“It Is Going To Be Like An NBA Mindset”

April 18th, 2022

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky.

This Joe typing this here post began to wean from the non-basketball association right about the time everyone seemed to try to “Be like Mike” in the famous 1991 Gatorade commercial.

The last game this Joe specifically remembers watching is when Danny Manning and the Clippers beat Michael Jordan’s Bulls. And the last time this Joe watched a full non-basketball association championship series was the second-to-last time the Pistons won. And that was mainly because Joe liked Isiah Thomas.

Fast forward to now: Joe noticed a video of Bucs backup quarterback and current ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky saying the Bucs will play this year with “an NBA mindset.”

Did that mean dudes traveling down the field on each possession? Players loafing more than hustling? No, not that.

Orlovsky was saying that the NFC is so terrible, this year’s regular season will not matter for the Bucs because it’s just a 17-game preparation for the playoffs.

Orlovsky believes there will be changes with Todd Bowles taking over. (How could there not be with a new head coach?) So Orlovsky thinks the Bucs will treat the regular season like a good NBA team does: Find out what works and smooth out the new kinks so you are ready to ball out in the playoffs.

Joe doesn’t buy what Orlovsky is pitching here, but there is a kernel of truth to it. Joe witnessed it two years ago.

The Bucs were a good team in the 2020 regular season but nothing great. However, the team played better in December, especially the offense. When January hit, the Bucs threw it into overdrive and didn’t stop until players were sweeping confetti off their shoulders and toweling their faces after a champagne soaking.

Joe can’t buy into coasting through a regular season. But yeah, you better be playing your best ball come Christmastime.

17 Responses to ““It Is Going To Be Like An NBA Mindset””

  1. Joesatitagain Says:

    “Joe can’t buy coasting through the regular season” when was the last time the best team from the first half of the year won the ring? I guess the rams started hot but cooled off. You stay healthy, you try stuff out, you hide you trick plays, you keep some extra umph in reserve, becaUe that’s how you win in the play offs, and EXACTLY what we did two years ago

  2. Tim Says:

    That’s a dangerous approach, especially with our schedule this year. Good approach if you want to lose; don’t just look past your next opponent, look past the whole regular season? Real smart.

  3. Letsbuccinggo Says:

    Dan O is about as good as a NFL analyst as he was a NFL quarterback.

  4. Tampabaybucfan Says:

    Let’s hope the players & coaches don’t get as complacent as some fans and media about the strength of the division and conference……its a long season and the Bucs have a pretty difficult schedule…..they have to go out and get the job done….nothing will be handed to them.

    The one good thing is that they no longer carry the SB title……but they do have Brady, and everyone wants to beat Brady.

  5. David Says:

    Letsbuccingo

    This is a bad take and he has a lot of bad takes, but as far as being an analyst and breaking down plays, he’s really good

  6. TBChucky Says:

    Football can’t just be “turned on” in the postseason.. You need that weekly grind to hone chemistry for both offensive and defensive squads.

  7. Allen Lofton Says:

    costing effects the mindset – hard to turn it on in the payoffs when you haven’t been playing at that level.

  8. Cobraboy Says:

    I can’t/won’t vouch for the NBA mindset—which parallels this Joe—but you just cannot turn on and off a football team’s mojo.

    Absurd comment by Orlovsky.

  9. sasquatch Says:

    Orlovsky is the guy who said the Bucs should trade for Mayfield as a backup. He dumb.

    You go out to win every game. They may be trying out new wrinkles, making adjustments to the playbooks, but ultimately they gameplan to win.

  10. Dooley Says:

    Dan Orlosky also said in confidence he’d beat Keyshawn Johnson in a 1on1 pick up game, LMAO Key was lowkey irate at the notion and the exchange was hilarious

  11. Ed Says:

    Makes no sense to compare a league that plays 82 games and has playoffs that seem to last over 2 months. NFL is different than other major sports, one game a week. There is no reason to “coast” in this league. NBA has 5 players on the court, simple game, move the ball around, find open man and score points.

    Football takes 10-15 plays typically to score points. Much more room for errors, breakdowns, penalties. NBA teams turn the ball over all the time, NFL teams that turn it over lose most of the time. NFL players have to tune up their games every week. NBA players can take a night off because they have 3 more games in a week to bounce back. NFL players have a week to stew over a loss. Completely different sport. The Rams won the SuperBowl with their defense. Very few NBA teams win because they play great defense.

    Hitting a basket in the NBA, most players have a 50% chance with multiple shots.

    I think NFL games have much more on the line weekly than NBA games do. Thats why the NFL has a more exciting product than NBA.

  12. David Says:

    So basically he’s saying try to get better and better and better and peak in the postseason. Wow, groundbreaking stuff

  13. tampabayallday Says:

    Here’s some advice, RUN THE DAMN BALL.

  14. PSL Bob Says:

    Go HEAT!

  15. Craig Says:

    If Bowles can stop that incessant first down run crud, I am all for him dropping a hammer.

    Leftwich is too conservative of a play caller for the type of team the Bucs are. They are a passing team, never will be a run team with Brady under center.

    Call plays like you have the best damned QB ever, because you do.

  16. Esteban85 Says:

    Orvlastley is a fraud. Big time (in gronk speak). The dude failed up for sure. Why are we referencing BSPN? They are the most woke sports outlet and I am repulsed when I see them on at the airport or anywhere else. Be original! Step out of the mainstream

  17. brooks Says:

    Dan O knows nothing about football. He’s a great comedian