Five takeaways from Panthers loss to Flyers

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Florida made their way to the City of Brotherly love for their second meeting of the season against the Philadelphia Flyers. 

 

The Panthers won the first meeting 4-3 in Sunrise a week ago, but the Flyers got their revenge in Philadelphia with a 4-3 win of their own.

 

Here’s the takeaways.

 

A power play goal has been scored 

Every time the Panthers play, the big problem staring them in the face is their lack of success on the power play. 

 

Entering tonight Florida was 2/33 on the power play. The first two periods in Philadelphia looked much the same, with Florida going 0/2 on the man-advantage. 

 

However, all things come to an end and the Panthers power play drought, which had not seen a goal since Oct. 15 was one of those things tonight. 

 

Brandon Montour, who scored the last Panthers power play goal two weeks ago once again found the back of the net, giving the Florida power play a much, much needed tally. 

 

Florida only got one power play goal on their four attempts tonight, but it’s a start in the right direction. 

 

The defense was the offense?

Florida’s roster is made up of quite a few guys that are more than capable of burying 30 goals over the course of an 82 game season. 

 

So who scored the Florida goals tonight? Yes, the defenseman. 

 

All three goals by the Cats tonight were scored by the d-corps; Forsling, Mahura and Montour. 

 

The blue liners were finding open lanes and jumping up in the play all game. Florida’s defenseman had 17 shots on goal in the game. 

 

With the forwards not finding the back of the net, it’s good to have your backend hold it down offensively. 

 

Carter Hart slammed the door

Philadelphia’s 24-year-old goalie Carter Hart was the main reason why the Flyers got out of this one with two points. 

 

Hart was lights out, finishing the game with 47 saves. In the final minutes of the third period, Florida was sending everything they had towards goal, but Hart wasn’t having any part of that. 

 

Florida outshot Philadelphia 50 to 22. 

 

Hart improves his season record to 5-0-0 after tonight’s game. 

 

Reinhart and Barkov are still goalless 

For the first seven games of the season, Sam Reinhart was next to Aleksander Barkov on the Panthers top line. Tonight, the pair was split up as their offensive production hasn’t been there, with the duo not having a single goal to their name this season. 

 

The two combined last season for 72 goals during the regular season. 

 

Following tonight’s game, the number still stays at zero, though they both picked up assists in tonight’s one goal loss. 

 

Reinhart and Barkov are two of the best goal scorers on the team, as they showed frequently last year. But the lack of goal production has hurt the team, specifically in close games like this. They need to find the back of the net soon.

 

Colin White quietly contributes again 

The third line has been the most consistent one for Florida all season.

 

With Anton Lundell being the staple down the middle and Eetu Luostarinen getting the bump to a top-9 winger role, the Finns have been clicking. 

 

The other member of this highly-effective line is first-year Panther Colin White. 

 

White doesn’t see the ice as much as Lundell and Luostarinen as he’s not in the special teams rotation, but when he’s out there 5-on-5, he seems to get the job done. 

 

White picked up an assist tonight on Mahura’s goal, making it his seventh point in eight games. 

 

During his last few years in Ottawa, White was setback by injuries and ended up getting bought out this summer. He seems to have found a new spark in South Florida, becoming a much needed player on the wing. 

Five Takeaways from Panthers 4-3 win over Flyers

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SUNRISE – After being the best team at home last season, the Florida Panthers returned to FLA Live Arena for their 2022-2023 home opener. 

 

The Cats didn’t disappoint the home fans as they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3, moving to 3-1-0 on the year.

 

Here are the takeaways:

 

Verhaeghe gets into the scoring flow 

 

Carter Verhaeghe performs well at home, look back at Game 5 of last year’s first-round against Washington. It was no different tonight,

 

Entering the game, number 23 was pointless through his first three games of the season, all of which were on the road. Verhaeghe didn’t let this early season slump affect him at the home opener. Six minutes into the first period, Verhaeghe sniped a shot past Flyers goalie Felix Sandstrom, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead and Swaggy his first goal of the season.

 

Verhaeghe wasn’t done there. Just a few minutes after his first goal, he bursted through the neutral zone, catching a stretch pass from Gustav Forsling. Verheaghe, who is extremely effective off the rush, didn’t waste the breakaway chance, tucking the puck right under Sandstrom’s glove for his second of the game. 

 

Captain Barkov plays his 600th game

 

It was 2013 when the Florida Panthers drafted a soft spoken teenager from Tampere, Finland second-overall. Tonight, that 27-year-old played his 600th career NHL game, all with the Florida Panthers. 

 

Aleksander Barkov, who didn’t even realize at morning skate that tonight would be his 600th game, showed one again why he is the franchise player, he played his game. 

 

Defensively, the former Selke winner continued the little things which have made him a household name across the National Hockey League. The little things being his positioning on the blue line when the Flyers were trying to get zone entries on the power play, his aggressiveness in corner battles and his overall presence across the ice.

 

Offensively he was no different. Barkov picked up two assists in the first period and could have easily had two more throughout the game. He was sprinign his teammates open with subtle but extremely effective passes. 

 

We’ve seen this game for nearly a decade from Barkov and once again we witnessed his worth to the team tonight after seeing it 599 times before.

The defense had a new look

 

With the news today that No. 1 defenseman Aaron Ekblad is on LTIR, which would see him miss at the minimum 10 games and 24 days, the Panthers blueline was looking depleted. The problems didn’t get any better with Brandon Montour missing tonight’s game. The Panthers had to call up Matt Kiersted and Lucas Carlsson for their season debuts. 

 

Gustav Forsling, who already jumped into a top-two role this season with the departure of MacKenzie Weegar once again saw him get a bump with Ekblad out. 

 

The blue-line was a unique one tonight. Forsling and Kiersted started as the top unit, both of whom are left-handed shots. Carlsson was paired with Marc Staal while Radko Gudas was alongside Josh Mahura.

 

The scoresheet saw some points on the scoresheet, with Mahura getting a goal, while Forsling and Gudas picked up some helpers.

 

The blue-line being in a blender didn’t seem to be a problem, with the Cats coming out on top tonight. 

 

Paul Maurice said Brandon Monotur is expected to be a full participant in the next Panthers practice, he was also on the ice for morning skate. Getting him back in the lineup is huge for the Panthers.

 

Welcome to Florida 

 

It can take time for players to get adjusted to a new team and this year’s Panthers squad has a lot of new bodies. 

 

With the 2022-2023 Panthers home opener, some of the new Cats showed out to the contingent at FLA Live Arena. 

 

With his linemates already on the goal sheet this season, Rudolfs Balcers was ready to get in on the action. After a great pass from Sam Bennett, Rudy was free on goal. The Latvian national stayed composed, sold the shot and went bardown on the back-hand to make his first goal as a Panther one for the highlight reel.

 

Balcers wouldn’t be the last new acquisition to get the South Florida crowd on their feet. Josh Mahura was a waiver pickup right before opening night and slotted himself directly into the lineup. Tonight he showed his offensive skill to the home crowd.

 

Mahura walked into the zone and fired the puck across his body, beating Sandstrom right below the glove. Both Mahura and Balcers completed the goals with picture perfect cellys.

 

And not to forget, Matthew Tkachuk picked up two assists tonight in his home debut.

 

It’s good to be home

 

South Florida sports fans had a few decisions to make today as both the Heat and Panthers played their first home games of the season. 

 

Panthers fans made it known, as they did many times last season, they love their team. FLA Live Arena was loud tonight. Whether it was the infamous “ref you suck” chant or the Ric Flair “WOO”, Sunrise was the place to be tonight. 

 

Every big Bobrovsky save, which he had a lot in the third, was accompanied by large rounds of applause. The final goals of the game had the building on its feet. This place was bumping.

 

The players were feeding off the energy,

 

“They’re excited to go play in front of their fans and it’s a good live building,” Paul Maurice said post-game. “I think there’s a good synergy there because I think the fans are having fun, the players on the bench, like they’re working hard but they’re having fun.” 

 

Panthers hockey is back in South Florida.

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Not Enough From Joel Embiid in the Season Opener

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It’s indisputable the 76ers are a loaded squad. After the regular season, it wouldn’t be a shocker if they were the one seed. Yet it remains a mystery if Doc Rivers can unleash them.

Joel Embiid was second in MVP voting in back-to-back campaigns, but he emerged in the season opener with an atrocious shot selection that hindered his club. Anytime the opponent can force Philly’s center into playing mainly from the perimeter, it will likely translate to an extra mark in the win column, as it did for the Celtics.

Thirty-six minutes passed, and the 76ers only attempted 21 field goals in the paint, with a scarce three tries by Embiid in the box. Credit to him for feeling assertive in the fourth quarter, where he registered 5/8 of his close-range shots, but he was rewarded with one free throw by the refs’ whistles in that period.

Embiid’s box score numbers are eye-catching- 26 points on 50% efficiency, 15 boards, 7/9 at the line, etc. Statistically, it was a solid night for Joel. But, anyone who has seen him overwhelm the paint knows the version of him that took the court against Boston resembled a lapdog more than the ferocious wolf he’s capable of being. At TD Garden, he fell into his bad habits.

A third (6/18) of #21’s attempts came from behind the arc, and he only cashed one. Some of these came with a smaller defender in front. Instead of overpowering a mismatch, Embiid took a pair of triples defended by Malcolm Brogdon and Jaylen Brown. As the ball bounced off the iron both times, it dawned on me, why can’t he play smarter?

In the six seasons Embiid has suited up for, he logged over 50% shooting just once. That was in 2021 before Rivers ran Ben Simmons out of town.

Defensively, Embiid was a shell of himself. A couple of fouls picked up in the first quarter reduced his willingness to sufficiently contest. In Boston, the opponent shot 11/19 (58%) from the field, with Embiid as the closest defender.

It was Philly’s first game of the year. Much of their inadequacies- Tyrese Maxey not receiving enough touches, getting beat on the boards, lax rock protection, and poor shot selection- are fixable. But it all starts with the guy towering at seven-feet tall who commands immediate help with the ball in his hands near the rim.

Rivers has to make sure Embiid gets the rock back more often as he rolls to the cup, while James Harden is iced in pick and roll. No more than a fifth of his shots should come outside the arc. He is too streaky from that area, and he can impose maximum affliction on the defense by pushing an opponent with his back.

If #21 focuses on his strengths, the 76ers will turn into a team that can’t be stopped but rather outscored. Harden and Maxey were creating separation without screens. That’s a massive upgrade over their capabilities last Playoffs because then the Beard couldn’t get by anyone without help.

The backcourt’s ability to break down a defense on rim attacks will leave open looks for a cutting Embiid. It’s on the team’s MVP candidate to ensure the group never scores below 50 points in the paint again.

Miami Heat

Five Reasons Sports: Five on the Floor 2022-2023 NBA Predictions

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Thirteen contributors from the Five Reasons Sports network — including contributors to the Five on the Floor podcast — made their predictions for the upcoming NBA season.  You can view the individual predictions from Ethan, Greg, Brady, Bryan, Tony, Ricky, Gad, Timmy, Marco, Alfredo, Alejandro, Mateo, and Sean HERE or an overall summary below.

 

Miami Heat Predictions:

The panel predicted the Heat to finish 4th in the East with a predicted average of 49.7 wins.  Nearly 54% of the experts had the Heat returning to the Eastern Conference Finals and 61% had them representing the East in the NBA Finals.  Only 23% have the guts to predict their 4th NBA championship, but the panel seems confident after a quiet offseason.  Only 31% of the panel believes Duncan Robinson will finish the season on the Heat’s roster despite a strong showing in the preseason.  After showing off his outside shot this summer and in the preseason, our experts predicted an average of 25 three pointers made by Bam Adebayo this season.

 

NBA Champion:

According to our expert panel, the Bucks (31%) edged out the Heat, Clippers, Warriors, Mavericks, and Nuggets for this year’s championship.  They are forecasting a wide open Western Conference, with five different teams (Clippers, Warriors, Nuggets, Mavericks, and Suns) being predicted to finish in the NBA Finals.  In the Eastern Conference, 54% of our experts foresee a 3rd chapter in the Bucks/Heat postseason rivalry.  

 

Award Winners:

If the season plays out how our experts predict, awards season is going to be an exciting competition this year.  Luka Doncic (38%) will win his first Most Valuable Player award, edging out Giannis and Embiid (23% each).  In another tight finish, Paolo Banchero (38%) takes Rookie of the Year over Jaden Ivey (31%) and Keegan Murray (23%).  Our panel ignored national narratives and finally crowned Bam Adebayo as Defensive Player of the Year with an overwhelming 92% of the vote – with Giannis receiving the only non-Bam vote (from a certain left-handed panelist).  The panel’s high expectations for Denver led to two Nuggets being awarded – Bones Hyland (23%) for Sixth Man of the Year, and Michael Malone (31%) for Coach of the Year.  There was a wide range of responses for Most Improved Player with ten players nominated by the panel – only Anthony Edwards, Keldon Johnson, and Anfernee Simons received multiple votes.

 

NBA Bold Predictions:

In anticipation of the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, the panel was split on the league’s worst team with the Spurs, Thunder, and Jazz all getting 23% of “worst team” votes.  Although some of those team’s coaches received votes, the panel predicted that Steve Nash (31%) is the most likely coach to be fired first.  Complimenting their top 5 predicted finish, our experts gave Cleveland the best offseason grade (31%) likely driven by the Donovan Mitchell acquisition.  The panel seems to expect an active trade market with ten different names mentioned as the “biggest name traded this season”, but Russell Westbrook was designated as the most likely to be changing zip codes over the next few months.  

 

Eastern Conference Predictions:

  1. Bucks (5)
  2. 76ers (5)
  3. Celtics (2)
  4. Heat 
  5. Cavs (1)
  6. Nets
  7. Raptors
  8. Hawks
  9. Bulls
  10. Knicks
  11. Wizards
  12. Pistons
  13. Magic

 

Western Conference Predictions:

  1. Nuggets (9)
  2. Warriors (2)
  3. Clippers
  4. Grizzlies (1)
  5. Mavericks
  6. Suns (1)
  7. Timberwolves
  8. Pelicans
  9. Lakers
  10. Blazers
  11. Kings

 

To view each panelist’s selections, click HERE. 

 

(Get your Chase Center tickets now and be ready to witness the action live as the Warriors make their push for the playoffs in the 2022-2023 NBA season.)

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Writing on the Wall for Draymond Green

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When the Warriors said their habitually malignant headache would disappear for a while, they meant a week.  Never mind that Steve Kerr said the pop shot on Jordan Poole was the “biggest crisis” his team’s ever had.  The Warriors are going to sweep Draymond Green’s mess under the rug and throw accountability out the back door. 

 

Before Draymond left on Oct. 6, he said the relationship with his teammate had “splintered.” One has to wonder, what changed so quickly in a week that execs thought bringing him back was a good idea? 

 

Draymond’s quick return is risky.  On the one hand, Kevon Looney, an eight-year vet with the team, said he’s got work to do to earn back trust.  And on the other, you have Green admitting he still has difficulty approaching Poole. 

 

Yet, everything looked normal during the preseason game against Denver on Friday.  He looked in sync with the group, feeding open teammates shielded by pindowns, making cuts to the basket after the catch, and on some occasions, guarding multiple Nuggets per possession.  

 

To the naked eye, it looked like one of the team’s pillars was in midseason form, ready to defend the throne. But what the surface reveals may not tell the whole story.  It was an exhibition with no stakes behind it.  I am still curious to see how Green and Poole share the floor in a game that matters.  That will be the ultimate test to see if they can keep working together, not an abundance of quotes to the press that sound like the right things.  

 

After the game, Poole spoke to reporters for the first time since the incident.

 

“He apologized [professionally].  We plan on handling ourselves that way.  We’re here to play basketball… we’re here to win a championship and keep winning banners.”  

 

Poole is a pro who keeps it all business.  It’s impossible to know now if he harbors any resentment, but if he did, it would be warranted.

 

 It shouldn’t surprise anyone the Warriors are soft on discipline.  Six years ago, Bob Myers said he had blindspots for Green, and then Kerr shared his concerns for “tempering” him because his player might lose an edge. What? This was after #23 threatened his coach, and teammates had to get between them during halftime of a game at OKC.

 

This time, management has set a dangerous precedent for the club.  A player assaulted a teammate and basically received no repercussions.  

 

It grinds me gears the team has said the decision for Green to take his brief leave of absence, which has concluded, was a mutual decision.  Where in the world does a guilty subordinate get to decide his punishment?  Corrupt governments do not count.

 

“He’s been fined, but I won’t talk about the amount on that,” Kerr said Thursday. Green will earn $25.8 million this year. I’m sure he’ll be OK on that front.

 

The Dubs failed to do the minimum in holding Draymond up to the standards of his station.  It’s unclear why he’s getting this pass when some of the worst offenses on his rap sheet, just with the team, include pissing away a championship and threatening his instructor.  A season later, former teammate Marreese Speights, then a Clipper, said Green also disrupted practice that day, and the effects lingered the rest of the year.

 

But it’s unlikely the Warriors will keep putting up with this.  Primarily for financial reasons because with the latest extensions handed to Poole and, more recently, Andrew Wiggins, the club is priced out.  With two years left on his deal (the second is a player option), Green will presumably opt in for the last year, owing to the fact that he wouldn’t get such a lucrative salary elsewhere.  If he does commit to staying for 2023/2024, Golden State’s annual bill jumps to $530 million, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

 

Judging by team governor Joe Lacob’s comments, writing a check that hefty isn’t happening.  Nobody should be stunned if the Warriors decide to put Green on the trade block this season.

 

The team showed its priorities picking the two younger players to extend.  From the outside, it sure does look like the Warriors are preparing for life without #23.  Aside from a resurgence on offense while keeping the same RPMs defensively, the only other factor that could make Golden State reconsider its eventual long-term plans is if there is a lapse in the development of Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, and James Wiseman.   

 

Green has said a lot before and after his hiatus.  He can be very convincing too.

 

“Quite frankly, I like to keep my emotions in…You internalize them. I know I do.  In saying that, it’s not something I want to change because I like to keep my emotions to myself, but what I do want to change, and what I do need to work on is how they end up coming out.”

 

 That sounds like a judicious approach. The point Green also made about “actions showing your apologies” was accurate.  He has the opportunity to prove his regrets are sincere.  He could start by never disrespecting a teammate again.   

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Draymond Green Isn’t Worth the Trouble

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“My love is there and ain’t going nowhere,” said the man who assaulted his coworker.

 

Draymond Green may be that one person who ruins it for the group, a championship squad, I’ll add. The Golden State Warriors had a nice gig going until he thought he was above it all and laid out Jordan Poole.

 

There is nothing his victim could have said to warrant such a fierce blow to the head. And somehow, Green is lucky the ramifications of his rogue hands weren’t more severe to his teammate.

 

What if Poole fell, hit his head, and died, like the victim of recently convicted Mexican actor Pablo Lyle? The deceased was Juan Ricardo Hernandez, killed after taking a punch to the face and hitting the ground with his head, following a road rage dispute.

 

Any reasonable observer can tell by watching TMZ’s video that Green committed the act of a bully. It took no balls for Dray to invade Poole’s personal space and sucker punch him when his teammate pushed his aggressor off—especially considering the size difference of about, hmm, two inches and 40 pounds. All it took was a pathetic and witless show of ego.

 

Yes, of course, Green apologized, and the Warriors said they’d handle the mess internally. But then the video came out, and reportedly, some players didn’t see the strike until it was replayed because they were doing their jobs.

 

The Dubs are trying to settle this privately. Green is taking an indefinite leave of absence, and he and the team allegedly made this decision “mutually.” Just my two cents: Green would have been sent home regardless of his willingness to take this sabbatical. I’m not surprised more reporters didn’t call BS on the member of labor who committed a crime somehow having a say in his punishment.

 

Isn’t Green sure lucky he works for an NBA team? There is not one job worth working where this behavior wouldn’t be cause for termination.

But what started this? A disagreement between the two over foul calls in practice led to Green calling his teammate a “bitch.”

 

I’ve seen this movie before. Back in Nov. 2018, Golden State’s power forward said the same thing to then-teammate Kevin Durant on the sideline during a timeout of a losing effort against the Clippers. When free agency came around, KD left.

 

Nearly two years later, Green interviewed Durant on his show Chips. He asked how much getting called out of his name drove KD to leave the Warriors.

 

Nearly nine minutes into the interview, Durant said it wasn’t the argument. It was the way the team managed its first public meltdown. Green’s lack of grace, then, created a situation to be handled in the first place.

 

This latest offense comes when both guys are looking for contract extensions. Undoubtedly, management won’t be thrilled about potentially being put in an expedited position to choose between them.

 

I empathize with Poole. Having a clip circulate online where you are getting knocked out is embarrassing.

 

Assaulting someone is a serious offense that should not be tolerated in sports. It’s true. Green isn’t the first, nor will he be the last to shamefully compose himself this way. That doesn’t change how he irresponsibly risked irreparable harm to his relationship with Poole and the rest of the workplace environment.

 

It doesn’t matter that fights between teammates happen, and usually away from spies. What Green did to his man is dehumanizing and painful. JP had no chance because he never saw it coming.

 

This wasn’t a fight. It was physical abuse. A genuine-sounding apology in front of the media doesn’t fit the accountability bill. Although, I do appreciate that Green expressed regret to Poole’s family. But maybe Draymond should check himself into some anger management meetings or schedule counseling with a therapist.

“Oh, but this happens in sports all the time.” The people spouting this nonsense must have missed the part of workplace training that instructs employees to keep their hands to themselves.

 

It’s not like Green hasn’t been told that before. He was roped by police for slapping a taunting Michigan State football player back in 2016 in East Lansing.

 

There is no way around it. Draymond is a repeat offender on the decline who is not worth keeping around at his salary. It’s one thing for his offensive play to be a detriment to the group at times because the opponent doesn’t guard him. It’s another when he forgets himself and his importance to the locker room.

San Francisco police said they wouldn’t investigate the attack— not like anyone other than Dirty Harry gets results over there.

Dolphins quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was knocked out of the game on the first play against the Jets.

Pressure Point: Loss to Jets shows how much Dolphins miss Tua

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Quick, pass the Scope. This 40-17 debacle Sunday at the Meadowlands has to leave a sour taste in the mouth of everyone with any association or interest in the Miami Dolphins — players, coaches, fans.

That was a game the Dolphins could have and should have won, despite a mountain of adversity that began on their first offensive play when they lost quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a dubious concussion ruling following a dubious intentional grounding call that spotted the New York Jets a 2-0 lead on a safety.

Yes, it took exactly one play for the NFL’s new amended concussion protocol to open a proverbial can of worms. Ironically, the Dolphins were first to be bitten by it, although those who claimed Miami gamed the previous protocol in handling Tua Tagovailoa’s head knock in Week 3 against the Bills (though the NFL investigation determined they did adhere to procedure) might call it karma.

On Sunday, Bridgewater passed the concussion evaluation but he was prohibited from returning to the game because the ATC spotter in the booth believed he saw the quarterback stumble.

Thus, we had our first brush with the term ataxia, defined as abnormality of balance/stability, motor coordination or dysfunctional speech caused by a neurological issue. That’s the new no-go trigger in the concussion assessment.

Concussion protocol still needs work

With that, the Dolphins were down to their third-string quarterback, rookie seventh-round draft pick Skylar Thompson with nobody else in reserve.

If players are going to be a stumble away from being removed from a game — and this isn’t confined to quarterbacks — then the league is going to need to allow more players to be active or at least available for emergency duty.

Still, the show always must go on, and the Dolphins seemed on their way to adding to an impressive resume of resiliency beginning the fourth quarter — despite also losing their best offensive lineman, left tackle Terron Armstead, and falling into a 12-0 hole.

Dolphins squander opportunity

Having cut the deficit to 19-17, they were driving for a go-ahead score to begin the fourth quarter at the New York 36. Running back Raheem Mostert was chewing up big chunks of yardage on the way to his first 100-yard rushing day as a Dolphin (113 yards, 6.3 yards per carry).

A false-start penalty followed by tight end Tanner Conner dropping a would-be first-down reception halted momentum. Jason Sanders missed a 54-yard field goal attempt that would have given Miami the lead.

Then a Jets storm surge swept away the Dolphins with 21 unanswered points. Just like that, Miami plunged from first to third in the AFC East, the formerly 3-0 Dolphins reduced to 3-2 with leaks springing every which way.

Perhaps most alarming, superstar receiver Tyreek Hill had his left foot in a walking boot after the game.

Dolphins defense a concern

Three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard missed the game with a groin injury, and their other star cornerback, Byron Jones, has yet to play this season.

The defense, which was regarded as such a strength of the team that it was kept virtually intact from 2021, has been looking more like unit that struggled the first half of last season than the one that earned that much respect during the second half. The pass rush has been paltry all season and coverage issues were magnified by Howard’s absence.

Next week they face the Vikings and Kirk Cousins, a top-10 quarterback who lit up the Bears on Sunday.

Most notably, the losses the past two weeks have shown how much Tagovailoa means to this offense. That was evident after Bridgewater replaced him against the Bengals. Then Thompson, who gained a cult following with an impressive preseason, demonstrated how different it is for rookie quarterbacks when pressed into emergency service in the regular season.

When will Tagovailoa return to action? That is the great unknown for a team that has fallen quickly off course.

While Mike McDaniel and his staff have plenty of concerns to deal with this week, it is clear that the hopes for a season that started so promising now hinge on Tagovailoa’s health.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: What’s Next for Tyler Herro?

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Much is expected from lottery picks, especially those who lock up $120 million in guaranteed money before incentives on their rookie extension. The deal is a win for both sides. Tyler Herro gets the long-term security of generational affluence, and the Miami Heat have a blue-chip asset on the books for five years.

Herro has a strong character and work ethic. But he’s also human. At training camp, he said he hears and reads everything that’s said about him; the good, the bad, and the ugly. And like many commoners, his motivation is fueled by detractors.

Herro has upgraded on both sides of the ball every year he has been a pro. He was one of the NBA’s 40 players last season to average at least 20 points per game(20.7), with 30% of his minutes coming in the fourth quarter.

Sometimes the best five players don’t always start, but they sure do finish. Last season, Herro was first in fourth quarter minutes averaged (9.8) and sixth in total time (639.6 min), per NBA Stats. His presence in crunch time before the Playoffs signified that he was as dependable as it gets in the league.

In the Postseason, #14 was unrecognizable from the version of himself that won the league’s reserve crown. Some, but not all, of it is due to playing through nicks and bruises. In the East Finals, Herro missed Games 4-6, nursing a groin injury that limited him to fewer than seven minutes in the Heat’s loss at home in Game 7.

At Media Day, Herro said he spent the offseason working on his body and adding moves to his arsenal. There, he reiterated his wish to start but that he’s also comfortable in whatever role.

“I’m a team player. Whatever Spo and the organization want me to do, I’ll do,” Herro said.

This was his approach last season before he got his money. A year later, with the safety net of guaranteed dollars, his attitude is the same; committed and determined.

Offense

Barring any unforeseen concoctions by coach Spo in the rotation, Herro’s tenure as a sixth man is over. He’ll now have more time with three players capable of putting the ball on the floor (Lowry, Butler, Adebayo). While Herro shares the court with them, he’ll be relied on more to stretch the defense as a catch-and-shoot operator coming off screens and pindowns.

In 2021/2022, the 22-year-old made 42.2% of his catch-and-shoot triples, which were slightly less than a 1/5 of his field goal attempts. The Heat will need him to hover around the same efficiency on a higher volume, so Lowry, Butler, Adebayo, and presumably Caleb Martin have room to drive to the cup.

What makes Herro so intriguing as a starter is that he isn’t going to catch the rival team’s defensive schemes before Butler, and Adebayo if he keeps his sights set on the rim. Tyler will now shoot an abundance of open looks that Duncan Robinson took last season. A solid amount of those catch-and-shoot opportunities were uncontested due to swinging the ball and dribble penetration.

Lowry and Butler will probably come out first from the starters group because of age. As soon as this happens, Herro will have more freedom to assert himself as a three-level scorer as he shifts into one of the playmakers on the floor.

Pick and roll with Herro and Adebayo might turn into one of the Heat’s go-to moves regardless of the coverage. If the opponent foolishly drops, Herro will pull up after turning the corner of the screen from deep or mid-range for a jumper. If Herro is iced, he’s big enough at 6’5 to not get overwhelmed by multiple defenders on the run before feeding it to Adebayo, the roll man.

The next developmental steps for Miami’s off-guard as a scorer is getting to the line around seven or eight times a game and learning to post up smaller players. He only attempts 3.3 charity shots a night– Herro would need to start attempting more than 1/3 of his shots from within 10 feet of the cylinder to start getting more calls from the refs.

Aside from the breather the trip to the free throw line gives everyone on the court, the offensive team is at an advantage defensively if the last attempt is made. As the ball is being checked, one side has retreated, established position, and is less likely to get surprised by a fastbreak.

Back-to-the-basket maneuvers are another effective way of creating fouls. If this comes at all in Herro’s development, it will probably emerge last. However, it is one of the most underutilized skills in today’s NBA and can be used as a last resort option if an opposing defense has mucked up a group’s attacking sets.

Defense

As a starter, Herro will guard more than 11 shots a game. In part because of a few extra minutes on the floor, but there is also a misleading reputation that he is a complete liability on defense. That’s not true.

Even heralded disruptors get torched in the NBA because the rules favor the other side. While defending guards in 2021/2022, Herro showed the ability to stay in front and contest. He held them to 40.8% of their attempts made, while being matched up on them for almost 2/3s of his time guarding. The problem for Herro defensively is when he’s switched onto bigger players.

This past season, when Herro was matched up with forwards, they attempted 4.2 shots per game against him, making 51.6% of field goals taken.

Bigger players may attempt to hunt him down, but as a starter, he will be surrounded by the Heat’s top protectors. Miami is counting on speed this year. They still have the tools to be one of the top help-defensive teams in the league by quickly sending an extra man if Herro is compromised to force the opponent to play from the perimeter.

During the offseason, Herro made getting in the weight room a priority to get stronger, and at this moment, he has the lowest body fat percentage on the team (4.5) and weighs 198 pounds. Based on the eye test, his arms, from his shoulders down to his elbows, look broader and more defined.

Earning the standing of a good defender involves constant effort and a high IQ. Herro doesn’t give up on possessions; he gets beat straight up. But he has the tools to be a better-than-average defender.

Individual Season Goal

The best ability is availability. Herro missed 16 regular season games and three in the Playoffs in 2021/2022. In his first two years in the league, he was absent on 36 nights of action. His top goal should be to suit up for every game in 2022/2023.

It’s not common for players to participate in every match anymore, but last season, only five ballers did so: Deni Avdija, Dwight Powell, Kevon Looney, Mikal Bridges, and Saddiq Bey. If Herro can emulate the attendance of these iron men, he’ll have a stronger case to make the All-Star team or earn All-NBA honors.

 

I Still Believe in a Place Called Hope

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Some of you might get the reference in the title, as it echoes out of my childhood.

Bill Clinton, from Hope, Arkansas, famously ended his acceptance speech for the 1992 Presidential Campaign by saying, “I still believe in a place called Hope.”

Former President Clinton played an outsized role in how I grew to love this country, and always continue to believe in it. I even read his 1000+ page autobiography. He not only believed in a place called Hope, he made me believe in a place called Hope.

And as I found myself stunned, watching Middle Tennessee score touchdown after touchdown, watching the preseason positivity disintegrate, I shook a little. How could this be happening again? This 20 year nightmare we appear to be watching on repeat, this endless cycle of never getting it right, of never seeming to have things go Miami’s way.

Even the most optimistic of fans must have had their faith tested.

Reflections of the Way Life Used to Be

This weekend, as Alabama flipped a switch to pull away from Arkansas, my sister-in-law commented on how it must be strange to go to a school that just expects to win every game.

That was Miami at one time.

And while no one expects to get back to that, it’s hard to believe that this was once THE program. The default Top 5 ranking, the expectation that they’d win every game, the shockwaves at any loss, the opponents storming the field if said loss happened on the road.

What we experienced against Middle Tennessee was radically different. Yes, it made national waves. The Canes, after all, were still ranked. And a ranked team getting dominated by Middle Tennessee at home is always going to make headlines.

Of course, the community has to own that loss. We took it on the chin. Everyone made fun of us, the coach had to stand in front of everyone and try to explain what happened. Explain the inexplicable.

Nope, none of that was any different from what it would have been 15-20 years ago. The difference, however, was in the word “again.”

FIU, Louisiana Tech….now Middle Tennessee. It happened…again.

I don’t think anyone expected to be the program that Miami was in the 80s and early 2000s, to essentially be Alabama. And we knew it would take time to build the program into perennial contenders for the playoffs and for ACC titles.

But this wasn’t supposed to happen anymore. All told, you could easily argue the 4 worst losses in program history were in the last 4 seasons (2019 to FIU, Louisiana Tech, and Georgia Tech and 2022 to Middle Tennessee).

Not only do the Canes appear to not be on the always promised but never delivered upward trajectory, but they appear to be sinking as time and distance separates them from past success. 

The only thing left is to once again pull up youtube, find some old clips (in Standard Definition, of course), and reflect.

Reflect on the way life used to be. Reflect on the love they took from us. All alone with only memories.

Back in My Arms Again

The thing is this…as depressing as that gloomy day against Middle Tennessee was, this program is still bigger than any one game. And yes, bigger than any 2 decade drought.

I fully understand that we might be waiting forever to scale the mountain once more. That it might never happen, that we might be perpetually oscillating between unrequited dreams of success and the nightmares of reality.

I wish I had enjoyed the highs of yesteryear more. That is my one regret.

But give up? Why would we do that?

This dream can’t be allowed to die, however delusional it might appear in the context of the last 20 years.

Some things are too important, and extend beyond the playing field. South Florida without the Miami Hurricanes as an example for what the community can accomplish transforms a vibrant community into a rudderless ship.

While the program has appeared to drive aimlessly for 20 years, it still serves a purpose.

Monitoring social media during the 2nd half of that Middle Tennessee debacle was like watching  an obituary being written in real time. Long suffering fans giving up on the program, going numb.

There is an element of that in us all. The thought of getting national champions back in our arms again but a distant dream, waiting to be satisfied.

The Choice

That cliche is that it is always darkest before the dawn. But what if dawn never arrives?

Perpetual darkness?

In real life, the sun always rises. But in sports there is no guarantee.

Why is it that we can watch Nebraska fumble around and definitively, confidently state they will never be back and then look at ourselves and say eventually, we’ll ascend the mountaintop once more?

I’ll tell you why.

BECAUSE WE’RE MIAMI.

Miami still means something to me, to everyone. Whether it is obsessive “financial reporters” on twitter using any random news story to whine about Miami and NIL or national media waiting to pounce on the slightest transgression, Miami matters.

And it matters much more to South Florida.

So, as we reach the fork in the road. Do we accept what we’ve seen for the last 20 years as a permanency? Is this just Miami football now and forever?

Or, do we dare to dream? Dare to believe in the future? That a brighter Miami is always on the horizon. It’s a decision we all have to make. Do we risk pain for the potential payoff of joy, knowing that payoff may not arrive?

Miami has been too good to me and meant too much to me. I can’t extricate myself from this program and wouldn’t want to. I choose to believe.

I believe in the majesty of South Florida.

I believe that the tide can turn.

I believe that great things can be accomplished here.

I believe they can take it to North Carolina on Saturday, and many opponents out into the future.

I believe that eventually Miami will win big again.

I believe in Mario Cristobal

I believe in this U.

In the end, I know what I most believe.

I still believe in a place called Hope.

Vishnu Parasuraman is a journalist for @FiveReasonsSports. He covers the Miami Hurricanes for Sixth Ring Canes and Formula 1 for Hitting the Apex. You can follow him on twitter @vrp2003

Miami Dolphins Melvin Ingram picks up Josh Allen's fumble

Fresh Perspective: Miami Dolphins veteran leadership paying early dividends

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Looking back on the past few seasons for the Miami Dolphins, one of the main things that was missing was true veteran leadership. In 2021, the oldest player on the roster was 34-year-old defensive back Jason McCourty, and he was placed on season-ending IR at the end of October.

After McCourty, the only player left over the age of 29 was utility offensive lineman Jesse Davis. Needless to say, there was a distinct lack of veteran leadership on that roster. It showed in how the team played. In spite of going 9-8 in 2021, the team often seemed unprepared for who they were facing. Simple things baffled the young players, they were taken advantage of by wily veterans.

Raw athleticism can only get a team so far.

Now, three games in to the Mike McDaniel era, and the Miami Dolphins are already seeing major improvement across the board. The added veteran leadership has a lot to do with that.

For example, take veteran pass rusher Melvin Ingram. He was signed to a 1-year, $4 million dollar contract, presumably to be a situational pass rusher. Ingram has been anything but situational so far. In three games, Ingram has two sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. More than that, however, is how he’s making that happen.

Ingram has been in the NFL for 11 seasons. He knows what it’s like to face adversity, and he knows the taste of success. He’s learned how to use all sorts of tricks to accomplish his goals. And he’s earned the respect that a veteran should have.

“You can’t tell me nothing bad about Melvin Ingram ever in life.” Dolphins DT Christian Wilkins said after the win against the Buffalo Bills. “After seeing what he did on the last play, he has the ultimate respect. An 11-year pro beating a rusher, missing a sack, then making a play 10, 15, 20 yards down the field, that’s just a dawg mentality. That’s leadership. That’s ‘want-to.’ That’s will.”

It’s those kinds of plays that inspire a young team to greatness, and a fanbase to reach new levels of excitement.

“The atmosphere was amazing!” Ingram said. “We thank every fan that was out there screaming and everything that had us feeling the matchup. It was electrifying, and it is something that you love to play in. We feed off of them – without them, there is no us.”

But it isn’t just Ingram. Offensive tackle Terron Armstead is also proving he’s worth every penny of the 5-year, $75 million deal he signed with Miami. On top of being a top level player, he’s also showing that he can be invaluable in a mentorship role. During the remarkable comeback against the Baltimore Ravens, Miami was driving down the field after the two minute warning. And as the Dolphins rushed back to the line, it was Armstead who signaled Tagovailoa to stay settled and not let the rush throw him off his groove.

It seemed as if Tagovailoa visibly responded to the signal, as he made sure everyone was set and the drive continued until the eventually go-ahead touchdown was scored.

Armstead took on that role a second time during the Bills game, as he noticed the playclock ticking down and took it upon himself to call timeout. What was most telling is that no one questioned his decision. Tagovailoa did not argue with Armstead, nor did head coach Mike McDaniel. They trusted that Armstead made the right decision, and ultimately it was.

That sort of trust is not afforded to just anyone. Terron Armstead has earned the right to have that type of power in the huddle, and it’s making a massive difference for the younger players around him. His maturity is rubbing off, and the team looks much more prepared than in past seasons.

“It’s an emotional game.” Armstead told Five Reasons Sports’ Ethan Skolnick after the game. “Lot of energy going around. Lot of momentum, ebbs and flows. So it’s up to guys like myself, Tyreek (Hill), Melvin Ingram, the guys that have been around a while, been in high level games, playoff games, NFC Championship, to keep the emotions in check, keep the focus where it needs to be. It’s important just to have that, that calmness. You never want to get too up or down.”

Having that kind of anchor does wonders for a young team with so much developing talent. Instead of being forced to figure it out all on their own, they can look to their veteran mentors for guidance in real time. The previous Miami Dolphins coach withheld that luxury from his players.

Even little things like playing through injuries sets an example for others to follow. Armstead has been struggling with a toe injury for two weeks straight, and yet he keeps fighting on. Young players take notice of that, and figure if an older player like Armstead can do it, then so can they.

“There’s a lot of inspiring – our guys are really taking leadership and following leadership appropriately. Our captains, specifically, had done an unbelievable job setting the tone.” Coach Mike McDaniel said on Monday. “When you have two captains like that do everything they possibly can to contribute as much as they can to the team, there’s a trickle-down effect that I think really it’s hard to just say their own play. Not only did they play very well – both of them – but I think you’re also setting a tone for your teammates to follow. And I think there’s a lot of straining, a lot of grit, a lot of battling in that game that is a function of a lot of captains really scratching and clawing.”

That scratching and clawing has paid off. The Miami Dolphins are currently 3-0 and are on top of the AFC East. They’ve beaten two Super Bowl winning coaches in Bill Belichick and John Harbaugh. And with Sunday’s victory over their AFC East rivals, the Dolphins have beaten the early Super Bowl favorites.

Last year’s Miami Dolphins don’t manage this feat. Last year’s Miami Dolphins would not have perfected the techniques and the little tricks that can make or break a football game. Those things are learned over time. Several years worth, in fact. But it can be helped along when there’s someone who can help you learn those tricks.

Coaching is crucial, make no mistake. But there’s no substitute for having someone in the huddle who can be looked up to and offer guidance in crucial moments. That is the unmeasurable factor that the likes of Terron Armstead, Melvin Ingram and Tyreek Hill bring to the Miami Dolphins.

And clearly, it’s making a drastic impact.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for eight years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

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