In today's episode, we explore the recent Madden NFL ratings, the issues we have with them and why they matter in 2020. We also talk about some interesting occurrences in the NBA bubble, and finish it off with our hot take on the Washington NFL franchise and the name change.
Madden Ratings
It's ratings reveal week for "Madden NFL 21," meaning intense debate among fans about the best players at each position as a tease ahead of the Aug. 28 release date.
While EA Sports has deflated player ratings across the board in recent years, reducing the number of players in the high-90s, it still handed out several 99 overall marks for the upcoming season.
The remaining ratings will be released throughout the week as part of an ESPN special reveal.
You will also learn
On the 1 year anniversary of Kobe's death, Steve reflects on how it has been for him and what he has learned in the past year.
We all grieve different and he's still feeling the lingering effect of Kobe's death but he took the time to share the moments that lifted him during the past year, the lessons, the ups and downs and of course related it back to the sports world.
You do not want to miss it!
This week Steve lets loose on you the audience who doubted his picks and explains why the Pittsburgh Steelers proved exactly why this podcast was started. You don't want to miss it!
Also, he previews the Divisional Weekend and all the matchups!
He also talks about the NBA Covid protocols and Kyrie Irving. Well, more about Kyrie Irving than anything. Telling a vivid story as to what Kyrie Irving has been thinking and what he learned this week about him.
The numbers are there to be broken in the context and you will not want to miss it!
Finally, we are two episodes away from the BIG 1-0-0!!!!
Stay alert for the contest and giveaways!!!!
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NFL Wild Card Weekend Preview
Fittingly, an unprecedented 2020 NFL season remained unsettled until the 256th and final regular-season game. Washington's win on Sunday night clinched the NFC East division title (with a losing record, no less) and locked in the 2020 playoff field.
The league expanded its postseason to 14 teams this season, meaning only the No. 1 seeds -- the Chiefs in the AFC and the Packers in the NFC -- will get first-round byes. The other 12 teams will compete in a six-game wild-card weekend that opens in just six days.
Our playoff primer previews those matchups and takes a broader look at what each team must do to reach Super Bowl LV next month in Tampa, Florida, along with their updated chances via Football Power Index (FPI).
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🚨NBA SEASON IS BACK🚨
2020/2021 NBA Preview: Champions, Pretenders, and Hopefuls!
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The arrival of a new NBA season feels like being trapped in a time-warp. While it’s been only two months since the Lakers captured the championship inside the bubble, the teams that didn’t qualify for the league’s restart haven’t played since March.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed about the start of a new season, I am here to help you get sorted out!
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In this week's episode, Steve goes has a few stories to tell with some AMAZING numbers to share about NFL Week 14. He dives deep into the Steelers offense who were exposed for a second week in a row.
Also, Jalen Hurts looked at Carson Wentz and said: "Hey, I am the Captain Now".
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More records were broken in Week 14 and Steve is all there to share his most interesting thoughts and ideas!!!!
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EPISODE 94 Overview
NFL Week 13 Records Broken
In this week's episode Steve put together the best stats and records from Sunday's slate of NFL games. From Davante Adams, Aaron Rodgers, Travis Kelce, Darren Waller to Justin Jefferson, and Baker Mayfield.
Lots of numbers and broken records in Week 13 is all you need to know for now.
NBA Load Management
He also talks about the new NBA policy about "REST". The never-ending debate about load management and resting players continued Monday, thanks to a new policy implemented by the NBA. This season, teams will be fined at least $100,000 if they are found to be resting healthy players for nationally televised games, according to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes.
Want to know what Steve, the StatMan thinks about this? TUNE IN!
After two weeks, Steve is back with some interesting number breakdowns as to why the Bucks traded for Jrue Holiday, how it impacts Giannis supermax contract. Also, David Griffin and Sam Presti should be getting GMs of the century awards, if such a thing exist.
And we also break down what each trade thus far means for the Eastern and Western Conference teams.
For anyone who thought the Golden State Warriors were finally free of the long and sleepless nights, anxiety, angst and all other psychological demons that are byproducts of a miserable season, please reconsider, because there’s one more remnant from that rubble they must deal with.
Which is: How do they handle the reward for surviving that?
To be more precise: What should they do with Draft pick No. 2?
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In this iteration of the StatMan Sports Podcast we explore the idea or question rather of whether the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the right decision of signing Antonio Browns. Do they really need him?
We then follow up on Steve's Super Bowl contenders thus far; their biggest strengths and weaknesses headed into the rest of the season.
Segment One:
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be the best team in the NFL, and that includes the Kansas City Chiefs, undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers or anybody else.
The Buccaneers have the highest point differential in the NFL, at plus-80. The Buccaneers ranked first in Football Outsiders’ DVOA after six weeks, by a large margin. They have a very good offense and the defense is even better.
And now they’re bringing in the most toxic player in the NFL, one who has been a problem for three teams and is likely to make it a fourth.
Segment Two:
Sports commentators with hot takes like to believe there's a clear dichotomy between Super Bowl contenders and pretenders. In reality, it doesn't work that way. Every team in the NFL has its strengths and weaknesses, and there are a number of teams that could win the Super Bowl every year.
Who has the best odds? Tampa? Green Bay? Kansas City?Â
Find out!!!
NBA GOAT DEBATE
LeBron James has earned his fourth NBA championship and fourth Finals MVP, closing the gap on the ring total of all-time great Michael Jordan. As LeBron's legacy continues to grow, the debate of who is the GREATEST player in league history becomes closer than ever before.Â
Few questions have engaged the world of sports as much as the question about the best or greatest sportsman of all time. Often the acronym GOAT – Greatest Of All Time – is attributed to someone who is the greatest at a certain skill. But often the word ”best” or ”best of all time” is mixed into the discussion and then it gets complicated.Â
The first question to ask is about the difference between ”greatest” and ”best”. Doesn’t it mean the same thing?
First of all, greatness is a measure of the merits and achievements over a complete career while ”best” is a perishable that has to be related to a certain time period.
Things You Will Learn Today
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In today's episode, we preview and breakdown the 2020 NBA Finals matchup between the 5th seed Miami Heat v.s. the 1st seed Los Angeles Lakers. Both teams had a particularly "easy" path to the NBA Finals nevertheless they were the best two teams in the NBA Bubble Post-season with both having a 12-3 record.
The coincidence of this series is quite delicious and will own the intrigue and conversation until the ball goes up Wednesday in Game 1. LeBron James will be playing against the team he helped win a pair of championships. This scenario will get heavy airplay in the build-up, as it should; LeBron was a solid favorite to return to the championship round once the Lakers got Anthony Davis, while the Heat make for a surprise guest. The Lakers bring a pair of All-NBA first-team members while Miami hasn’t had anyone on that level since
We break down all things Miami/LA this episode.
Three things to watch
Number to know
40.7 -- The Lakers have averaged 40.7 points per game in the restricted area in the playoffs. That's down from a league-high 44.1 in the regular season, but still 7.5 more than any other team has averaged in the postseason.
By wide margins, the Lakers rank first in both field goal percentage in the restricted area (70.9%) and the percentage of their shots that have come in the restricted area (34%). LeBron James is responsible for almost half (48%) of their 610 restricted area points via his own buckets (87) and assists (59).
The Lakers have shot better from outside the paint in the playoffs (37.7%, effective field goal percentage of 50.4%) than they did in the regular season (35.5%, 47.7%). But protecting the rim remains extra critical in regard to slowing down the offense that ranked No. 1 in each of the last two rounds (114.4 points scored per 100 possessions in the conference semis, 117.8 per 100 in the conference finals).
That's why we may see a lot more 2-3 zone from the Heat in The Finals. The Lakers scored 39 points on 35 possessions against Miami's zone in the regular season and offer a different look than Boston with their two-big lineups. Though the Celtics got a lot more comfortable against the zone late in the last round, the Heat stuck with it, and it was critical in their fourth-quarter comeback in Game 6.
Most importantly, while open jumpers can be found against it with proper execution, the zone keeps Bam Adebayo near the basket a lot more than the Heat's man-to-man defense. Against this particular opponent, allowing open jumpers is far more preferable than allowing shots at the rim.
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