Season Ticket: It’s your time, Bam. Now take your team.

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What’s a Bam? 

It isn’t our intention here to call more attention to the national media ignoramuses, even if it is tempting to directly illustrate their ignorance. So the radio blowhard, the one based in and obsessed with Los Angeles, the one who apparently didn’t know Bam Adebayo’s name back on October 5, 2018, shall not be named.

Well, not by us.

But this isn’t about that guy anyway.

It’s about the Miami Heat’s first-round pick in 2017, the one they likely wouldn’t have been in position to acquire if they had done the right thing by Dwyane Wade in 2016; the one whom they privately described on draft night as the “anti-Hassan” in comparison to the numbers-before-team big man they had unfortunately re-signed to a max; the one they researched more thoroughly than any previous draft prospect without finding a single red flag; the one many Heat fans didn’t want at the time but was anointed by the Heat’s historical frontcourt royalty as the next to carry the franchise tradition; the one that the fickle, unforgiving Jimmy Butler tells associates is “the best teammate I’ve ever had.”

The one who is now a certified All-Star.

And needs to believe he can be more.

It’s your time, Bam.

Take your team.

******

There was so much symbolism at the someday-to-be-renamed American Airlines Arena on February 22nd that some statements slipped under the radar. There was Wade, the franchise icon, the representation of all the struggle and success that comes with carrying that burden, sitting at the podium in the interview room in the bowels of the building, while Bam Adebayo — still only a few months older than when Wade entered the NBA — was absolutely wrecking the poor Cavaliers on the floor, sinking his first seven shots in a rout.

Wade didn’t watch the first half (why would he?) but he has known about Adebayo’s potential before rejoining the Heat in 2018 and becoming his teammate for a season-and-a-half. But at the time, Adebayo was blocked by the pouting presence of Hassan Whiteside, with the Heat wary of removing Whiteside from the starting lineup too soon, for fear of losing the max player’s interest entirely. So this Adebayo is different. And now different questions are being asked.

Not whether Bam’s ready to be a full-time starter. He’s proven it. All his metrics are better with more minutes.

Not whether he’s unique and special. We sensed that. Now we know that.

But whether he can be next.

Whether he can be Wade, in a sense.

And so, yes, the symbolism.

Wade revealed during that press conference that on his path to the court, he turned to Zaire, the one who wants to follow in his family footsteps, the one who is playing prep ball in California, and said to his son simply:

“I’m getting out of your way now.”

And so….

He’s out of Bam’s way now too.

In the Heat family.

No more Last Dances. No more personal documentaries. No more jersey ceremonies.

But a worthy successor, possibly.

 

“One thing about today’s society, you can reach out to anybody and talk to them,” Wade said at that same presser. “I found myself a few times being that older veteran guy who reached out to people and being like, ‘No, don’t do that.’ Or just giving them advice. But someone like Bam, man, right away when I got back to Miami, I knew, you could feel he was special. He’s a special person, right? Basketball, the sky’s the limit for him. As I continue to say, we set a bar. My points, my assists, was a bar that set before me, it was set by Alonzo, it was set by Tim Hardaway, it was set by the greats before me. And that’s all I’ve done. I’ve just set a bar. And I told Bam a couple of weeks ago, before he got announced to the All-Star Game, go take it, go do it, go set a bar for the next kid, and the next child. He may not even be born yet. But continue to set bars….”

When Wade left in 2016, under those unfortunate circumstances, there was no one here to grab the baton. Waiters? Whiteside? TJ? JJ? No way. Now, though, there is. And it’s not Wade’s Marquette buddy, as exemplary as Butler has behaved with the Heat. Butler is 30. He has shown in his six months here that if you care about winning, he cares about you, and you could argue that no one outside of Adebayo’s beloved mother has been more supportive of the 22-year-old, pushing Bam to fulfill his potential, ceding his own standing in similar fashion to what Wade and Chris Bosh did to allow LeBron James to become the best version of himself — even more remarkable when considering what James was when he came here, and how comparatively little Adebayo had accomplished prior to this season. But Butler’s reputation is bruised. The players voting him sixth among frontcourt players, behind Adebayo, was further proof of that. The perception may not be reality, but it exists. For that reason alone, he’s not the ideal heir to Wade in terms of one of Wade’s most important roles: serving as the smiling face of the franchise, the chief recruiter, the one who draws others in.

That is Bam.

It is obvious after every game, with every embrace of an opponent, with those rivals approaching him to share kind words and easy laughs. Pat Riley may have abhorred this fraternization when he was a coach, putting restrictions even on the closest friends (recall Alonzo Mourning and Patrick Ewing?) but it is ideal for his ambitions now. Prized 2021 target Giannis Antetokounmpo, in true Riley style, is against offseason workouts with other stars, turning them down with LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, among others. But he works out with Adebayo. Same agent? Sure. But that will assist too.

So he is the face now.

It’s OK for that face to growl a bit more, like Zo’s did.

It’s OK, when you’ve established your unselfishness, to step into a jumper like Chris Bosh did, even when Wade and James were open.

It’s OK, when everyone knows your motives are pure, to call out others like Udonis Haslem has, for nearly two decades.

It’s OK to take it.

And not to wait anymore.

******

What stood out about Bam Adebayo’s All-Star weekend?

Winning the Skills competition, beating two other bigs (including closest clone Pascal Siakam and potential playoff opponent Domantas Sabonis) and a guard who had won that title before (Spencer Dinwiddie)?

Not the performance, as remarkable as that was.

It was the press conference.

Brazen Bam.

He had seen on Twitter that no one really believed he could win the competition — well no but the Heat fans who jumped on the outlandish odds. It was like Vegas had set the number based on the rantings of uninformed radio hosts who are fixated on Alex Caruso rather than centers averaging six assists per outing. 

And he let them know.

 

This is the Bam the Heat need.

The defiant Bam. The emboldened Bam. Even the little-bit-irritated Bam.

The one who “felt great to prove a lot of people wrong” in winning the skills competition.

The one who realized late in the All-Star Game, as he looked down the bench, that “I’m an All-Star.”

The one who later announced that he expected to return for many future weekends.

“Yes,” he said. “I have high confidence in myself that I will be back… and my teammate Jimmy.”

He has high confidence, for sure. He couldn’t be here without it.

But he also has a modesty that, while quite becoming, is also becoming less necessary.

At the end of what had been Wade’s night, in the locker room Wade ruled for so long, Adebayo spoke about his conversations with Wade in “little brother” terms, the kid who keeps it light, respectful of his elders, the clown to keep them young.

Some reality, however, was required.

In the past year-plus, Alonzo Mourning, Chris Bosh and Udonis Haslem — along with Wade — have identified Adebayo as the ideal culture-bearer, even when fans had yet to view him that way.

Bam blushed, laughed and turned his kid when reminded of this.

“Bam, at this point, Zo called you the next one, UD said he was passing the mantle to you, Bosh has said it, Dwyane has said it,” was the statement, er, question. “This is like the Mount Rushmore of the Miami Heat. At some point, are you no longer the kid, and are you the guy?”

The somewhat reluctant response?

“Uh,” Adebayo said. “Yeah, I’ll take that. I’ll be the guy. I’ll take that on my shoulders. Since Mount Rushmore, Miami Heat Hall of Famers saying it.”

Then he got serious.

“But they see something in me. And that’s the thing. It hasn’t hit me yet. Like, it hasn’t hit me that I’ve been to an All-Star Game, and all the work I’ve (done to get) to this point. It really hasn’t me. Just cherishing those moments and hearing those wise words from those guys. It’s a beautiful thing for me. Just for them to show their support and how much they believe in me.”

******

Once February turned to March, and it became just about the season, and this team, his team, Bam Adebayo was asked again in a quiet locker room moment about the All-Star experience.

And how it changed his view of himself.

Yes, it did.

“Just because you’re in the room with a group of All-Stars, like superstars,” Adebayo said. “So you do, you do get an extra, extra energy about yourself. And your confidence kind of shoots up, because you’re like, you look around, and it’s like, ‘I’m an All-Star too!’ So it’s kind of like, wow, why can’t I be one of the top tier players in the league.”

Was there a pinch me moment?

“A.I.,” Adebayo said of Allen Iverson. “A.I. had a conversation with me. And he knew who I was. And coming from a guy like A.I. who changed the game. You just kind of think, ‘You know who I am?’ I mean, Charles Barkley gets paid to know who we are. But A.I. doesn’t get paid to know who Bam Adebayo is. That’s just real. And just for him to come up to me and give me advice and tell me to keep working was a big pinch me moment.”

Iverson told Adebayo he enjoyed the latter’s passion.

“That’s how I’ve always played,” Adebayo said. “Hard nosed, with passion.”

Maybe the radio hosts don’t know, as they harp on Kyle Kuzma’s hair.

But The Answer does.

So what’s the answer?

What’s a Bam?

Whatever he believes he is.

 

Ethan J. Skolnick has covered the Miami Heat since 1996 and now hosts the Five on the Floor podcast and runs the Five Reasons Sports Network.

2020 Miami Hurricanes Position Preview: Wide Receiver

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New Faces: Michael Redding (Fr.), Keyshawn Smith (Fr.), Daz Worsham (Fr.), Xavier Restrepo (Fr.), Rob Likens (coach)

 

Going Places: Jeff Thomas (forgone senior season for NFL Draft), KJ Osborn (graduation), Brian Hightower (transfer), Coach Taylor Stubblefield (previous WRs coach left to Penn State)

 

Projected Starters: Dee Wiggins, Mike Harley, Mark Pope

 

Sleepers: Mark Pope (JR) and Jeremiah Payton (RFr)

 

What was once thought of as the deepest position on the roster one year ago is now undergoing a complete makeover heading into spring practice. Lots of new faces, including the head of the unit are what comprise this relatively young but talented group.

 

Head coach Manny Diaz most recently made the decision to hire Rob Likens as the new WR coach to replace Taylor Stubblefield, who left to take the same position at Penn State. Likens most recently served as the offensive coordinator and QBs coach at Arizona State, before being relieved of his duties.

 

To compensate, Stubblefield brought in four very talented freshmen not only for next season but this spring in Michael Redding (IMG Academy), Daz Worsham (Hewitt-Trussville High, AL), Keyshawn Smith (San Diego Lincoln High, CA) and local kid Xavier Restrepo (Deerfield Beach High). 

 

Michael Redding is probably the most talented newcomer of the group. Redding was ranked as the 31st-best receiver in the nation in the Class of 2020. A big reason why Stubblefield recruited him was his combination of great size (6’3”, 192 lbs.) to go along with great speed (4.4-4.5 range). 

 

In addition, Worsham was a three-star prospect whom Stubblefield was able to pry away from the likes of Alabama. He finished with over 2300 yards and 28 touchdowns in his high school career. 

 

The discovery and recruitment of Keyshawn Smith was a very quick but interesting one, as he initially committed and signed to play for Washington State before coach Mike Leach left for Mississippi State. He was released from his letter-of-intent and it took one in-home meeting with Coach Manny Diaz to convince him that Coral Gables was the place for him, so Smith committed and with a little bit of magic, Smith was also able to enroll for the spring semester. Smith is a very fluid route runner with great speed and good size and even though he was technically the last of the four freshman receivers to sign, many analysts consider him a steal that late in the process.

Restrepo was all-Miami even before he received his official scholarship offer and despite his smaller stature at 5’10”, he’s got a lot of dog in him and will most likely make a huge impact as a slot receiver. 

 

These freshmen are only four of the options Miami has to try and overcome the loss of former graduate transfer KJ Osborn and Jeff Thomas, who opted to forego his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. Osborn set the tone in the locker room from the minute he stepped into the weight room and provided a big veteran presence for the team. He also led all of Miami’s receivers with 547 yards and five touchdowns. 

 

Thomas flashed his speed and game-changing ability from time to time, but at least according to Pro Football Focus, last season was his most yet as he did drop a single pass. His best season came in 2018, when he finished with 563 receiving yards, including a memorable 132-yard game against an LSU defense filled with future first-round picks.

 

Who’s Returning?

 

2019 saw the growth of many of the younger receivers on the team. One is junior Dee Wiggins, who seemed to be the best deep threat will his long, wiry frame. Wiggins caught 20 passes for 335 yards last season to go along with four touchdowns. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOJM-zgce-o

 

Two of those touchdowns were of 50+ yards against Louisville and Florida State, so it should be interesting to see how much Wiggins grows this season, as he is probably the most talented receiver team right now and like all of Miami’s speedy receivers, he should thrive in OC Rhett Lashlee’s spread offense.

 

Mike Harley is entering his senior season and has been steadily improving each year. He finished third on the team with 485 yards on 38 catches in 2019 and he slowly grew into a very reliable option in the slot with his excellent speed.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPiPb7VLo6Y

 

Who are some possible breakout stars in 2020?

 

A couple of names Canes fans should keep an eye on are Mark Pope and Jeremiah Payton. Pope was a five-star prospect out of Miami Southridge High in 2018 and expectations were sky high when he joined the team. He only caught one pass during his freshman campaign, but last year, he started to show glimpses of his ability as he saw increased targets and production: 18 catches for 266 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Coach Lashlee’s offense should bode well for Pope’s development, as it will give him a chance to show his quick feet and dynamic speed to make big plays.

 

Payton on the other hand took the redshirt this past season and is now officially entering his freshman year with the Canes. There were reports that Payton was a problem (albeit a good one) while serving as a member of the scout team and coaches are very excited about him. Fans should expect to see him get plenty of run this season.

 

Be sure to stay tuned to Five Reasons Sports for the latest news and updates on the Miami Hurricanes and subscribe to the Five Rings Podcast as we will continue to cover the beginning of spring practice.

 

2020 Miami Hurricanes Position Preview: Tight End

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The 2020 Miami Hurricanes will field a tight end group that could turn heads.

The Hurricanes have many new faces this year, both on the field and patrolling the sideline.

One place the Hurricanes do have some continuity and carryover is at tight end, a group that could be on the precipice of greatness.

Incoming recruits and transfers have infused talent across the board.

With a revamped offense and a new dynamic signal caller, how will the 2020 Miami Hurricanes tight end group fare?

“Tight End U” in Good Hands

This season could be the time where one proven player rises to greater heights, while another builds on a strong finish.

Junior Brevin Jordan may be the most important player on the Hurricanes offense when the smoke clears.

Coming off first team All-ACC honors in 2019, Jordan should be a favorite target of projected starting quarterback D’Eriq King.

 

Jordan finished his sophomore campaign with only two touchdowns, yet was able to finish third on the team in receptions (35) and second in receiving yards (435).

This was despite missing three games and with a revolving door at quarterback.

Jordan showed in last year’s season opener against Florida he can get it done against elite competition.

 

Rhett Lashlee will use a variety of formations and personnel groups to get Jordan involved out of the spread offense.

With his open field abilities, Jordan should thrive this season.

Joining Jordan as a focus at the tight end spot is junior Will Mallory, who looks to build off a strong finish to last season.

Mallory should also have a lot of opportunities in Lashlee’s offense, his length and athleticism will be especially useful in the red zone.

Lashlee could run Mallory out at h-back to get him in space from the backfield, the options are limitless.

With the spread offense stretching opposing defenses boundary to boundary, Mallory should be able to feast on crossing routes.

 

Mallory was quiet in the first half of the year and finished with just 16 receptions for 293 yards and two touchdowns.

He had 13 of those receptions in four games after November, with a season high 93 yards on four catches against Duke.

Irvin II Could be a Sleeper

One more name to mention from the tight end group is junior Michael Irvin II.

We all know his pedigree but it has been tough for Irvin to get much run with Jordan and Mallory ahead of him.

At 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds he could be a nice change of pace in a possession receiving type role. Perhaps he could see some more playing time in 2020 on a situational basis in some heavy sets.

Irvin finished the 2019 season with two catches for 33 yards, most of those on a 25-yard reception against FIU.

The Miami Hurricanes once again appear to have one of the best tight end rooms in college football.

Both Mallory and Jordan present matchup problems and will surely be a key part of the Hurricanes’ offense in 2020.

Subscribe to the 5 Rings Canes podcast for exclusive Miami Hurricanes content.

 

The Football Dream Becomes a Reality

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Growing up as a Dutch-American kid, with heavy influence from my dad, my first love was football. The non-American kind. I loved playing “the beautiful game.” Being able to run on the field and score goals was something that always made a 10 year old me feel good.

I loved watching the game, too. As a kid, you always want to do like your dad, so I made alliances as a very casual Feyenoord fan. Since a lot of you don’t know, Feyenoord is a soccer club based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Where my family is from. Because of the time difference, I never get to watch games, so there always seemed to be a miss-connection between me and my first love.

The game brings out all of your emotions. That’s the beauty of the game. Since it was my first love, it was also my first heartbreak. In the 2010 World Cup Finals, when Andres Iniesta scored a late overtime goal to win the World Cup for Spain, defeating the Netherlands 1-0. I felt dead inside. I cried for hours.

International soccer was the only time i got that real connection to the passion of the game.

Since i was a kid, I always dreamt about one day, there would be a soccer club i can consistently cheer for. Sitting on the couch and watching the tv, hearing fans chant and scream always amazed me, how people can have such a connection to a team or sport. I always wanted to be a part of it.


 I remember seven years ago, in 2013, I was sitting in high school marketing class, when the announcement came. David Beckham was bringing an MLS team to South Florida! It was finally happening. I thought, “okay in maybe in about two years this thing will get going” well two years went by, then another two years and still no game had been played. They barely had a name, let alone a roster or stadium.

Now finally, after seven long years of waiting, Inter Miami CF will play it’s inaugural game on Sunday.

This team is very Miami. From being linked to some of the world’s biggest stars, from the colors of the jersey, the logo and a roster of players from Latin backgrounds, this team is for Miami.

Inter Miami has fielded a roster to be proud of, a roster that wants to be successful fast. They signed Mexican star, Rodolfo Pizarro to a record fee. They traded for USMNT regular Will Trapp and signed Lewis Morgan from a major team in Europe. There aren’t many sexy names on the roster yet but it’s a good roster nonetheless, that should be competing for a playoff spot.

The Miami sports scene, after the last few years, deserves a breath of fresh air. This is it. I hope fans come out and support this club because there’s a generation of young soccer players in Miami who need this.

There are a lot of people out there like me, who always dreamt of having a soccer club to root for. And no, this isn’t the premier league with the world’s best players. But it’s fútbol, in Miami. What can be better than that?

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes: Breaking down the quarterback room

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When you take a look at the quarterback position for the Miami Hurricanes, it’s actually pretty straightforward. Ever since D’Eriq King transferred from Houston, there has been no question as to who will be the number one quarterback heading into the 2020 season. Of course, King is just one of the quarterbacks on the roster . Although he may seem like the clear-cut starter, there are other options available below him.

As far as King goes, he comes to Coral Gables with a tremendous amount of pedigree. This is a player that absolutely lit up the football field while he was at Houston. He threw for 683 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions last year. Those numbers are a little bit lessened due to the fact he decided to redshirt.

In what was a full season for him in the 2018 campaign King threw for 2,982 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. There is no denying that he can be a game-changer for a quarterback position that has desperately needed a spark.

With all this talk about King, it may be easy to forget N’Kosi Perry. In what was a revolving door of starting quarterbacks last season for Perry, he performed well. He threw for 1,045 yards, 8 touchdowns, and three interceptions. His best game last season came against Virginia Tech. In what was a 42-35 loss, he went 28-of-47 on the day, throwing for 422 yards. Tossing four touchdowns and an interception, a 51-yard pass was his longest of the day.

Had King not transferred to the program, Perry would probably be the outright starter. Perry will enter the spring looking to challenge King for the starting role. A healthy quarterback competition would certainly be good for the program.

For this spring in particular, Perry has to come in and prove that he is not just going to roll over and accept the backup role. I will be excited to see him challenge King. My bet is that he will come into the spring focused and ready to work.

Martell intriguing for Miami Hurricanes

Tate Martell is certainly an interesting player. As a redshirt sophomore in 2019, he saw some action in the season opener against Florida on August 24. He would play sparingly, finishing the year in the Independence Bowl. It was there that he perhaps made his biggest impact of the season. He completed a pass for seven  yards and rushed for another five.

As a junior next year, he will certainly have the odds stacked against him. He showed that he could play when called upon last season, so that will certainly work in his favor. However I would predict him at the third spot on the depth chart. His experience is certainly a bonus, especially when you consider that Miami has a young quarterback coming in. However, I wouldn’t expect him to make waves in the quarterback competition. Right now, he has a long road ahead of him. Nevertheless, he will certainly be an interesting player to watch in the quarterback competition.

Van Dyke a promising freshman

Last but certainly not least is Tyler Van Dyke. As a recruit, the pro-style quarterback was the seventh overall quarterback in the 2020 class, and the top player in the state of Connecticut per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

He will probably start at the bottom of the depth chart. That’s not because of lack of skill, but lack of experience. Right now, he needs to get as much experience as possible. In watching some of his highlights, it’s evident that he has a strong arm and good accuracy. That certainly bodes well for the future of the position and the Miami Hurricanes program. He is very polished for a freshman. Now, it’s all about learning the system.

Guts Check: But Where Are Mine?

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To be honest, the last few weeks I didn’t know if I would ever write anything ever again. Nor continue to record podcasts. I seriously contemplated going off the social media grid for good. As recently as yesterday.

I realize I have a flair for the dramatic and am probably experiencing a bit of exaggerated emotion, but I really was damn close to exiting stage left on all this media related activity.

My full-time career, family, life circumstances etc. always make this balancing act a challenge. It’s 100% incremental work. However, my love and passion for the Miami Heat has always been channeled into finding a way to never look at it as work and contribute. Despite the inevitable curve balls that come in this game of life.

Then Kobe Bryant passed.

It’s weird, Kobe Bryant was one of my favorite players until maybe 2004 or so. I even owned a Lakers purple #8 Kobe jersey, Champion size 36. But my fandom for Kobe seemed to take a backseat when I realized that Dwyane was the closest player to him in the league and that was OUR GUY. I had to side with Dwyane and in that decision came a suppression of my fandom for Kobe Bryant. I had never connected those dots until recently because I guess I never had a reason to unpack it in this way.

But underneath the Kobe vs Wade debates that I had taken part of throughout the last 15 years, I now see that Kobe Bryant is one of my favorite players of all time.

First, he was the closest thing I had ever seen to Michael Jordan, which truthfully, I wasn’t sure I would ever see anyone similar the rest of my life. Then, as Dwyane emerged as a mega star, Bryant became the great measuring stick I used to compare my favorite athlete to ever live – Dwyane Wade – to that of the all-time greats.

When I heard the tragic news of the helicopter accident and that Bryant had died, I was in shock like we all were. Up until that moment it hadn’t occurred to me that I never even considered the possibility that Kobe Bryant, or any of these seemingly invincible, larger than life athletes could ever die.

It may sound childish and/or naive, but people like Kobe Bryant aren’t supposed to die. They live forever and we celebrate them until father time prevails.

It reminded me of my own mortality. It reminded me that the time spent with my family is all temporary and delicate. It reminded me that tomorrow isn’t promised for me or any of the people I love.

You would think with all the daily spiritual practices I am immersed in, all the subjective prayer and yoga meditation I do to maintain in fit spiritual condition, that I would be in touch with this reality. But I had fallen asleep.

And that scares me. It made me evaluate how I am spending my time.

Do I bury my face in my phone when I am around my loved ones because of Heat tweets?

Do I sacrifice being present to the moment with my family in the name of ensuring I see every second of a road game at Atlanta – all because I need to see what you are tweeting and ensure you are also engaging with my tweets?

Am I putting my relatively self-centered obsession with Heat basketball ahead of more important things, a daily decision that will one day manifest in feelings of guilt and remorse?

I know I am being irrational to a degree, but it made me take a hard look. I couldn’t ignore it.

The line between this being a healthy creative outlet and an ego trip runs directly through me.

I have friends who need friends. I have loved ones who need love. I have people in all walks of my life who need support in various ways.

So, what the hell am I doing all this for? Am I really going to make a career out of this? Is all this time worth it if it is just a hobby? Is NBA basketball even important enough to focus on?

All this squawking about Heat playoff seeding and recent losses, analyzing this GAME just seemed so empty and shallow. In a way it still does.

Then it hit me.

You do this because you love it.

You do this because you owe it to those around you to be an example to pursue what you are passionate about and just f*cking go for it. You also owe it to those same people to show them how to find this balance that has seemingly eluded me. Life is so damn short man, why not do what makes you happy and do it with intensity? Why not have the guts to find that balance?

My son is as interested in (and as knowledgeable as I am about the Heat) regarding his favorite subject- dinosaurs. He tells me every day he will grow up to be a paleontologist. And I believe him.

But what would abandoning my passion because of self centered grief say to my son when life speeds up and he may flinch at his dream of being a paleontologist?

What would it teach my children about making the most of every moment? Because the Now is all there ever is. Ever.

What would it teach them about finding a healthy balance? Something I have only learned a mere 4 years ago or so..

This thought of abandoning all my deepest passions and retreating from life – effectively cutting myself off from the world outside my own walls – was all ego masquerading as virtue.

That action would say that I was approaching life with the wrong mentality. Acting as a victim of my own inner judge. A prisoner that built my own cell. Nothing could be further from Mamba Mentality.

I don’t even know if this is 1,000 words will resonate with anyone other than myself. It damn sure is a far cry from some of the amazing stuff I have read regarding Kobe in recent weeks.

But I needed to write it. Sometimes putting pen to paper is cathartic and removes that which blocks me from the creative intelligence of the universe.

So, here is this week’s edition of Guts Check. Sorry I’ve been ghost recently– but I have been evaluating if I even had the guts myself.

Turns out I do.

“Everything negative – pressure, challenges – is all an opportunity for me to rise.” – Kobe Bryant

RIP Bean

Trocheck Trade Exemplifies State of Florida Panthers

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The trade of forward Vincent Trocheck by the Florida Panthers this week exemplifies the current state of the franchise.

After six full seasons in Sunrise, Trocheck was sent to the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday at the NHL trade deadline.

 

In year seven with the Panthers, Trocheck battled injuries and inconsistency throughout the first half.

After playing a full 82 games in both 2016 and 2017, injuries stalled Trocheck in the last two campaigns.

Trocheck appeared in 55 games for the Panthers prior to the deal, the same number he played all of last year.

He leaves with 10 goals and 16 assists, which are well below his career averages.

Trocheck had a career high 31 goals in 2017 and averaged over 26 goals per season from 2015 to 2017.

His uneven performance ultimately made him a casualty of a much needed roster shuffle.

Florida acquired forwards Erik Haula, Lucas Wallmark and Eetu Luostarinen along with defenseman Chase Priskie.

Before Carolina, Haula spent his first four years in Minnesota before joining Vegas for the last two seasons.

He appeared in 41 games for Carolina this year, tallying 12 goals and 10 assists. Haula should have an opportunity on the second and third forward lines, and has 44 games of postseason experience on his resume.

 

Wallmark was drafted in the 4th round of the 2014 NHL Draft by Carolina, the 24-year old speedy forward from Sweden has nice upside.

He appeared in 60 games for Carolina prior to the trade, with 11 goals and 12 assists so far. Wallmark can also contribute across multiple lines and along with Haula add solid depth to the forward group.

Luostarinen and Priskie are expected to report to the Springfield Thunderbirds, their AHL affiliate. Priskie is from Pembroke Pines and grew up a huge Florida Panthers fan, a nice story to say the least he gets a chance to play for his hometown team.

While these additions are solid on the surface, when four players are traded for one, typically the one is the bell of the ball.

In this case, Florida made the move while the underperforming Trocheck still held value.

Trocheck symbolized the Panthers season thus far, full of excitement and potential, while somehow far away from complete realization of it.

On paper the Panthers should be more than a fringe playoff contender, they have the components to make a legit run.

Something has been missing since the All-Star break, and changes were needed.

Trocheck was good enough to command a decent haul in return.

Yet not quite on the level where he would not become expendable.

General Manager Dale Tallon had to give Coach Joel Quenneville some flexibility and shake the roster up.

The core was too top heavy and has underproduced, perhaps some new faces will bring some energy for one last playoff push.

 

Alejandro Villegas

Launching Pad: Bam Baking, Olynyk Off-Balling, Crowder Cashing

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Welcome to The Launching Pad, a weekly roundup of Miami Heat basketball. Who’s playing well, and who should pick it up? What numbers should you be watching? What was that beautiful play Miami ran in the second quarter? You can find all of it here, every Monday.

The Stats (Weekly stats in parentheses

• Record: 36-20, 4th in the East (1-1)

• Offensive Rating: 112.0 (118.7)

• Defensive Rating: 108.7 (110.9)

• Net Rating: plus-3.3 (plus-7.8)

• True-Shooting Percentage: 58.6 (61.2)

• Pace: 99.58 (105.0)

• Time of Possession: 14.7 seconds (13.5)

Lineup of the Week (min. 10 minutes)

Kendrick Nunn, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Jae Crowder, Bam Adebayo

• Minutes: 12

• Offensive Rating: 131.0

• Defensive Rating: 85.7

• Net Rating: plus-45.3

• True-Shooting Percentage: 63.7

• Pace: 114.64

The Big Number: 57

The Bam Adebayo-Duncan Robinson partnership has been a revelation for the Heat’s 8th ranked offense. Adebayo’s ability to pass and screen, paired with Robinson’s ability to shoot off movement, makes for a natural fit. Most of their two-man dances come via dribble-handoff, burning teams that dare to employ drop coverage against them.

Adebayo has assisted on 57 Robinson threes, making them the NBA’s most profitable duo. The rest of the top five, via PBP Stats:

2) Damian Lillard to CJ McCollum, 53

3) Chris Paul to Danilo Gallinari, 49

4) LeBron James to Danny Green, 47

T-4) Jrue Holiday to JJ Redick, 47

Weekly Trends

1. Bam off the bounce

If it feels like Adebayo has been covered a ton in this space, it’s because he has been.

We touched on his empowerment early in the season. We highlighted his struggles against the Sixers, and again against the Nets when they aggressively sagged off of him. We also talked about him gaining comfort as an intermediate scorer.

Now, Bam is stylin’ off the bounce.

He has basically quintupled his drive volume from last season (0.8 to 3.9) while raising his efficiency from 38.7 percent to 59.6, via Second Spectrum tracking data.

You read that right: Bam’s conversion rate has skyrocketed nearly 21 percentage points while driving five times more than he did last year.

With teams catching on to his tendency to drive baseline, he’s started to counter with in-and-out dribbles and drives from the triple threat position. This jab-and-jam sequence against Tristan Thompson was absolutely filthy.

It’s not uncommon to see Bam take the ball up the floor. Thanks to the free-flowing nature of Miami’s offense, we’ve been treated to some impromptu pick-and-roll reps.

Very quietly, Bam has generated 53 points on 50 pick-and-roll possessions (1.06 PPP, passes included), via Synergy. If you thought the James Johnson-Goran Dragic inverted two-man game was fun, imagine what Bam-led pick-and-rolls are going to look like moving forward.

At this point, three-point shooting is the only hole in Bam’s offensive game. If his work in the Skills Competition is any indication*, that’ll probably come within a year.

*It shouldn’t be, but work with me here.

2. Unlocking Kelly Olynyk

With Meyers Leonard still on the mend with an ankle injury, the Heat have leaned more on Kelly Olynyk. It’s been an up-and-down season for him, to say the least. He struggled to adjust to Miami’s offensive shift to begin the year, which made his defensive shortcomings look even more glaring.

The Heat haven’t leaned on Olynyk’s improv work like they did last season. Instead, they’ve made more of an effort to utilize his shooting. Pick-and-pop bigs already serve as kryptonite against drop schemes. When you have a guy like Olynyk flying off flare screens, you’re putting even more strain on defenses.

First off, that’s a solid (if not slightly illegal) lead block from Kendrick Nunn. Olynyk gives the subtle shove, receives the pitch and fires in one fluid motion. It’s a guard-like sequence that he makes look easy.

Olynyk has only logged four (4) off-screen possessions this season, via Synergy. He’s scored nine points on 3-of-4 shooting, including that clip above. The Heat flow out of HORNS Flare all the time. Inverting that action for Olynyk is probably something they should go to more often.

3. Jae Crowder just can’t miss

We’re only working with a five-game sample, but Jae Crowder has been Miami’s most productive acquisition from their deadline deal. He’s defended well across both forward spots, and has mostly held his own against guards on switches.

That was expected, though. Crowder has been a serviceable-at-worst defender for most of his career. The real surprise of the Crowder Experience has been his three-point shooting.

Crowder is shooting a blistering 54.8 percent from deep on 6.2 attempts. Not only are those well above his career marks (33.7 percent, 4.2 attempts), he’s feasting on a diet of shots like these:

Since joining the Heat, Crowder is generating nearly 1.3 points per spot-up possession, and over 1.6 points per transition possession via Synergy. To put those numbers into perspective, Crowder has been a more efficient shooter than JJ Redick (1.09), and has scored at a more efficient rate than Giannis Antetokounmpo (1.12 PPP).

The regression is going to come at some point, but it’s hard not to be impressed with the shot-making Crowder has provided so far.

Set Play of the Week

The Sneak Attack

Sadly, I don’t have the technical name for this one. However, Miami’s opening set against the Cavs immediately caught my eye.

The possession kicks off with a pitch to Duncan Robinson on the right wing. Nunn attempts to set a down screen for Derrick Jones Jr, but his defender (Cedi Osman) is already hanging below the free throw line. He’s able to duck under the screen, though this is mostly decoy action.

Nunn pops back up to receive the ball from Robinson, kicking off a 1-5 pick-and-roll. This is the point where the positioning matters.

This is a left-flowing pick-and-roll, which is key for two reasons.

1) Nunn is driving to his dominant hand.

2) Adebayo is rolling right, which means the only defender that could “tag” him on the roll is Collin Sexton. Who is Sexton guarding? Only the most dangerous off-movement shooter in the league right now.

Sexton naturally drops for a second. He quickly realizes that Adebayo isn’t rolling to the basket. Adebayo cuts his roll short before setting a screen for Robinson to pop out to the top of the key.

You already know how it ends.

Tyson Fury v. Deontay Wilder II…. a Preview

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Where to watch: Saturday, Saturday, February 22, 2020, MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, Available on ESPN+ PPV/ FOX PPV.

A very skeptical public watched Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder meet each other at Staples Center on December 1st, 2018. Skeptical due to Wilder being thought of as “second best” to at the time, UK super star Anthony Joshua. Skeptical due to Tyson Fury coming back from a bout with depression, drug addiction, and not looking very good in a couple of tune ups after his triumph over lineal Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko. The fighters earned guaranteed purses of $4 million for Wilder and $3 million for Fury. A pittance historically, for heavyweight championship standards. The event reportedly drew a mere 325,000 PPV buys. To say that there wasn’t much of a buzz for that fight is an understatement.

Fight fans knew better. There was a certain intrigue to see the consummate boxer in Tyson Fury attempt to “dance through the rain drops” versus the hardest puncher in boxing, in Deontay Wilder. Handicapping the bout at the time, it was clear that Tyson Fury held a substantial skill edge while the power belonged to Wilder. So, if Fury could manage to stay upright for 12 rounds he would win a decision. What a fight. Tyson Fury as promised, put on a clinic, with a well thought out game plan that consisted of a stiff and accurate Jab with movement that provided a puzzle that Deontay Wilder could not solve. But, Wilder has the best eraser in the game (and possibly of all-time) in his right hand. The embarrassment of those first 8 rounds, where I gave 6 rounds to Fury and did not give him the other 2, only because Fury took breathers, and gave away 2 rounds to rest, was quickly forgotten, when Deontay lands a Jab, then a clubbing right hand, Fury loses his balance, and now we have a fight! From that point on, you could feel the tension that was in Staples Center coming through the TV screen. Round 10 kicks off with Wilder on the hunt, but he can’t find Fury with any of his punches. In fact, he lands only 1 of 39 punches according to the in arena punch stats. Fury on the other hand is masterful, and the rout is back on, as his stiff jab is telling the tale. He banks round 11, and surely, all he has to do is survive 3 minutes, and he is once again, not only the lineal Heavyweight Champion of the world, but now he has the hardware to prove it (He vacated his titles).

Round 12

Boxing, more than any other sport, lends itself to memorable moments that live on through the ages. George Foreman regaining his crown after 20 years had passed from his bout with Ali in Zaire. Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns actually going through with all their “WAR” pre-fight hype. Duran-Leonard. Bowe-Holyfield. Tyson Fury rising from the DEAD. It belongs. Round 12, begins like any other, till, Left Jab, right hand, left hook. Tyson Fury is out. He is not getting up. But, he is. Inexplicably. Wilder goes on the hunt, but Fury then proceeds to win the rest of the round. That the end result was a draw, was inconsequential. We got our money’s worth, and it was clear who the best two heavyweights in the world were. The rematch was sure to come, and after a very eventful set of fights for Tyson Fury and two spectacular knockouts from Wilder, we are here.

So how does this fight set up? Somewhat similar, but there is some nuance. Tyson Fury now knows he has to make Wilder pay in their exchanges, and can’t rest on just a jab. Wilder now knows he has to use his jab to break up Fury’s rhythm. Both now know that what they did last time is not good enough on this Saturday night in Las Vegas.

How does Tyson Fury win?

No way around it. He has to once again dance through the rain drops, while also mounting a more significant offense. He has to also avoid ducking his head after exchanges, and must always remain every bit of his 6′-9″ and not lower his head unnecessarily, so he doesn’t make it easy for Wilder to find his target. A jab and grab strategy should work in here, but most importantly, Fury has to be busy when Wilder starts to set his feet (Wilder tends to set both feet before combinations). He has to go against his instincts that tell him to escape right after a successful combination. He has to press his advantages when he has them, and must degrade Wilder’s power by making him expend energy in defending himself. Don’t let him carry his power to the later rounds. I don’t believe he can win by knockout, becasue that would entail taking many risks that could lead to unconsciousness, but he can win a decisive unanimous decision.

How does Deontay Wilder win?

He can’t win a decision, without some help from the judges, simply because he needs knockdowns to gain rounds on Fury, because he is not the skilled fighter here. He has built his 42-0 record with his 41 knockouts by hunting from the opening bell while also giving away rounds in order to find his opponent with a counter, or have them weaken themselves fighting a high stress fight. Trust me, fighting Wilder has to be the most stressful thing in sports. You can literally watch yourself dominate Wilder with your skill, and showcase the superiority of your craft, then you find yourself in the dressing room asking what had happened (that happened). Wilder in this fight must hunt smartly. Follow Fury through his escape and employ different angles to attack Fury’s defenses. If he dares to duck away to avoid a combination, include a uppercut. If he escapes to his right, throw left hooks, and vice versa. He cannot let Fury rest and gather himself after exchanges. Pressure must be applied, and it can be something as easy as jabbing Fury’s arms, or shooting feints, followed by jabs to score and get Fury moving. Above all, patience. If you are busy, not in punch volume, but mere activity, the knockdown/out should come. It has come in 41 of 43 fights, and the one draw, you dropped this very opponent twice.

Prediction: The Betdsi Betting line has Deontay Wilder as the slight favorite at -118. Tyson Fury is at -102. The over/under in rounds is at 10.5. I see this fight being a much more technical affair, and Wilder hunting effectively, knocking Tyson Fury out at the every edge of the Over/under. I have Deontay Wilder by knockout in Round 10.

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

Examining the Miami Heat’s Young Core

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All-Star Weekend was a busy one for the Miami Heat.

Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo were the headliners, becoming the first pair of Heat teammates since LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to grace the All-Star game floor.

Adebayo added a Skills Challenge trophy to his cabinet — and some money to Butler’s ongoing three-point tab. Between that and Butler ethering the Raptors, it’s safe to say the Heat stars showed out.

Beyond that, the Heat were able to put some of their “others” on display. Tyler Herro was set to play in the Rising Stars game, but an ank- er, foot — injury during Miami’s blow-out win over the 76ers knocked him out.

Kendrick Nunn was there to carry the mantle, scoring 16 points in Team USA’s 151-131 victory.

Duncan Robinson represented the Heat in the three-point contest, though his score (19) underwhelmed relative to his regular season success.

The winner of the weekend, as controversial as it may be, was Derrick Jones Jr. To say he entered the weekend confident would be a massive understatement.

Jones Jr. didn’t quite live up to his nothing-but-50s prediction, but he was able to bring the title home over Aaron Gordon. Not only did he rack up high scores in the contest, he was able to secure a shoe deal with Puma to cap off his weekend.

Now, the real fun starts. The Heat (35-19) have 28 games left to build up good habits and solidify their rotation. They’re currently the 4th seed — a fine place considering their competition, and in line with their preseason goals for home court advantage.

“We’re getting to the point of the season where the rubber’s kinda meeting the road,” Duncan Robinson tells Five Reason Sports over the weekend.

“We no longer want to be that ‘fun’ team or whatever. We want to push into that next level. With the playoffs on the horizon, our main focus is to position ourselves the best that we can.”

This also serves as an important stretch for the Heat’s young guys. The Heat need them for the playoff push, sure. But if we know anything about Pat Riley, it’s that he’ll push the chips to the middle of the table for a bonafide star.

The Heat are set to make splashes in each of the next two summers. If maneuvering is needed, some of the young pieces will be casualties, for lack of a better phrase.

With that, let’s take stock of the Heat’s young gunners.

Tyler Herro

Key stats: 13.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 39.3 percent from 3 (5.5 attempts)

Current role: Floor spacer, secondary creator

This one will be brief.

The Heat love Herro, their bleep-you, guard-me-if-you-can rookie with some big moments under his belt. He’s been better than, um, some people have anticipated. His offensive feel, three-point shooting, intermediate touch, and pick-and-roll chops are positives already. As he continues to adjust to NBA speed and physicality, Herro should shine playing off the Butler-Adebayo combo.

The defense is a bit of a problem. His off-ball instincts are fine, but the lack of length and burst — lateral and vertical — limits his ceiling on the ball. Miami has been a better team with Herro on the bench. That isn’t a massive indictment — it’s normal for rookies — but his defense is worth monitoring.

Status: (virtually) untouchable

Herro has been taken off the table in trade talks. Bradley Beal, a “former” Heat target, is probably the worst player the Heat would consider trading Herro for.

In short, unless a top-10 player that is 28 or younger becomes available, Herro is going to be a member of the Heat.

Kendrick Nunn

Key stats: 15.3 points, 3.5 assists, 34.1 percent from 3 (5.7 attempts)

Current role: secondary creator

Nunn kicked off the season on fire. He scored from all three levels offensively, and consistently blew up ball-screens on the other end. The makings of a two-way terror were on display; the Rookie of the Year award was heading to Miami.

Then, we hit November.

Nunn started getting back-cut. The missed passing windows become more egregious. The three-point shooting regressed a bit. He was still fine — good, by rookie standards — but some of the allure wore off.

Now, Nunn is working his way back from an Achilles injury. It’s been rough lately — 9.9 points with a 30/24/80 shooting split over his last seven games — but we shouldn’t lose sight of what Nunn is, and how far he’s come.

His three-level scoring chops are still legit. You can trust him to take the right shot against Drop coverage. His comfort around the elbows with jumpers or floaters will be important against teams like Philadephia. The game has slowed down a bit, evidenced by his moderate bump in assist-to-turnover ratio since December 1st (1.5 to 2.4).

Like Herro, Nunn is still a bit of a screen magnet defensively. It’s a bigger issue because he’s at the point of attack, and the Heat have been squishy on the interior. Him becoming a competent screen navigator is wildly important to his ceiling.

Status: important but movable

Nunn is the kind of secondary scorer the Heat need alongside Butler, who is more battering ram than pull-up artist. The Heat were also reportedly willing to include Nunn in a three-team deal that would’ve netted them Danilo Gallinari.

In short: Nunn is a prime candidate to be cashed in.

It’s important to note that there is no real attachment to Nunn; he was an end-of-season signing that has blown up more than anyone could’ve reasonably projected. He serves an important role, but selling high for an established guy isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

Duncan Robinson

Key stats: 12.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 43.8 percent from 3 (8.1 attempts)

Current role: off-ball weapon

Robinson is, at worst, a top five shooter in the NBA. He’s nearly automatic on catch-and-shoot looks, and is Ellington-esque as an off-movement shooter. The Heat leverage his marksmanship by involving him in countless dribble-handoffs, and using him as a low screener to flummox defenses.

Before the season, Erik Spoelstra said Robinson was one of the best shooters in the world, and that it was up to him to prove it.

It’s, uh, safe to say he’s proven it this season.

Status: important

Robinson is arguably Miami’s most important offensive player. Their offensive rating drops over seven points with Robinson on the bench. He’s their best weapon against drop coverage; his off-movement shooting via dribble-handoffs put defenses in impossible situations.

As good as Robinson is offensively, he’s just as much of a mess defensively. Teams have begun to pick on him more aggressively, and that will ramp up during the playoffs. The Heat desperately need to become average — or slightly below — to fully maximize him.

Even with that, it’s hard to imagine Robinson being expendable. He’s essentially a 6’8 Ellington with more passing chops. The Heat have the defenders to flank Robinson with — Butler, Adebayo, Andre Iguodala, and Jae Crowder to name a few. If Herro or Nunn hold their weight as on-ball defenders, the Heat can probably survive with Robinson as the only minus defender on the floor.

Derrick Jones Jr.

Key stats: 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds (1.0 offensive), 1.0 steals, 0.7 blocks

Current role: Defensive specialist, freelance-4

The champ is here!

[insert drums here]

The champ is here!

Miami’s confident high flyer finally has the hardware to solidify himself as the game’s most absurd dunker.

Jones Jr. is more than a dunker, though. He’s a prolific offensive rebounder, sneaky-good half-court finisher (1.29 PPP, 79th percentile via Synergy), and a bit of a terror defensively. We know what Jones Jr. does in Miami’s zone, but his on-ball defense has improved immensely from last season.

Jones Jr. still feels a bit incomplete offensively. His handle is improved, but still loose. The footwork on drives gets a bit iffy. The jumper, or lack thereof, is the canyon-sized hole that needs to be closed. For what it’s worth, he recognizes that his jumper will unlock everything.

“If I have to choose one thing [to work on], it’s my jumper,” Jones Jr tells Five Reasons Sports.

“I have the ball-handling to do what I want. I have the athleticism to do what I want. Once I get that shot — I got it — but when it gets consistent, that’s a wrap.”

We shall see.

Status: safe for now

From my view, Jones Jr has been the most expendable part of the Heat’s young core precisely because of his offensive skill set. He doesn’t quite handle the ball well enough to play the 3, and isn’t a good enough shooter to provide real value as a stretch-ish 4.

To his credit, he’s done a fantastic job of using gaps to his advantage. More space from the perimeter has allowed him to build up runways for putback slams. He’s a smart guy off the ball, and that’s valuable.

The Heat deciding to trade Justise Winslow and hang onto Jones Jr, a free agent this summer, should be seen as a vote of confidence. They like what he brings to the table, and believe in how hard he works. If the shot does come around, the Heat may just have their 4 of the future.