Potential Rule Changes Coming to NBA?

September 30, 2010

The rules are about to change.

In what could be called a "beta test" for rule modifications, the NBA Developmental League will be implementing two new changes to the game of basketball. First off, the concept of goaltending will be redefined to the one used in international competition. At the same time, overtime periods will be trimmed down significantly.

That is, goaltending officiating will now allow players to knock away balls while they are on the rim. This eliminates the awkward situations where players must sit and watch while rogue shots spin around the rim for excessive amounts of time. This also means that "lucky bounces" may now be negated by a vicious swat from an opposing defender.

As for the overtime rules, the length of post-regulation periods will be shortened from five minutes to three minutes. This elevates the intensity of overtime matches as teams will have less opportunities to score. On a side note, this rule would benefit network programming as it will reduce the problems associated with overlapping scheduled programs.

The D-League serves as a research and development arm of the NBA and will put these new changes to the test for potential transition into the pro game. One successful experiment in the D-League that will debut this upcoming 2010-11 NBA season is the use of adidas-developed NBA Revolution 30 uniforms.

Thus, if the new rule changes yield favorable results there can be changes coming to the Association as early as next season.

Word Around Miami - September 29, 2010

September 29, 2010

Can you feel that in the air? That feeling of pure sports euphoria that is in the air in Miami, Florida? Even though the Miami Dolphins lost Sunday night versus the hated New York Jets, the game was packed with plenty of excitement. And Tuesday afternoon brought more to the table for Miami sports fans as the Miami Heat began their training camp. Here's what is being said about each of the teams:

Miami Heat

LeBron James is making his presence known in Miami just after one training camp session at Eglin Air Force Base. Heat.com writer Couper Moorhead emphasized James' vocal leadership on defense in an article on the Heat's training camp opener: "The first sound you heard as the double doors opened on the Miami HEAT’s first official practice was that of LeBron James calling out screens for his teammates. And his voice carries. Far." (HEAT.com article)

In a somewhat related note, the Heat shared a special moment with the servicemen at Eglin Air Force Base in remembrance of a fallen soldier. Senior Airman Daniel R. Sanchez paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country as member of the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron. As Ira Winderman puts it, "It is the very fact that Pat Riley stressed last week, when the Heat president announced that training camp would be held this week at a military installation, of how we remain a nation at war, and how we should never be allowed to forget. In some small way, he hoped this experience will delivery clarity to that reality." (Sun-Sentinel article)

Miami Dolphins

A loss is never easy to digest in the NFL, particularly when it's your first of the season and against a division rival (and not just any rival, the boisterous Jets to be exact). Regardless of the bitter emotions incited from Sunday's game, there were significant positives to take from Miami's week three game. Andy Kent of Dolphins.com cites Miami's offensive explosion (436 total yards) against the 2009 top-ranked Jets defense and Chad Henne's career-high 363 passing yards as signs of progress for this Dolphins team. (Dolphins.com article)

In answer to one of the Dolphins' home-opener critiques, Dave Hyde of the Sun-Sentinel responded to doubters of the Wildcat offense. His statement: Don't kill the Wildcat, use it more effectively. Some have suggested that the Fins rid themselves of the formation altogether, but Hyde contends "the Wildcat needs re-thinking, not deep-sixing. In a certain situation, against a certain team, it still has a place." (Sun-Sentinel article)

Dolphins O-Line No Longer Suspect

September, 24 2010

Remember last season - when the Miami Dolphins invested $155 million in the offensive line? Enter 2010 and a chunk of that investment is no longer on the team. Jake Grove, Justin Smiley and Donald Thomas are now a part of this team's past after getting paid to be a part of their future. Given these circumstances, it's easy to understand why the front office received so much criticism prior to the season's start.

The only mainstays on the o-line since the Tony Sparano era are Jake Long and Vernon Carey. And they have done an admirable job during their tenures, but have dealt with a revolving door in terms of their lineman teammates. Put it this way, Miami has begun each of the past three seasons with a very different starting lineup at o-line.  

However, the revamped line for 2010, touting new starters in Joe Berger, Richie Incognito and John Jerry, has silenced all critics of the administration's line moves this offseason. Against a formidable Minnesota D-Line, the Dolphins provided Chad Henne with staunch protection. Now, allowing five sacks in two games may not sound like the line is providing good protection at all. But if statistics showed how much time Henne has benefited from in the pocket, it would put everything in greater perspective.

The o-line's biggest test thus far will come September 26th versus the New York Jets. The aggressive blitz packages and pressure defenses that Rex Ryan will throw at Miami will be as intimidating as they come. If the Fins can hold up the trenches and keep Henne mostly on his feet, they will receive a certified stamp of approval from the doubters. 

Perhaps then this regime can prove that players can come and go, but discipline and philosophy are the long-lasting foundation this team is built on.

The Mystique of the Orange Jersey

September 22, 2010

Outfitted in vibrant orange jerseys and bold white pants, the Miami Dolphins have chosen key occasions to break out their alternate uniforms. In the most recent recollections of those instances, each occasion has resulted in one thing: a memorable victory. And whether chance or coincidence is in play, there's no doubt that the orange and white bring out the best of the Dolphins. Perhaps, the very presence of these wares seem to emit some sort of gridiron magic.

With that said, it is still unknown whether Miami will elect to use their alternate unis in 2010. In the past seven seasons, the Dolphins have only worn them three times (2003, 2004 and 2009). But given the success it has brought Miami, the organization may decide to bring the flashy orange threads back for another go around. If they do so, there are promising trends to justify that decision - trends convincing enough they may lead some bookies to sports betting.

For starters, Dolphins' quarterbacks have excelled in the orange jerseys. Just last season, Chad Henne threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns against the New York Jets. Prior to that, in '04 A.J. Feeley was two yards shy of 200 passing yards and nailed a game-winning TD pass to defeat the New England Patriots. Take a step back to '03 and you'll find Jay Fiedler's late-game heroics versus the Washington Redskins, leading Miami back from a 23-10 deficit after coming off the bench in the fourth quarter.

Beyond the passing game, running back combos have also impressed while donning the fruit burst unis. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams drove the "R&R Express" down New York's throat in '09, combining for 142 yards and two TDs. Five years earlier Travis Minor and Sammy Morris put up three TDs on 54 yards of rushing against New England. And Williams teamed up with Minor in '03 to blast Washington for 127 yards and 2 TDs.

Did I mention that each of the games resulted in wins? There isn't a more likable trend than that, if you are a team that believes in superstitions, that is.

Other key trends to consider are the following:

• All games were played in Miami
• All games were Monday Night Football (MNF) games
• All games were decided by less than a touchdown

Thus, we are left with a couple questions to consider. Will Miami bust out the orange jerseys once again in 2010? It seems that the most likely occasion would be on October 4th, because it just so happens to be a Monday Night Football game - at home - against the Patriots. If that is the case, will we see similar results from the QB position and RB unit? Well, Henne, Brown and Williams have already done it once. We know they can do it again. It's all a matter of execution.

Word to the wise, Miami's front office should mark a large orange "X" over October 4th and roll out the mystical uniforms for that divisional match-up. After all, it can't hurt to test whether superstitions really work. At the very least, the highlighter-like jersey colors can distract Tom Brady from focusing on running the Pats offense. Besides, rumors have it that the cause of Brady's September 10 car accident came after a sudden, painful recollection of his 4-interception, 2-sack performance in Miami back in '04. Allegedly a glow of orange stormed his mind and caused him to swerve into another car.

I'm just saying, that's the word on the street.

* * *

Update from Dolphins.com: "Dolphins To Paint South Florida Orange In Celebration Of 45th Season"

The Miami Dolphins are encouraging all fans to wear orange and to celebrate the the 2010 home season with the “Orange Offensive,” a series of community pep rallies and the lighting of key landmarks throughout South Florida in the color orange, leading up to the team’s home opener against the New York Jets on Sunday, September 26th at Sun Life Stadium... The Orange Offensive reaches its crescendo on Sunday, September 26th at Sun Life Stadium when the Dolphins face the New York Jets at 8:20 p.m. and the Dolphins players will be wearing their orange jerseys and fans will be receiving an orange rally towel, courtesy of Budweiser (read more).

So much for the trend of orange jersey-ed games only on MNF. Guess the Dolphins took initiative and wanted to use the orange jerseys at the first available opportunity. That only suggests that they must truly believe in the lucky unis.

Dolphins' Defense Vetos Vikings

September 20, 2010

Take a look at the Miami Dolphins defense and you will see two clearly defined letters stamped all over it: M. N. Standing for Mike Nolan of course, who is cutting out to be Miami's most valuable offseason acquisition thus far. Sunday afternoon, it was the Nolan-led defense that drove Miami to its 2-0 start.

Miami's offense had an impact early in the game, but when they went dry it was the defense that kept the Minnesota Vikings in check. Miami scored on their first drive of the game, but did not score another offensive touchdown the rest of the game. However, the defense helped the cause with a TD of their own in the third quarter. It was that kind of game for the Fins and the majority of their success can be attributed to three defenders.

Three Key Defenders of the Game:

• Jason Allen: This is not a typo. Allen has truly come around in the first two games of the '10 season. In Minnesota, Allen led the team in tackles and interceptions, sending a clear message that he is a force on this defense. Here's his stat line - 11 tackles, three passes deflected and two interceptions (a third interception was negated by a penalty).

• Cameron Wake: We all knew that Wake was a tremendous pass rusher, but now he's beginning to look like Dwight Freeney out there. It was his pressure in the the third quarter - wherein he bypasses two Vikings defenders - that led to the Favre fumble and a Miami TD. On the day, Wake had five tackles, 1.5 sacks and one QB hit. Let's just say Favre was getting more close encounters with #91 than he would have prefered.

• Vontae Davis: That amazing interception in the Minnesota redzone - which actually was number one on ESPN's Top Ten Plays - is the most notable play Davis made all game. But his performance extended beyond the INT, making backfield tackles and deflecting a couple passes in the process. We'll excuse him for tweaking his shoulder after celebrating a tackle for a loss, but know Coach Tony Sparano won't be too happy with future incidents like that.

Beyond the good that came from Miami's week two victory, we must point out some areas in need of improvement. While the Fins are headed back to Miami for a two-game homestand, their opponents will be as difficult as they come in the New York Jets and New England Patriots. If they hope to succeed, Miami must improve on their mistakes and prepare for some of the toughest games they play this season.

What Miami Must Improve On:

• More effective late-game execution: Miami has held opponents to 20 points total in their first two games this season. However, simple mistakes on offense and defense led to 17 of those points being allowed in the second half. In Buffalo, a major defensive gaff gave Trent Edwards a wide open shot at Roscoe Parrish for a TD. In Minnesota, Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown each fumbled late in the game, which eventually gave Minnesota points on the board. Not to mention, Miami's defense committed two penalties of "12 men on the field" against the Vikings in the fourth quarter, with only a seven-point lead. Clearly, these kinds of mistakes are potential game-changers for the worse. The Fins wont always be fortunate enough to survive after such costly mistakes.

• More effective usage of wide receiving core: Chad Henne has done a solid job of managing the game and avoiding turnovers thus far. However, the current offensive play-calling may be limiting Miami's offense, as Dolphins receivers are being rarely used (outside of Brandon Marshall). Marshall was targeted eight times versus the Vikings, whereas the rest of the WR unit received seven targets combined. Weapons like Davone Bess and Anthony Fasano should be targeted more frequently in order to improve Miami's scoring opportunities. Otherwise, the passing game will become a one-trick pony with Marshall as the overused option.

• Second half urgency on offense: Of the 29 points Miami has scored this season, 17 of them have come in the first half. The remaining twelve points in the second half have come from a defensive TD, a safety and a field goal. In other words, the Dolphins offense has only scored three points in two second half performances. Although the Fins left with two victories despite these facts, such performances will hurt Miami in games where they are behind entering the second half.

No Consensus on Heat Trio Nickname

September 17, 2010

You have probably heard them all by now. Signature nicknames referring to the Miami Heat's newest group of star athletes have been thrown around since LeBron James uttered the words "South Beach" on ESPN. However, amongst the myriad of titles - some clever (some not so much) - there has been no overwhelming consensus as to what James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh should be dubbed.

A running poll on our site logged 101 responses regarding what nickname fans would prefer. Here is what the fans had to say:

Beyond the limits of our own poll, we have discovered a bevy of other nicknames not included in our choices. For instance, A Palm Beach Post blog entry documented the "Top Ten Nicknames" for the trio, including interesting options like "LeBroshAde" and "Mia Slamma Jamma." But the most comprehensive poll can be found on Hot Hot Hoops, where over 70 choices were given to respondents to pick from. So many that we aren't even going to begin listing them (you can go ahead and check them out yourself).

And amidst all the various polls and articles, we find no common ground amongst Heat fans. What this likely means is that Wade, James and Bosh will go without a unanimous tag.

This only makes things harder for reporters, beat writers and other media members as they'll fumble across the laundry list of nicknames each time they refer to the three players. It may get confusing at times, but it should make for some interesting coverage of the team (as if their union wasn't interesting enough).

However, there is one solution to this minor dilemma: winning championships. That will give the Miami Heat the collective nickname of "Champions" as opposed to a nickname isolating three of the team's fifteen players. After all, the purpose of the Wade, James and Bosh alliance was for the sake of earning titles. They risked their individual fame for a collective effort, thus they shouldn't mind sharing the stage with the rest of their teammates.

Marlins' Mendez Shows Promise

September 15, 2010

I know football season has just begun and baseball season has taken a back seat in the minds of many sports fans. But, have you taken a glance at the Florida Marlins lately? Probably not as they've once again dug themselves in a hole too deep to rise out of. However, there is something worth looking at on the Marlins roster.

I'm talking about recent call-up Adalberto Mendez, who has shown some promise in his first two starts for the Fish. Both of those starts came against the reigning National League Champions and current N.L. East division-leading Philadelphia Phillies. Given the difficulty of his match-ups, you'll be surprised to see how he's fared: 10.1 innings pitched, two earned runs, seven strikeouts and a 1.74 ERA.

Coming from a 28-year old that is supposed to be a reliever, he has come in as an interim starter and has placed the Marlins in a position to win twice. And while his minor league career has been adorned with average, inconsistent performances, his MLB debut has shown he has worth in the Major League level.

Now, it's obvious that the Fish have no hopes at reaching the postseason this year, but it's never too early to look forward to next season (at least if you're a Marlins fan it isn't). What I am getting at is the possibility of Mendez becoming a part of a revamped bullpen next season for the Marlins.

It goes without saying how unreliable this season's crop of relievers have been. Hence, the thirst for a dependable reliever could extend Mendez' stay in South Florida. Manager Edwin Rodriguez suggested such a possibility himself: "Knowing that we need some help in the bullpen next year, that's a pretty good arm to consider."

Quick Hits: Dolphins-Bills Game Notes

September 13, 2010

Add a dirty, hard-fought "W" to the win column for the Miami Dolphins. In a raucous Ralph Wilson Stadium, the Dolphins earned their first week one victory in six seasons. Despite a lackluster preseason, Miami performed nicely in areas they received much criticism from fans and analysts. Statistics can only do so much justice to Miami's effort in Buffalo Sunday afternoon. Thus, here are a few key points to recap their season-opening win:

Nolan's Defensive Innovations Pay Off

• In his first regular season game as Dolphins Defensive Coordinator, Mike Nolan crafted dynamic sets that kept the Bills in check all game long.

• Miami's defense was essential to their success on Sunday - holding Buffalo to 10 points - as they drew two sacks, plenty of deflections and multiple forced passes on Trent Edwards. 

• Buffalo's offense gained nine first downs all game, converted on 21% of third downs and only produced 166 yards of total offense.

• Despite having various new faces on defense (seven new starters to be exact), Nolan made due with the available roster and placed the defense in a position to succeed. 

Secondary Impresses and Improves

• The secondary was Miami's Achilles Heel last season, but Sunday revealed a more confident group on the field - only allowing one pass TD from Bills.

• Two new defensive back starters, Jason Allen and Chris Clemons, did a fine job of replacing their predecessors, delivering six tackles and four tackles respectively.

• Benny Sapp and Allen were both fingertips away from "pick sixes," but they each dropped potential interceptions. 

Spoiled Debut for Explosive Spiller

• C.J. Spiller made his NFL debut Sunday afternoon only to face Miami's run-stuffing frontline in his first taste of the football season (seven rushes for six yards).

• Miami's defense did not give Spiller room to breathe as they tackled him in the backfield for losses in three of his seven carries.

• Prior to week one, Spiller had dazzled spectators during the preseason with 26 carries for 122 yards and three TDs in the four-game stretch. 

Henne Goes Scoreless, but Manages Game 

• Chad Henne went 21-34 and threw for 182 yards with no TD passes and no interceptions.

• His 61.8 completion percentage was over par compared to his average last season (60.8) and exhibited his solid accuracy as a young QB.

• An under thrown pass to a wide-open Brandon Marshall in the second quarter was a low-point in the game, but proved that a deep threat is real.

Other Interesting Notes

• Lousaka Polite had two receptions and was targeted for three passes. Polite had only 11 receptions all of last season, but may become a more common target in the passing game this season.

• Jared Odrick suffered a deep bone bruise in his leg during the third quarter and will be evaluated upon arrival to South Florida. 

• Miami's defensive frontline deflected more passes than the secondary (four compared to three), which attests to the effective pressure they applied to Edwards.

Life After Parcells for Dolphins

September 8, 2010

The airwaves have been flowing with talk of Bill Parcells stepping down as Miami Dolphins VP of Football Operations. With only one day passing since his decision, that is now history that the Dolphins must put behind them. A new era with Jeff Ireland at the helm of the team must now ensue.

Parcells' decision was expected to come at some point in the next year or so, but he pulled the trigger before the 2010 season ever started. And for seemingly valid reasons too.

The Big Tuna's main capacity was as a talent evaluator and personnel decision-maker. With less than a week until the regular season begins, the brunt of his work had already been completed as the roster and staff are virtually set in stone. Hence, the reason to leave now could be attributed to the lack of work necessary for the next four to five months. Perhaps, his reduced role, as a team consultant now, could still allow him to accomplish any remaining tasks during the course of the season.

As for the Dolphins organization, the next phase of this team's future has already begun. With a young, solid core set as the foundation of this team, they must now continue to improve every season en route to contention. Remnants of Parcells' work will be present for a myriad of seasons to come, but his legacy will only have substance in Miami if, and only if, the Dolphins reach the promised land in the near future.

The sour taste of a few draft busts (e.g. Pat White and Patrick Turner) and free agency duds (e.g. Gibril Wilson and Ernest Wilford) will slightly tarnish Parcells' reputation in South Florida. However, those poor decisions will ultimately be overshadowed by the positive moves he made for the Fins during his brief tenure.

Just in the past two drafts, Miami has hit on about 50% of their draft picks, making immediate and effective use of their rookie talent in each respective season. Not to mention, undrafted gems like Davone Bess have also contributed to the team in unthinkable ways. And while the verdict is still out, the acquisitions of Karlos Dansby and Brandon Marshall made a huge splash this offseason in an effort to improve the roster.

Thus, life after Parcells begins today. The Dolphins now must swim out to sea without The Big Tuna spearheading the team's direction. Their final destination: still unknown. But should the Dolphins steer towards elite status, they will have Parcells to thank for their success.