The ungrateful always forget what misery feels like as soon as they have the upper hand. These foul characters complicate the job of others and make them uncomfortable because they can’t get out of their own way. Cheap fools are usually destined to repeat their blunders and in short order, are back at the bottom where they belong.
I wish I could say it’s inconceivable that Deandre Ayton hasn’t received his max extension, but the Suns are owned by this slipperiest eel of the negotiating table, Robert Sarver. He once infamously played hardball with Joe Johnson in 2005, electing to finish the year before financially compensating an up-and-coming All-Star. Iso Joe left that summer in a sign-and-trade to the Atlanta Hawks and had his best seasons away from Phoenix.
He even ruffled the feathers of one of the classiest players in the league, Goran Dragic, by signing Isaiah Thomas and then extending his inferior backcourt mate, Eric Bledsoe, months after the Slovenian guard’s All-NBA season. The Dragon was clever and likely knew that in his contract year, with his role and production gashed, playing under those circumstances would cost him serious money in free agency. Dragic then went rogue and spilled his frustrations to the media, expediting his exit in 2015.
The Suns missed the playoffs every season from 2011 until 2020 and started multiple rebuilds. In their first attempt at miserably constructing a winner, they were fortunate 12 teams passed on Devin Booker. In fairness, Booker wasn’t expected to be first or probably top five because he wasn’t a starter at Kentucky. Yet, it’s more of an indictment on the “scouting” of all the other clubs if the best marksman of the draft (2015) slipped that low. Again, in hindsight, the Suns were fortunate he was available.
A couple of years later, Sarver hired James Jones as Vice President of Basketball Ops while extending Ryan McDonough, then general manager. In 2018, Phoenix won the draft lottery, subsequently picking Ayton, the most coveted player in college basketball.
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Ayton performed well in his rookie campaign, averaging a double-double on one of the worst teams in the NBA. That year he was overshadowed by the mesmerizing season Luka Doncic had for the Dallas Mavericks, as he ran away with the Rookie of the Year award. Despite the arrival of Dallas’ generational talent, Ayton impressively displayed high proficiency in his craft. It usually takes longer for big men to develop, but he’s been a player long before he laced them up professionally.
Ayton’s size cannot be taught. Meanwhile, Sarver and the Suns are treating one of their franchise cornerstones like 7-footers grow on trees. Every other team in need of an upgrade at center would melt at the possibility of acquiring a matchup nightmare like #22.
The Phoenix Suns are playing a dangerous game letting their unhappy big-man arrive at restricted free agency in summer 2022. The organization can hide all it wants under the premise that it was a business decision, but they risk Ayton interpreting his lack of a deal as a personal matter. The Suns extended Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet, who was just traded to Phoenix this offseason, before paying Ayton. Ayton’s role is arguably the most pivotal behind Booker’s.
In 2021, Phoenix won the West and came two wins shy of an NBA title. To ensure the Suns stay in the mix for years to come, they will need to pay Ayton every dollar he is looking for past this season.
But this is Sarver, a man who in so many ways, cannot be trusted. He is the type of guy who, as local hero Greta Rogers said at the Phoenix City Council in 2018, “He’s so tight, he squeaks when he walks.”
Roger’s called out Sarver because he had the nerve to request $150 million worth of tax-payer renovations for the Footprint Center while the team had an abysmal record the year before.
Some people’s ignorance cannot be helped. No matter how many times they stumble at the same obstacle, fools are destined to repeat the past.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/F31E5A3B-019E-4E5D-874C-B8CB47993A29-scaled.jpeg17062560Mateo Mayorgahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMateo Mayorga2021-10-22 12:27:442021-10-22 13:22:17Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Sarver, The Ungrateful (Phoenix) Sun
And I have one question for you: Can you feel the Heat?
We should all just spend the whole day going around asking people, “Can you feel the Heat? ” And then when they’re like, “Huh? Wha?” We say it louder. “CAN YOU FEEL THE HEAT???” And whenever anyone says, “ah, no, I, what,” or hesitates to say anything other than “Hell yea, I can!” we drop-kick them in the throat and run away shouting “FOR THE CULTURE.”
So what’s the 2021-22 Miami Heat gonna look like? Let’s preview it, suckas!
But, before we get going: Follow and then hit PLAY on this playlist and CRANK IT THE FUCK UP and then RUN THROUGH A FUCKING WALL HEAD FIRST.
And ok, now read on.
Ok, how excited should we be about this 2021-22 Miami Heat?
Real excited. Did you not listen to the playlist? Are you dead inside?? Are you a lifeless husk of flesh with no feelings or emotions or GUTS?
Yes, but how exactly are they going to make us feel excited? You know, basketball-wise.
Oh you want to get technical on the how. Ok. This Heat team is going to rip everyone’s throat out of their assholes and properly fuck everyone’s shit up on defense, that’s how.
So the Heat are just going to be one of those grind out defensive teams that score 70 points a night?
Not necessarily. Because, yes, they’re going to be making stops, and grabbing defensive rebounds. But then they’re gonna turn on the afterburners and ride into the Danger Zone with their skull-smashing transition ass-wrecking offense led by Jimmy, Kyle, Bam, and The Fireball Whites. The Heat are going to win games when they play defense and then turn their opponent’s missed shots into fast break points. And, with the additions of gamma ray-infused badass motherfuckers not to be trifled with, PJ Tucker and Markieff Morris, that is going to happen a lot.
What about Jimmy? Is Jimmy gonna be Jimmy Buckets This Year?
Are you high? Fuck and yes is the answer to that question.
Ok, but he looked gassed at times last season.
And you look like a bucket of shit!
What?
Look, there was this weird narrative last year that Jimmy had fallen off a bit. That’s a bunch of bullshit.
Maybe it was because he was tired from his hard play in the bubble?
Or maybe it was because he was tired from getting off your mom.
Please stop.
Look, whatever the reason for Jimmy hitting the wall last season, this whole Jimmy is fading thing is all horse cockery.
Horse what?
HORSE COCKERY. Because here’s the good news for your Miami Heat: Jimmy remains Jimmy. And thus, this remains very bad news for the rest of the NBA.
With a dong harder than volcanic rock and a willingness to attack the rim with the ferociousness of a charging frothing pitbull, Jimmy Butler remains one of the most effective players getting to the rim and drawing fouls from shit-for-brain mongoloids dumb enough to get in his way. And when he’s not drawing those fouls, he’s drawing defenders in and then kicking out to Fireball White #1 or Fireball White #2, who proceed to then go all Human Torch from the three-point line.
Moreover, Jimmy led the league last year in steals per game, and stat geeks will tell you he ranked sixth in the league in Value Over Replacement Player, fourth in Box Plus/Minus and third in Win Shares per 48 Minutes, which is basically nerd-talk for: When He Needs To, Jimmy Butler Reaches Deep Into His Big Bag of ASS WRECKAGE and Comes Through When We Need Him Most.
But didn’t Jimmy falter in the playoffs?
Sure. But that’s only because the NBA decided to royally fuck the Heat by making them play roughly 8,453 games between the previous year’s playoff run and last year’s regular season, which they crammed together with little rest time because Adam Silver is an asexual being from outer space who doesn’t understand that humans get tired and need rest to regarge. And so Jimmy was naturally, as the medical books call it, tired as fuck.
The truth is, according to NBA statsguy John Schuhmann, the Heat were 11.1 points per 100 possessions better with Jimmy Buckets on the floor (+5.2) than they were with him off the floor (-5.9). And that was with a gassed Jimmy.
No matter how you slice it, we WANT Jimmy on that wall, we NEED Jimmy on that wall.
So, don’t fret. Because Jimmy is now fully rested up, refreshed, and has a clean ass.
And that can only mean that he’s now ready to resume being the hardcore crotch-kicking-half man-half-machine we all know and love.
Why else should we be excited for this 2021-22 Miami Heat?
Because the Heat finally landed THICC BASKETBALL JESUS!!!
After playing grab ass with rumors and speculation and flirting with the possibility of coming on down to Miami, Kyle Lowry and the Miami Heat were finally able to take shit from swiping right, to fucking in the shower (proverbilly speaking) and have now joined forces to form an ass-wrecking Voltron that’s ready to crush our enemies into a fine powder and to see them driven before us and to hear the lamentations of their women.
Also, Kyle Lowry loves the ever loving shit out of playing defense. And now he’s hitting the floor with dudes who love the ever loving shit out of playing defense just as much as he does. It was just meant to be. He’s the missing piece!
How will he make us better?
It’s no secret the Heat’s offense was asstacular at times last season. But, as it always goes with star veterans who are desperate to get the fuck out of Dodge from their shitcavern teams, Kyle Lowry sent out the PATSIGNAL…. and Pat answered. And now we have a guy that’s going to alter the fortunes of a once limp-dick offense.
Kyle changes everything. He’s efficient, aggressive and smart. Instead of being one of those point guards that heaves the basketball up toward the rim like it was dipped in COVID, Kyle has a knack for knowing when to attack the basket, and when to take the smart shots. He also has a delicious, delicious ass. He knows how to keep his and his teammates’ heads in the game, and he is totally ready to kick those who wrote him off last year so hard in the face that their brains are going to explode out the backs of their heads.
Is this Tyler Herro next-step thing real? Is all that talk about trading him away last year going to mess with his game?
Ha ha ha idiots. Tyler Herro is here to impregnate all of you on this ticky-tock with his goofy hair and his awesome basketball prowess. He’s going to be all the way back, AND YOU’RE ALL GONNA FUCKING EAT IT AND YOU’RE GOING TO LIKE IT.
But so many Heat fans wanted him gone. That’s gotta screw with someone’s confidence, no?
Here’s the thing about Tyler Herro and those who wanted him gone last year: He’s apparently been leaving his fucks as tips for housekeeping at the team hotel, so don’t bother asking him for any fucks because he’s ALL OUT.
What we’ve seen in this preseason is a Tyler Herro that’s been told not to worry about the chatter and just ball the fuck out. And so, he’s come out swinging, and is fully prepared to kick the narrative that he’s nothing but a so-called Bubble Guppy into the stratosphere. And he’s going to write his name on the ashes with his piss after the narrative comes crashing down in a flaming ball somewhere in a New Mexico desert.
What about Bam? Is he finally ready to get more aggressive on offense?
Bam can and will be a monster from the word GO. He’s said as much already. He’s already a guy who mercilessly smashes the Heat’s opponents in their collective faces with a piano over and over again until their players have piano keys for teeth. Now all he has to do is bring that intensity into his offensive game. And once he does, it’s gonna be DEFCON 1 for the rest of the NBA.
We forget that Bam has only played as a starter for only two seasons, and is still a young pup at 24. He’s shown us time and again that he knows how to initiate the offense out of the high post and is developing into quite the midrange shooter off the dribble. In other words, shit is about to get ACTUAL in this motherlove.
Will Erik Spoelstra finally get the respect he deserves league wide?
Who gives a flying squirrel dick? We know that Spo is amazing and we don’t need others to validate that.
Yes, but… isn’t it time he gets serious consideration for Coach of the Year?
Well, ok, yes. And here’s our prediction: Spo will win Coach of the Year this season.
Ever since the Celtics hired Brad Stevens back in 2013 and all throughout the time since, we’ve had to deal with the ceaseless yammering of a million whining gravy-stains-on-their short sleeve shirts analytic nerds about how Brad Stevens is supposedly the best and brightest coach in the NBA because he likes math and defense or some such bull dick nonsense. And that Spo, for all his winning, was only successful because he had the luxury of having LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh suit up for him. Because Brad Stevens only coached sock puppets and not an actual NBA team filled with All Stars and big-play guys, apparently.
And yet, after Spo settled the argument of who is the better coach during the 2020 playoffs by reaching into Brad’s high-waisted mom jeans and tearing out his proverbial heart through his proverbial asshole with his beautiful basketball mind, in six games, Brad was sent packing upstairs, and the argument is officially over and John Hollinger can shove his face into a woodchipper.
So enough already with crowning a guy as the best when he never won jack dick in the NBA and let’s start recognizing Erik Spoelstra as the best coach in the league already, you numbnuts.
Shove all that unearned love of Brad Stevens into an Elon Musk billion dollar fart rocket and shoot it directly into the sun.
So, what then, can we surmise from all this?
It’s simple, really. When this Miami Heat team is fully engaged and all in BLOW UP PEOPLE’S ASSHOLES mode at the same time, people’s assholes will get blowed up. Period.
And when things get precarious and the games feel like they could swing either way, this veteran-laden team with their collective bulldog groupthink will show the NBA watching world that it’s ready to FORNICATE with its We’re-Not-Giving-A-Single-Solitary-Fuck-If-The-Other-Team-Has-Big-Time-Scorers-We’re-Not-Folding-Tonight mentality.
Prediction?
Record: 50-32; 1st in the Southeast Division, 2nd in the Eastern Conference; NBA CHAMPIONS
You can see other 5 Reasons contributors’ predictions here. Spoiler alert, only Greg, Royal and Tony have the guts to agree with our prediction of the Miami Heat ending the season atop the mountain. The rest of you cowards are DEAD to me.
Let’s go Heat.
Chris Joseph is a sometimes contributor to 5 Reasons Sports, an occasional podcaster, an exquisite copywriter, a stand up comedian, a novelist, a soccer enthusiast, a movie buff, and all an all around cool guy so if you ever run into him on the street, please don’t hesitate to not say hello. You can follow him on Twitter here. He loves you all very much.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svg00Chris Josephhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgChris Joseph2021-10-21 10:59:062021-10-21 12:54:14Heat in Five: Your Miami Heat Season Preview Palooza!
After the shortest offseason in NBA history followed by what seemed like the longest offseason in NBA history, NBA basketball is back this week! Heat fans have enjoyed an exciting preseason, but now things are for real. In the last weekend without basketball for eight months, Five Reasons Sports gathered thirteen “experts” (stop laughing) to make their season predictions. If you want to join in yourself, we also started a fan poll so that you can make your predictions and we’ll save the receipts.
Our experts were nearly unanimous on the Bucks taking the East’s top spot, with Marco going “lone wolf” on the Nets. The panel was pretty clear on the Nets and Heat taking the 2nd and 3rd seeds, but the middle seeds were extremely mixed. The Hawks took the 4th seed, and the Celtics just edged out the Sixers for the 5th seed. After the top six, the panel seems to have a significant drop to a lower tier of teams with six different possibilities fighting for the play-in spots at 7th-10th.
Average Expert Rankings:
Milwaukee Bucks (1.08)
Brooklyn Nets (2.41)
Miami Heat (3.50)
Atlanta Hawks (5.00)
Boston Celtics (5.58)
Philadelphia 76ers (5.67)
Chicago Bulls (7.3)
New York Knicks (8.91)
Play-In Candidates (ranked in order of votes): Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, and Washington Wizards
Eastern Conference Finals:
Royal: Bucks vs. Heat
Mateo: Bucks vs. Heat
Bryan: Bucks vs. Nets
Toine: Bucks vs. Heat
Michael: Bucks vs. Heat
Kendale: Bucks vs. Nets
Ricky: Bucks vs. Nets
Tony: Bucks vs. Heat
Sean: Bucks vs. Nets
Brady: Bucks vs. Heat
Adam: Bucks vs. Nets
Gad: Nets vs. Heat
Greg: Bucks vs. Heat
Western Conference Predictions:
Unlike the Eastern Conference, our experts were torn on the best team in the west with each of our top four teams receiving 1st place votes. The consensus seems to believe there is a clearly defined tier of four teams, followed by the Warriors, and then another tier of eight teams competing for the 6th-10th seeds.
Average Expert Rankings:
Los Angeles Lakers (2.25)
Utah Jazz (2.58)
Denver Nuggets (3.58)
Phoenix Suns (3.91)
Golden State Warriors (5.16)
Dallas Mavericks (7.50)
Portland Trailblazers (8.16)
Los Angeles Clippers (8.25)
Play-In Candidates (ranked in order of votes): Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves
Western Conference Finals:
Royal: Lakers vs. Warriors
Mateo: Lakers vs. Nuggets
Bryan: Lakers vs. Warriors
Toine: Lakers vs. Nuggets
Michael: Lakers vs. Warriors
Kendale: Lakers vs. Warriors
Marco: Suns vs. Nuggets
Ricky: Lakers vs. Nuggets
Tony: Nuggets vs. Jazz
Sean: Lakers vs. Suns
Brady: Lakers vs. Suns
Adam: Lakers vs. Nuggets
Gad: Lakers vs. Suns
Greg: Lakers vs. Jazz
NBA Finals Predictions:
Royal: Lakers vs. Heat
Mateo: Lakers vs. Bucks
Bryan: Lakers vs. Nets
Toine: Lakers vs. Bucks
Michael: Warriors vs. Heat
Kendale: Lakers vs. Bucks
Marco: Nuggets vs. Nets
Ricky: Lakers vs. Bucks
Tony: Nuggets vs. Heat
Sean: Lakers vs. Nets
Brady: Suns vs. Heat
Adam: Lakers vs. Nets
Gad: Lakers vs. Nets
Greg: Lakers vs. Heat
NBA Champion:
Royal: Heat
Mateo: Lakers
Bryan: Nets
Toine: Lakers
Michael: Warriors
Kendale: Lakers
Marco: Nets
Ricky: Lakers
Tony: Heat
Sean: Nets
Brady: Suns
Adam: Lakers
Gad: Nets
Greg: Heat
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Who Will Win 2021-2022 NBA MVP?
Royal: Durant
Mateo: Giannis
Bryan: Giannis
Toine: Harden
Kendale: Jokic
Marco: Jokic
Ricky: Embiid
Tony: Jokic
Sean: Durant
Brady: Giannis
Adam: Luka
Gad: Giannis
Greg: Steph
Who Will Win 2021-2022 NBA Rookie of the Year?
Royal: Jalen Green
Mateo: Green
Bryan: Green
Toine: Green
Michael: Jalen Suggs
Kendale: Green
Marco: Cade Cunningham
Ricky: Cunningham
Tony: Scottie Barnes
Sean: Green
Brady: Barnes
Adam: Green
Gad: Green
Greg: Davion Mitchell
Who Will Win 2021-2022 NBA Most Improved Player?
Royal: Michael Porter Jr.
Mateo: Gary Trent Jr.
Bryan: OG Anunoby
Toine: OG
Michael: Victor Oladipo
Kendale: Porter Jr.
Marco: OG
Ricky: OG
Tony: OG
Sean: Jordan Poole
Brady: Christian Wood
Adam: Dejounte Murray
Gad: OG
Greg: Poole
Who Will Win 2021-2022 NBA Sixth Man of the Year? Royal: Jordan Clarkson
Mateo: Marcus Smart
Bryan: Tyler Herro
Toine: Herro
Michael: Clarkson
Kendale: Michael Porter Jr.
Marco: Herro
Ricky: Herro
Tony: Herro
Sean: Herro
Brady: Herro
Adam: Derrick Rose
Gad: Herro
Greg: Herro
Who Will Win 2021-2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year?
Royal: Bam Adebayo
Mateo: Bam
Bryan: Bam
Toine: Anthony Davis
Michael: Bam
Kendale: Bam
Marco: Bam
Ricky: Bam
Tony: Giannis
Sean: Bam
Brady: Rudy Gobert
Adam: Bam
Gad: Davis
Greg: Bam
Who Will Win 2021-2022 NBA Coach of the Year? Royal: Erik Spoelstra
Mateo: Frank Vogel
Bryan: Vogel
Toine: Steve Nash
Michael: Spoelstra
Kendale: Ime Udoka
Marco: Michael Malone
Ricky: Spoelstra
Tony: Spoelstra
Sean: Spoelstra
Brady: Monty Williams
Adam: Michael Malone
Gad: Malone
Greg: Spoelstra
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Who Will Be the Best Player Traded This Season?
Royal: CJ McCollum
Mateo: Ben Simmons
Bryan: Simmons
Toine: Domantas Sabonis
Michael: McCollum
Kendale: Brandon Ingram
Marco: Kristaps Porzingis
Ricky: Kyrie Irving
Tony: Simmons
Sean: Myles Turner
Brady: Simmons
Adam: Simmons
Gad: Simmons
Greg: Bradley Beal
Who Will Be The 1st NBA Head Coach Fired?
Royal: Vogel
Mateo: Chris Finch
Bryan: Luke Walton
Toine: Walton
Michael: Scott Brooks
Kendale: Walton
Marco: Walton
Ricky: Popovich (retire)
Tony: Dwayne Casey
Sean: Walton
Brady: Walton
Adam: Walton
Gad: Walton
Greg: Wes Unseld Jr.
Will Kyrie Irving Play For The Nets This Season?
Royal: No
Mateo: Yes
Bryan: Yes
Toine: Yes
Michael: Yes
Kendale: Yes
Marco: Yes
Ricky: No
Tony: Yes
Sean: Yes
Brady: No
Adam: Yes
Gad: Yes
Greg: Yes
Will Ben Simmons Play For The Sixers This Season?
Royal: Yes
Mateo: Yes
Bryan: Yes
Toine: Yes
Michael: Yes
Kendale: Yes
Marco: No
Ricky: Yes
Tony: Yes
Sean: No
Brady: Yes
Adam: Yes
Gad: Yes
Greg: No
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebicon.png450450Sean Rochesterhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgSean Rochester2021-10-19 08:25:122021-10-19 08:25:12The Five Reasons Sports NBA Preview: 14 Contributors Give Their Predictions
We’ve reached the end of the Miami Heat preseason and South Florida sports fans couldn’t be happier. Miami has now played an entire regular season, postseason, and almost a whole preseason before the one-year anniversary of their Finals defeat. While preseason records are not indicative of what’s to come; there are some things you can take from these games. General playing style, rotations, and placement of roles are a few that tend to bleed into the regular season. I’ll be taking a look at a few of these examples and others that especially caught my eye throughout most of the games. Some of these will definitely excite Heat fans, but there are a couple of worrisome spots as well.
1: Tyler Herro’s Added Strength Helping His Jumper
One of the big stories coming into Miami Heat Media Day was the newly chiseled Tyler Herro. The former Kentucky Guard is out to prove a point this season. While you see many stories of guys gaining muscle during the offseason, nothing much comes from it once the games get started. “Muscle Watch” only goes as far as the player implements it into their actual play. For Herro, he’s already shown how beneficial the new weight has been for his play. One thing that caught my attention was how his lower body strength has improved an already pretty jump shot. You can see how much easier it is for Tyler to shoot coming off of screens now.
Last season (black jersey, mirrored above) he needed to dip lower in order to get more power. Now (white jersey) you can see how much easier it is for him to immediately go into the pull-up; no longer needing to exert as much strength.
The newly added lower body and core strength also help Herro get a higher apex on his jump shot. One of the shortcomings many had for Tyler out of college was his wingspan. It has been said that he can negate that with the height he possesses.
Now with the added height, he’s added it will be even easier for him to shoot over defenders. He’s making the game easier for himself and has led to great results so far. Hopefully, it continues into the regular season.
2: Selective Pace
During the opening of Media Day, Coach Spoelstra talked about the pace that Kyle Lowry would bring to Miami. Heat fans and media employees scoffed at the idea due to how slow the Heat have played since 2014. However, pace doesn’t always mean playing like the 2007 Golden State Warriors. Pace can also mean getting into sets quicker, attacking in semi-transition, or constant movement at a consistent rate.
Kyle Lowry has already shown how much he’s going to help in all of these phases. The various ways he can attack in transition and semi-transition are akin to what I remember Dwyane Wade and LeBron James did. Lowry is not the athlete that those two were, but the way he manipulates space and reads defenders is very similar. He has shown his mastery at reading the exact moment defenses start to relax in transition and exploiting it for easy baskets.
Lowry knows some of the players, including himself, on the team won’t be able to run throughout a regular season. That’s why he’s been selective in the opportunities so far. Veterans play to the team’s strengths and fans shouldn’t worry about running out of gas late in the season. It’s a nice change of pace to have a team getting into sets faster instead of waiting until 15 seconds on the shot clock.
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3: Backup Point Guard – Tyler Herro or Gabe Vincent?
Once again going back to Media Day, Gabe Vincent talked about the expectation of having more ball-handling duties. After the preseason it still feels like those backup point guard duties might be leaning the way of Tyler Herro. While Gabe Vincent has shown he can be semi-capable in this role, Herro has shown so much improvement with his on-ball reps that it’s hard to argue with him not having the ball in his hands more.
Miami may have had a plan to give Gabe more responsibility, it looks like Herro’s newfound ways of attacking pick-and-rolls might have won him the defacto backup PG role. I imagine Lowry or Butler will be on the floor 98 percent of the time and the need for a definitive backup won’t be much of an issue. Hopefully, Vincent can focus on getting his jumper going to help the assist numbers of Herro early on.
4: The Markieff Morris Question
Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat have had a great track record of helping journeymen stretch 4s find their footing in the league. Players like Luke Babbitt, Okaro White, James Johnson, and Jae Crowder have had great success within the Heat system. However, Markieff Morris seems to be struggling to find what type of role he’ll be in early on. It is early but the returns are not strong so far.
Morris appears to be a player who’s best suited as a small-ball 5 on a team that already has a solid backup 5 in Dewayne Dedmon. It doesn’t hurt to have lineup versatility, but Morris isn’t good enough as a small 5 to warrant much hoopla. Markieff’s role will hopefully be figured out, or it seems much more likely Miami will be looking to add a different 4. Someone in the vein of Thaddeus Young to help during the buyout market or trade deadline most likely.
5: Bam Adebayo’s Score-First Mentality
We all heard the comments that Bam Adebayo made that he’ll look to be a shooter this season. The early returns after a full preseason lineup with those remarks. Adebayo averaged 18.7 FGA 7.4 FTA per 36 minutes in the dress rehearsals. Compare that to his 20-21 averages of 12.5 FGA and 5.5 FTA, it’s quite an uptick. Not only are his eyes focused on the rim at all times, but his teammates are constantly looking for him. Kyle Lowry has especially been a big part of Adebayo’s uptick in shots. It’s astonishing watching Lowry look for his big man on quick seals and transition opportunities. He’s using the athletic weapon on the Heat roster to his fullest powers.
Lowry is finally unleashing the big advantages that have been there for years for Miami. I expect Lowry to help Adebayo in the same way Chris Paul did DeAndre Ayton this past season. There will be some warts to deal with as well. Bam has had trouble finishing off self-created opportunities in the preseason. He has also health with his share of turnovers when his initial move is cut off. These sorts of issues should get ironed out with more reps and it will be fun when they do. It will be his first season truly being utilized in this role, so you can’t blame him for needing constant reps. He’s in for a big year and the Heat will go as far as he takes them.
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/A028C90D-A32D-46BF-BD6A-136FE2F94670.jpeg7201280Marco Romohttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMarco Romo2021-10-18 16:03:302021-10-18 16:03:30Five Preseason Notes to Take Into Miami Heat’s Regular Season
A basketball looks more aerodynamic than Zion Williamson. Since his days at Duke, he’s punished the scales whenever stepping on them as his 6’7 frame carries 284 pounds of “reported” diesel.
One of the dilemmas with New Orleans’ star forward pushing maximum density is he is not a 7-footer, despite being an athletic marvel. Even if he was a pivot, weighing so much is not necessary. It doesn’t take a medical professional to point out the extra armor he is carrying on to the court is probably slowing him down and causing unnecessary stress on his lower body.
With respect to Williamson, he may have developed the extra mass while rehabilitating from injuries, which has resulted in him playing 85 games in two seasons. Yet, there were questions about his durability when he entered the league. His participation in Summer League didn’t last 10 minutes before bruising his left knee. He also tore his right meniscus in his rookie preseason, which caused a postponement for his real debut until January of 2020.
On draft night 2019, Williamson was listed at 285 pounds. It was an alarming number then, but he managed to get away with it as his arms still looked massive and defined. At media day on *Sept. 27,* #1 posed for a photo, spinning a ball on his fingertips, but the image captured is knight-and-day when it’s observed next to the same picture taken two years ago.
Williamson’s face looks puffier, and his arms aren’t as chiseled, but somehow he is still listed at the same weight of his rookie season. He’s rehabbing again, but this time for a surgery he had on his right foot during the summer, which will cause him to miss the start of the team’s campaign. There is no timetable for a return, per ESPN.
I don’t claim to be a doctor, but with an ailment to his extremities limiting him, maybe Williamson should work on abdominal exercises to slim down his waist. One would think less weight up top means fewer issues downstairs.
In 2021, Williamson earned All-Star honors. Of the 27 players who received the title, Williamson was the heaviest, and he is the height of a guard and small forward.
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For Williamson and the Pelicans, the upcoming campaign has enormous expectations. In his first two seasons, New Orleans had a realistic chance of making the playoffs, despite the extensive time their star forward missed or with the addition of the league mulligan known as the play-in-tournament.
In both tries, Nola failed to reach the postseason, and the coaches’ heads rolled after each of those years. The Pelicans needed a fresh start after Alvin Gentry. David Griffin miscalculated when he hired Stan Van Gundy as his replacement. First-year head coach Willie Green now holds command, and the anvil placed on his shoulders this year is massive.
With Williamson eligible for a contract extension at season’s end, it’s imperative for the Pelicans to grab a playoff spot without competing in the play-in-tournament. New Orleans’ worst-case scenario would be if Williamson refuses a new deal and shows a willingness to enter restricted free agency in summer 2023. A hot start and continued success might be the only way the Pelicans can avoid such a fate, but the odds are stacked against them as long as Williamson isn’t available.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/5CCDF702-BC55-4633-8A43-5BCB315F307C.jpeg342474Mateo Mayorgahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMateo Mayorga2021-10-15 12:09:362021-10-15 12:09:36Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Zion Williamson, Thicker Than Most
It won’t be a surprise if Kyrie Irving‘s attitude costs the Nets their best chance at a championship. To date, Nash has defended Irving in front of the press, but the former two-time MVP’s patience is tested every day while he supports the star guard’s decision to avoid the COVID-19 vaccine.
Whenever Brooklyn’s coach addresses media inquiries about Irving’s status, his body language screams he would rather be anywhere else than answering questions about a man who does not respect his instructor.
Teammates have not thrown him under the bus either despite Irving’s unacceptable actions. But GM Sean Marks drew a line in the sand with his statement Tuesday that Irving will not practice or play until he can be a full-time participant, per the Athletic.
Management’s ultimatum puts the ball in Irving’s hands to do the right thing. Still, his reluctance to do what everyone else on the team has done is a distraction and an indication that Irving is a walking contradiction.
Brooklyn’s lead guard is known for acts of generosity. He has given six-figure donations to food banks and personal protective gear to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe during the pandemic, where he is an honorary member, and for his support of women’s professional basketball. These initiatives paint the picture of a man who is not afraid to show empathy, but his anti-vaccination stance and the ramifications that come with it counter his good deeds.
The pandemic has claimed the lives of 4.5 million people worldwide, but Irving thinks taking the shot or even revealing he has is a personal matter. He even whined that his privacy should be respected. It would be nice if Irving could explain to everyone why all those dead people are a partisan issue beneath him. Unfortunately, it will probably never happen because when Irving is tested on anything, he goes off on a pseudo-intellectual rant that’s almost incomprehensible.
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He’s the same guy who thought it was hilarious because the fans and media were curious why he said the earth was flat four years ago. He did not understand that as a public figure, unfortunately, people will listen to what he has to say just because he dribbles a basketball. Worse yet, some will think that a man who went to school on an athletic scholarship for a semester before going pro is a revolutionary thinker.
Thus far, the mercurial guard has missed the first three preseason games. The first in Los Angeles was a coaching decision. The second exhibition was in Brooklyn against Milwaukee, where he couldn’t play because of New York City ordinance. The third was in Philadelphia and he was not with the team. These games are relatively meaningless and count only for making sure the players aren’t fat and that teammates develop timing and chemistry.
The regular season is approaching on Oct. 19, and there is no sign that he will vaccinate. If that’s the game #11 wants to play, the Nets should fine him for every game he misses. Executive Director of the Players Association Michele Roberts told the New York Daily News the Players Union did not agree to dock pay for missed games for an athlete who is not vaccinated, but that it is the position of the league that it can.
The Nets should fine him anyway. If the Players Union has an issue with that, then both parties should settle it in court. If it gets there, Brooklyn’s conscience should be clear. Irving made it ugly.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/8E179153-0F55-4C21-969E-AC1394B2DA36.jpeg8501200Mateo Mayorgahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMateo Mayorga2021-10-12 11:39:072021-10-12 11:39:07Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Living on Irving Island
The 2021-22 season is a brand new start for so many players on the Miami Heat. Some of them are newcomers, while others are familiar faces with something to prove. The trials and tribulations of an embattled second season are behind guys like Kyle Lowry, Bam Adebayo, and Duncan Robinson. But for Tyler Herro, a player entering his third season, he sees an opportunity to show everyone what he’s truly made of.
To look forward to the future, we must first examine the past path of the young guard out of Kentucky. Herro would have to abruptly stop the rookie campaign that saw him post a solid 13-4-2 line while shooting 38% from 3 on 5 attempts a game. An unprecedented pandemic forced everyone to readjust their usual NBA clocks. It’s hard to imagine how this would affect rookies that had yet to even set their clocks. But Herro made the most of the break between the abrupt hiatus and bubble down in Orlando.
We saw small improvements in his finishing that included hints of a floater game; as well as better on-ball handling, and reps in the pick-and-roll. The young Heat rookie had worked tirelessly to help his team reach another level once it was playoff time. This reputation of always wanting to improve and wanting to be in the gym like his mentor Jimmy Butler was a reason the organization fell so fast for him. Though Miami ultimately came up short in their run; the team and their fans felt they had something special brewing with Tyler Herro.
But not everything comes easy, and reality can hit you like a sack of bricks. The NBA announced that the next “regular” season would begin in less than 80 days. No real offseason for a player who proved what he could do when given the proper time off to improve. Another wrinkle in the path Herro thought would be a lot smoother.
It was a rough 2020-21 season for the team as a whole, and especially for a second-year player like Herro. Dealing with the weight of expectations, nagging injuries (hip and foot) that never went away, and new celebrity status. But even when going through the hell that was 2021, Tyler came out of the other side with improved raw stats as he put up 15-5-3. When you took a closer look, his shooting numbers did take quite a dip, but the perseverance to get any sort of upward tick was gutsy in itself. You could see how everything was weighing him down throughout the season. It was fitting that the day he had his best game of the season against the Sixers, putting up 34-7-4, we learned he was playing through neck spasms.
Herro played through it all yet received numerous criticism for falling in love with the celebrity side of NBA life. While he was improving his finishing at the basket, people could only point out his shortcomings. Expectations were getting ridiculous and his loud internet fanbase wasn’t helping manners. Neither were the constant trade rumors following him for pretty much the entire season. From the James Harden whispers to the Kyle Lowry talks that followed soon after.
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Herro’s 2020-21 was a war of attrition between him and circumstances beyond his control. One battle would end and another would start immediately after. He never surrendered but it was clear the ammunition just wasn’t there.
But now the 2021-22 season is on its way. Herro’s received proper time to prepare for new battles and obstacles thrown his way. “He’s had a great offseason, it’s all about impacting winning. Everything his 1st year was roses & easy sailing. Last year he was better statistically but it’s important to be able to handle adversity and when the narrative changes to forge ahead” said Coach Spoelstra on Herro during media day. “I am going to wake a lot of people up,” said Herro about the number of people sleeping on him.
We got a glimpse of the newly equipped Tyler in his first preseason game against the Hawks this past Monday. Herro was not only hitting his usual jumpers but getting to his spots easier. You can see from the video below how much the game has slowed down for him. You can’t take too much from preseason, but the style of play and fluidity of motion is easily translatable into the regular season. The dividends that Herro’s on-ball reps that occurred throughout his first two years were starting to show already. You can see the way he puts his defender in jail when coming off that initial screen. He’s not being forced out to the perimeter as easily with his newly added bulk. Getting to that second line of defense consistently was always the next step in his process to being a really good scorer.
It’s pretty appropriate he was up against Trae Young, who has mastered this exact kind of scoring. Another thing Herro looks to emulate from Young is the immaculate floater game. While Tyler is a much bigger player than Trae, it never hurts to use the shot known as the “giant killer.” Herro spoke after the game saying “I think it’s a really efficient shot for me as opposed to getting all the way to the rim against 7 footers all the time. Whether it’s pulling up in the midrange, or getting to that floater, I think I can be really efficient in that area all season.” The in-between scoring has always been a facet Herro has shown flashes of before. Mastering it will allow him to take another step forward.
There is also the rim pressure portion of Herro’s game that was quietly on display that night as well. Tyler’s added weight and visible bounciness helped earn him 6 free throw attempts and assists off drives. During a team scrimmage earlier everyone was buzzing about a dunk he had in traffic that seemed to turn some heads. No one had seen things like that before; which is why it was the cause of such talk. Adding 4-5 free throws a game would do wonders for someone who already has such a smooth jumper. What better players to learn about drawing fouls at the rim than Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry after all?
Speaking of Lowry, his impact is going to do wonders for the next step the boy wonder will take. Having another player like Butler who loves setting up his scorers the way Lowry does? That’s music to the ears of everyone involved, especially a score first guard. “Everyone notices the differences when he’s out there. The way he gets everyone to their spots, he’s really advanced in that area. He’s helping me a ton, I’m blessed to be able to play with another guy like him,” Herro said about playing with Lowry.
Thinking less and being able to play more freely are what Lowry allows Herro to do. These sorts of things are even more important to a guy like Tyler, whose game is best suited in free-flowing offenses. Allowing him to read and react faster without the demon of overthinking hanging on his shoulder. That overthinking was what constantly jammed his process last season; whether it was on the floor or off of it. Now leading a bench unit all to himself, while at the same time always being on the floor with another creator in Butler or Lowry or both. A Sixth Man of the Year award seems more than likely if he performs the way many envision.
Guys like Kyle Lowry can do wonders in player development. Just look at how much it helped with players like Fred Van Vleet, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby. Miami hopes that he does the same with Tyler Herro as well as Bam Adebayo.
Tyler Herro has very rarely dealt with any sort of normal circumstances since he got into the NBA. But he hasn’t complained one bit, even if it would be quite understandable. He’s forged ahead with the hand he’s been dealt when others might have crumbled. Ready to prove to everyone that writing him off so early was their first mistake. Playing “free” and “loose” with a bounce to his step.
A bounce that has visibly returned, whether literally or figuratively. Tyler has talked about how much his game is predicated on confidence. Last year was such a rough year, that it might have broken any other player’s confidence — but not for Herro. He started immediately after the Bucks series, as Coach Spoelstra pointed out, and never looked back. He looked forward to working hard on his game during an actual offseason. Adding whatever he could with the time finally granted to him. His confidence, health, and bounce are back; all that’s left is to show everyone who the real Tyler Herro is.
Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_9683.jpg498640Marco Romohttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMarco Romo2021-10-07 10:27:212021-10-07 10:27:21Tyler Herro is Primed for a Bounce Back Season
It didn’t take more than a day for Jason Kidd, newly hired head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, to take an unfair jab during media availabilities at his rockstar point guard Luka Dončić. The art of communication has never been a forte of Kidd’s. Just ask his first wife, Larry Sanders or Zaza Pachulia. But this latest under-the-radar admission potentially indicates he didn’t learn as much as he said he did serving under coach Frank Vogel’s Lakers staff.
“I want to remind him that he can rely on his teammates,” said Kidd while comparing Dončić to a young Picasso.
Someone as talented and experienced as Kidd should know that it’s injudicious to criticize a player in front of the press. Worse yet, when his reasoning is misguided and it’s the star of the team.
The only player on the Mavericks that can initiate the offense to take 10 eyes of Dončić while they share the court is Jalen Brunson. The roadblock here is that Brunson is most effective in a reserve role and should probably see the court mostly when Dončić rests because of the group’s shortage of orchestrators. Dallas’ All-Star is burdened with scoring, facilitating and rebounding because the front office keeps striking out in Free Agency.
At Media Day, Dončić was asked about Kidd’s comments and said he agreed. Yet what else can you say when the new boss is a reported verbal abuser and proven wife-beater? Dončić was possibly trying to start on a bright note after souring the relationship with the previous honcho (Rick Carlisle).
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It must have been an uncomfortable situation for Dončić because disagreeing makes it a story on day one that the new coach and star player don’t see eye-to-eye. Kidd’s cliche was unnecessary and perhaps disingenuous, owing to the fact that Dončić has no co-star. Kristaps Porzingus was supposed to be the antidote to this problem, but his health is always compromised by injuries which leaves him out of sync when returning to the court.
The last two playoff appearances for the Mavericks resulted in first-round losses to the Los Angeles Clippers. It’s unforgettable how effective Dončić was while catching all of LA’s defensive schemes, even doing so playing through neck pain. Had Dallas’ lead guard had a running mate available that could get two feet in the paint at will, maybe the Mavericks wouldn’t be so concerned about Dončić wearing down at the end of each series.
It’s the front office’s responsibility to put pieces around the former EuroLeague champion that will simplify his job and not just replace an instructor with a coach that speaks in platitudes. In Kidd’s last two posts as head coach, he first tried to unceremoniously seize general manager Billy King’s position, the man who hired him, but was denied by ownership. The Nets then traded Kidd to Milwaukee for a pair of second-round picks, per Jeff Zillgit of USA Today.
As “leader” of the Bucks, Milwaukee reached the playoffs twice, and he was let go a couple of months into his fourth season due to the team’s disappointing start. It was reported by ESPN that Giannis Antetokounmpo was unhappy with his dismissal, but NBA Insider and former columnist and reporter for the New York Post Peter Vecsey told me that news was exaggerated.
In Kidd’s third stop as lead instructor, paired with a generational talent for the second time, he has four years to live up to the heights reached by Rick Carlisle and the 2011 Mavericks. Indeed, a challenging task for someone who struggles with controlling his emotions.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/image0-40.jpeg509530Mateo Mayorgahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMateo Mayorga2021-10-04 12:33:202021-10-04 12:33:20Mateo’s Hoop Diary: J-Kidd Off to a Rocky Start?
Competitive professional hoops are fewer than three week away from what should be a memorable 75th year honoring the NBA and its former legends. Teams have licked their wounds and reloaded through the draft and free agency for their next campaign as the NBA attempts a return to normalcy in its third season dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Below are five reasons to stay hooked on the NBA:
Who is Klay Thompson today?
Thompson hasn’t suited up since Game 6 of the 2019 Finals. He missed all of the following season (2019/2020), recovering from his torn ACL, then on last year’s Draft night, tore his Achilles’ tendon in a private workout.
It’s unfair to Thompson, but the success of the Warriors season rests in his health. Golden State need to get something close to his production level pre-injury in order to legitimately compete for titles. Stephen Curry is catching every defensive scheme from the opposing team, and with Draymond Green’s inability to hit an outside jumper or take advantage of driving lanes, the Warriors often play 4-on-5 while Green is on the court.
The refusal of Andrew Wiggins to vaccinate is also a factor because he’s ineligible to play in home games and it doesn’t appear he will change his mind soon. Wiggins told the press that he will keep “fighting” for what he believes in. As long as he remains misinformed, the Warriors will be without a guy who doesn’t hunt shots and keeps the ball moving on 19 points per game. His potential absence creates a larger burden on the rest of the Dubs.
Thompson’s injuries are two of the most ruinous wounds an athlete can endure, and they will undoubtedly hinder him on the defensive side of the court, where he was once among the league’s elite. Offensively, Thompson has a solid chance of regaining his old form due to playing in the Warriors motion offense.
Thompson said at Media Day not to expect a return before 12 months since tearing his Achilles tendon on Nov. 18.
Will Kawhi Leonard play?
Kawhi Leonard suffered a partially torn ACL during Game 4 of the West Semis against the Utah Jazz that sat him the rest of the Clippers playoff run. Leonard, historically, has been very conservative with his health and once played all but nine games in a season (2018) recovering from a torn quad.
Just on pure speculation, I wouldn’t expect Leonard to play next year because it would place the burden on him to be the savior of the franchise come postseason time. There is also no guarantee the Clippers will habitually perform well without the services of their best player, so returning next year could be a futile effort for Leonard if the team has poor positioning in the playoff bracket by the time he is healthy.
At Media Day, Leonard said he hoped to play this season, but he offered no timetable for his comeback.
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Can the Nets star trio stay on the court together?
Due to various health concerns and PTO, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant only suited up for 13 games together, regular season and playoffs combined. Yet, they are on the books for over $120 million of the Nets cap space. In that minuscule sample size, the star threesome has won 10 games and lost three while teasing spectators on what could be their final form offensively once they’ve learned each other’s tendencies.
Although, on the less-heralded side of the court, the Brooklyn Nets were 22nd in Defensive Rating according to NBA.com, and that starts with their three linchpins. The only way this big three can begin to show a commitment to the side of the floor is if they manage to get on the court together consistently. Still, due to their supernova abilities attacking the opposing defense from all angles, the Nets don’t have to be better than average at guarding.
Getting on the court may be an issue. Irving remains unvaccinated and he is ineligible to play in 41 home games per New York City ordinance. If he remains unvaccianted, the Nets take a serious blow to their title aspirations.
Epidemic of the selfish
Per ESPN, close to 40 players remain unvaccinated placing their teams in a competitive disadvantage if the unvaccinated player comes into contact with someone positive for COVID-19. This forces the athlete into a week of quarantine when it wouldn’t if they were vaccinated.
The anti-vaxxers in New York City and San Francisco dig their teams a deeper hole because they will not be allowed to compete in 41 home games, per The Athletic.
There are also the health risks that come with not being vaccinated. The CDC says it’s harder to catch and pass on the virus when vaccinated, but these thick-headed individuals refuse to listen to wisdom from medical professionals.
It is not a personal issue. It’s a public health crisis, and these poor teammates who refuse to do the right thing are also becoming distractions for their clubs.
Impact of Olympic competition on players next season
When great basketball players are around their peers, many return home with their skills fine-tuned and an enlightened mind. This comes from time spent learning the tricks and tools of the NBA’s elite and listening to a separate coaching staff than accustomed to.
After the 2014 FIBA World Cup that Team USA won gold in, the Splash Brothers came back and dominated the next regular season and playoffs, with Curry winning league MVP. James Harden finished second behind Curry, and he was also a part of Team USA.
The United States team who won gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, features young players on the verge of superstardom, such as Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Zach Lavine, and Bam Adebayo. The experience these gentlemen gathered playing in the Olympics, which is essentially a different game because of the rule differences and increased physicality, is invaluable. This master class experience should keep them sharp and in shape heading into next season. Expect a significant amount of this team’s players providing more contributions for their clubs when the 2021/2022 season starts.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/image0-38.jpeg393581Mateo Mayorgahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMateo Mayorga2021-09-30 10:17:372021-09-30 10:17:37Mateo’s Hoop Diary: 5 Storylines for the 2021-22 NBA Season
Today marked the first day that many new faces, as well as old ones, wore their Miami Heat threads in front of media for the 2021-22 season. It felt like the dawning of a new day. The bad vibes and weirdness of last season were officially behind everyone. As most Media Days go, it was time for optimism and looking ahead.
Nothing exemplified this more than Kyle Lowry stepping up to the podium saying “good morning. Good morning! Sh*t!” Trying to wake up a room full of media members the same way he hopes to wake up this Heat team into a better season. Welcoming them into a new day that’ll be better than the previous one.
The entire day was full of the feeling of a fresh start for so many people. Erik Spoelstra smiling in front of everyone as he talked about how great it was to have an actual offseason with a real training camp on the horizon. Spoelstra has always been a big believer in building habits and how having a routine can help in building them. He’d go on to say that “this offseason was good for everybody. The offseason felt very adequate, it felt long, we were able to get away.” Again, putting everything into perspective about how strange last season was for everyone.
It’s easy to understand Spoelstra feeling such optimism with the team being built so perfectly to what he wants to run. He would go on to say “the way the roster was constructed was done in a very thoughtful way.” This isn’t to say that Miami is a perfect roster — far from it. There are still noticeable holes on the team, but it certainly is apparent that the team has a set identity and pecking order. It’s a drastic difference to what happened most of last year where it took quite a bit to find themselves if they ever did.
One of the players that will be a part of the new identity was PJ Tucker who was wearing his new threads alongside a pair of Jordan 1 “Legends of Summer.” The NBA Veteran seemed to fit right into his new home as he called it “a match made in heaven.” Tucker spoke about how he envisions working next to Bam Adebayo and how easy it is to play with a guy like Bam. He revealed how much he plays pickup with Adebayo and how seamless it will be. Miami hopes that Tucker’s insertion will go as smoothly as those pickup games. And that’s not misguided hope that seemed to follow the team last year — instead, it’s real tenable hope.
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But Miami won’t let hope be the only thing powering them into the season. They have the motivation to cleanse the sour taste of last season’s playoff exit. “I don’t think that chip will ever leave. It’s embedded in me,” added Adebayo during his availability. While he may have been talking about the motivation to get better, there’s no doubt how much this applies to the way he and the team will have a chip to carry throughout the year. Past Heat teams have always operated in the manner that Adebayo speaks of; it’s how they received the reputation they have today.
Another player turning the page from last year is a very noticeably bigger Tyler Herro. You hear a lot about how guys “put on muscle” at the start of camp but most of that can be a lot of fluff. With a guy who came into the league as small as he did, there’s no mistaking how much weight he’s added. It feels appropriate that such a new look comes from a player who is ready to show the league that what they saw last season wasn’t him. A player who was constantly dealing with injuries and getting pushed around both literally and figuratively.
“I think it’ll help on both ends of the floor. Stay in front of my man easier, keep everyone in front of me. Offensively obviously being able to take bumps. My durability throughout the season, I wanna be able to be on the floor and be available as much as I can,” Herro added during the practice court availability. The Heat organization will hope to see how much Herro puts this to work on the floor. A lot of guys add weight, but fewer guys make it matter on the floor. It will help to learn from Jimmy Butler, who is sculpted like a statue, about the intricacies of using strength on the court to your fullest advantage.
It’s these types of stories that tell you how much adequate offseasons matter for an organization that prides itself on putting its players in the best possible position to succeed. It was difficult to put those players in those positions last year when everything was so topsy-turvy.
The weight of last year has started shedding and the light of a new season began to shine on this media day. The possibilities that Bam Adebayo spoke about in expanding his game out to the three-point line, while still being an inside threat with the addition of Kyle Lowry. The hopes of a Tyler Herro bounce-back season that puts him in contention for the Sixth Man of the Year award. The sweet nothings Jimmy Butler whispered into the ears of Heat fans about just how good Kyle Lowry will fit in. The pictures of Victor Oladipo in a Heat jersey once again teasing everyone of what’s to come even further down the road.
Everyone is ready to move ahead and as far away from last year as possible. Even Gabe Vincent is saying he’s ready to shoot the way he did in the G-League as he’s finally come to understand the shot mechanics the Heat staff introduced to him a while back. The entire team, staff, and fans are ready to turn that proverbial page after the horror story that was 2021.It’s a day to feel the first ounce of hope for what should be a fun season, Heat fans. Media Day is only the beginning and we have even more to look forward to in the coming weeks. It truly felt like a brand new morning in the world of the Miami Heat and, in the words of Kyle Lowry, “good morning!” It’s time for the Heat to wake up South Florida sports once again.
Everything Tradeshows is a one-stop-shop for trade show exhibit rentals and custom exhibit display purchase solutions to companies of all sizes.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_9385.jpg20161504Marco Romohttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgMarco Romo2021-09-28 11:25:082021-09-28 11:25:08Media Day Marked the Beginning of a New Day for the Miami Heat
