Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

If there are anything Millennials and Gen Z love more than their phones, it's their houseplants.

Houseplant Resource Center claims Millennials and Gen Zers are waiting longer to start families and are filling their need to nurture with houseplants.

Now that spring has sprung, how are Millennials and Gen Z keeping their plants alive and healthy this growing season?

It's a simple formula: provide plants with water and light, and they should thrive, but as expressed by OCCs Horticulture lab coordinator Joe Stead, all healthy and thriving plants need four things.

They need water, light, good air movement, to be fed, Stead said.

Here are a few essential tips to think about when caring for houseplants:

Watering plants the right way

Overwatering is a common mistake made by new plant parents, causing yellow and brown limp leaves to form instead of vibrant green crispy leaves. According to Bloomscape.com:

Water the plants soil and not their leaves to prevent infections and other health issues.

For a lush and full plant, water thoroughly and evenly until water flows out from the bottom of the pot.

The plants pot matters; healthy plants need the correct size pot and drainage holes to help the soil to dry out after watering.

Dump out any excess water to avoid soggy soil and the plants root from rotting.

Plants have different watering needs, and understanding their needs is critical before you start watering them.

Consider the seasons; plants require less water during winter than they would during summertime.

Most houseplants don't need to be watered every week, Stead said. It depends on the size of the pot. The larger the pot, the less you have to water.

Why is lighting important?

When growing houseplants, light is crucial because plants require light to photosynthesize and transform light energy into chemical energy. Light energy converts water, carbon dioxide and minerals into oxygen and energy-rich organic compounds.

According to GardeningKnowHow.org, plants that are not receiving the best light conditions may show the following symptoms:

The stems on the plant are long, elongated, or spindly.

The variegated or multi-colored leaves will begin to lose some of their colors.

The plants leaves are yellowing and small.

The leaves have brown tips or edges.

If you grow stuff in pots, then you want to rotate them to get good light all the way through, Stead said. Because they're just going to grow on one side.

Why should plants have good air movement?

Whether the plants are indoors or outdoors, the relationship between plants and air movement is critical because plants need air to photosynthesize and breathe.

It is really important to have good airflow in the soil, Stead said. Good air movement in your house is a ticket to healthy plants.

To improve air quality for houseplants BalconyGardenWeb.com considers;

Keeping plants near windows can expose them to fresh air, in addition to adequate light.

For indoor plants, a fan can help with air circulation and prevent dampness or condensation on plants.

Position the fan near the plants and not directly on them.

To enhance the air quality and remove air pollutants from plants, maintain proper ventilation.

Provide houseplants with room and avoid placing them in corners, close to walls, tight areas, and damp spots.

Open the front or the back screen door, get some airflow through the house, Stead said.

Feeding plants with fertilizers

Just like humans need nutrients, so do plants. Fertilizers provide the essential nutrients required for optimal plant growth, like nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Fertilizer restores missing nutrients, allowing the plant to thrive.

The spring through their growing season is the best time to fertilize, Stead said. Most plants are most active in the spring.

TheSill.com recommends:

If using organic fertilizer, be sure it has the right ingredients to provide the right amount of nutrients a plant needs.

Use chemical fertilizers due to the proper amount of macro and micronutrients in its ingredients.

Prevent over-fertilizing plants by diluting fertilizers with water.

Fertilizing fruit and flower plants more often to restore the nutrients lost when harvested.

According to Stead, plant parents should always make sure to water their houseplants before fertilizing.

Never fertilize a dry plant. Fertilizers are salts, he said. If the roots are dry, and then all of a sudden you put those salts on them, it could burn the roots.

It doesnt matter if the plant is a monstera deliciosa or a fiddle leaf tree, and if its indoors or outdoors, the formula remains the same, so dont overthink it.

Make sure to give it those four main things: give it air, water, a little fertilizer, good light, Stead said. And just enjoy them and let your plants chill out.

See the original post here:
How to grow healthy houseplants this blooming season - Coast Report

Linda Leuzzi

In 2017, New York State announced a $75 million septic system fund to assist homeowners with the costs to replace aging septic systems allotted over five years; Suffolk County got $10 million of the award. Deputy County Executive Peter Scully gave those statistics and other details at a recent Sayville Rotary Club meeting about the countys program to clean up coastal waters by replacing cesspools with approved wastewater treatment systems.

On March 17, 2020, Suffolk County legislators approved a $4 billion Wastewater Plan that included individual wastewater treatment systems.

The Septic Replacement Grant Program has been rocking and rolling since COVID, said Scully. Weve had 320 residents apply, and we received another $10 million from the state.

Eligible property owners can be reimbursed 50 percent of eligible costs. The code requires three years of maintenance by the manufacturer; then the homeowner takes over, about $200 to $400 a year, he said.

Costs to install a system in the front yard for easy access vary at between $15,000 to $20,000. Electrical costs to run the system range from $5 to $20 a month. Once selected, residents are notified by the Department of Economic Development and Planning. The homeowner then enters into an agreement with the supplier.

The Fuji Clean USA system seems to be the best in value and performance, he said. (The Fuji Clean USA website cites their system as being Suffolk Countys No. 1 innovative and alternative wastewater system.)

Hydro Action also appears to be the most popular participants in the program.

Suffolk County will also require wastewater systems be installed in new construction as of July 1.

This is a new industry, he said. The active components installed and maintained require training for liquid waste and the manufacturing companies who make the components are creating jobs in Suffolk County, he said.

But tens of thousands need to be swapped out, he said, and the grant program is the first phase of a long-range plan. About 74 percent of Suffolk Countys 1.5 million residents utilize cesspools. The wastewater systems will restore clean waters to the Great South Bay and reduce recurring nitrogen blooms, which kills marine wildlife.

The IRS ruled last year that septic grants are taxable income after Suffolk County comptroller John Kennedy petitioned the IRS.

Scully said the county is in the process of straightening out the dilemma of the grants being taxed as income. We have the petition pending, he said.

Nassau congressman Tom Suozzi and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand introduced legislation to ensure Long Islanders arent taxed on grants received to upgrade their septic systems last month.

Sewers are still part of the planning. But they are very expensive and the countys argument is that part of coastal resiliency money can be used for sewers, Scully said.

Scully mentioned Patchogues sewer expansion stall; Gov. Andrew Cuomo made an $18 million commitment for additional sewersnow costs jumped up to more than $75 million from bidders. We hope to attract smaller companies as bidders, he said.

Congressman Lee Zeldin recently included Patchogues expansion $9,400,000, in a Community Project Request.

(Other sewer systems dead-ended include the Mastic-Shirley sewer project because of escalating costs.)

Since 2014, the county executive said, Lets set up a multi-layer certification project where we get six months worth of data from a company that makes wastewater treatment systems and then, after assessing the data, give procedural approval, said Scully.

The thinking was, We have 360,000 homes with cesspools. Would you donate one of these systems and prove that it works? It also had to be easy and affordable.

Four different systems were used with Fuji selected as No. 1.

Read the original post:
A discussion about Suffolk's wastewater treatment systems - Long Island Advance

Bend

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Here is the city of Bend's road and traffic report for the week of May 31-June 6.

Youve noticed by now that construction season has started. As you navigate your way through the City streets and neighborhoods, please remember to slow down, read the signs and stay on the designated detour routes. Check-in weekly with the City on upcoming closures through the website:bendoregon.gov/traffic.Construction season will not last forever, please be patient and remember to drive like youre in your own neighborhood.

Future Road Closures:

Work schedules are dependent on weather conditions and other factors. Always exercise increased caution within construction zones. Drivers should use designated detour routes. Nearby residential streets are for local traffic only.

Contact: Kyle Thomas, Construction Manager

541-323-8519, kthomas@bendoregon.gov

For Street Preservation related questions: Paul Neiswonger, Streets Supervisor

541-317-3035, pneiswonger@bendoregon.gov

Closures and detours in Bend are updated weekly at:bendoregon.gov/traffic

Find more information about street operations at:bendoregon.gov/streetpreservation

Weekly reports can be received via email by subscribing to Weekly Road and Traffic Reports at:bendoregon.gov/enews

Community / Community Billboard

Continued here:
City of Bend road and traffic report: Week of May 31-June 6 - KTVZ

Last summer, the demand for home additions surged by more than 50 percent, according to data collected by Houzz. It's no surprise after millions of Americans pivoted to spending more time inside the house.

Despite the promise of reemergence, interest in home additions is still going strong. This comes as families continue to allocate space for home offices, adult children who have returned home, and dining rooms ready to host long-awaited dinner parties. Whether you want to add on a second floor or transform a garage into a playroom, these genius home addition ideas cover every need and budget.

Photo by We Are Free Bird; design/build by Rebel Builders

(Image credit: We Are Free Bird for Rebel Builders)

The kitchen may have once been a place reserved for preparing meals, but today it serves as the family HQ. Think Zoom conferences, dinners, and neighborhood happy hours. Adding/expanding a kitchen is one of the pricier home additions (between $25,00 and $45,000, according to Home Guide), but kitchen remodels typically have good ROI when it comes to resale value of your home.

The lower end of the spectrum refers to entry-level appliances and a standard 10-by-10 kitchen. Prices increase and can go as high as $100,000 or more) depending on the luxury of appliances and square footage.

To save money, expand outward from an existing footprint. Keeping water and electric hookups where they are can save big. For this Massachusetts home addition, Rebel Builders transformed a small kitchen into the heart of the home by digging out and extending the basement.

Porch renovation by Cathy Angelini, Flamingo Interior Design

(Image credit: Cathy Angelini, Flamingo Interior Design)

Have a screened-in porch you'd like to transform into a sunroom? This home addition type is popular thanks to its ease and affordability. It can cost as little as $8,000 (and up to $80,000 according to Home Guide), depending on the climate. Three-season sunrooms in mild climates will be much more affordable than a four-season room in a colder region.

If your existing structure has a solid foundation and roof, you can expect to pay much less, since you won't need a slab foundation and roofing materials. Handy homeowners can do some of the work themselves, like flooring and paint.

(Image credit: Amber Interiors)

If you have the yardage, don't count out an outdoor room! An outdoor kitchen is a great way to extend the footprint of your home and encourage alfresco entertaining. According to Landscaping Network, the cost of your project will range from about $2,000 for a cooking area with a patio, grill, and countertop to $50,000 and as much as $100,000 for a luxury design with top-of-the-line appliances.

You'll also want to think about coverage from the elements, so add on the cost of a pergola or overhang.

Screened-in porch by Stratton Exteriors.

(Image credit: Stratton Exteriors)

Though it isn't cheap to add a screened-in porch (it will cost between $18,000 and $24,000), its enhanced curb appeal can bolster the value of your home. According to Home Guide, that can add up to as much as 60% ROI.

This home addition by Stratton Exteriors makes a screened-in porch feel luxurious, thanks to a gable roof, skylights, and a grilling station with metal roof.

Bathroom addition by O'Rourke Homes.

(Image credit: O'Rourke Homes )

Bathroom additions also offer a handsome return on investment, recouping 50 percent of your costs on average according to the National Association of Realtors. Of course, it is also one of the more expensive additions, since you'll need to think about plumbing. To save money, opt for stock vanities and cabinets as opposed to custom, and talk to your builder about the ideal location for water lines.

Second story addition by Hammer & Hand.

(Image credit: Hammer & Hand)

Adding on a second story can essentially double the footprint of your home. All that space does come for a pretty penny as much as $350,000 depending on the size and material selection. That's because, as Home Guide explains, you need to build an entire new house on top of your house.

Think plumbing, electrical wiring, framing, and drywall. But, since you're drastically growing the size of your home, you can expect a good return on investment nearing 60 percent.

Door and photo by 1925 Workbench; pantry designed by Signify Design.

(Image credit: 1925 Workbench)

Home organization has never been more popular. Just take popular Netflix shows Tidying Up With Marie Kondo and Get Organized With The Home Edit. But if your spices and baking ingredients are trapped in cluttered cabinets, it can be difficult to streamline things.

Enter: a pantry addition. Talk to a builder about the best way to utilize your space. You can transform a coat closet into your dream pantry with a few ideal built-ins. Or, carve out space to build a butler's pantry off of your kitchen. This relatively affordable remodel will pay dividends in getting organized.

(Image credit: Smart D2 Playrooms)

Garage conversions are a great way to turn cluttered storage areas into usable space outside of your home. If your garage already has a strong foundation and electricity, you only need to think about adding insulation, heat, and flooring.

Close off half of a two-car garage to build a home office. Add a rug, sofa, and bar for the ultimate hangout space. Or, install a climbing wall and jungle gym for the ultimate "smart" playroom.

You can also build a new garage or add a second floor to your existing footprint. Note that if your garage doesn't have a strong enough foundation to add a second floor, it will be more costly.

Mudroom addition by Hammer & Hand.

(Image credit: Hammer & Hand)

Mudrooms became the real workhorse of the home this past year. They are responsible for containing clutter as well as preventing dirt and germs from entering the rest of the house. Thankfully, adding a mudroom is one of the more affordable home additions. According to Home Guide, it will run you about $7,500 for a 50-square-foot mudroom.

Family room addition by Brian Neeper with Jessica Neeper interiors.

(Image credit: Brian Neeper)

Family rooms are one of the pricier kinds of home additions, since you'll need to build out from your existing footprint. That means a new foundation, roofing, and outside walls with insulation and siding. (Plus electrical and plumbing work.)

The result can cost anywhere from $34,000 to $83,000, depending on size and materials. This farmhouse-inspired addition boasts soaring ceilings with exposed beams.

(Image credit: Gibson Taylor Thompson)

You'll need to front the most cash for the addition of an in-law suite, complete with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, living room, and laundry. Most spend an average of $90,000 on this home addition, but for good reason.

In-law suites are great for housing out-of-town guests, college students home for the summer, and extended family members (as its name suggests). The space can also be rented out on sites like Airbnb when not in use. Aside from the convenience to you, in-law suites are a great investment. They add so much value to your home that you'll recoup your costs 100%.

Read more from the original source:
11 home addition ideas for budgets of all sizes - Real Homes

What happens if you love the home youre in but theres just not enough space? When you want to keep your roots planted without sacrificing on those dream additions, you have several choices to add square footage: building up, digging down, adding on or building out.Today, we want to share a few tips for building out. Here are 5 ideas to help you build your dream guesthouse on time and on budget.1. Codes & Permits With the construction of a new guest house, or even conversion, youll likely need to get some permitting done before you proceed otherwise, you risk stalling the project later when youre not up to code. A quality contractor will be able to help you understand and expedite this process.2. Views When choosing the location of your guest house especially if you have a large and scenic property consider the view. What will guests gaze at from the kitchen window? What does their porch overlook? How might the guest house alter the views from the main house?3. Scale Now its time to determine the scale of your project. Will the guest house be fully functional, with a full bathroom and kitchen? Or will it offer lodging and some comforts, but still require guests to be dependent on the main house for certain things? Consider which features like central air or a second story are a priority, and build from there.4. Floor Plan To maximize the space inside a guesthouse, try to keep the floor plan open. Think about traffic flow, and consider how your guests will move through the space. Consult your contractor if you want more advice to maximize the use of your new addition.5. Yard Give your guesthouse more of a personal, secluded feel by adding a small patio or a walled-off garden. Want to get extra fancy? Add some outdoor kitchen features like a built-in grill, or turn it into a romantic getaway with outdoor bathing options, such as a rain shower or spa-tub.Now that youve got the dream, call Randal G. Winter Construction Inc. at 661-799-8089 to make it a reality. For more information, visit http://www.rgwinter.com.

Here is the original post:
Five Steps to Planning the Perfect Guest House Build - Magazine of Santa Clarita

"Having a location in the city of St. Louis just steps from Busch Stadium is a dream come true"

ST. LOUIS Ballpark Village has added two new concepts to its lineup a restaurant and a retail store both of which opened this month after the recent completion of its $260 million, 700,000-square-foot second phase that also included the Pennant Building, the PwC-anchored office tower and the One Cardinal Way apartment tower.

Arch Apparel, a local clothing brand known for its St. Louis-inspired apparel and accessories, opened its doors earlier this month at 771 Clark Ave. adjacent to Busch Stadium. The retail store will be open seven days a week and will offer a mix of baseball-centric gear, game day specials and all of its classic apparel. An elevated DJ booth for weekend home games also will be available inside the store.

"Having a location in the city of St. Louis just steps from Busch Stadium is a dream come true," Aaron Park, owner and CEO, said in a statement.

Park founded Arch Apparel in 2016, which began as a home-based business that has since expanded to include three store locations in St. Louis, Brentwood and St. Charles.

"Having unique St. Louis businesses like Arch Apparel as part of the dynamic mix of amenities in Ballpark Village has been part of our plan since Day One, and we are thrilled to see the vision continue to come to life,"Mike LaMartina, COO for Ballpark Village, said in a statement.

In addition to Arch Apparel, Ballpark Village on Monday also added barbecue restaurant Salt + Smoke to its lineup. This is the fifth location for Salt + Smoke in the St. Louis region, and will be located at the corner of Clark and Broadway, on the ground and second floors of One Cardinal Way, a new, 29-story apartment tower.

"It took us a little longer to open this location because of the pandemic, but our team was determined to get it done," Tom Schmidt, owner of Salt + Smoke, said in a statement. "We can't wait to open our doors to the best fans in baseball and to become a part of the 365-day atmosphere that Ballpark Village offers."

Click here for the full story and to view more photos.

See the original post here:
Take a peek inside at the two latest additions to Ballpark Village's lineup - KSDK.com

In July of 2001, the christening of the Chicagoland Speedway ended with a young Kevin Harvick winning the first NASCAR Cup Series race at the brand new track in Illinois. Alongside Kansas Speedway, Chicagoland was one of two brand new tracks on the 2001 NASCAR schedule.

But before long, they gradually became the last of their kind.

After a boom period of building new racetracks in major markets, NASCAR's schedule became an immovable object for many years, with only one major addition to the schedule - Kentucky Speedway in 2011 - interrupting what became an otherwise gradual settling of worn-out faces into worn-out places. As NASCAR went through lean years in terms of relevance, the schedule became a major sore point.

Even, Harvick -- 14 years after that win at Chicagoland -- called the Cup Series schedule the "most stagnant thing" in NASCAR. But now, that's all changed.

As part of the realignment of the 2021 schedule, NASCAR will visit a brand new track for the first time in a decade on Friday when it travels to Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Opened in 2012, this weekend will mark COTA's first NASCAR races after previously having hosted Formula 1's United States Grand Prix, as well as other road racing and sportscar events.

And it also marks a refreshing challenge for Harvick, who has mastered all other tracks as a Cup veteran of two decades.

"I think for me, it's actually been a lot of fun," Harvick told CBS Sports of preparing for COTA. "I think as I look at our road race stuff in the past, and really just going to Sonoma and Watkins Glen for a number of years, you kind of just took that for granted and just prepared on what you did last year in the simulator one time and know the racetracks like the back of my hand."

The 2021 schedule has brought with it an unprecedented emphasis on road racing in NASCAR, as a total of seven road courses were placed on the Cup Series schedule. Circuit of the Americas joined Road America in Wisconsin, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway road courses as outright new additions to a schedule that also included Sonoma Raceway, Watkins Glen International and the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval.

Those changes, as well as other additions to the schedule, have made for new -- and in Harvick's mind, overdue -- challenges to be embraced by competitors.

"I think as you look at the schedule, we could have been way ahead if (NASCAR) would have just listened five or six years ago, right?" Harvick said. "I think it's very refreshing to see the change in the schedule. I think as you look at today's world from my perspective, everybody likes something different, something new, something fresh.

"We're going to a new market, we're going to a great racetrack that's obviously already building its own racing legacy. And however the race turns out this weekend -- It matters, but it doesn't. I think the event is the story this weekend because of the fact that we're going to a great facility in a huge market. And we're gonna go there and compete."

When Harvick was a Cup Series rookie in 2001, the culture surrounding road course racing with stock cars was distinctly different than what it is now. While a select few drivers made a point to be good road racers, others simply tried to survive the weekends, and some even stepped out of their cars to allow road racing specialists -- "Ringers" like Boris Said, Ron Fellows, and more -- to give their teams a better chance of competing for wins.

But over time, road racing became more popular with fans and other stakeholders. As Harvick explained it, Sonoma Raceway in California's wine country became a "destination point" for sponsors, while Watkins Glen in upstate New York became a "fan hit" with sellout crowds.

Meanwhile, drivers began to put more time and effort into road racing as it took on greater importance towards determining the Cup Series Playoff grid and Championship. And with seven road races now on the schedule -- and perhaps more to come as NASCAR grows and expands -- road racing has become more important than ever.

"... I think road racing in general has become a part of what we do," Harvick said. "In order to expand, you're gonna have to be able to go to road races, especially if you want to go back to Canada or back to Mexico City (both markets where the NASCAR Busch Series raced in the mid-2000s) and do all the things that we need to be doing that we've done in the past, and really opens up a whole new outlet of racetracks for us to be able to go to."

Sunday's race at Circuit of the Americas has added importance for Harvick and his team: it will mark the first race of the Mobil 1 Thousand promotion, which will award $1,000 or more to a fan if a driver using Mobil 1 wins a Cup race this season. The jackpot begins at $7,000, with Harvick running a gold, dollar bill-laden paint scheme aboard his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford this weekend.

"Obviously Mobil is very involved from the performance side of what we do with the racecar, a huge part of the development process with the engine shop at Roush Yates and trying to always create something more durable, something that creates more power, whether it's in the engine or the transmission or the rear end," Harvick said. "Whatever that lubricant is, Mobil wants it to be the best ... those people at Mobil that are developing those products to make our cars run faster are very much a part of what we do."

Through 13 races, Harvick currently sits eighth in points with four Top 5 and 10 Top 10 finishes, His best finish was coming in second at Kansas. However, Harvick's season to date has been framed more around the idea of shock that he's yet to visit Victory Lane -- a surprise given that Harvick won a career-high nine races in 2020.

Harvick acknowledged that he has a tough act to follow, but he is nonetheless pleased with what he and his team have done so far as they work to re-capture their dominant speed from last season.

"I think our team has done a great job of dotting the Is and crossing the Ts and really making sure that we're getting the most out of our cars on a weekend," Harvick said. "... Every year there's changes to the cars. I think comparing last year to any year in my career, it'd look like a real bummer, right? Because of the fact that last year was so successful.

"There's always gonna be critics whether it's good or bad. You're never good enough, and that's why we just kind of keep our head down and pay attention to the things that we can control and keep grinding away."

View post:
Kevin Harvick is embracing the 'refreshing' challenge of NASCAR's first trip to Circuit of the Americas - CBS Sports

When it comes to fantasy football, volume is king. We want players who generate the most targets and touches more opportunities leads to more fantasy points. But not all opportunities are created equal.

End-zone targets, deep targets (20 yards or more), air yards and carries inside the 5-yard line are prime examples of high-value opportunities. We want players who have a command of their teams high-value touches because that maximizes their fantasy upside.

In PPR formats, an end-zone target is worth nearly double a normal target. Deep targets net 1.3 times as much. A carry inside the 5-yard line more than quadruples the rate of fantasy points on a normal carry.

Identifying players with high-usage roles is critical to gaining an edge over the competition. Thats why Ive broken down the high-usage roles across all 32 NFL teams to unearth as much value as we can heading into the 2021 fantasy football season.

ARZ | ATL | BLT | BUF | CAR | CIN | CHI | CLE | DEN | DAL | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LVR | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WFT

Kenyan Drake was no stranger to seeing carries inside the opponents 5-yard line. The ex-Arizona Cardinals running backs 21 rushing attempts inside the 5-yard line tied for the third-most in the league last season.

With him off to greener pastures in Las Vegas Jon Gruden laid out some real cheddar the goal-line duties look to be split in a three-way committee between Kyler Murray, Chase Edmonds and James Conner.

Murray has a chance to see a Cam Newton-esque workload rushing the ball inside the 5-yard line if he emerges as the favorite. He and Drake were tied with six rushing attempts inside the 5-yard line before Murrays shoulder injury.

Drake's goal-line carries didn't skyrocket until after Murray was banged up. He totaled nearly 72% of his goal-line attempts (15) starting in Week 11 Murray only had two the rest of the way.

Conner is the biggest threat to carve out the main goal-line role.Since 2018, Conner is PFF's second-highest graded (81.6) rusher inside the 5 (32 carries). His touchdown/first down conversion rate ranks third-best (62.5%).

Edmonds has one goal-line carry over the past two seasons, which doesnt bode well for his fantasy upside. Neither does the addition of second-round wide receiver Rondale Moore. The Purdue products YAC-ability will attract targets close to the line of scrimmage, an overlap that will likely limit RB receiving production in Kliff Kingsburys horizontal Air Raid offense.

No RB saw a higher percentage of snaps from the slot than Edmonds in 2020 (26%).

As for other high-value opportunities, theres not much in the Arizona offense. The departures of veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and tight end Dan Arnold adds up to the 10th-most vacated targets, but neither of those players was earning any type of premium touches.

Newcomers like Moore and free-agent signing A.J. Green are going to slide into the pre-existing roles, which doesnt leave a ton of room for upside. Fourth-year WR Christian Kirk should slide back into the slot a more natural fit for his skill set but that might not be enough to salvage his fantasy value.

Kirk ranked second on the team last year in deep targets, and he still finished outside the top 45 wide receivers in fantasy points per game.

Simply put: Outside of DeAndre Hopkins and Murray, nothing is alluring about any of these Zona players in fantasy football.

Calvin Ridleys dominant 2020 campaign was fueled by high-value touches. The superstar wideout finished first in air yards and second in end-zone targets.

Although the pass-catching corps projects to be more crowded in 2021 with a healthy Julio Jones andNo. 1-ranked rookie tight end Kyle Pitts, Ridley is the No. 1 option for fantasy football. Any hit to his 24% overall target share from last season will be balanced out by uber-efficient targets.

Ridley finished last season first in target rate on 20-plus yard targets (58%) and fourth in target rate on pass attempts to the end zone (48%). Matt Ryan simply cant get Ridley enough high-value targets.

But if anyone is going to eat into Ridleys share of precious end-zone targets, it would be the 6-foot-6 red-zone monster, Pitts. The stud from Florida led all of college football in end-zone target rate (59%) at the tight end position and was PFFs highest-graded receiver (94.6) on those targets.

Last year, we saw Arthur Smith orchestrate an offense that heavily used tight ends third-most fantasy points scored at the position especially in the end zone. Jonnu Smith tied Corey Davis for the lead in team end-zone targets (10) while also ranking first in end-zone target rate (46%) at the tight end position.

Pitts is going to hit paydirt a ton in 2021 and will ned to in order to pay off his costly ADP as the TE5.

Ridleys target share was identical to Titans WR1 A.J. Brownlast season. Projecting Julio Jones to see a Corey Davis target share (20%) and Pitts a Jonnu Smith target share (14%) isnt too far-fetched.

Todd Gurleys exit from the Atlanta Falcons offense leaves nearly three-quarters of the team's goal-line touches up for grabs in 2021. Mike Davis looks to take over that role after he led the Panthers in goal-line carries a season ago.

Recall that Gurley was the RB6 through the first nine weeks of the season, averaging a rushing touchdown per game in Atlantas high-powered offense.

The Ravens passing attack was completely reliant on Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown seeing the lions share of high-value opportunities. Andrews finished sixth in team end-zone target share (39%, second-most at TE), and Brown finished with the leagues highest percentage of a teams 20-plus yard targets. The speedy wideout commanded 50% of Lamar Jacksons deep balls (33).

Unfortunately, these high-end market share numbers arent likely to continue with the teams additions of veteran Sammy Watkins, 2021 first-rounder Rashod Bateman and fourth-rounder Tylan Wallace. Based on their productive college profiles, the two rookies have a non-zero chance of making noise in the Baltimore offense.

Bateman commanded a convincing 41% air yards share (sixth-best), and Wallace saw 50% of Oklahoma States end-zone targets in 2019.

J.K. Dobbins (43%) and Gus Edwards (39%) nearly split carries from inside the 5-yard line, but the former got the most run when the Ravens turned to him down the stretch. Dobbins earned 80% of the goal-line carries in his nine healthy games after Week 11, so we should expect him to reprise the role in 2021.

Buffalo Bills WRs scored more fantasy points than any other team thanks in part to Stefon Diggs blow-up season. The wideout finished third in total air yards and third in overall target share (29%). But the sneaky name to highlight is incoming second-year WR Gabriel Davis his command of high-value targets was utterly impressive as a rookie.

The former UCF standout finished with just two fewer deep targets (26 versus 28) and posted an identical 25% end-zone target share to Diggs. He also posted a higher air yards share (19%) than established veterans John Brown and Cole Beasley.

The addition of Emmanuel Sanders after Browns departure will not hold Davis back. Hes got a second-year breakout written all over him.

The consensus is down on Zack Moss because of how little the Bills utilize running backs. But we cant overlook the fact that Moss was banged up all last season and was the teams primary ball carrier when healthy at the goal line in 2020.

Look past Moss box score last season, and focus on the fact that he is going to be the lead back on a top-five NFL offense. More times than not, running backs in those situations produce for fantasy. Scoop up the discount.

D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson cannibalized almost all of the team air yards and end-zone targets from a season ago (both finished top-10), so Curtis Samuels absence from the offense doesnt necessarily create a pristine situation for rookie Terrace Marshall Jr.

Carolinas top two WRs will continue to command the lions share of air yards and targets, leaving Marshalls chance of a Year 1 impact on the shoulders of end-zone targets. Last season, passing to the end zone was a real issue for the Panthers offense. Anderson and Moore saw a combined 18 end-zone targets but had zero end-zone touchdowns. Ex-Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was PFFs worst-graded quarterback in the red zone (29.0).

With red-zone woes a clear issue, Marshall provides a perfect fix. He ranks 12th in end-zone targets over the past two seasons, and his PFF receiving grade on those targets ranks fourth-best (93.5). He graded higher than former teammates JaMarr Chase (84.1) and Justin Jefferson (82.6) during their final collegiate seasons.

Marshall is my dark horse candidate to lead the 2021 wide receiver class in touchdowns this season.

The minute rookie quarterback Justin Fields hits the field in the preseason, Darnell Mooneys ADP will be sent to the moon. The former fifth-round pick flashed as a deep-ball threat last season, commanding an almost identical percentage of 20-plus yard throws as teammate Allen Robinson II (30% versus 29%).

Fields finished second in passing touchdowns of 20-plus yards (29) and third in air yards percentage (71.2%) since the start of the 2019 season, showcasing his affinity to throw the ball downfield.

The former Ohio State QB also ranked fifth in passing touchdowns on end-zone throws, which bodes well for Robinson. The Bears No. 1 wideout earned a 35% end-zone target share last season (10th) but only hauled in 31% (21st) of passes thrown his way.

Nick Foles and Mitchell Trubisky combined for a 48.6 passer rating when targeting the end zone last season, the fourth-worst mark in the league.

Its a breath of fresh air for drafters to invest in Robinson this year knowing hes going to catch passes from the best quarterback hes ever played with.

Get on the Cincinnati Bengals fantasy bandwagon. Upgrading from the aged A.J. Green to highly touted rookie JaMarr Chase is like going from zero to 100 real quick. Green led the Bengals in air yards share (31%) and end-zone target share (30%) but did little to nothing to translate his five-star opportunities to fantasy production.

His 1.02 yards per route run (101st) and 7.0 fantasy points per game (92nd) tell the entire story.

Bengals WRs finished fifth in total expected fantasy points, but due to Greens ineffectiveness, they ended with the most points scored under expectation. Because expected fantasy points are a better predictor of future production especially when theres a clear scapegoat for why the team underperformed this passing game can only improve in 2021 with Green out the door in favor of Chase.

Green was considered open on just one of his deep-ball targets last season. In 2019, Chase earned a near-perfect PFF receiving grade (99.0) on targets of 20-plus yards and totaled 24 receptions, 860 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on deep targets alone.

A healthy Odell Beckham Jr. has a golden opportunity to prove all the haters wrong. He led the team in deep targets, end-zone targets and ranked sixth in the league in air yards before going down with a gruesome injury in Week 7.

Beckham saw more deep targets (12) than Jarvis Landry saw during the entire season (10). He also finished fifth in target rate on deep routes run (52%).

With a lack of legitimate competition for high-end touches in the Browns passing offense between Landry, veteran Rashard Higgins, second-year WR Donovan Peoples-Jones and the one-trick pony rookie speedster from Auburn, Anthony Schwartz, OBJ is shaping up to be a fantasy value in 2020. Alpha WRs arent readily available, let alone in the middle rounds of fantasy football drafts.

Tight end Austin Hooper is the only other candidate I could envision having a large role as an end-zone target. He finished last season second on the team in end-zone target share (18%). Browns tight ends collectively finished sixth in expected fantasy points, meaning theres more meat on the bone for production from that position in this offense.

Theres no doubt that Nick Chubb would be a top-three fantasy running back if Kareem Hunt wasnt in the fold. The split between the two backs ultimately limits Chubbs fantasy ceiling, most notably when it comes to carries at the goal line. Chubb is the primary option when healthy (11 carries inside the 5), but Hunt is hot on his tail (eight carries inside the 5).

Chubb is difficult to rank too high in fantasy for that reason, but the situation gives Hunt solid RB2 status that is rare to find from one teams backfield.

Slot receivers don't usually rank highly in terms of deep targets.CeeDee Lambs 28% 20-plus yard target share tied Michael Gallup for the team lead in 2021.

Even more shocking, Dallas No. 3 receiver, Gallup, led the team in end-zone target share (32%) in front of both Lamb (26%) and Amari Cooper (21%). Its ironic that Cooper is viewed as the No. 1 receiver because of his team-leading target share (21%) too few people areconsidering his share of premium touches in the Cowboys offense.

Gallups under-the-radar opportunities from a season ago are a reminder that hes a screaming value going several rounds later than his teammates. Lambs share of high-value touches make him nearly as valuable as Cooper.

Dak Prescott peppered Lamb with high-value targets before his injury. The rookie led the team in end-zone targets and hauled in seven deep balls from Prescott more than all other Dallas WRs combined (six).

Ezekiel Elliott finished second in the NFL in carries inside the 5-yard line, and that role alone is worth pure gold in fantasy football. All signs are pointing to this offense being explosive with Prescott back in action, so buying Zeke at the back of the first round is a discount too good pass. Even if backup Tony Pollard does see more touches after his impressive 2020 campaign, its going to still be #FeedZeke when the team looks to punch its ticket into the end zone.

All hail air yards king, Jerry Jeudy. The Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver finished seventh in total air yards a season ago, but alas only 59% were deemed catchable the third-worst mark in the league.

Luckily for him, Teddy Bridgewater is vastly more accurate than Drew Lock, so Id expect the former to improve his receiving efficiency. Teddy B finished third in the league in adjusted completion percentage (80%) while Lock finished third-worst (68.7%).

Jeudys rookie season is eerily similar to that of Curtis Samuels second season: tons of air yards and deep targets downfield but horrible quarterback play. Only 60% of the passes thrown his way were deemed catchable, which ranked 79th in 2019. Fast forward to 2020, and that rate rose to 86% (first) with Bridgewater at QB.

Its the perfect case study for backing Jeudy as a fantasy target in 2021. His rookie season gave us the opportunity, and the efficiency can only go up from here.

One of the worst parts about Jared Goffs game is that he doesnt create high-value opportunities for his receivers. The Los Angeles Rams offense ranked 31st in end-zone passes and 29th in deep targets. So, really, the Lions arent an offense that we should get too excited about outside of pure volume, albeit of the inefficient variety.

Detroit has the most vacated targets and air yards, which is at least great for TE1 T.J. Hockenson to see a massive boost in targets. The vast amount of opportunities also opens doors for DAndre Swift to catch more passes hes the teams second-leading returning receiver in addition to ancillary receivers like veteran Breshad Perriman and rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Just be aware that many of these targets are not going to be of much value, so dont over-invest in Detroit receivers solely based on volume.

Jamaal Williams also has a chance to see a bigger workload working in tandem with Swift. The ex-Packers back could easily seize Adrian Petersons 52% of goal-line carries as the teams A-back.

Its crazy but factual: Marquez Valdes-Scantling finished with more air yards than Davante Adams. OK, Adams missed a few games which lent MVS the slight edge when it comes to raw totals, but this guy has become a complete afterthought in fantasy football. His 31% team air yards share is on the same level as guys like Chase Claypool, Marvin Jones and A.J. Brown, and his deep-ball percentage ranked 15th in the NFL.

Green Bay drafted rookie receiver Amari Rodgers in this years draft, but his style of play does not overlap at all with Valdes-Scantling. Rodgers played exclusively as the Clemson Tigers slot wideout, leading the nation in receptions (68) when lined up inside. His claim to fame was turning short passes into yards after the catch, as he finished first in that category in 2020. MVS finished sixth in the league in deep targets. If anything, Rodgers insertion into the offense will overlap with incumbent slot receiver Allen Lazard.

At the running back position, Jamaal Williams is out and A.J. Dillon is in as the teams RB2. Dillons fantasy buzz came crashing down after Aaron Jones re-signed with the team, but its fallen too far. Green Bay has a history of using two RBs, and Dillon could easily see a role at the goal line. Williams earned 38% of the teams goal-line carries in 2019, so Dillon should carve out a similar role.

Houston ranks fifth in vacated air yards and fourth in vacated targets, creating a situation for an unknown player to make a splash. Brandin Cooks will presumably take on his role as the teams No. 1 after leading the team in air yards share (29%) and target share (22%) in 2020.

But we want to know about sleepers that could emerge from this offense. Ive got two in mind: rookie wide receiver Nico Collins and veteran tight end Jordan Akins. Keke Coutee and Randall Cobb are going to cannibalize each others slot targets, leaving Collins to start on the outside opposite Cooks.

Collins measured at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds at his pro day plenty of size to play on the outside at the NFL level. From 2018-2019, he finished second in contested-catch rate (63.2%), sixth in passer rating generated (120.8) and fourth in yards per target (18.2) among WRs in his draft class when targeted from an out-wide alignment. Collins also finished with 17 end-zone targets during his final season at Michigan.

Akins is more of a stretch, but hear me out: Houston moved on from veteran tight end Darren Fells, who consistently forced himself into a timeshare with Akins. At 29 years old, Akins fits the archetype of a Darren Waller or Logan Thomas an older tight end who breaks out well after their start in the NFL.

But what could be most telling about Akins potential is that he doesnt block like, ever. His 24% block snap rate was the lowest percentage at the tight end position for any starter.

As weird as it sounds, Akins has the athleticism and opportunity to be the tight end who jumps from total disregard to fantasy starter. Last year, he set a career-high in PFF receiving grade (74.6), which ranked 12th in the league. Since 2018, he ranks sixth in YAC/reception (6.0) among all tight ends.

And amid more competition last season in the Texans offense, Akins finished third in end-zone target share (12%).

Maybe its the summer fever getting to me, but Im not afraid to call Akins my breakout tight end of 2021.

T.Y Hilton is coming off his worst season to date career-low yards per route run (1.68) and at 32-years old he cannot be a player to target in fantasy football. Weve only seen him function as a consistent producer with Andrew Luck under center, and No. 12 isnt stepping into the Colts facility anytime soon.

But Hiltons losses are massive gains for other receivers in the Colts offense because he had an extremely attractive role last season. The veteran receiver commanded a top-12 end-zone/air yards share with little competition around him.

Fantasy gamers should fully expect Michael Pittman Jr. and/or Parris Campbell to eat heavily into Hiltons premium touches from a season ago. Pittmans rookie season was derailed by a serious calf injury, but we saw him deliver worthwhile fantasy performances later on. In Week 10, he caught seven balls for 101 yards. In the playoffs, he commanded a season-high nine targets and hauled in five for 90 yards.

Campbells career has been plagued by several injuries, but all signs suggest he is all systems go for 2021. He should take over as the teams starting slot receiver, which could be tantalizing for fantasy. New Colts quarterback Carson Wentz loves the slot.He owns the fifth-highest target rate to the slot over the past two years.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have the third-most vacated targets and fourth-most vacated air yards from last season, so embrace the Travis Etienne wide receiver hype across social media. He is going to be heavily involved in the passing game.

If anything, take advantage of the negative buzz and get ETN while hes discounted because no one thinks he's going to see 15-plus carries per game. *Spoiler*: His body of work at Clemson told us that was going to be the case at the next level.

The vast majority of available opportunities in the offense also gives me an excuse to talk about another sleeper: wide receiver Collin Johnson. The 2020 fifth-rounder is a 6-foot-5 monster and finished second on the team in end-zone targets (8) despite playing only two games with at least a 50% snap share. He also led the team in yards per route run (1.60).

Taking Johnson in the last round of a best-ball draft is a great way to differentiate your roster.

Third time's the charm, right? The stage is set for Mecole Hardman to go nuclear in 2021 all that remains is for him to execute because theres a golden opportunity for him to progress with Patrick Mahomes. Sammy Watkins is long gone, and Kansas City didnt heavily invest in anyone else at the position.

Hardman tied Travis Kelce in deep targets (18) a season ago, and only Demarcus Robinson out-paced him in end-zone targets among the Chiefs ancillary WRs. The third-year wideout has a chance to see additional high-end targets in 2021, which he needs to capitalize on because hes never going to see an abnormally large target share playing alongside certified studs like Tyreek Hill and Kelce.

His passer rating generated when targeted (132.2) ranks No. 1 in the league among players with at least 100 targets. Hardman will have a chance to produce as long as he's connected to Mahomes.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire ran ice cold at the goal-line, which means his efficiency can only heat up in 2021. CEH was K.C.s primary goal-line back to start the 2020 season, but he went 0-7 on his efforts to hit paydirt.

The actual production is less important as we look toward the future the fact that he got the carries to start last season bodes well for him to reprise the role. And with a revamped offensive line, fantasy players can expect some strong positive touchdown regression for the second-year RB.

Nelson Agholors 36% end-zone target share is the highest by any player who switched teams this offseason. He and Darren Waller actually combined for 64% of the Raiders' end-zone targets in 2020.

With Agholor off to the New England Patriots, we should expect Waller to lead the team in end-zone targets in 2021. Hes also likely to challenge for the top spot in terms of raw target share based on his 27% target share last season, which ranked fourth-best among all positions (No. 1 at TE).

It's not clear who will step up behind him.Second-year wide receivers like Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards seem like the most logical candidates for expanded roles. I lean toward Edwards as the bigger threat in the end zone. I'm not exactly high on Ruggs entering the 2021 season, and Edwards has the more requisite size at 6-foot-3 to be a force in the end zone.

Ruggs is much more likely to operate as the teams deep threat. As a rookie, he finished second on the team in deep targets (18) behind Agholor. Veteran John Brown shouldnt be forgotten, either. Hes just one year removed from leading the Buffalo Bills in end-zone targets in 2019.

Regardless of preference, its worth taking stabs on any of the Raiders trio of wideouts late in drafts somebody else will have to catch passes in the offense behind Waller.

Theres a real chance third-round rookie Josh Palmer makes some noise in Year 1. Last years No. 3 receiver, Jalen Guyton, finished second on the team in 20-plus yard targets (20) and 13th overall in routes run. The former Tennessee standout is no stranger to hauling in deep targets. He was featured heavily downfield with a very high aDOT (17.1, 12th in 2020) at the collegiate level in addition to commanding a significant share of his teams end-zone targets (48%).

The end-zone prowess should serve him well considering Hunter Henry and his 12 end-zone targets last season are no longer in the picture. If Palmer can ascend to the No. 3 pass-catcher role for Justin Herbert, he could quickly become a fantasy contributor.

But the real value in the Chargers offense has to be No. 2 receiver Mike Williams. The big-bodied wideout took home the high-value triple crown last season, leading the team in air yards share (29%), end-zone target share (27%) and deep-target share (37%).

Receivers that command such a high level of premium targets should not be available where Williams is being drafted. He has to be one of fantasys best-kept secrets.

Going from Jared Goff to Matthew Stafford will substantially elevate the fantasy production of all the Rams pass-catchers. As mentioned, Goff never gave his offensive personnel high-value targets. Case in point, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp each only saw five end-zone targets last season. They also both ranked outside the top-45 in team air yards share.Despite this, each finished as a solid WR2 option in fantasy. With Stafford entrenched as the starter, the days of Woods and Kupp being viewed as safe-floor options are long over. This year, they're going to be dangerous.

Read the rest here:
Fantasy Football: Breaking down high-value touches and targets for all 32 NFL teams | Fantasy Football News, Rankings and Projections - Pro Football...

For the second consecutive game, the Cincinnati Reds starting lineupwas missing two players who have been everyday starters in the infield forWednesday's game against the San Francisco Giants.

Mike Moustakas hasnt started since Friday as he recovers from a heel injury, and Nick Senzel was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game on Wednesday.

Luis Castillo: Starter takes 'three steps forward' in Reds loss to Giants

Reds pitchers: Teammates have taken to wearing temporary 'Avengers' tattoos after Wade Miley no-hitter

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Nick Senzel (15) throws to first base for an out in the fifth inning during a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Monday, May 17, 2021, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. (Photo: Kareem Elgazzar)

Even though Moustakas has come off the bench in each of the Reds last two games, manager David Bell said Moustakas would benefit from another day out of the starting lineup.

He's not in the lineup today, but he'll be available in the same capacity, maybe even a little more, Bell said. I talked to him last night and there was thought of him being available to be back in the lineup today. We thought it was maybe a day early. A little bit of a stretch, he's still dealing with some pain.

Senzel has dealt with both a heel contusion and knee soreness this week. Senzel started Monday against the Giants and made a few highlight plays at third base, but he hasnt appeared in a game since.

(Senzel) may be in the lineup tomorrow, Bell said. Hoping to have him available off the bench again tonight.

Before Wednesdays game, neither Moustakas nor Senzel participated in pregame defensive workouts with the rest of the infielders.

The Reds promoted outfielder Mark Payton from the Minor Leagues on Tuesday, so the Reds bench has additional depth with Senzel and Moustakas recovering.

Reds starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman said hes still frustrated with the play that cut his last outing short on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Hoffmans throw to first on a bunt was off-target, and his error was the biggest reason for a five-run fourth inning for the Rockies.

Aside from that play, Hoffman said he pitched better than he has recently.

The line wasnt anything special obviously, but the ball and the way I felt with the ball coming out of my hand, I had all four pitches, Hoffman said. I was locating the fastball, the fastball had some good life to it. I felt like we made a lot of pitches. Obviously, I shot myself in the foot with that bunt throw.

Entering his start against the Giants on Thursday, Hoffman is coming off four straight starts that didnt go longer than four innings. He allowed two earned runs in four innings in Colorado, and he has a 7.84 ERA in May.

Hoffman has only pitched five-or-more innings in three starts this season, and he said that needs to change.

At least five innings is necessary, Hoffman said. Obviously six you can get the quality start, seven you start helping out your pen. Anything less than five is not acceptable.

Of the eight players in the Reds bullpen, three werent with Cincinnati at the start of spring training. Since the middle of March, the Reds have claimed Michael Feliz and Carson Fulmer and signed Heath Hembree.

Cincinnati also promoted rookie Ryan Hendrix from the Minor Leagues during the season and added veteran Sean Doolittle in February.

The only holdovers from the 2020 bullpen are Tejay Antone, Lucas Sims and Amir Garrett, and Garrett said the new additions have helped the Reds.

Everybody in that bullpen roots for one another, Garrett said. We want each other to do good every time we get the ball. Its only going to benefit the whole bullpen. Its going to help the whole team.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

The rest is here:
Cincinnati Reds notes: Nick Senzel and Mike Moustakas remain out of the starting lineup - The Cincinnati Enquirer

Kudos to Nate McMillan for keeping it real. And shame on the NBA for fining him because he did.

If you missed it, the Hawks interim coach earned the ire of the league this week, to the tune of a $25,000 hit to his wallet, when he suggested the NBA wants and needs the Knicks in the postseason and that theres going to be a lot of calls that probably wont go our waythanks, in large part, to the huge crowds expected at Madison Square Garden.Hes right, of course, because having one of the most glamorous franchises and its absurdly loyal fan base in the postseason for the first time in eight seasons will be nothing short of awesome and officials, studies have shown, are subject to the influence of the audience.

Knicks-Hawks, the 4-5 matchup in the Eastern Conference featuring Julius Randle vs. top 10 point guard Trae Young, is one of the most exciting series of the first-round of the NBA Playoffs as youll see outlined below. The postseason mercifully tips off Saturday after a tumultuous regular-season that saw COVID ruin everyones good time, too many injuries to too many of the leagues superstars, and more blowouts than we can reasonably count.

Were beyond hyped for meaningful, extremely intense, and truly consequential basketball, and it starts with the Heat visiting the Bucks at 2 p.m. ET tomorrow and doesnt end until July when the NBA crowns a new champion becauseyou heard it here firstthe Lakers arent repeating. Heres a run-through of all eight first-round playoff series to get you primed for the next two weeks with predictions on how long each one will last.

See original here:
Predicting the Winner of Every First-Round Series of the NBA Playoffs - Complex