South Florida Voices

Opportunity Knocks: A Favorable 2025 Schedule Gives Dolphins a Clear Path to Contend
After a disappointing 8-9 campaign in 2024, the Miami Dolphins enter the 2025 NFL season with a renewed sense of urgency—and a schedule that may finally work in their favor. For a franchise often burdened by brutal late-season slates and harsh northern road trips, the upcoming year offers a refreshing change: a balanced, travel-friendly schedule ...

A Different Heat: What Separates Miami from the NBA’s Elite?
In the playoffs, it’s all about getting hot at the right time—as the Miami Heat have famously shown us in recent years. But it’s also about something even more crucial: health. No team knows that better than Heat fans. This season, Miami had neither—and in the past, it was always one or the other. They ...

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Mother’s Day massacre says more about the Pacers than the victimized Cavaliers
The Pacers took a gigantic 3-1 lead in the series as they shamed the first-seeded Cavaliers by 20 and at one point led by 44. They flexed most of their powers as they sensed weakness in their opponent, leaving them with an indelible nightmare. Keep in mind that a 3-1 comeback has been completed only ...

No Regrets, Still Respect: Pat Riley Reflects on Jimmy Butler Fallout
Hostile Butler Breakup Overshadows Season The Miami Heat's chaotic 2024–25 season came to a close with a sharp dose of honesty from team president Pat Riley. Speaking to reporters at his end-of-year press conference, Riley didn’t shy away from the elephant in the room — the team's midseason split with Jimmy Butler. “In the middle ...

Reading Between the Lines: Pat Riley’s Presser Points to a Kevin Durant Pursuit
Pat Riley didn’t need to say Kevin Durant’s name. As he wrapped up his annual end-of-season press conference on Monday, the Miami Heat president left behind a trail of cryptic but calculated quotes — and a clear message beneath it all: the Heat are gearing up to chase an alpha, and all signs point to ...

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Draymond Green earns fifth playoff technical foul
Another Warriors game, another exhibit of Draymond Green crossing the line and acting like the victim. With five playoff technical fouls in only nine outings, Green’s getting a warning letter plus a $4,000 fine and is two away from a mandatory suspension. During Game 2 of the Timberwolves v. Warriors, Naz Reid committed a reach-in ...

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The second round shows how far away the Heat are from competing
It was a hard, frustrating season for the Heat faithful because their crew stunk and was drawn and quartered in four games by the Cavaliers. Round two, which has featured only prosperity for the visitors, also shows how far away they are from the serious teams. The Cleveland-Indiana series kicked off Sunday with Darius Garland ...

Why Cameron Wake Belongs in the Dolphins’ Ring of Honor
Honoring Legends: Celebrating the Players Who Defined Dolphins Football The Miami Dolphins have only retired three jersey numbers in franchise history—Bob Griese’s #12, Dan Marino’s #13, and Larry Csonka’s #39. Instead, the team has built its legacy through the Ring of Honor, an exclusive recognition bestowed upon those who have made lasting contributions to the ...

Dwyane Wade vs. James Harden: Why D-Wade Will Always Be Better
Dwyane Wade vs. James Harden: Why D-Wade Will Always Be Better By age 35, both Dwyane Wade and James Harden had carved out Hall of Fame careers. Wade, revered for his midrange mastery, slashing brilliance, and defensive grit, and Harden, a statistical marvel who redefined offensive efficiency with step-backs and free throws. But when the ...

What’s Wrong with Sandy Alcantara? A Deep Dive into His 2025 Struggles
What’s Wrong with Sandy Alcantara? A Deep Dive into His 2025 Struggles Just two years removed from a Cy Young Award, Sandy Alcantara now finds himself mired in one of the worst stretches of his career. The 6-foot-5 Marlins ace, once revered for his dominance, durability, and pinpoint command, has opened the 2025 season with ...

Panthers in Familiar Situation With Chance to Close Out Series Against Lightning
Tampa, Fla. — Coming off the high of a late comeback win in Game 4, the Florida Panthers — holding a 3-1 series lead — will have the chance to eliminate the Tampa Bay Lightning and advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday night in Tampa. The opportunity at hand ...

Can the Heat Justify Giving Tyler Herro a Max Deal?
From Bubble Breakout to Big Decisions Tyler Herro first captured the NBA spotlight during the 2020 Bubble Playoffs, where he played beyond his years as a 20-year-old rookie on a title-contending Miami Heat squad. Averaging 16.0 points per game across 21 postseason contests — including a legendary 37-point outburst against Boston in the Eastern Conference ...

Swept Away: The Heat’s Historic Collapse and Uncertain Future
Swept Away Just as quickly as the Heat’s postseason hope ignited, it was extinguished. Their reward for surviving the chaos of the regular season and muscling their way through the Play-In? A brutal reality check against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who swept them out of the first round in emphatic — and historic — fashion. It ...

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: “It shouldn’t have been like this, I know that for damn sure”: The Heat were swept and humiliated by the bloodthirsty Cavaliers in the season finale
Pat Riley sat near courtside, looking as if he’d seen a ghost, but he was eyeballing the Heat’s corpse on the court named after him. His expression was similar to Vito Corleone's when he told Bonesera, “Look how they massacred my boy.” They quit early into the second quarter because they were a team that ...

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: “The schemes are on steroids in the playoffs”: The Heat got annihilated by the Cavaliers in Game 3
The Cavaliers were as hell-bent as starving Lions when they cornered their next meal. They mentally and emotionally deflated the Heat by crushing them in almost all areas for a 37-point win, taking a 3-0 lead in the series. Despite the Heat’s daring efforts, their season was lost as the visitors ripped off an insurmountable ...

“He don’t play any defense”: Heat prepare for Games 3 and 4 at home
Tyler Herro needs help if the Heat are going to avoid a sweep. They are down 2-0 to the Cavaliers as both squads prepare for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday. Donovan Mitchell has been the best player in the series because he’ll snap his fingers and take over, as he did with ...