team that traded their main tank 2 days ago show any signs of life? Fortunately, the tempo of the match would be revealed quickly.
Nepal
In a foreshadow to how the match would be decided, stage 1 of Nepal saw NYXL play a rare off-GOATS team comp. Switching Meko from DVa to Sombra, the Uprising’s inability to stop the EMP would quickly become obvious to everyone. Without a dual dps threat (as Colourhex came into the match suspended for two games) NYXL had the advantage of knowing exactly how the Uprising would play. Unfortunately, it cost them the first map.
A nasty EMP from @MekOppa makes the enemy defenseless!
Despite the Sombra play by NYXL causing major disruptions, Uprising put up a valiant resistance on stage 1. NYXL squeaked by 100% – 99%. Stage 2 saw more back-and-forth but the NYXL prevailed. Interestingly, Note would be de-meched and eliminated first. Additionally, he missed all 3 of his Self-Destructs on Nepal. Stats don’t lie and these would portend future concerns.
Numbani
New York matched the GOATS comp of the Uprising on Numbani. This slower paced play style lead to equal exchanges on both sides throughout the match. Equal, that is, until Fusions decided he wanted to show what a Contenders and World Cup player from the other side of the pond could do:
Fusions: “Did someone say I would be nervous in my first OWL game?”
NYXL was supposed to steamroll the underprepared and lesser experienced Uprising, but Boston showed they were up to the task on this second map. Carefully managing their ultimate economy, focusing picks, and timely healing all were clear parts of their strategy. Did you know? According to the broadcast: NYXL won 29% of teamfights where they suffered the first death last season, 5% more than the next highest (Boston). Who’d have thunk?
Numbani was ultimately decided by the Uprising. Left with only a minute and a half after capturing Point A, the Fusions led team forced their way through NY’s defense and stole Point B. On the other end, New York was unable to capture Point A despite having over four minutes to do so. Boston’s impressive defense rested on their positioning on top of the point and splitting the front and back lines of New York. As a result, their team coordination drove them to take the map 4-3.
Horizon Lunar Colony
On map 3 we saw a bit of tactical differentiation between the two teams. Whereas Boston went up the right stairway to Point A, NYXL consistently used the longer outside path. Next, they walked along the skybridge and dropped down to Point A. Both teams played the GOATS comp appropriately, but to me, this was the PoTG on this map:
Forced into Overtime at Point A and down 2-0, New York cleared the point and pushed Point B before Boston had regrouped. As a result, the Uprising rushed into a defense that became staggered. Through sustained offense and timely ultimate use, New York pushed through and tied it up 2-2. Thwarting Boston’s attempt on offense, NYXL had a minute and a half to get a tick on Point A. What did they do?
Surprising everyone in the audience (and the casters) they pulled out an unbelievable team comp. Mercy, Zenyatta, Hammond, Sombra, Pharaoh, and Tracer. I don’t think we saw this team comp anywhere else all week. While Wrecking Ball peeled Boston away to open the Point to Pharaoh spamming rockets, Axxiom’s Zen finally picked Pharaoh during her ultimate. Justice did not rain from above and Boston forced the draw. 1 – 1 going into the fourth map. New York’s arrogance to play this off-meta team comp failed. Gloriously.
Route 66
Remember when I said earlier that Nepal foreshadowed the end of the match? A Sombra having free reign to EMP and the Uprising not having an answer to it? Well, NYXL thought back to that first map and said, “Hey let’s do that again!”
That clip pretty much sums up the fourth map. Over and over again, Meko would creep around behind the Uprising clouded in invisibility. At that point, EMPs would be unleashed onto the enemy team. Boston became defenseless and at the mercy of the NYXL. Deaths, objective failure, and frustration. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. Look at these statistics from Route 66, specifically Meko:
Meko with 0, Z-E-R-O deaths on Route 66
Boston was unable to get through to the third point. As a result, New York pushed through to the end to win the map and the match by a combined score of 2 – 1.
Analysis
It was a story of good and bad for the Uprising. First, they silenced all their critics. Though many put Boston as a preseason bottom tier team (of which there were many) they showed they could compete with the elite of the league. Additionally, though former captain and main tank Gamsu departed abruptly just two days ago, Boston’s tank play didn’t miss a beat. Fusions, having landed in LA just two days before this match, already showed he was capable of holding his own at the OWL level. Lastly, Boston was held back by the absence of both of their dps’ availability. With more scrims and matches going forward with Fusions and Colourhex the sky is the limit for this team.
Of concern was the less than stellar performance of Note. Going into the fourth map, he had only hit 2 out of 12 of his Self-Destructs (for two kills total). He also seemed out of position often. Even in replaying the matches, it’s difficult to determine precisely the cause of his seemingly poor play. It could be that the supports were focused on boosting Fusions. New York could have been focusing their attack on the more mobile off-tank. Lastly, he could have just been uncomfortable among a relatively new set of teammates. Given his underrated performance last season, there is no cause for concern. The season just started and their is no reason to think he won’t turn it around.
Boston Uprising vs. Houston Outlaws
I spoke in my weekend preview of the unwarranted attention the Outlaws received. Given that they were a team that missed the playoffs last year, their offseason praise by critics is unjustified. Leaving their roster mostly intact, the Uprising had no reason to fear starting the season 0 – 2. Fortunately I wasn’t proven wrong.
Nepal
This got ugly, quick. Houston had watched tape on the Uprising and knew Colourhex was still out, forcing Boston onto the GOATS comp. Interestingly, they started out with a Hammond, Mercy, Pharaoh, Somra, DVa, and Zen comp. Much like they did in their match against the NYXL, Boston had no answer to the EMP. Taking a page from New York’s assault on Horizon Lunar Colony, the Outlaws also had free reign with their Pharaoh, Despite a 100% – 43% win for Houston, the stage was a slaughter. Outlaws scored 23 eliminations with Boston only earning 5.
Unfortunatley for Boston, the Sanctum stage didn’t play out any better. Muma showed why he is often considered one of the league’s top main tanks, popping off for multiple environmental eliminations. With both teams using a GOATS comp, Houston had no problem rolling Boston for a dominant 100% – 29% win. Was all the momentum from Thursday about to get lost in a 4 – 0 against Houston?
This is bad.
Hollywood
Fortunately for fans of the Uprising, Boston’s players were able to put that devastating map loss behind them. Boston’s coordinated strike included Note landing kills with his Self Destruct and Fusion doing what he does, putting Houston on their heels. Pushing the payload on their attack, Boston was unable to make it the last few feet to capture the third point.
On defense, Boston proved up to the task. Fusion landed several Earthshatters and hammered through several shields, each setting up Note for more effective Self Destructs. Houston was able to make it through the first two points, but reached a road block towards the end of the map. First, they were at a disadvantage at getting past Point 2 during Overtime. That gave them just over a minute to play with. Houston got the payload right up to their victory location at which point a dragged out war was waged. With Muma popping off and hammering down Uprising players, it was Kellex hopping around on Lucio that contested the point. Eventually Fusions and the rest of the Uprising ran out of spawn and repelled the Outlaws. As satisfying as the map win was, Houston was a Torb hammer’s length away from winning the map.
Note showing he still knows how to hit the Self Destruct
Volskaya Industries
As both teams stuck with a GOATS team comp, a back and forth predominated the early match. After a reasonably quick Point A capture, Boston sped forward to two ticks of Point B. Houston repelled them twice until Boston broke through with this nontraditional route to the capture point:
I’m still debating what to call this. The Mass Pike? The Beantown Highway? Still undecided. Fortunately, the grouping on the platform worked as Boston captured the point. Houston responded in kind, capturing both points with a 3.5 to 1.5 time advantage going into the second turn. With only enough time for one push on Point A, Boston saw themselves stuck in massive team fight. Fortunately, Note saw Rawkus’ Zenyatta out of position and dove him. Eliminating their healer, Boston snowballed Houston to capture Point A. Additionally, Note got a key pick on Muma on Point B to push the Uprising to 4 – 2 going into Houston’s turn on offense. Houston was unable to match Boston’s push on Point B and lost the map 4 – 3.
Boston ended last season with a record of 10-1-1 on Volskaya Industries. Their only loss came in the playoffs to the Fusion. As a result, the Uprising still claim unofficial ownership of the map.
What if I told you that Houston pulled out the Sombra? Would you think that this was the one time all week where the Uprising turned it around? If so, thank you for having that pure fandom to believe in the impossible. Sadly, you are mistaken. Danteh went back on the Sombra and used multiple EMPs to disable the Uprising’s heroes and snowball the team. A drawn out map that was over before it started.
Finally the two best words in all of Overwatch: MAP. FIVE. Winner take all, best of 3, control map. There’s nothing more exciting when you’ve fought through four other maps to get to this point. Houston had lost earlier in the week on map 5, losing in a reverse sweep to the Toronto Defiant. Would they fall apart at the end of a marathon of Overwatch again?
After trading stages, it comes down to the final winner-take all stage 3 of Illios. Boston would take the early lead, reaching 87% when they gave way to the Outlaws. With a Graviton Surge and Self Destruct, could the Uprising pull off the GOATS combo in the clutch?
Yes! Note’s Self Destruct on Linkzr and Dive on Rawkus (again) sealed the victory for the Uprising. #BostonUp!
Analysis
What a first win for Boston! There are too many delicious treats to feast on here for Uprising fans. After getting absolutely demolished the first map, the boys put Nepal in the rear view mirror. Plowing through Houston the next two maps, it was that kryptonite of Sombra that forced them into a fifth map. Boston will need to figure out how to counter her if they’re going to survive this meta going forward. Adding Colourhex should help with that.
When it got to map five, the Uprising continued to impress. Working the ultimate economy and picking their spots, Boston got the eliminations when and where they needed. In a huge bounce back game from Thursday, Note showed time and time again exactly why he’s one of the few players to survive management’s purges. He’s just too reliable. While the rest of the league continues to discount just how valuable he is, we Uprising fans know he’s as dependable as anyone. Additionally, Fusion continues to impress despite being on the team for less than a week. That a Contenders player can jump up to the Overwatch League and perform at this level is mind blowing. New pickups Alamao and Blasé also showed how competent they were in their roles. Particularly Blasé, who was forced off his normal dps role and stuck on Birgitte.
There were many questions coming into the 2019 Overwatch League season. Questions transformed into concerns when Gamsu was traded two days before the start of the season. But many of these have all been pushed to the side. Fusions has shown himself more than capable of bringing this team where we want it to be. Note continues to be the clutch player we need him to be. As a team, neither the bright lights or the pressure seems to faze them. Facing the heralded NYXL, this team went down to the very last point on the last map and barely scrapped by without a win. They took the favored Outlaws to five maps and came out with a win.
Next week will see the possible addition of Colourhex, the New Zealand dps. It will be interesting to see what Uprising coaches do – continue to use the same six starters to run GOATS or change team comps? Additionally, the Uprising only have one match next week – against the Shanghai Dragons (Friday at 10pm EST).
How emotional will players be going against their former captain Gamsu? Will they respond to having the entire Overwatch League’s fans on the side of the Dragons as they look for their first franchise win? Lastly, what happens when Fusions has actual time to scrim and develop with his teammates? Needless to say, the Overwatch League is on notice. Fans should keep an eye on all the casters and opinion makers as they scramble from their preseason takes. Don’t be fooled – we knew all along who these players could be. And we never doubted. We’ve just got three words for all the doubters.
PROVE. THEM. WRONG
For all the latest on the Overwatch League and Boston Uprising, please follow me on Twitter #BostonUp
The more film watched on TJ Hockenson, the more it seems he will be long gone before the Patriots pick 32nd. However, one never knows these days as players get injured in practice (like Jeffery Simmons), poor combines or pro days hurt their value, and sometimes guys just slide due to demand.
Although historically the Patriots never really trade up in the draft, this Iowa tight end might be worth breaking the trend for. That is of course assuming he doesn’t miraculously fall into their hands at the end of the first round.
Here is what makes Hockenson so good:
Good jump off ball, quickly gets out of three point stance
Gets hands inside and doesn’t overextend, dominant blocking technique
Lowers pads
Keeps ball high and tight, protects the football
Nice awareness
Can outrun Big Ten linebackers and corners, making him hard to one on one with good RAC (run after catch)
Always gets lower than his man when blocking, gets good leverage on his guy
Really nice hands
Extremely athletic and agile for a man of his size
Fundamentally sound
Polished
Disciplined route runner
Physical
Good balance and control
Can adjust to the ball very nicely
Phenomenal focus and ability to get his feet down in bounds, great awareness of his surroundings
Hockenson is a future Pro Bowler. One of the easiest prospects to evaluate in this class. Good at pretty much everything. The only weaknesses I can come up with are that he doesn’t always high-point the ball and he can sometimes be too aggressive as a blocker at the 2nd level.
-Evan Lazar, CLNS Media
Hockenson just continues to demonstrate that he is the complete package in film review. His potential really is something to marvel over.
Cons:
There is very little to complain about in his game. The aggressive blocking and high-pointing, as mentioned in the quote by Evan Lazar, were somewhat of a concern, but not enough to not draft him for it. He seemed to always improvise during some minor mistakes.
Another con to mention was his hands when catching the football were sometimes spread too far apart, but like the other problems, he improvised and did not let it become an issue.
On this play versus Indiana, Hockenson high points the ball, adjusts his body and makes a leaping grab. Scoring the touchdown in the back of the endzone, with a defender draped on him, showing excellent awareness to get both feet down in bounds.
His teammate Noah Fant gets more coverage for his more flashy ability. Although, Hockenson will be a far better NFL player and it may not even be close.
TJ might just be the best tight end to come out of the NFL Draft since Hunter Henry or George Kittle.
Player Comparisons:
Hockenson has drawn comparisons to former Iowa tight end George Kittle before. Kittle just came off a phenomenal stat clinic of a season. Hockenson has also been compared to Dennis Pitta and a mini Gronk (A stretch but I have heard it). The one that suits him best would be Dennis Pitta, who when healthy was a very good tight end for Baltimore.
If the Patriots could get their hands on this guy, not only would a combo of Gronk and Hockenson be hard to stop in 2019, but Hockenson himself would be a deadly force for years to come.
In the middle of December last year the Boston Globe wrote whether it is the end of a dynasty for the Patriots? An unthinkable defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers was what prompted that question. The Boston Globe thought that the 9-5 defeat was an embarrassment to the incomparable record of the Patriots.
The uncharacteristic defeat prompted another Globe writer to ask whether this was the same Patriots team as the previous year. And yet come 3rd February the Patriots had won another Super Bowl for their bulky trophy cabinet. Once again it was their year, as it always is.
The Patriots are touted for another strong season in 2019 as they have retained the shape of their squad. In the last ten years the Patriots’ odds have opened at 10/1 as favourites. They are the bookmakers’ favourites to win the Super Bowl LIV too. Additionally, key players returning from injury will have an added benefit for the team.
Taking this into account the easy availability of NFL Betting odds with a trusted aggregator have got the punters excited ahead of the new season. The aggregator presents various other exciting offers such as free bets on signing on, enhanced odds and betting tips are also available.
The case of Stephen Anderson
You have to look no further than the Patriot’s tight end Stephen Anderson’s view of the massive gap that is there between the Patriots and the rest of the league. He knows that The Patriots are on the top and then comes the rest of the thirty-one teams in NFL. Having played for Houston Texans he has seen the difference in class with his own eyes.
For Houston he played in thirty games and racked up impressive statistics. He caught thirty-six passes for 435 yards two of which were touchdowns. His Patriots’ career however has been jarred with injuries and he hasn’t played a single minute last season. And yet he claims that he has improved many times by just watching quality players like Travis Kelche and Ebron.
Tom Brady’s influence
The most decorated player in the Patriots’ history Tom Brady’s contribution to this team goes beyond what he offers on the pitch. Off it too he is a perfect role model for younger players to look up to. The 41 year old Quarterback has been carrying this team on his shoulder for quite some time now and has won a record six Super Bowl while at it.
Mental strength is what separates a good player from a great player. Brady’s performances were a bit off last year but his professional attitude, and sheer motivation to win pushed this Patriots’ squad towards victory in the Super Bowl LIII.
An inevitable team
The Patriots have retained the size of their squad and on top of that Jeremy Hill’s return from injury will further strengthen them. It might seem like they have found the formula for reaching the Super Bowl final. Their presence in the final has become a norm in recent times.
They seem to have this belief ingrained in them that no matter what they are the best team in the country. It is that sense of inevitability that inspires brilliant performances game after game and year after year.
The Patriots don’t need a top wide receiver to be succesful
The Patriots just won the Super Bowl with Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, and Cordarrelle Patterson. Julian Edelman was the only wide receiver that made a difference. It really came down to Brady, Edelman, and Gronkowski to win the Super Bowl on the offense. In Hogan’s three years in New England, he’s had 12 touchdowns. During the 2018 season he only had three touchdowns, but when Josh Gordon was on the team he didn’t get the ball much. Dorsett has been with the Patriots for two seasons and has three touchdowns. He’s gotten 484 yards in his two years, and really had a better year in 2018 than he did in 2017. As for Patterson, he scored three touchdowns in his first year with the Patriots and had 247 yards.
The Patriots don’t need selfish players
The Patriots have proven over the years they don’t need a big name receiver to win a Super Bowl. They had Randy Moss in 2007 and came up short with having an undefeated season. It also causes a distraction in the locker room to have a selfish guy in there. For example Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown, those guys are all about themselves. While guys like Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola are team players. The Patriots tried to bring in Chad Ochocinco and he was a disaster. He couldn’t get the offense or even connect with Brady. If you can’t connect with Brady you won’t survive in New England.
I don’t see the Patriots bringing Patterson back. But if they bring back Amendola, Edelman, Hogan, and Dorsett they’ll be all set. As for Josh Gordon, he’ll probably find some other team to play for when he gets reinstated, after the Patriots gave him a shot and he’s getting a Super Bowl ring. They don’t need any outside distractions from players who are all about themselves or can’t stay on the field. Gronkowski isn’t going to retire as long as Brady is playing so he’ll be back for 2019. Brady and Belichick can take average talent and make them playmakers on the field.
Antonio Brown is all about himself. Requesting to be traded out of Pittsburgh putting down the team and players. That goes the same for Odell Beckham Jr. The Patriots don’t need those two selfish players on this team when Brady is trying to go for his seventh Super Bowl title.
