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believingicanlv · 5 years

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The Modern Urban Sniper

Over the years, my Christian walk has helped me significantly when it comes to working as a Sniper. There are many principles that cross over.

One example is that both require great levels of preparation. The prep work required during a sniper operation is immense and would include everything from marksmanship training to land navigation. With my Christian walk, the preparation is similar by requiring reading the Bible, understanding what I’ve read, and discerning how to implement it into my daily walk.

My Christian walk also prepares my mind for the riggers of the job. I know that the Lord has me in this line of work to serve others and when necessary, save lives. Knowing this pushes me to train every week to be the best I can be so that if I’m called upon for an operation I’m able to perform at the highest level and don’t risk losing a hostage or one of the entry team members.

As I prepare myself, ringing in my ears is Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said ‘Here I am. Send me.’” Being grounded in my faith helps deal with situations that require the use of deadly force.

In the blog below, I’ve written about several of my experiences as well as the preparation that goes into each situation and in my overall training. As you read it, consider your own routine and the preparations that you put into your day to day life. How do you include Christ and your walk with Him in those preparations? Should you include Him more? How much do you allow Him and His word to guide you through the daily grind, not just the trials and tribulations.

The Modern Urban Sniper

For the professional Sniper/Observer team, an urban environment is filled with many daunting challenges. The skills to operate in a metropolitan landscape are essentially the same as most other Areas of Operation (AO); but, an additional knowledge base is required to instill the confidence and the flexibility needed to maximize your effectiveness as a precision shooter.

A few years back, we had a new technician on our team who had just returned from a sniper course hosted by an outside agency. We received a hostage call at approximately 03:30 one night, where an estranged husband was holding his children in a house at gunpoint, threatening to kill everyone. I was the first sniper to arrive on scene and immediately began looking for a Final Firing Position (FFP) on the front side of the suspect’s residence.

Directly across the street from the scene was a single-family, two-story house which had a large backyard surrounded with chain-link fence. Inside the yard were several large, potted plants scattered around. I pushed three of the plants together in a deep corner of the yard to build my hide site. That also allowed me to move several of the remaining plants to where I wanted to further obscure the FFP. This location allowed observation deep into the suspect’s residence. Should the team use an explosive breach to make entry and conduct a rescue, I could still provide overwatch.

Once the FFP was established and appropriately concealed, I began directing the other arriving snipers to positions around the suspect’s residence, which allowed us to cover all the angles.

When our newest sniper arrived, he came up on the radio and I directed him to my position. As was the senior marksman on the scene, I felt we could use the unfolding scenario as a learning opportunity.

When he arrived at my location, he began to tell me we needed to move our position due to the chain-link fence. I asked why, and he replied that we couldn’t shoot through it. I smiled at his objection, and told him as soon as we were done with this mission, I’d take him to the range and teach him how to shoot through loopholes.

The point of my bringing up this specific situation is not necessarily about the fence, but to raise an important point about training: not all “sniper” courses are the same, and some do not prepare a precision marksman to be fully-functioning on Day One of that person’s career. Most, if not all, law enforcement sniper courses focus on the pulling of the trigger. I can teach a monkey to lay down on a square range and pull the trigger on a target at a known distance. That does NOT make the monkey a sniper.

What I try to teach to a new sniper is how to solve dynamic, tactical problems. The agency sending a sniper to me should have already taught that person to shoot. We will absolutely refine the established skills, but, there’s no need to get caught up spending hours, if not days, talking about ballistics, weapon systems, and optics. That is basic knowledge a marksman should know before setting foot in my classroom.

Let’s discuss the basics of choosing your weapon system first. With the latest advancements in ballistic technology and manufacturing, a sub-MOA rifle with a variable-power optic should be your baseline. When having to shoot through intermediate barriers, or take shots to end volatile situations like a hostage taking, quality glass on a rifle accurate enough to consistently place shots within a couple millimeters of each other is a must.

Traditionally, a sniper would have five different rifles and optics, ranging from .223 Remington up to .50BMG—with multiple rounds available per weapon system. It’s hard enough to train with one weapon system weekly, and we’d be asking a sniper to train on all five every week?? It’s just not practical, or even necessary.

Now snipers can carry a multi-caliber weapon system, allowing for greater versatility and lethality during operations. One of the key benefits of this functionality is the shooter can utilize the same optic and reticle for every available caliber. Not only does it create uniformity, but it is also very cost-effective—from both a training and operational perspective.

Is it really necessary for a precision marksman to have all of those calibers available? It’s a valid question, and the answer is absolutely, “Yes, we do.”

On 13 June 2015 at approximately 1230 AM local time, James Boulware pulled up to the headquarters building of the Dallas (Texas) Police Department in an armored vehicle, where he began shooting at police with a semi-automatic weapon. SWAT responded to the scene, and one of their snipers employed his .50-caliber sniper rifle to disable the vehicle and neutralize the threat presented.

On 17 May 1995, just after dusk, Shawn Nelson went to a National Guard Armory in San Diego, California, and stole an M60A3 Patton tank. Once escaping the parking area in the Armory’s yard, Nelson went on a rampage with the tank, destroying cars, city infrastructure, and even an RV. At one point, the tank became high-centered on a highway median, which allowed police officers to climb onto the tank, open the hatch, and shoot Nelson.

These are just a couple examples of instances where law enforcement snipers would require heavier caliber weapon systems to stop specific threats. Not every call-out necessitates the presence of a .50-caliber sniper rifle, but as the saying goes: “It’s better to have and not need, than it is to need and not have.”

So how does a sniper determine which weapon to employ?

To determine that, a wide variety of factors need to be considered. What is the nature of the mission? Is it a lone suspect barricaded in a house? Hostage situation in a bank? Active shooter in a high school? Counter sniper? What is the suspect armed with? What is the perpetrator’s level of training? What is the likely engagement distance? What is the composition of the structure the suspect is in? What’s the potential for collateral damage?

Once a sniper processes all these factors, a determination will be made on the weapon system. You want the caliber which can stop the suspect instantaneously under the given conditions; but, you would be wise to choose one which minimizes the risk of over-penetration, which could endanger hostages, other civilians in the vicinity, or other first-responders on scene.

In December of 2015, my team was called out and responded to the north end of town reference a barricaded suspect. A female subject had earlier pointed a firearm at patrol officers conducting a welfare check. Upon my arrival to the scene, I got into a position on the front side of the structure.

As the call-out continued, a fellow sniper rendezvoused at my location. We discussed the use of bonded ammunition for this incident, due to a mother with small children refusing to evacuate from their home, which lay directly behind the suspect’s house. To minimize exposure, we opted to use a match-grade round in the event we might need to shoot. We also confirmed, via the snipers covering the rear of the target, the fence in the back yard was made of brick—not chain link. As it turned out, the female exited the residence with a shotgun and pointed it in the direction of the entry team. Snipers were forced to engage, neutralizing the threat.

During the engagement, of the match-grade rounds passed through the suspect’s body, continuing out of the residence through the sliding kitchen door, where it struck the rear block wall. The point of secondary impact was approximately 30 feet from the house occupied by the mother who refused to evacuate with her children.

To reiterate: weapon and ammunition selection are absolutely critical to your mission planning as a sniper.

Choosing the correct round is always an area where things start to get confusing. Law enforcement snipers will generally have the ability to choose the type of round needed for a particular operation—either match or bonded, but even that is limited to what the department has authorized, and any deviation from that may open disciplinary action and civil liability. All snipers should be able to choose the best weapon and ammunition combination for the mission, due to their increased knowledge of ballistics and barrier penetration. Most of the time, the person ordering the ammunition does not possess that same level of knowledge, or have an appropriate background to understand how complicated those choices can truly be. A lot of times, the supply officer simply orders whatever is the cheapest or what they can get a deal, on and then the marksman is stuck with it—which leads us into training.

Training is a constant in the Sniper’s life. They are always trying to be the best they can be, knowing lives are at stake every time there is an activation. Training must be a scheduled event, and should be weekly to correctly maintain proficiency in all the requisite skills. Sometimes training can be as simple as a “tabletop scenario” discussion about a previous situation elsewhere, which forces the sniper make decisions shoot/no-shoot decisions based on the given tactical criteria, as well as discussing potential outcomes.

The list of topics where we as snipers need to build our knowledge and maintain proficiency is pretty much endless: moving targets; intermediate barriers; loop-hole shooting; man-tracking; engagement from aerial platforms; land navigation; ballistics; urban operations; vehicle hides; new technology; NVG and Thermal optics; and the list goes on. Point being, a sniper’s training must be both consistent and constant.

Our SWAT Team is broken down into two units. We have 24/7 coverage, broken into front half and back half of the week, with Wednesday as our overlap and training day. One team is very pro-training; the snipers would train two or three times a week, even if it required coming into work early. The other team worked the busier days of the week, which consistently hindered their training time.

In 2013, our team received a call about a male suspect in an apartment complex, brandishing a firearm while eluding patrol officers and attempting to get into apartments. One of the snipers from the other team arrived on scene first, and was directed by patrol to the general location of the suspect. The sniper was also informed the suspect had already exchanged gunfire with the patrol officers.

The sniper soon located the suspect: he was on the 3rd floor of the apartment building, standing in the breezeway between the south and north wings of the building. The sniper directed more arriving SWAT technicians to the north side of the structure—just in case the suspect ran. Once the suspect realized SWAT was setting up containment, he attempted to kick in the door of an apartment, then occupied by a single female home alone.

Our sniper chose to deploy with his bolt-action, .308-caliber sniper rifle loaded with bonded ammunition. When the suspect attempted to kick in the apartment door, the sniper was forced to engage—to prevent the suspect from taking the apartment’s female occupant hostage. Unfortunately, the fired round struck a metal railing, deflecting the bullet’s trajectory enough that it went over the top of the suspect, through the occupied apartment, and exited the north side of the building just a few inches above the heads of the entry team. The suspect realized he was being shot at, so he ran north through the breezeway in the direction the entry team. There was an exchange of gunfire and the suspect was neutralized. There were a lot of lessons learned on this operation, but the point is this: had the sniper been training consistently, despite the hectic schedule, I’m very confident the woman occupying the apartment and the SWAT technicians on the entry team would never have been endangered.

In urban environments, there is higher population density, increased media activity, a myriad of visual obstructions, slope angles, pets, and all sorts of intermediate barriers to deal with. Precision marksmen must clearly understand the rules of engagement for aggressive animals, Hostile civilians, and the laws governing the use of deadly force. The most important factor for urban operations is adherence to Rule #1: ALWAYS blend into your surroundings, regardless of where the mission takes place.

Secondly, with high-resolution maps and tools like Google Earth readily available, the sniper needs to plan discreet INFIL and EXFIL routes, as well as identify potential FFP sites. When determining those locations, a precision marksman must remember to make sure all the entrances and exits of the target location are covered. Depending availability of manpower and length of operation, the sniper/observer team may want to bring security personnel with them; however, this will increase the footprint and increase the likelihood of compromise.

Once the FFP has been established, the sniper/observer team must ensure the position does offer both cover and concealment, and blends into the surroundings. The team must relay their position back to the command post, along with any exigent intelligence. The pair must also finalize their cover/concealment, plan escape routes if things go badly, conduct detailed visual search of the target building via the rifle scope, spotting scope, or binoculars, and start a range card for distances between their position and known points on the target location.

A topic typically overlooked is what happens after a precision marksman pulls the trigger. I teach a class about the “sniper mindset,” where we focus on several areas that allow a sniper to be prepared from beginning to end—no matter how the operation finishes. For example, we discuss the fact that a sniper engagement does not automatically mean the end of the operation. On the contrary, it may be just the beginning.

What if there are more armed suspects on the location?? Even if it’s a barricade with a single suspect who is successfully neutralized with the first shot, a sniper must still be ready to cover the entry team as they move to secure the suspect and clear the structure. We also discuss what happens to the sniper after the mission concludes. For example, if it’s a law enforcement agency, there will be a full investigation into the incident, step by step, start to finish. Even in a military sniper engagement, there will be questions to answer about why the trigger was pressed and rounds were sent downrange. A sniper may feel as though they’re being second-guessed, and may end up questioning their own actions.

In March 2014, I was called to a freefall drop zone. There was a subject barricaded in an RV who had fired shots at the personnel manning the drop zone, and threatened the responding patrol officers. When I arrived at the scene, I put on the top portion and veil of my ghillie suit, and made my way to a position which allowed me to look inside of the RV. While I was in position and coordinating the other arriving SWAT technicians and snipers, I could see the suspect inside, watching the entry team as they arrived and prepared to move to a forward position. I could see the veins bulge in his neck as he was screaming at them. At one point, the suspect stepped out of the RV, armed with a Soviet-era SKS semi-automatic rifle. He chambered a round and began to shoulder the rifle, which indicated an intent to engage the entry team where they stood. I responded appropriately and negated the threat before he could fire on my teammates.

My decision to shoot invited a lot of criticism from people not on the scene and, more importantly, did not have a firm grasp of all the variables. For example, traffic on the highway near the location of the standoff was backed up for miles, and traveling at only 5 mph. The effective range of the SKS rifle is 400 meters, and the distance from the suspect’s RV to the highway was approximately 200 meters. So not only was the entry team endangered, but so were a staggering number of civilians traveling that section of highway.

Most of the criticism came because the information presented was very general, stating only that the suspect was in the middle of the desert in his RV when I engaged him. When you’re on the scene and end up employing your weapon, the last thing you want to hear is that others—especially your leadership—have issues with your shot, and a criminal investigation into your actions is about to ensue. That alone will create an unbelievable amount of anxiety in anyone. In my situation, once all the facts were presented and the totally of the circumstances at play were considered, my actions were legally justified under department policy, as well as both state and federal statute. It was also morally the right decision.

The reason I bring up this up is to show, as precision marksmen, the need for open and honest discussion about how things play out after the shot. It also addresses the need of leadership or administrations to have both faith and trust in the knowledge, training, and experience of the snipers. The legality of your actions should always be discussed and prepared for, to include the possible presence of an attorney to represent you after you’ve applied your training in a real-world situation.

The list of potential topics to discuss with urban sniping is pretty much endless. There is neither the time nor the space to touch on all of it, but my goal was cover what I feel are the most critical points. So to close, I will leave you with this thought: whenever you’re moving out for a real-world operation, always approach it with the thought of, “I’m going up against someone who is better trained than I am.” First and foremost, that realization will keep you humble and eager to both learn and train as much as possible. Secondly, it will keep you from taking a lackadaisical approach to the mission, thereby minimizing the risk of you or any of your teammates being critically wounded or killed.

Be smart, train hard, and continue to hone your craft.

#Modern Urban Sniper #Charles Moser #Mosers #believingican

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colourmyliving · 5 years

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Looking for a multi-room sound system, these speakers from Audio Pro are not only cheaper than most multi-room speakers but are capable of producing high quality audio backed by plenty of connectivity options.

Shopping for multi-room sound systems that you can put setup yourself without the need for costly installation? Not wanting to compromise on sound quality while at the same time trying to keep within your budget? Wanting to add as many speakers as you can afford to cover all the rooms and spaces? Audio Pro Addon series have you covered.

Impressive warm room filling sound that remains distortion free even at higher levels. No harshness. Sounds more expensive and higher wattage output than it is. Bass that you can actually feel.

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Advantages

High quality audio to rival big players with more expensive speakers in the market

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Analogue input with RCA and 3.5mm

Wired Ethernet

AirPlay2, Bluetooth and Dual band WiFi support

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Disadvantages

Love it or hate it retro design and look with exposed driver

No Hi-res audio format support or hi-res streaming service support

No wall mount bracket option

Name can be confusing, Addon is not actually Add-on

App could be better, Alexa integration is via app only except for Addon C5A which has it built-in

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Audio Pro – BEST FOR CONNECTIVITY, SOUND & VALUE

From Sweden comes the retro looking award winning multi-room system. They consists of the Addon C3, Addon C5, Addon C10 and Link 1. The latter being the bridge between the speakers and existing wired Hi-Fi system. These speakers carry the boom box design, moving away from the conventional cloth wrapped and cylindrical shaped speakers you see from most of the manufacturers here. For something that resembles the convention, Audio Pro has A10 and A40 for that.

The Scandinavian design gives the speakers a simplistic and minimalist feel with textured outer body, real leather handle and polished aluminium control panel. However, the expose speaker design, save for some grills on the pair of tweeters may not be for everyone especially family with children. It is just too tempting for the little fingers. Should you have little ones at home, you may want to keep it out of reach.

The smallest speaker, the Addon C3 has built-in rechargeable battery that last up to 15 hours at 50% volume or 9 hours at full volume on a full charge. This makes is not only a multi-room speaker a portable one too, one that does not need to be tethered to a wall socket making it completely wire-free. Outside of the home’s WiFi network, simply switch to Bluetooth or wired it directly to your device to continue playing. Unfortunately, there is no USB DC output to charge your mobile.

Audio Pro Addon C3 Portable Multiroom Speaker on Amazon

Interface and Connectivity Options

The Addon C3, C5 and C10 moved away from the fabric and rounded shape. What you get is a simple rectangular box with drivers, speaker grill, control panel on the top including Aux-in jack and a leather strap as handle. All speakers carry the signature 2.1 look with the tweeters on either side sandwiching the woofer in the middle. On the back you get RCA, 3.5mm and Ethernet apart from WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connectivity as well as Airplay and Spotify Connect support. There is also a convenient USB port to charge your device.

I was going to go for the Sonos play 5 until I the read reviews on the C10 so glad I changed my mind sound is just as good and £200 pound cheaper! I have listened to both the Bose and Sonos at my local independent retailer and was really impressed with the Sonos but I must say the Audio Pro won’t disappoint

The C5 and C10 also supports sub-woofer output for that extra kick. Input can be re-streamed to other speakers. The readily available analogue input lets you revive your old kit from turntables to MP3 players or other mobile devices and share this with other multi-room speakers. For quick access to your favourite playlist or station, use four programmable preset buttons. Of course, the higher the model, the bigger the speaker and power.

Alexa Voice Control

Moving with the times, voice control is added into the Addon C5. Known as the Addon C5A, it supports Amazon Alexa, the smart home assistant inherently. Using far field microphone, you can control the music playback, get weather forecast, daily news briefing and control other smart devices by barking your commands at the speaker. Being Audio Pro, the Addon C5A still spots RCA and 3.5mm input and the essential Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity plus Airplay and Spotify Connect support.

As for other speakers in the range, these support voice control over the app. Support for Alexa put the Audio Pro speakers on a level playing field with the likes of Sonos. Stream your favourite music hands free with voice command. You will need to use the Audio Pro Control app to access Amazon’s voice assistant. Speak to Alexa through the app and hear your requests or response through connected speakers.

This implementation may not be as sleek but it is a step in the right direct. Our hope is that an Alexa skill will be introduced or an update will allow these speakers to appear in the Alexa app as devices so they can be grouped with Echo devices in each room making them the default player for the room.

Audio Pro Addon C5 on Amazon

Audio Pro Control App

The companion app is avilable for iOS or Android. Access major streaming services and Internet station using the app. Services include; Tidal, Spotify, Deezer, TuneIn, Qubuz, iHeart Radio and Napster. Everything about the speakers can be controlled via the app. These include grouping and customising individual speakers for personal playlist room-by-room. Here is also where you can fine tune your listening experience, set up stereo pair with dedicated Left and Right channels, set the treble and bass levels.

Choice of Speakers

Like most multi-room systems, you get a choice of different sizes. Audio Pro’s multi-room setups are as below:

Addon C3: 2x5W + 15W Digital class D with Tweeter: 2 x 3⁄4” textile dome and Woofer: 3.5” long throw (built-in rechargeable battery)

Addon C5 and C5A: 40W Digital class D amplifier with Tweeter: 2 x 3⁄4” textile dome and Woofer: 4” long throw, Sub output. USB DC output to charge mobile devices.

Addon C10: 80W Digital class D with Tweeter: 2 x 3⁄4” textile dome and Woofer: 5.25” long throw, Sub output.

Addon C-SUB: 200W Digital class D Woofer: 6.5” long throw with Passive radiators: 2 x 7.5″

These speakers can be set in different rooms, paired for stereo effect with dedicated left and right sides, grouped and play or play everywhere.

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Audio Pro Addon C5A with Alexa Built-in on Amazon

Our favourite is the Addon C5A. Costing a little over half the price of Sonos Play:5 it comes with Alexa built-in so does not require a separate Amazon Echo or rely on the app for voice control and supports the Addon C-Sub. If you prefer even more power, get the Addon C10. With double the firepower at 80W output, it will fill any modern room, pushing out rich and precise notes with clear resonating bass. The Addon C10 takes what you like about the Audio Pro sound quality and push up even further, more dynamics, more bass and greater detail.

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Audio Pro Addon C10 on Amazon

Other Options from Audio Pro

Other multi-room offerings from Audio Pro are the cylindrical fabric covered A10, an Apple HomePod look alike and equally generous in the fabric department, the A40 anniversary model. Both speakers stayed away from the retro look, favouring instead the scandinavian simplicity in design with elegance and sophistication. Both speakers carry the same level of connectivity enjoyed in by the Addon series. The A10 is seen as a direct competitor to Play:1 making it an affordable speaker for a small room. The A40 on the other hand is in a class of its own with a big ticket price nearly double that of the Play:5.

Audio Pro A10 Multi-Room Speaker on Amazon

For something even bigger, the floor standing Audio Pro Drumfire pushes 300W total output. It has a dedicated high and mid-range unit (100W output) and big subwoofer on which it sits on (200W). The result is not only does it produces the volume required to shake any house but does so with Audio Pro’s award winning signature audio. Price wise, apart from the A40, the A10, Addon series and Drumfire are unbeatable. You can’t get any better sound at these prices. It doesn’t however offer a home theatre solution like Sonos does. You can be creative, combining two speakers and a sub for stereo and extra low range.

Audio Pro Drumfire on Amazon

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Quick Comparison Table of Audio Pro’s Addon C-series Speakers

Mobile Devices: swipe left to see more.

Addon C3 Addon C5 Addon C5A Addon C10 Addon C-Sub Link 1 Specifications Amplifiers: 2 x 5W + 15W Digital Class D Tweeter: 2 x ¾” textile dome Woofer: 3.5” long throw Amplifier: 40W Digital Class D, Tweeter: 2 x ¾” textile dome, Woofer: 4” long throw Amplifier: 40W Digital Class D, Tweeter: 2 x ¾” textile dome, Woofer: 4” long throw Amplifier: 80W Digital Class D, Tweeter: 2 x ¾” textile dome, Woofer: 5.25” long throw Amplifier: 200W Digital Class D, Woofer: 6.5” long throw, Passive Radiators: 2 x 7.5” Wireless streaming and multi-room adaptor Wi-fi/Ethernet ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Bluetooth 4.0 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Streaming Services Spotify Connect, Apple Airplay and all major streaming services supported Spotify Connect, Apple Airplay and all major streaming services supported Spotify Connect, Apple Airplay and all major streaming services supported Spotify Connect, Apple Airplay and all major streaming services supported Wireless Auto Connect pairs with nearest Audio Pro multi-room speaker Spotify Connect, Apple Airplay and Audio Pro multi-room Alexa Voice Control Via Audio Pro Control App Via Audio Pro Control App Alexa built in Via Audio Pro Control App N/A N/A Audio Formats MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, Apple Lossless MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, Apple Lossless MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, Apple Lossless MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, Apple Lossless MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, Apple Lossless MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, Apple Lossless Inputs/Outputs Wi-fi + Ethernet, Bluetooth, Aux In 3.5mm Stereo, Power In Wi-fi + Ethernet, Bluetooth, RCA and Aux In 3.5mm Stereo, Power In / Sub output, USB Phone Charge Port Wi-fi + Ethernet, Bluetooth, RCA and Aux In 3.5mm Stereo, Power In / Sub output, USB Phone Charge Port Wi-fi + Ethernet, Bluetooth, RCA and Aux In 3.5mm Stereo, Power In / Sub output, USB Phone Charge Port Wi-fi + RCA in, Wireless Auto Connect for simple set-up Wi-fi + Ethernet / 3.5mm stereo output, TOSlink optical Portable Battery Power ✓ Dimensions (H x W x D) 11.5 x 22 x 14 cm 13 x 25 x 15 cm 13 x 25 x 15 cm 16.6 x 32 x 18 cm 23 x 23 x 23 cm 10.5 x 10.5 x 2.9 cm Weight 2.45 kg 2.65 kg 2.93 kg 4.56 kg 8.18 kg 0.75 kg

Audio Pro Addon C-series Multi-room Sound System: affordable, fully capable Sonos alternative Looking for a multi-room sound system, these speakers from Audio Pro are not only cheaper than most multi-room speakers but are capable of producing high quality audio backed by plenty of connectivity options. 1,899 more words

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flauntpage · 7 years

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Kyrie Irving's Future May Hinge on Justise Winslow's Potential

We're smack dab in the middle of the NBA's annual dead zone. Just about every relevant free agent has found a home and a majority of teams are ready to hit training camp with a full roster. But Kyrie Irving's unresolved trade demand still hovers over the entire league. A deal involving Irving could be more consequential than any transaction we've seen since the Finals ended.

Irving is only 25 years old, with two years and a player option left on his contract. No player's individual bag of tricks is more bottomless than Irving's. He has an answer for every defensive assignment, with peerless handles and a deadly pull-up shot, crossed with the deconstructive focus of a bomb disposal expert when finishing at the rim.

The phrase "no man steps in the same river twice" is apt when watching Irving play basketball. He bombards opponents with an assiduous fluidity that makes him one of the most aesthetically pleasing athletes in the world; the fact that he no longer wants to play beside the second-best player ever, on the NBA's second-best team, has induced league-wide convulsions.

Several variables make predicting the results of any trade that hasn't even happened yet impossible. But it's hard to see how the Cleveland Cavaliers can increase (or even maintain) their postseason potency without Irving on their roster. Of course, that doesn't mean intriguing proposals from rival teams won't flow.

Last week, the Miami Heat reportedly offered Goran Dragic and Justise Winslow for the four-time All-Star. Dragic, as the singular locomotive who could ostensibly replace Irving's gravity and flair, while Winslow exists as the blue-chip wing prospect who makes downgrading from Irving to Dragic (who's 31 years old) worthwhile.

The Heat denied everything, but this rumor still brings up a question that the Cavaliers and Heat are forced to confront: Can Winslow be a star? Is he destined to become a left-handed Jimmy Butler: the swift, switch-happy brute who excels on the defensive end while also being able to carry a pretty good offense on his shoulders? Or is he the next Michael Kidd-Gilchrist: an ox-strong defender who rebounds, finishes in transition, but can't overcome his shooting woes?

It's impossible to know the answer right now, though the Heat can't guarantee Winslow will even start on the opening night of his third season. Regardless, he remains Miami's single biggest reason for optimism, both as a trade chip and possible franchise player. Here's what we do know: Coming off an injury-plagued campaign in which he only appeared in 18 games, Winslow's trade value is approximately 8,000 times lower than it was 12 months ago. A variety of factors—a few being out of his control—led to a sophomore slump, but some of his weaknesses shouldn't be taken lightly, either.

Photo by Soobum Im - USA TODAY Sports

Last year, Winslow became the ninth player in league history to register a sub-.400 True Shooting percentage while using at least 19 percent of his team's possessions (minimum 500 minutes). That's a brutal stat. The percentage of his field goal attempts that were behind the three-point line dropped by 10 points, too. The sample size here is low, and even though most of Winslow's misses weren't even close to going in (a mild concern, to say the least), his technique wasn't atrocious and he still shot 41.8 percent from downtown in college.

"A guy like him, he can get to the rim whenever he wants and get in the paint whenever he wants," Heat teammate Wayne Ellington told VICE Sports. "He doesn't even need to worry about [outside shooting] right now, but I feel like once he locks in on that area it'll become easy for him."

There's some validity here, but a lost season is a lost season, and wings who can't space the floor limit the ways in which their teammates can prosper. Last year, Miami's offense scored at about a league average rate when Winslow didn't play. When he was on the court they were one of the worst attacks in the league.

To be fair, in addition to the limited sample size, Winslow also missed 16 games with a wrist injury suffered in November, an ailment so painful he slept with a brace and couldn't eat with his left hand. Winslow wasn't exactly a dead-eye sniper before that, but having a healthy hand is sort of important if you want to create any sort of rhythm and consistency with your jump shot.

He struggled to finish at the rim, didn't draw fouls, and, even though he proved capable of creating space in the mid-range, wasn't able to knock those shots down either. Some of his struggles were due to a dramatic reduction in surrounding guidance (Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, and Luol Deng all left) and some of it can be explained by Miami having worse injury luck than anybody else.

At 21, in just his second year, Winslow's responsibilities mushroomed in a way most prospects that age aren't ready for. A measly seven percent of his possessions ended as a pick-and-roll ball-handler when Winslow was a rookie. That number more than tripled last season, according to Synergy Sports. And while solving this initial attack was no Rubik's cube (big men simply sagged back to goad a jumper), Winslow's instinctual vision made placing him in these situations look genius.

"We want to develop him in all the versatile ways that are his strengths, and that's when he's at his best, when you use him in a lot of different areas," Spoelstra said before Winslow's final game of the regular season. "Handling the ball, making decisions, playing on the baseline, playing as a cutter, as a screener, and defensively we've asked him to guard one through four pretty much on a nightly basis."

Photo by Steve Mitchell - USA TODAY Sports

He fit right into Miami's whirling drive-and-kick offense as yet another initiator (alongside Dion Waiters, Dragic, James Johnson, etc.) who could grab a defensive rebound and go. His assist percentage doubled and his turnover rate dropped. Winslow knifed his way through the opponent's first line and found open shooters peppered beyond the arc, with next-level skip passes and lobs that second-year forwards don't make. It all looked so futuristic.

Distributing out of the pick-and-roll he ranked in the 89th percentile, per Synergy Sports. And among all players who finished at least 50 of these possessions, Winslow ranked sixth in the entire league.

"Justise means a lot," Ellington said. "He's a professional. He's a high IQ player, smart player…He's one of those guys, we like to call him Swiss Army Knife. He's got a lot of things he can do that a lot of guys can't."

Winslow's results when attempting to put the ball in the basket himself were in the toilet, but elsewhere he performed beyond his years, with decisive movement that was preceded by unwavering confidence. His first step snapped like a rattlesnake's tongue, and his ability to defend multiple positions was invaluable for a team that feasted after stops. Miami's defense was noticeably more cohesive with Winslow on the court, the unusual prospect who entered the league already understanding more elaborate schemes at the professional level.

He could switch screens, handle larger bodies in the post, rebound, and attack in transition. It's a rare skill-set for any player, and even if his lacking outside shot lingers as a serious dilemma, the baseline of a useful tool is already here.

It all makes Winslow an intriguing youngster with high upside, unteachable qualities, and a career worth seeing through. It's hard to say if moving him for Irving is a wise long-term move, though it's unlikely the Cavaliers would have much interest in acquiring a piece who only complements LeBron James on one side of the ball.

When considering a trade for someone who's volatile enough to either become a perennial All-Star or a peculiar role player, everyone involved must deal with a level of uncertainty that should make them quite uncomfortable. Winslow remains a tantalizing mystery box.

Kyrie Irving's Future May Hinge on Justise Winslow's Potential published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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flauntpage · 7 years

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Kyrie Irving's Future May Hinge on Justise Winslow's Potential

Photo by Soobum Im - USA TODAY Sports

Photo by Steve Mitchell - USA TODAY Sports

Kyrie Irving's Future May Hinge on Justise Winslow's Potential published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

0 notes