Entries by Mateo Mayorga

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 […]

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: “We have to be better”: The Heat failed to complete a fourth-quarter comeback in Game 2

The Heat nearly completed a 13-point fourth-quarter comeback, but Donovan Mitchell’s on-the-dribble 3-pointers denied the upset as the series shifts to Miami for Games 3 and 4. He had 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and logged all but one of his team’s field goals late.    Despite starting Davion Mitchell for […]

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: “When our defense is at its best… we can make an impact”: The Heat are already in danger after losing Game 1

At practice a day before Game 2 in Cleveland, Heat captain Bam Adebayo said the team has to force the Cavaliers into tougher shots. Tyler Herro echoed those sentiments by wanting to be a more annoying pest on the ball.    Bless their souls, but this team has no chance despite claims of being more […]

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Heat lacked defensive answers and enough firepower in the Game 1 loss to the Cavaliers

The Heat lost Game 1 because they were the smaller, slower, and weaker team against a machine that didn’t show up in top form. They also rolled into the match physically, mentally and emotionally spent after surviving two elimination games in the Play-In Tournament. They played well for their standards and hung around with the […]

NBA insider attempts to correct himself for taking a shot at another journalist

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon attempted to apologize for besmirching reporter Grant Afseth as a “wannabe journalist” on Wednesday’s episode of the Hoop Collective podcast. Afseth is credentialed for Dallas Mavericks games, practices and pressers, and writes for his Substack page, Dallas Hoops Journal.   On Feb. 7, MacMahon reported that the Mavericks’ top executive of basketball […]

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat notes and summary of Jimmy Butler’s introductory presser with the Warriors

Andrew Wiggins now wears #22 for the Miami Heat after requesting it. This highlights how badly the relationship ended with Jimmy Butler, who wore the same digits since 2019 until the trade on Wednesday. If Butler was concerned with his number, he should’ve handled his exit with more class.   While Wiggins may not have […]