Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The touring Fever got crushed in the fourth quarter by the Connecticut Sun

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The Fever rolled into Mohegan Sun Arena and got overwhelmed by the opposing outfit late. Caitlin Clark was welcomed to the league by DiJonai Carrington’s two-way play. And Connecticut’s DeWanna Bonner passed Candice Dupree for fifth place in WNBA scoring.

At halftime, turnovers had the visitors down 39-49 despite shooting 54.2% from the field and leading on the glass by four. The second half wasn’t much prettier defensively.

Clark started slowly, missing her first three tries and picking up two fouls plus a turnover. A timeout was called, and she sat until the closing seconds of the quarter. In those minutes, the Fever went on a 6-9 run.

Then Clark started contributing in the second frame. She swiped a pass and took off on the break for a layup, plus hit a left-wing triple, but had four extra turnovers. On top of that, Aliyah Boston set up NaLyssa Smith for a left-side 3-pointer and passed to Kelsey Mitchell, cutting back door for a layup.

But the visitors offered little resistance on defense.

Tyasha Harris splashed jumpers in the corner, the wing, and above the elbow. Carrington logged 14 points on five of 10 attempts, including a steal on Clark at midcourt then taking off for a fast break layup. Bonner swished shots off the dribble and behind picks. And Brionna Jones poured in two baskets at close range.

The Fever was down 39-49 at halftime. Furthermore, the team had 18 paint points, nine on the break, six via second chances, seven off turnovers and 14 from the bench.

The Sun had 18 interior points, three in the open court, seven on extra tries, 16 off turnovers and four from the reserves.

Carrington guarded Clark out of intermission, and the Sun added in traps. As the sequence progressed, Clark drained a trifecta against Jones in drop coverage and showed her open court gifts with a connecting pass for a layup, and a direct feed for a deuce.

Erica Wheeler made a left-wing tray and dribbled into the paint for a layup.

Yet, the rest of the unit put up three of nine baskets in the third quarter.

Connecticut’s Jones and Thomas made it difficult for Boston to initiate post offense.

The fourth quarter started with the Fever behind 57-65, but they couldn’t hang the rest of the period, getting outscored by 13 points.

Clark scored eight more points, downing two freebies, nailing a left-side 3-pointer over Olivia Nelson-Ododa, and canning another falling away deep shot at the same spot.

Wheeler broke into the lane for two points on a pick-and-roll set with Temi Fagbenle.

And Kristy Wallace scored quickly on the break, fed by Clark.

The rest of the Fever dispensed one of five baskets the rest of the way.

On the other side, Thomas cut through Indiana’s defenses for a layup and logged a putback. Harris and Rachel Banham made 3-pointers. And Carrington was a defensive pest.

The Fever lost 71-92, were outrebounded by two and committed 10 more turnovers than the Sun. Additionally, the group scored 30 paint points, 14 on the break, six via second chances, 14 off turnovers and 21 from the bench.

Clark finished with 20 points on five of 15 attempts, with three assists, two steals and 10 turnovers. NaLyssa Smith had 13 points on 41.7% accuracy, with nine rebounds, one assist, two blocks and two turnovers. Wheeler totaled eight marks on a perfect three attempts and recovered one rebound and two assists.

The Suns recorded 32 interior points, 10 in the open court, 15 on extra tries, 29 off turnovers and 19 from the reserves.

Thomas registered a triple-double, 13 points on four of eight looks, with 10 rebounds, 13 assists, three steals and seven turnovers. Bonner had 20 points on 57.1% shooting, with six rebounds, one assist, one steal and two turnovers. Harris put up 16 marks on six of 11 attempts, with two dimes and one steal. And Carrington had 16 points on six of 15 tries and picked up five rebounds, one assist and two steals.

Postgame, Clark said she had too many turnovers and that she didn’t have a great start. “Like we said in the locker room, we play on Thursday, you gotta learn from it and move on and be ready to go.”

Fever coach Christie Sides said the team has a lot to work on.

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Pat Riley’s State of the Heat press conference

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Vintage Pat Riley emerged from his cave for his end-of-the-season presser, criticizing and praising his group. He also rebuked the idea of a rebuild because he thinks a healthy Jimmy Butler can be a 1A player in the Postseason.

He started with an indication that there must be a change to the team’s approach to winning. Player availability is a big deal to the Heat and so are tweaks to the offense and defense. Which means he expects more from coach Erik Spoelstra and the trainers.

When asked about the shelf life of the Heat’s build as it approaches its sixth season together, Riley initially told a story about telling LeBron James in a meeting after the 2011 Finals about “going to work on the roster” by adding depth. Yet that team hadn’t burned itself out by playing so long together.

As an anti-rebuilder, he doubled down and said his goal is to keep the ride going. “You start talking about the Draft more than anything else right now.” But on the current squad, he said everyone is bothered by not having claimed a title despite its success over the last five seasons.

Regarding Butler’s second extension, Riley said, “We don’t have to do that for a year. We have not discussed that internally right now, but we have to look at making that kind of commitment… We’ll see.”

Butler, who will be age 35 in September and who has played in 74.4% of the Heat’s regular season games since 2019-20, is on notice that the Godfather expects his top earner to be on the court more often. Riley also shared that he had spoken “thoroughly” with Butler’s agent, Bernard Lee, before last season about attendance.

Answering about his feelings on rest and missed time, Riley said, “This whole injury reporting stuff… I can remember when there was a time we never reported any injury because you then became a target.”

As a point of reference to Riley’s mentality, when he was coach of the Lakers in 1988, he permitted James Worthy to play in the All-Star Game with left knee tendinitis after the team’s public relations department said he would not. And his brother Len passed away at age 52 of an illness the Friday before the exhibition he coached for the West stars.

He isn’t a fan of the 65-game rule either because he thinks it gives players an excuse to miss 17 outings.

Furthermore, the Don said Tyler Herro is fragile and needs to make some adjustments but highlighted his work ethic. Then he said Herro is a starter when asked if he agreed with Udonis Haslem, the former Heatles’ captain and current vice president of basketball development, who recently commented on ESPN that the group is better with him as a sixth man.

Bam Adebayo needs to “expand his game.” Riley cited Magic Johnson making changes to become a better shooter and post up player to pick up his scoring.

PS: Terry Rozier is still using a neck brace and is “feeling good,” according to Riley.

Riley wasn’t thrilled with Butler’s comment about an alternative first-round outcome with the Boston Celtics had he been healthy enough to play. He said, “If you’re not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut and [stop] your criticism of those teams.”

And he’s trying to get away with blaming the 2011 Finals loss on not having enough depth, like LeBron James recently has on episode three of the Mind the Game podcast. The real reason was James getting outplayed by Jason Terry.

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Timberwolves put the Nuggets in a chokehold, taking a 2-0 lead in the series

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The Timberwolves wiped the floor of Ball Arena with the defending champs so badly that Jamal Murray threw a heating pack on the court while seated on the bench, which should have got him tossed and deserves a suspension. Additionally, Nuggets coach Michael Malone and his staff were disturbed on the sideline, and the hosts’ supporters were crestfallen as the squad went down 0-2 in the west semi-finals.

The Timberwolves were absent Rudy Gobert (childbirth). And the Nuggets were missing their hearts.

Aaron Gordon supplied 13 first-quarter points, attacking through an inverted pick-and-roll set with the Joker, making a putback, and logging three jumpers in the lane and at long range. But the rest of the Nuggets converted three of 12 baskets in the first quarter.

On the ‘Wolves’ side, Kyle Anderson, who filled in for Gobert, absorbed three offensive rebounds early.

Karl-Anthony Towns scored on a handoff roll on the left side, nailed two jumpers at 19 and 27 feet away, pump-faked Murray to get loose on the baseline for a layup and powered through him for another scoop shot.

And Anthony Edwards sliced through the lane twice, dropping in a reverse layup with Jokić on his tail and pulverizing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at the cup for another. The latter caused Malone to lose his mind by getting into referee Marc Davis’ face as if he were looking for a fade. He wasn’t given a technical foul for his insolence.

The Nuggets were down 20-28 at the end of the first, shooting 42.1% from the field and 37.5% from 3-point distance.

Then it got worse as the visitors forced eight consecutive misses. They contested deep jumpers produced by the drive and kick on time, shut down Murray’s rim and distance attack and stayed in front of the ball, plus had help come in the back line.

In total, the Timberwolves conceded 15 points on six of 24 shots in the second quarter. Notably, Jokić and Murray were held to a combined two of 12 ventures.

Defensively, the Nuggets were incapable of stopping Naz Reid from nailing two top-of-the-key triples on pick-and-pop sets. Towns contributed another five points. And Edwards finished twice on the break, dribbled past Gordon from the right wing to the cup for a layup and dunked via a give-and-go with Kyle Anderson on the right side.

The Nuggets were down 35-61 at halftime, shooting 32.6% to the Timberwolves’ 54.5%. On top of that, the squad had 20 paint points, three on the break, two via second chances, none off turnovers and six from the bench.

The Timberwolves picked up 32 interior points, 18 in the open court, eight on extra tries, 10 off turnovers and 19 from the bench.

Next, the Nuggets emerged from the intermission rattled and off-target, making two of nine shots to start. Yet, four straight makes by Michael Porter Jr., KCP, Jokić and Murray plus Jokić’s two trips to the charity line prevented the crew from having its offense wiped out in the third quarter.

On the other side, Edwards and Reid were the only Wolves to make multiple field goals, but the latter was inefficient (28.6%).

The fourth quarter started with the Nuggets behind 60-82.

Jokić, Murray and Porter were useless, adding nothing to the scoreboard the rest of the way.

And smelling the blood of his vulnerable prey, Minnesota’s conquering star, Edwards, swished a right-wing banger over Justin Holiday, spun past KCP in the post for a layup and drove left from the top to the rim for another deuce.

The Nuggets lost 80-106. The squad had 34 paint points, 10 on the break, eight via second chances, two off turnovers and 23 from the bench.

Gordon had 20 points on eight of 14 attempts, with four rebounds, two assists, one steal and a turnover. Jokić had 16 marks on 38.5% shooting, with 16 rebounds, eight assists, one block and four turnovers. Holiday put up 13 points on four of six tries, with two rebounds and one dime. And Murray logged eight points on three of 18 looks, with 13 rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block and four turnovers.

The Timberwolves accumulated 52 interior points, 18 in the open court, 14 on extra tries, 19 after turnovers and 37 from the reserves.

Towns (27), Edwards (27), Reid (14) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker (14) were Minnesota’s double-digit scorers.

Malone said, “They kicked our ass.”

Later he said that his priority is trying to win Game 3 and its first quarter. On the Murray situation, Malone said he wasn’t aware of it when a question about him facing league discipline was asked.

Jokić said the Nuggets didn’t help themselves, citing poor ball movement.

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Heat were gutted by Gang Green and eliminated from the Playoffs

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The Celtics destroyed the outgunned Heatles at TD Garden, eliminating the visitors from the Playoffs. The Celtics’ defense, the disparity on the glass, 56-29, in favor of the hosts, and the Heat’s lack of outside offense sums up this massacre.

The Heat was absent Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck).

Bam Adebayo scored off an inverted pick-and-roll set with Tyler Herro, successfully shooting thrice over Al Horford and dunking through the middle in the first quarter for the Heat. But it took them nowhere as the rest of the guests converted five of 13 baskets and they were down 23-41 at its end.

For the Celtics, Derrick White swished two freebies, finished in transition, drove from the left wing to the cup for a dunk and made three trays. Jaylen Brown produced four shots in the restricted area. And Jayson Tatum made two 3-pointers.

It was already a lost cause for the Heat in the second quarter.

Brown triumphantly shot over Herro, hooked at close range while covered by Adebayo, jammed from the dunker spot and supplied a 3-pointer. Jrue Holiday contributed seven points, and Tatum put up six more.

On the Heat side, Herro finally got on the board with three baskets after five fruitless ventures in the first. And Adebayo logged four shots, rim rolling and canning two jumpers.

The Heat was down 46-68. Additionally, the team had 30 paint points, three on the break, none via second chances, five off turnovers and six from the bench.

The Celtics had 26 interior points, zero in the open court, five on extra tries, two off turnovers and eight from the reserves.

Then the Heat were stuck in second gear coming out of the break, failing on all six 3-point attempts because the Celtics contested on time or let Adebayo shoot. Furthermore, Adebayo was off-target inside the arc, making one of seven baskets in the frame.

The only Heatles to record multiple field goals in the third quarter were Delon Wright and Herro. The former drove from the wing to the cup for a layup and cut up the baseline for a scoop shot. The latter got the hole twice and made a shot at the elbow over Horford to cut the deficit to 32 points.

For the hosts, Brown and White put up eight more points apiece. Horford overpowered Patty Mills and Wright near the rim to score. And Sam Hauser got by Nikola Jović on the baseline for a dunk and hit a right-side triple.

The Heat entered the fourth quarter down 66-98 and never got the deficit below 30 points the rest of the way. Adebayo didn’t play in the sequence and Herro was in fewer than three minutes.

The match was so out of hand and in garbage time that only two Celtics starters- Tatum and Holiday- played in the quarter and none longer than four minutes.

The Heat lost 84-118 and got beat on the glass by 27. To boot, the team had 58 paint points, three on the break, none via second chances, 15 off turnovers and 20 from the bench. On top of that, the group never had the lead in Game 5.

The Celtics put up 52 interior points, five in the open court, 11 on extra tries, 10 off turnovers and 34 from the reserves.

White (25), Brown (25), Hauser (17), Tatum (16) and Holiday (10) were Boston’s double-digit scorers.

At the postgame presser, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra credited the Celtics as a top-tier outfit and said, “We’re not going to put this on the fact that we had some injuries.”

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Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Celtics blasted the Heat, going up 3-1 in the series

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Following the ransacking at the hands of the Celtics on Saturday, the short-handed Heat came out on the game’s first play in a helpless zone. Jrue Holiday drew a foul cutting through its heart in 16 seconds, icing two freebies and setting the tone of the evening.

The Heat were absent Jimmy Butler (knee) and Terry Rozier (neck).

Lionel Messi and his entourage were present, witnessing the destruction from a box suite.

Early, the Celtics’ defense was in third gear, and Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo briefly kept their team from getting wasted. The former swished a pull-up tray in Kristaps Porziņģis’s face, drove left into the paint twice for layups and slashed through the center, making an eight-foot floater. And the latter hit two jumpers in the lane and finished a lob over Al Horford’s head.

Yet, Boston’s Derrick White fractured the hosts’ defenses and their spirit. He scored 13 points, making 83.3% of his attempts. The rest of the Celtics converted four of 15 baskets.

Then, the Heat’s offense came undone in the second quarter. Jaime Jaquez Jr. couldn’t score on Sam Hauser and Jaylen Brown at close range and missed two looks in the corner. Herro got his layup denied by White, bricked a 3-pointer against in drop coverage and took an unwise, off-balance baseline jumper with Horford covering well. And the rest of the crew, minus Adebayo, registered two of nine ventures to close the half.

On the other side, the Heat’s defense contested shots on time and permitted 35% of attempts to fall. But White got loose, splashing two wing triples, and Holiday dribbled from the top to the cup, making two buckets.

But before the second quarter ended, Porziņģis hurt his right calf, attempting a dribble move on the wing with four minutes left. He walked to the locker room, frustratedly wiping his face with his jersey.

At intermission, the Heat was down 36-53 and behind on the glass by five. Additionally, the hosts had 26 paint points, six on the break, two via second chances, three off turnovers and three from the bench.

The Celtics had 16 interior points, 10 in the open court, five on extra tries, nine off turnovers and two from the reserves.

Porziņģis didn’t return for the second half.

Subsequently, the Heat’s offense was inept. It totaled five scoreless minutes between stretches in the third quarter. JJJ and Adebayo were the only Heatles to record multiple field goals.

The Celtics failed to hurt the Heat from deep, but they ravaged the inside protections, recording eight shots in the lane and recovering five offensive rebounds. Midway through, White cut through the middle for two spiteful dunks, and Brown punched in one on the break on consecutive plays.

The fourth quarter began with the Heat down 59-81. The squad tried to claw its way back- Herro, Adebayo and Caleb Martin contributed 25 points on nine of 13 attempts- but the efforts were insufficient.

For Gang Green, Brown reached the rim for a layup off a pick-and-roll set with Horford. Horford canned a pick-and-pop triple at the top, facing Martin. Holiday splashed a corner 3-pointer. Jayson Tatum dunked over Martin. And White beat a trap on the wing, getting inside for an eight-foot finger roll.

The Heat lost 88-102. The team picked up 46 paint points, eight on the break, 10 via second chances, 10 off turnovers and 14 from the bench.

Adebayo scored 25 points on 11 of 22 tries, with 17 rebounds, five assists and three turnovers. Herro had 19 on his ledger, making 47.1% of his shots, with four rebounds, four assists and five turnovers. And Martin had 18 points on six of 14 attempts, with five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a turnover.

The Celtics had 40 interior points, 16 in the open court, 12 on extra tries, 20 off turnovers and nine from the reserves.

White (38), Tatum (20), Brown (17) and Holiday (11) were Boston’s double-digit scorers.

At the postgame presser, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said he believes his group has more in the tank. He added, “I know in my heart, we have a game that’s there, you know, it’s just a matter of the ball going in a few more times, and all of a sudden, it ignites and it just keeps on going.”

Adebayo said the Celtics have adjusted to the Heat’s defense by “making me switch and putting me in the corner, or putting me away from the play.”

The Celtics are up 3-1 in the series. Game 5 is in Boston on Wednesday.

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Dolphins draft class: Grier fills needs while following 2-year approach

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Before the 2024 draft, general manager Chris Grier mentioned that he is always taking a 2-year look into the future on what his team could be. The Miami Dolphins followed this approach as well as addressing immediate needs to improve the team in 2024. 

 

1st Round (21st overall) 

 

EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State:

 

You can tell Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel were giddy about this pick. Both members of the Dolphins front office showed that with their body language in their press conference following the initial night of the draft. They were loose, confident, smiling, and joking with the media. Grier admitted Robinson was a player he not only selected but was targeting in this draft. 

 

Robinson has a quick first step which he realized was a talent he possessed back in middle school. He was also the 4th-highest rated EDGE player on CBS draft prospect rankings. 

 

Robinson’s sack totals and overall production weren’t impressive at Penn State, but Grier wasn’t paying attention to that as much as Robinson’s play disruption. Robinson runs a 4.48 40-time which is tied 7th all-time for defensive ends at the combine. He demonstrated elite traits, but his hand usage and other parts of his game need to be polished. One NFC scout compared him to Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons, although the scout admitted that Parsons was more polished entering the draft. 

 

How he fits:

 

Starting EDGE rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb may not be ready for the early portion of the regular season, so the Miami Dolphins needed depth to replace them until they can return. Shaq Barrett was signed as depth but he is 31 years of age, so the Dolphins could use more youth and talent at that position. Phillips 5th-year option is expected to be exercised by the team, but a longterm extension isn’t in the works yet, so the Dolphins have to be prepared for that scenario by 2026. Robinson should be getting enough looks, reps, coaching, and game experience in order to develop in the meantime. 

 

2nd Round

 

OT Patrick Paul, Houston:

 

Another selection that Grier and McDaniel were very happy about – and that Paul was very happy about too. Paul made it known to the Dolphins during their pre-draft visit that he wanted to be in Miami. His agent even texted the Dolphins all Friday and as Paul was falling in the 2nd round saying “‘The kid is driving me crazy. He wants to be here.’ (laughter)”.

The Dolphins were impressed by Paul’s size and wingspan (6’7”, 331 lbs, 36 ¼” arms–perhaps the longest arms in the draft), recovery skills, and his growth and desire to get better. 

 

Overall, Paul is more of a polished pass-protector than he is a run blocker. Pro Football Focus graded him in 2022 with a pass black rating of 91.1 and 91.5 in 2023. However, his run blocking grades weren’t as impressive – 60.4 and 69.4 respectively. His long arms allow him to get first-contact on defensive lineman, and he has the ability to quickly recover when he is out of position, but needs to get grittier in the run game. 

 

How he fits:

 

Paul played left tackle throughout his days at Houston and was a team captain during his final two seasons. So it’s expected that he will fill Terron Armstead’s role if he gets injured or retires after the season. 

 

However, Grier downplayed this angle saying that the team doesn’t draft with the philosophy of position chasing. That may be true, but the fact remains that the team will have a need a left tackle by this season’s end, and they just drafted one in the 2nd round. The Dolphins say Paul has the ability to swing to either side, and purely envision him playing tackle at this time.

 

Madman Mike’s Take: I think the possibility is still open for Patrick Paul to compete and have a chance at LG, I can’t see a 2nd-round pick sitting on the bench as a reserve swing when the team’s left guard spot is currently being filled by a career backup in Robert Jones. 

 

 

4th Round

 

RB Jaylen Wright, Tennessee:

 

Mike McDaniel has a type, doesn’t he? And that was proven by giving the Eagles a 3rd-rounder in 2025 in order to put up and select Jaylen Wright in the 4th round. This is just another weapon to add to a speedy backfield as well as an offense that is already the fastest in the NFL. 

 

Wright ran a 4.38 40-time, and averaged 6.0 and 7.4 yards per carry during his final two seasons at Tennessee with at least 135 carries in each year. NFL draft analyst graded Wright as a Round 3 value. 

 

How he fits:

 

Wright has good size and breakaway speed. At 210 lbs, he is tied with Jeff Wilson as the 2nd-heaviest back after Chris Books in the backfield. The upside with Wright is that Wilson and Brooks are buried in the depth chart, so Wright has a chance to be in rotation with Devon Achane and the aging Raheem Mosert for snaps, and possibly a larger role if anything happens with either of those two. Wright’s speed fits with McDaniel’s off-tackle running approach, and his size could bring the element of physicality the Dolphins need to convert for 1st-downs in short-yardage situations. His sticky hands and ability to run routes should also make him a fun target for Tua Tagovailoa.

 

5th Round

 

LB Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State:

 

If the Dolphins were ever sad that they missed out on Jared Verse in the 1st round, this pick should make up for it. Mohamed Kamara is the speed-to-power pass rusher that is a similar style to Verse but with 3rd round talent. The Dolphins said they were surprised he was still available and love his mentality.

 

Kamara’s statistical production increased each year at Colorado State and totaled 45.5 TFLs, 30.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. He was also named Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. His positional production score was ranked 5th at the NFL Scouting Combine, but his athletic traits and measurables ranked him 20th out of the players at his position. Still, despite his athletic shortcomings, he plays with a relentlessness and ferocity which should help him find success with the right opportunity. 

 

How he fits:

 

As I mentioned before, with stars Phillips and Chubb expected to miss the early portion of the regular season, the Fins need all the passrushing help they can get in their absence. Grier addressed the problem in this draft and McDaniel said you can never have too many pass rushers. The addition of Kamara allows Miami to potentially start Barrett and Robinson while having Kamara as a rotational piece.

 

6th Round

 

WR Malik Washington, Virginia

 

If any of you were waiting for the Fins to address their slot WR position, you were finally granted your wish on Day 3. Lance Zierlein had a Round 3 grade on Washington when the Dolphins finally snatched him in the 6th round. McDaniel did a big fist pump in the war room during the moment to express his enthusiasm.

 

Washington has extreme production. In 2023, he was Second-team Associated Press All-American. First-team All-ACC. Led the FBS with school-record 110 receptions, ranked 4th with a school-record 1,426 receiving yards (13.0 per), 9th with 1,706 all-purpose yards. Led the team with 9 receiving TDs. Played in all 12 games with 11 starts (3-7-2.3 rushing).

 

Washington is not a tall receiver. He is 5’8 and runs a 4.47. He is ideal for the slot WR position, which the Dolphins are still trying to figure out. Washington brings a toughness, quickness, and urgency in his play. But he will need to learn how to separate better against press coverage in the NFL. 

 

How he fits:

 

In the latter part of the 2023 season, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle dealt with injuries, and it seemed that if either one of those two receivers went down, so did the offense. Waddle was the team’s 2nd leading receiver in yards after Hill with 1,014 yards, but the 3rd leading receiver was tight end Durham Smythe with 366 yards. So there is a huge dropoff between Tua’s 2nd to 3rd option. The Fins are looking for a reliable outlet for Tua, especially since this offense is oriented to throwing over the middle of the field. Washington is an interesting option and could compete for that slot-WR position. However, he compares similarly to Braxton Berrios in stature, so it’ll be interesting to see if Washington can stand out. Washington has some return ability in his background, so he may start there. 

 

Round 6

 

S Patrick McMorris, California:

 

McMorris is a depth pick with the chance to play special teams if he stands out enough in that area. For the most part, McMorris knows how to play the position, but lacks the athletic traits to keep up with faster players. He brings an element of size and physicality, but has average speed in coverage. 

 

How he fits:

 

Although the Dolphins have a nice safety tandem entering 2024 with Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer, there is not much depth behind them. Poyer is listed as the team’s strong safety but is 33 years old, and if he goes down, the team could be in trouble on the back end of the defense. McMorris has the body-type to play the SS position, but will have to show he can adjust to NFL speed, especially against the Miami offense. 

 

Round 7

 

WR Tahj Washington, USC:

 

The Dolphins found more depth and competition for the slot position. Washington is another productive, but smaller WR. He has average traits, but knows how to take advantage with his route running. He doesn’t make much separation but counters that with his contested catch-making. 

 

How he fits: 

 

There is too much competition for the slot WR position on the Miami Dolphins at the moment, so I can’t see Washington getting much playing time there. However, Washington flashes return ability which could make him a compelling player for special teams. The Miami Dolphins need to improve in their return game, and with the kickoff rule changes, he has a chance to carve out a role. 

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: WNBA season preview

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The WNBA is almost back (May 14), and excitement is high for the league’s 28th season.

In preparation for the upcoming campaign, 2.45 million people tuned in to the Draft on April 15, the most ever viewed in WNBA history.

Training camp started on April 28 and the preseason is kicking off May 3. Rosters will be finalized on May 13. Due to the nature of the business- only 12 roster spots per team- many promising rookies will get cut.

And there are many storylines to watch. Some of the note are as follows: Watch the Throne Part Two with the Las Vegas Aces as they try to win a third consecutive championship. There’s Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston’s dynamic pairing for the Indiana Fever. The New York Liberty are on a quest for redemption after losing in the Finals in five games. And there’s also the Connecticut Sun’s unorthodox star, Alyssa Thomas’ follow-up to a historic season.

Let’s examine the power rankings:

12. Los Angeles Sparks

The Sparks are a rebuilding operation looking to fill the void of Nneka Ogwumike, who left for the Seattle Storm in free agency.

The top priority of the season is getting center Cameron Brink, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year, some reps and Curt Miller’s team building good habits.

11. Chicago Sky

Center Kamilla Cardoso and forward Angel Reese, both champions at the NCAA level, are Chicago’s frontcourt duo of the future. The former stands at 6-foot-7, scored 14.4 points per game in her last year at South Carolina, passes well out of double teams, absorbs rebounds and is a productive shot blocker. The latter is a dominant rebounder and scorer at 6-foot-3, plus an instinctual defender.

When asked about the duo at her introductory press conference, Reese said, “If I miss a defensive assignment, [Cardoso] is going to be there. If she misses a defensive assignment, I’m going to be there.”

Over the offseason, Kahleah Copper and Morgan Bertsch were traded to the Phoenix Mercury for Michaela Onyenwere, Brianna Turner, a 2024 1st-round pick ( was used on Cardoso), plus extra future draft compensation. And Courtney Williams and Allana Smith signed with the Minnesota Lynx in free agency.

This is the team’s first season under Teresa Weatherspoon.

10. Washington Mystics

Elena Delle Donne, the most efficient scorer on the team, is sitting out the 2024 campaign because of a contract dispute. Guard Brittney Sykes will lead the team in her absence, and this pushes the Mystics toward a rebuilding season.

The development of Aaliyah Edwards, UCONN’s forward taken six overall in the recent Draft, is pivotal for her pairing next to center Shakira Austin. At school and for Team Canada, Edwards was an impactful defender and helper. And with both of their gifts and IQ, there’s potential for Austin and Edwards to turn into a strangling tandem.

9. Indiana Fever

Clark and Boston are destined to make a tremendous half-court pairing. The former is a flashy and effective shot creator. The latter is the most efficient scorer in the league, going into her second year.

Their two-women actions via pick and roll and weaves will open up the perimeter. Individually, Boston will attract extra help near the basket. Clark is so lethal that traps will be sent at her often on the wings.

To boot, the Fever converted 34% of hoisted trays in 2023. Its top snipers Kelsey Mitchell and Kristy Wallace’s lives just got much easier.

8. Dallas Wings

The Wings drafted Jacy Sheldon fifth overall in the latest Draft and are running back last year’s group. The group was last in 3-point percentage (31.7), second in free throw attempts + makes (20.3, 16.4), and first in rebounds and offensive rebounds (38.7, 11.8).

Additionally, according to ESPN, Satou Sabally is expected to return from shoulder surgery in August. She is a two-way force, and her absence is irreplaceable.

Arike Ogunbowale, Natasha Howard and Crystal Dangerfield will have more responsibilities until Sabally is cleared for action.

7. Phoenix Mercury

The Mercury upgraded, signing Natasha Cloud, and bringing in Kahleah Copper and Rebecca Allen via trade. Brittney Griner is still a dominant force in the middle. And Diana Taurasi is a trap killer who can create off the dribble.

They have the potential to double last year’s win total (9).

6. Minnesota Lynx

Napheesa Collier’s work on both sides is the driving force of the team. In 2023, she was the Lynx’s leader in points (21.5), rebounds (8.5), steals (1.6), and blocks (1.2).

The squad will depend on Kayla McBride’s 3-point shooting, Diamond Miller’s shot creation, and Natasha Hiedeman’s electricity off the bench.

5. Atlanta Dream

Former rookie of the year (2022) Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Cheyenne Parker, Tina Charles, Aerial Powers and Jordin Canada are the heavies for the Dream.

Canada should draw extra help from defenders when running pick-and-roll sets with Parker.

A third-year leap for Howard could propel the Dream to further prosperity.

4. Seattle Storm

In 2023, the Storm were last in assists (17.7). That will change with new additions, forward Nneka Ogwumike and point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith. Their involvement will take pressure off the league’s leading scorer, Jewell Loyd, on offense and make them a threat.

Ogwumike is also an excellent rebounder who will limit opponents’ possessions and make a top four group in this category stronger.

3. Connecticut Sun

The trade the Sun made, sending Rebecca Allen to the Phoenix Mercury for Moriah Jefferson, is an intriguing swap of defense for offense. It will be tough to lose the former’s perimeter protections, but the club’s best scorer, DeWanna Bonner, is about to be age 37. She and playmaking big Alyssa Thomas need another bucket-getter.

Although Jefferson was DPOY at UCONN, she can play D, but her effectiveness as a player eight inches shorter than Allen and a nine-inch shorter reach won’t have as much impact.

Additionally, Thomas does almost everything for the group. Last year, she put up 15.5 points nightly and was first in rebounding (9.9), second in assists (7.9) + minutes (36.2) and third in steals (1.8).

The return of Brionna Jones gives the Sun a stronger front line.

2. New York Liberty

Jonquel Jones, a top-three center who causes overreactions galore, re-signed with the Liberty on a two year deal.

The Liberty have the personnel to play and be just as good as they were in the last campaign. The reigning MVP Breanna Stewart is at the peak of his abilities, impacting the game as a high-level scorer, rebounder and passer.

Sabrina Ionescu is a dangerous sniper and sets up her teammates well.

Courtney Vandersloot is veteran playmaker who was the league leader in assists in 2023.

And Betnijah Laney is one of the fiercest 3-and-D players in the game. Her ability to pick up ball handlers in full-court press is a huge asset, too.

But being as good as last year would be a disappointment, in spite of the crew winning 32 of 40 games.

This season, the team shouldn’t wait so long to make Jones a focal point of the offense. She may have spent a chunk of 2023 working herself into game shape, but she was fourth in scoring average for the Liberty, which is unacceptable. Jones can get 16 points and 10 rebounds nightly at 50% of her power.

To get to another level, the Liberty must run more two-women actions for Jones and Stewart so the squad can generate more free throw attempts and put the opponent in foul trouble. The Liberty were 10th of 12 teams in free throw attempts (16.7) in 2023.

1. Las Vegas Aces

The defending champions are a bit weaker following the retirement of legendary forward/center Candace Parker. Her replacement at power forward is Kiah Stokes, who filled in as a starter after Parker fractured her foot and didn’t play past July 7.

On top of that, winning two rings in a row is a mentally taxing experience and has made the unit a larger target than before.

Regardless, the Aces are at the top of the WNBA’s arms race.

Nobody puts more pressure on a defense when attacking the paint than A’ja Wilson, the 6-foot-4 center and reigning Finals MVP. And on defense, she is the league’s top lane protector.

Chelsea Gray, the league’s top playmaker, can make any pass in transition plus the half court and creates separation going left or right. Gray can stop on a dime from long-range for a jumper, too.

Jackie Young is an elusive three-level gunslinger. She was the team’s top 3-point shooter in 2023 (44.9%).

And Kelsey Plum is a combo guard who can take over. Last season, Plum was second on the Aces in scoring (18.7 points) and second in assists (4.5).

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Important dates for the WNBA this season:

The Commissioner’s Cup Tournament runs from June 1-13.

The Commissioner’s Cup Championship is on June 25.

The All-Star break stretches from July 18-21.

The Olympic break lasts from July 21- Aug. 14.

The trade deadline is on Aug. 20.

The Playoffs start on Sept. 22.

 

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Celtics sacked Kaseya Center, taking a 2-1 lead in the series

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The Celtics smoked the understaffed Heat at Kaseya Center, taking a 2-1 lead in the series.

The Heat was absent Jimmy Butler (knee), Delon Wright (personal reasons) and Terry Rozier (neck).

The Celtics’ defense blocked the hosts from prosperity, allowing only three points through the first six minutes and then five of 21 attempts in the first quarter. On offense, Kristaps Porziņģis blasted the zone and man coverage with a pair of trays, plus slammed a lob from Jrue Holiday in the half-court. Jaylen Brown added six points on three of eight looks.

Haywood Highsmith and Bam Adebayo were the only Heatles who made multiple field goals early. The former scored on two isolation drives to the rim. The latter hit a baseline jumper with contact and logged a putback.

Next, the Heat’s defense yielded, giving up 42 points on 65.2% shooting in the second quarter. Jayson Tatum made five freebies, two trifectas and an iso step-back jumper over Caleb Martin. Derrick White put up a dozen on two 3-pointers, a tip-in off Brown’s missed freebie plus another putback in transition and a cut through the middle for a layup. The rest of the Celtics converted seven of 10 baskets.

Tyler Herro answered for the Heat with 10 points, canning a floater and 3-pointer against Porziņģis in drop coverage and another three when KP came up closer after the screen. Jaime Jaquez Jr., Nikola Jović and Adebayo scored four more points apiece.

At halftime, the Heat was down 39-63 and was outrebounded by 12. On top of that, the squad had 12 paint points, none on the break, five via second chances, two after turnovers and six from the bench.

The Celtics had 26 interior points, two in the open court, 10 on extra tries, 19 after turnovers and 14 from the reserves.

Out of the intermission, Brown spun past Herro to the cup, beat JJJ on the baseline for a jam, downed a floater in the lane and hooked over Adebayo at close range. White further contributed four points.

For the Heat, Adebayo maneuvered on the baseline around White and Porziņģis for a layup, dunked on the break and canned a floater at the dunker spot. Herro, Jović and Jaquez followed his lead, but it wasn’t enough.

The fourth quarter began with the Heat down 61-87.

Adebayo dunked over Porziņģis to cut the deficit to 27 points and later a hook over White, slicing the disparity down to 24 with six minutes left. And JJJ and Patty Mills combined for 11 points.

The Celtics produced 17 points on 35.7% accuracy in the fourth quarter.

The Heat lost 84-104 and was beat on the glass by seven. To boot, the team had 34 paint points, six on the break, 11 via second chances, four after turnovers and 17 from the bench.

Adebayo scored 20 points on eight of 18 attempts, with nine rebounds and three assists. Jović had 15 points on 45.5% shootings, with eight rebounds and one assist. Herro put up 15 points on five of 16 looks, with two rebounds, two assists and four turnovers. And Jaquez logged a dozen, making 38.5% of his tries and picked up five rebounds, five assists and three turnovers.

The Celtics had 42 paint points, two in the open court, 17 on extra tries, 24 after turnovers and 23 from the reserves.

Brown (22), Tatum (22), Porziņģis (18) and White (16) were the Celtics’ double-digit scorers.

At the postgame presser, Spoelstra said, “Early on, I thought the process was solid. We missed some open shots and then we made mistakes on the other end.”

Adebayo said, “We just made mistake after mistake on offense. Not communicating, throwing the ball away. Turnovers that shouldn’t happen in the playoffs.”

Jović said, “Our fans deserve to see us be better.”

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This… is Culture: The Miami Heat like it this way

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Culture is defined as the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group.

 

To the Miami Heat, it means being the hardest-working, best-conditioned, most professional, unselfish, toughest, meanest, and nastiest team in the NBA.
Every season, there seems to come a point where basketball fans believe that this is overstated. And every season, at some point, the Miami Heat prove that they are indeed the hardest-working, best-conditioned, most professional, unselfish, toughest, meanest, and nastiest team in the NBA.
As if last season’s improbable run to the NBA Finals as an 8-seed didn’t prove that enough, the Heat—again as an 8-seed—must now find a way to try to replicate that run without Jimmy Butler, the man who led them through the East last season. And after an absolute beatdown in Boston in Game 1 against the Celtics, the NBA’s best regular-season team, it seemed as though the Miami Heat were undermanned and overmatched. But as Heat head coach Eric Spoelstra would say, the Miami Heat have enough.
Never one to make excuses, you had to know that Spoelstra—named one of the top-15 head coaches of all time—would have his team ready to come out and play inspired basketball. And that they did.
On Tuesday, Spoelstra spoke about the 3-point discrepancy in Game 1 and stated that they would need to be much better in that area to compete with the Celtics.
“I understand the math to it. You don’t want to lose in a certain area by 30 points,” he said. “It’s probably going to require some balance because we’re not going to bring them down to 25 [attempts], and we’re not going to shoot 50 of them. That’s not realistic.”
What the Heat did do, however, was set a franchise record for 3-pointers made in a playoff game with 23 makes from downtown, shooting 53.5% from 3 in a Game 2 win to even the series with Boston as they head back to Miami.
Tyler Herro led the 3-point barrage, shooting 6-11 from deep while also leading the team with 24 points. Caleb Martin, who was booed all night by the Celtics’ home crowd after his “hard foul” on Jayson Tatum in Game 1, also played a major role in the Heat’s shooting efforts, going 5-6 from 3-point range.
“He’s a competitor. He’s the ultimate X factor,” Spoelstra said of Caleb Martin after Game 2. “He’s the X factor of X factors.”
All five starters for Miami scored in double figures, and the Heat’s defense held Boston—the league’s best regular-season offense—to just 101 points on the Celtics’ home floor, where they were also a
league-best 37-4 this season.
Now it’s back to Miami with the series tied at one game apiece. The Miami Heat are surely still the underdogs in this series. To everyone except for them, at least. Because “culture” is not lying down because your best player is out.
Culture is going 30-11 in the second half of a season with Hassan Whiteside, Dion Waiters, and James Johnson playing major roles. Culture is the development of Haywood Highsmith and Duncan Robinson. Culture is making a run to the NBA Finals as an 8-seed. Culture is what happened on Wednesday night in Boston.
Nobody can tell you what will happen over these next few games. Not even Kendrick Perkins. But one thing is for certain. This is culture.
****
Kevin Rodriguez is a photographer, videographer and writer for Five Reasons Sports Network.

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Michael Porter Jr. = Nuggets difference maker

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A valiant effort wasn’t enough for the Lakers to hold off the defending champions at The Crypt. Anthony Davis and LeBron James were dynamic. But the Nuggets’ fantastic four were overbearing and are now up 3-0 in a best-of-seven series.

Nikola Jokić chopped down interior protections. Jamal Murray’s jumper was on target in frames two and three. Aaron Gordon finished a dozen times in the restricted area. And Michael Porter Jr. closed the door on the hosts with 10 fourth-quarter points.

Unless the Purple and Mold transform into the ‘87 Lakers, and the Nuggets play with a tied hand behind their backs, what’s left of the matchup is a formality.

After the game, Jokić was asked about MPJ. He said his teammate is “one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen or played with… he’s capable of making big, tough shots.” Before leaving, Joker credited Porter’s mindset and his approach, too.

Porter’s glass clean up and marksmanship has been a security blanket for the outfit through three outings. He is the second-leading rebounder and his Effective Field Goal percentage is 12.3 points higher than the league average (54.7). Additionally, MPJ is putting up 20.3 points, nine rebounds, 1.3 assists and a steal per game against the Lakers in round one.

Yet, Porter is balling while going through an emotional time. His brother Jontay was expelled from the NBA for betting on games with someone else’s account. And his other brother, Coban, was sentenced to six years in prison for a drunken, fatal vehicular crash on April 19. MPJ was present in court that day, giving a character statement. He said Coban was the brother he looked up to while growing up.

Then Coban was cuffed and taken to prison at the hearing’s conclusion. As children, Michael and his brothers were best friends.

After Game 1, MPJ was asked about playing with heavy emotions in the locker room. He said, “[I] definitely tried to compartmentalize. Some bad stuff happened to my brothers, but I got 15, 16 more brothers in here. I knew I had to be here for them…”

On Friday, Porter’s nine-point flurry to close the first half helped the Nuggets reclaim its focus. In Game 2, he connected on a critical second-chance triple that tied the game with 75 seconds left. And late on Thursday, he buried the Lakers, swishing four jumpers and recording a layup off a backdoor cut.

As Lakers fans dispersed, Porter handled the on-court interview with Altitude TV. He said staying aggressive was the priority and that his jump shot was falling.

At the postgame presser, he was asked about his three assists that Gordon scored on. He said, “That’s my boy on and off the court. We definitely got a connection…you can throw the ball anywhere [and] he’s going to get it, he’s going to go up strong and dunk it.”

With Porter performing at this rate and the other pieces producing at a high level, knocking off the champs looks nearly impossible.