Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes start off ’24 in style with Antione Jackson commitment

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Hurricanes have been on an absolute tear on the recruiting trail over the past couple of days, and their good fortune continued on Saturday. 2024 four-star safety Antione Jackson committed to the program,  flipping from the Georgia Bulldogs.

Jackson is the 13th overall safety in the 2024 class, and the 31st overall player in his class from the state of Florida per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Jackson had a relatively small offer sheet. However the offers he did have really stood out. In addition to Miami, he also had offers from the likes of Georgia and Alabama. Auburn was also in the mix as well.

What can he bring to the Miami Hurricanes?

Jackson is a versatile safety, and he would be able to help the Miami Hurricanes defense tremendously. He is a good cover safety, as well as a player who is not afraid to come up and make a big hit. And watching some of his highlights, it is evident that he has good tracking ability. It’s almost as if he plays the corner position. He is not afraid to cover a receiver, and that is a big part of his game.

As soon as the ball is snapped, he is able to use his quick instincts to back the football and make a play. This is very similar to play style of Robert Stafford, a 2023 commit. Much like Stafford, Jackson has that same type of cover corner mentality. If is exactly what the Miami Hurricanes want to do in the secondary, and that will benefit the program immensely. It gives them another type of shutdown corner that quarterbacks will be afraid to throw towards.

This is a massive commitment as Miami is able to land their first quarter stone commitment of the 2024 class. They have been looking for one, and they were able to get it in Jackson. Not only that, this helps Miami beef up their secondary room for the future, and continue the pipeline of productive safeties in the program.

The Hurricanes have been on a tear in terms of recruiting, and Saturday was no different. Mario Cristobal in the coaching staff were able to land their guy yet again.

For business window graphics, interior office signage, custom flags, custom banners and sign repair, reach out to SignsBrowardFortLauderdale . 

Miami Hurricanes continue to roll with Riley Williams commitment

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Hurricanes added another big playmaker to their tight end room on Friday afternoon. 2023 four-star tight end Riley Williams committed to the Hurricanes on Friday evening.

Williams is the second overall tight end in his class, and the 15th overall player in his class from the state of Florida per the 247Sports Composite rankings. He has several offers on the table from big-time schools. In the end, Miami was competing with Alabama and Ohio State. Ultimately, they were able to seal the deal.

Tight ends coach Stephen Feld was his primary recruiter.

What can he bring to the Miami Hurricanes?

Measuring in at six-foot-six, 230 pounds, Williams is a force to be reckoned with at the position. His size is evident, especially in the red zone. He is the type of tight end that allows quarterbacks to just throw the football up with confidence. He has tremendous athleticism, and is able to use that size to pull catches in from tough angles.

Williams is not limited to red zone play however. He also has the ability to play well in the open field. As soon as he catches the football, he is able to make things happen after the catch. His speed translates very well for the tight end position, and that will allow him to be a multi-faceted weapon, not just a red zone target.

This is the third tight end in an absolutely loaded 2023 class. The Miami Hurricanes now have three tight ends that could easily get the starting job. The tight end battles during camp are going to be must-see TV.

The Miami 2023 recruiting class is continuing to climb. They now have 11 overall commitments, including five four-star commitments. The class ranks 14th overall per the 247Sorts Team Rankings.

This is an absolutely major get for the Miami Hurricanes, and I would expect this class to continue to grow. We could be looking at a top 10 recruiting class sooner rather than later.

For business window graphics, interior office signage, custom flags, custom banners and sign repair, reach out to SignsBrowardFortLauderdale . 

NBA Free Agency: Evaluating Every Major Signing From Day 1

/0 Comments/in , /by

Every year, a week after the draft, the NBA free agency period begins. This is always an exciting time for NBA fans, as it provides some excitement during the dull period that is the off-season. While this free agent class isn’t as exciting as some from years prior, there still have been a couple of big names receiving some large deals. Let’s take a look at some of the big transactions from the first day of free agency.

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (5 years, $264 million)

This one is a no-brainer. The now two-time and reigning MVP got a nice payday today, receiving a supermax deal from the Denver Nuggets. Jokic would have been a free agent after the 2023 season, but after this extension he’ll be a Nugget for the foreseeable future. After willing his team to the playoffs this season, Jokic deserves every penny of the deal that makes him the highest paid player in NBA history.

Malik Monk, Sacramento Kings (2 years, $19 million)

The 24-year old shooting guard will now join the third team in his young career. Monk spent four years with the Hornets before joining the Lakers last year. Malik averaged 13 points per game and now joins a backcourt featuring his former college teammate De’Aaron Fox.

Victor Oladipo, Miami Heat (1 year, $11 million)

Oladipo has had a bit of an up-and-down career, but he seems to have found a home in South Beach. Oladipo was a former All-Star, and there was lots of hype around him at the time he joined Miami. Victor struggled to stay on the court in 2021, but he’ll get a chance to run it back with one of the top teams in the East.

Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards (5 years, $251 million)

Here, we have another star player getting extended with his current team. Beal has been the center of trade rumors in the past week, and those grew louder after he turned down his player option recently. Today, we learned why, as Beal gets a massive extension, one that makes him among the highest players in the league.

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks (4 years, $104 million)

The Knicks got their guy. After unloading a ton of cap space in the past week, all signs pointed to the New York choosing Brunson as their point guard of the future. The 25-year old had a breakout season last year, and played very well in the playoffs. Was he worth $104 million? Only time will tell.

Lu Dort, Oklahoma City Thunder (5 years, $87.5 million)

If there’s one guy who just had the best day of his career, it’s Lu Dort. Dort was one of the most underrated players in the league last season, averaging over 17 points and four rebounds. He’s an absolute force on the defensive end, and it will be exciting to watch him grow as a player in Oklahoma.

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns (4 years, $214 million)

Early Thursday morning, it was reported that the Nets would want Devin Booker in return for any trade involving Kevin Durant. It’s clear now that won’t be happening. Booker, one of the elite scorers in the league will now be locked up in Arizona for a long time.

Overall, this was a pretty eventful first day of NBA free agency. For a group that didn’t feature a ton of big names, Thursday was still a whirlwind in the NBA world. There are still some big names remaining on the market, and the next few days should be interesting to watch.

 

***This article was originally published on the ATB Network by Jake Brockhoff***

  Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel
 
Use code “FIVE” to receive a matching $100 bonus on Prizepicks
 
Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes: Robert Stafford commit adds to banner week

/0 Comments/in , /by

It has been an incredible recruiting week for the Miami Hurricanes, and that continued on Thursday as they landed four-star athlete Robert Stafford.

Stafford is the 12th overall athlete in the 2023 recruiting class, and the 34th overall player in the class from the state of Florida per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He had a sizable offer sheet, as he landed 44 in total. Some of the bigger offers included Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, and Texas A&M.

He was recruited to the Hurricanes by defensive backs coach Jahmile Addae.

What can he bring to Miami Hurricanes?

Stafford will be able to bring a physical playstyle to the Miami Hurricanes. Watching some of his highlights, it’s evident that one of his strengths is his closing speed. He is able to get to a receiver quickly and break up a pass. His instincts are extremely strong and his reaction time allows him to have a chance at the football.

Stafford does not seem to go for the big play. He stays square with his man, and that allows him to be able to cover a receiver step- for-step. He gives Miami a lockdown corner who also has the ability to make a big play. He has the type of skills that will allow him to be able to take away one side of the field.

In even simpler terms, this is a guy that Addae is going to love to work with. The combination of player and coach should be a tremendous asset for Miami.

This just adds to what has been a banner week for the Miami Hurricanes. In a span of four days, the program has been able to land three impact players in quarterback Jaden Rashada, wide receiver Nathaniel Joseph, and now Stafford. The 2023 recruiting class ranks number 20 overall per the 247Sports Team Rankings,

This has been a fantastic week for the Miami Hurricanes, and I expect some more good news fairly soon. Right now, this coaching staff can’t be stopped.

For business window graphics, interior office signage, custom flags, custom banners and sign repair, reach out to SignsBrowardFortLauderdale . 

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes land WR Nathaniel Joseph as Gattis continues to roll

/10 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Hurricanes continue to make an impact on the recruiting trail and they did so on Tuesday night. They landed a commitment from 2023 four-star wide receiver Nathaniel Joseph.

Joseph is the 16th overall wide receiver in the 2023 class.  He is the 23rd overall player in his class from the state of Florida per the 247 Sports Composite Rankings and has a numerical rating of 93 from 247Sports. He was initially committed to Clemson, and made his pledge on September 10, 2021. Joseph decommitted from the program on June 14, 2022.

Joseph was recruited to the Miami Hurricanes by offensive coordinator Josh Gattis. Gattis has had a string of solid commitments best in the past couple of days. He helped the program land four-star quarterback Jaden Rashada on Sunday and now he has landed Joseph for the wide receiver room. He has had himself quite a week, and it isn’t over yet.

What can Joseph bring to Miami Hurricanes?

Joseph brings a variety of skills to the Miami Hurricanes. For one, he is a solid kick returner. He can use his speed to get upfield quickly as soon as he catches the football. This makes him especially dangerous on the special teams unit.

That speed translates well as a wide receiver. He is on the shorter side at five-foot-eight, 170 pounds. However, that is when his speed really comes into play. He is able to make things happen after the catch. He is one of those players that all you need to do is get the football in his hands. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he can let his natural skill take over.

I could see certain instances where Miami could use him in the backfield in terms of trick plays in certain situations. Again, with these types of speedy playmakers, all you need to do is get them the football and let them go to work. Joseph is a dynamic playmaker that can help the Hurricanes open up their offense and allow them a little flexibility in terms of playcalling.

Currently, the 2023 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class ranks 26th overall nationally. This is a class that now has three four-star commitments. Rashada and athlete Robby Washington are the others.

This is a very talented class for the Miami Hurricanes and it seems like the commitments are continuing to fly. This is he Mario Cristobal effect. Hopefully, it can translate on the field.

 

For business window graphics, interior office signage, custom flags, custom banners and sign repair, reach out to SignsBrowardFortLauderdale . 

5 takeaways from the Marlins’ series loss vs. Mets

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Marlins have really struggled against the New York Mets this season.

Miami is 2-5 so far against the Mets this season and they are still trying to figure out how to beat them. 

With the sweep against the Colorado Rockies earlier in the week, the Marlins thought that they would have enough momentum to beat the first place Mets on their home turf. But, the Mets are in first place for a reason. Their lineup from top to bottom is as good as anyone in baseball and their pitching staff has really proved that they don’t need Jacob deGrom or Max Scherzer to win games. 

Don’t get me wrong, the Mets are a really good team. But, the Marlins had many opportunities to give themselves wins in Games 1 and 2. Missed spots from pitchers and too many strikeouts from the offense combined with a little bit of bad luck gave the Mets the series victory.

Here are the takeaways from the series.

 

Sandy Alcantara’s rare tough outing

Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara got the start in Game 1 of the series and immediately from the jump, found himself in some trouble. 

With two outs in the top of the first inning, Alcantara gave up a solo home run to Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor. It’s not too often that you see Alcantara give up a run so early in the game, but it goes to show that no one’s perfect in professional baseball.

Alcantara would start to settle for the next few innings until Mets left fielder Mark Canha hit a home run to left field that gave New York a 2-1 lead. 

In the sixth inning, with runners on first and second and nobody out, Mets right fielder Starling Marte hit a ground ball towards second baseman Willians Astudillo that should’ve been a routine double play. Instead, because Astudillo picked the ball up with his bare hand, when he tagged the runner, the umpire ruled him safe because Astudillo tagged him with his empty glove. Not only that, Astudillo’s throw to the first baseman was late. So at the end of it all, the Marlins found themselves with the bases loaded and nobody out. And to make matters worse, Lindor was up at the plate. 

Alcantara found himself in a 3-1 count against Lindor and threw a fastball right down the middle. As a result, Lindor hit a double that cleared the bases and gave the Mets a 5-2 lead.

“I think he’s (Lindor) hot right now”, Alcantara said about his struggles against Lindor. “I lost my fight tonight and I’ve gotta get better for myself in the next one.”

Alcantara would end the day with seven innings pitched, four strikeouts, six hits, and four earned runs. 

Don’t worry Marlins fans. Alcantara is still an excellent pitcher. This outing was just a case of some bad luck. What’s even more wild is that after this start, Alcantara’s ERA is at 1.95 which is first in the National League and second in all of baseball.

 

Hitters have figured out Trevor Rogers

I’m afraid that we may never see the Trevor Rogers of last year. I know it sounds like I’m overreacting, but given the numbers from his starts this year, it seems like the opposing teams have figured out how to beat him.

Rogers got the start for Game 2, and after he struck out three consecutive hitters in the first inning, there was a glimmer of hope that this would be a great outing for him. 

I was wrong.

In the second inning, Rogers missed his spot and threw a fastball down the heart of the plate to first baseman Pete Alonso that Alonso hit over the right field wall. 

In the fourth inning, with runners on first and second, Mets third baseman Eduardo Escobar hit an RBI-single to give them a 3-0 lead. 

That would end the day for Rogers who had 4.1 innings pitched and gave up seven hits and three earned runs while getting five strikeouts. 

“I made a bad pitch to Alonso so you just tip your cap”, Rogers said after the game. “I made a couple mistakes to Marte and tip your cap there as well, he’s a good hitter. Just little things not going my way.”

So what’s the problem with Rogers? I think that he’s having trouble with his command which is leading to pitches that the hitters can easily hit and has decreased his strikeout percentage. His pitch count is also hurting him and isn’t allowing him to work deep into games.

Rogers’ strikeouts per nine innings this year is 8.29, almost two and a half less than what he had last year which was 10.62. His walks are also up from last year which is also another factor to look at when you’re trying to figure out the struggles that Rogers has dealt with.

 

Anthony Bass continues to be stellar out of the bullpen

Right-handed reliever Anthony Bass has been the best pitcher coming out of the Marlins bullpen this year. After an up-and-down season in 2021 where he logged a 3.82 ERA with zero saves in four opportunities, Bass has really shown another side to him this year. 

Bass’s ERA has gone down to 1.80 and the opponents are batting just .214 against him compared to .241 last year.

Bass was utilized more as a closer last season, especially during the start of that year. It looked like he wasn’t very comfortable in that role and this season, Mattingly noticed that putting Bass in the seventh or eighth inning makes him more effective. A lot of the reason why Bass is having a much better year is because he doesn’t have to deal with the same amount of pressure a closer would have.

In his outing in Game 2, Bass allowed just one hit and got a strikeout in a crucial situation to keep the game tied at three a piece in the seventh inning.

 

Pete Alonso’s two-homer day

Alonso was very effective for the Mets offense, but in Game 2 was when he really propelled them to a win.

The University of Florida alum went 2-for-4 with both of those hits being home runs. Luckily for the Marlins, they were both solo shots. But it still wasn’t enough to contain the scorching Mets lineup.

His first homerun was against Rogers in the second inning and his other was against right-handed reliever Jimmy Yacabonis in the eighth inning to give the Mets a 4-3 lead.

“Thankfully I kind of took a lesson from last night’s at bat (against Yacabonis) and I applied it today”, Alonso said about how he hit his second home run. “I saw the ball a little bit better and I saw the window of where the ball’s coming out of.”

The Marlins did a pretty good job of shutting down Alonso over the series, but his two homeruns in Game 2 was too much for Miami to overcome and win the series. 

Nick Fortes walks it off

After starts in both Games 1 and 2, catcher Jacob Stallings was given a rest day in the series finale which gave way for backup catcher Nick Fortes to get a spot in the lineup.

Fortes has been solid at both catching behind the plate and hitting. 

Over 13 games this season, Fortes has batted .289 with three home runs and seven RBIs. He’s actually been one of the more productive Marlins hitters this season and it showed in Game 3 of this series. 

It’s the bottom of the ninth inning. The score is tied 2-2 with two outs and Fortes is up to bat. The Mets have their right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino on the mound to try and push the game towards extra innings. 

Ottavino throws Fortes a slider that Fortes swings at and misses badly. The next pitch, Ottavino throws another slider and Fortes jumps all over it, sending the ball towards the seats in left field to give the Marlins the win and avoid the sweep.  

Of course, Fortes hits a walk-off home run on the day that his alma mater, Ole Miss, is a win away from winning the College World Series. 

The Marlins head into St. Louis for a three-game series against the Cardinals from Monday to Wednesday.

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes land cornerstone 2023 commitment in Jaden Rashada

/1 Comment/in , /by

The Miami Hurricanes were able to pick up a major commitment on Sunday afternoon as they landed 2023 quarterback Jaden Rashada.

Rashada is a four-star recruit. He is the seventh overall quarterback in the 2023 class, and the fifth overall player in his class from the state of California per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

He was recruited to the Hurricanes by offensive coordinator Josh Gattis.

What can he bring to the Miami Hurricanes

The Miami Hurricanes are getting an extremely solid quarterback. One of the most noticeable traits about Rashada’s game is his pass placement. He does a good job of putting footballs in places where only his receivers can get it.

He is not a scrambling quarterback. A pocket passer would be the perfect term to describe him. That is not a knock on him by any means. With his pocket-passing abilities comes arm strength. The Miami Hurricanes are getting a quarterback with a cannon arm.

He is also a quick-decision-maker. As soon as the ball is snapped, he identifies his target and he gets rid of the ball. Miami wants quarterbacks who can make and identify reads quickly. Rashada can certainly do that. He also does a good job of seeing the field. This helps him when he has to throw the deep ball. He can immediately identify a mismatch and throw it downfield.

The program now has two very good quarterbacks for the 2023 class. Rashada is one of them, while Emory Williams is the other. The class itself ranks 33rd overall nationally per the 247Sports Team rankings.

Rashada has the ability to be a cornerstone recruit for the 2023 class. His arm strength, plus decision-making should be able to keep the Hurricanes on track under center. Not only does he have the potential to make an impact, he also gives Miami some quarterback competition for the future.

The future itself is bright in the quarterback room, and under this coaching staff, it has the potential to get even brighter.

For business window graphics, interior office signage, custom flags, custom banners and sign repair, reach out to SignsBrowardFortLauderdale . 

Full Breakdown of Heat’s Latest Draft Pick: Nikola Jovic

/0 Comments/in , /by

“With the 27th pick in the 2022 NBA draft, the Miami Heat select: Nikola Jovic.”

That was the call from NBA commissioner Adam Silver on draft night, as speculation continued to loom on what the Heat would do. Will they trade the pick? Will they take a Kentucky prospect still on the board? Do they grab a falling EJ Liddell?

And much like most Heat draft nights, you can’t predict the next move.

Once they officially took Jovic who has played overseas for many years, it created a youtube highlights spam to find out who this young kid really is.

While most people were just getting an initial look at him, Adam Simon, who is the assistant general manager for the Heat and on the front-line of these draft selections, noted that “he’s been on our radar for a couple years.”

So, let’s not waste anymore time. Who is Nikola Jovic on the court?

The Spot-Up Jumper

When evaluating any type of talent, starting with the outside jumper always feels key. I should clarify that he’s a 6’11 stretch big with guard like skills on the offensive end, which is quite the label to kick off a late first rounders description.

He shot 36% from three this past season with Mega Basket in Serbia, while Adam Simon noted that some of the extracurricular off the dribble shooting allowed that to decline a bit.

Yet the spot-up shooting is what truly stood out with his perimeter game, and they’re very confident in. Looking at some of the clips above, he has a grounded base, decently quick trigger, and a very smooth looking jumper.

Oh and let me remind you again, this isn’t a wing shooter. He’s around 6’10, 6’11. The shooting is far from his best asset when going about his offensive game, but it definitely is quite the icing on the cake. If this type of thing carries over against quicker and lengthier bodies closing out, then it really could be something.

A PnR Eye Opener: a 6’11 Creator

Now to the good stuff, pick and roll mechanics are always addressed for bigs when entering the NBA. But that usually includes long dialogues about a guy as a roller. Not the ball-handler in those sets.

Yet for Jovic, the ratio between being the handler and roller at his size was a bit wild to say the least. He was the team’s creator for the most part in Serbia, and his pick and roll control is truly an asset.

His solid handle, which I’ll discuss in a bit, allows him to slide into certain gaps, but his high IQ passing forces defenses to eye him at all times.

In the clips above, you see a pro level pick and roll player, and that’s not an exaggeration. The control to bounce off the recovering defender that just got screened, hold the dropping big in place, and drop the ball into your big isn’t just ‘another clip in the file.’

Yet in the following clips, you see his pick and roll gravity on display, as opposing teams continue to blitz out and double him to eliminate his scoring mechanics in space. And well, there are two more dimes to the rolling big.

I’m really intrigued to see what he looks like as a roller, which will most definitely be tested in Summer League, but the primary element of his experience will be to put the ball in his hands as much as possible. Do the passing tendencies carry over? Will physicality play a factor? Will the patience shown in these clips stick?

I actually believe so. There are things that could decline a bit at first for any player drafted, but there’s a lot of confidence in his pick and roll game in space, which he will have plenty of chances to showcase.

But let me just add: the PnR stuff isn’t just passing…

That previous clip where he kept getting doubled out may have made you wonder what has led up to this. So, watch this clip above for your answer.

Back in a normal drop, Jovic gets flowing downhill to his right, uses his shoulder to create some extra space, and steps back for a tough shot right over the contest. Bucket.

The key to a good pick and roll player is this exact combination: high IQ passer and an ability to create shots for yourself against different coverages.

The recovery speed will definitely be a lot quicker at the NBA level when he generates opportunities like this, but the length he has to shoot over the top is what makes this all come together.

So, Jovic-Yurtseven Summer League pick and rolls, anybody?

Tight Handle into Tough Shot Making

Can we keep the theme of this piece to: remember this guy is 6’11 by the way? Yes, yes we will.

He’s a very tough shot maker, yet the linking element to that is his tight handle allows him to get to his spots on the floor at any time. The second clip above is the perfect example: right to left crossover in isolation to get the defender back-pedaling, plants his right foot, and steps back for maximum space to let it fly.

Jovic has a deep bag of step-backs, which that type of foot-work is usually a staple for a lot of guys coming from overseas.

But the most important thing when talking about “tough shot making:” he’s been in a ton of those scenarios. Sometimes talented offensive players breeze through a college play-style by putting up points under the radar against base coverages, yet Jovic has had so much thrown at him for a guy that’s somehow 2 days younger than me. (lol)

As Adam Simon said last night, “he has the versatility of not just being a catch and shoot guy.” He even threw in the idea of a “nasty approach” in terms of his willingness to go and attack the basket. So yeah, the tough shot making is nothing new.

Running the Open Floor

Other than the PnR control, one of the first things that stood out about Jovic was that he wasn’t afraid to run the floor. If there was a turnover, he’s gone and has one hand up for his passer to locate where he wants it thrown.

He may be a big man, but he’s pretty quick specifically once the ball is in his hands. Yet while transition is always viewed as the “first man down the floor to score,” his approach of finding numbers and feeding others on the break was a really intriguing asset.

And if you’re thinking big picture, a Jovic-Bam lineup running the floor could be fun.

I also asked Adam Simon about his transition game translating to the NBA, which he said: “I think he’ll be good in transition and I think he’s got some versatility in the half-court as well. The handle’s there.”

And to tie a bow on this topic, his control in the open floor really makes me think it could carry over to the big league’s as well.

(Side note: the word “control” is just so fitting for Jovic in every offensive category. If you want the adjective that makes him good, there it is.)

The Low Post Game

Jovic had an interview with Slam magazine very recently, where he was asked about his go-to move down 1 late in a game. He quickly responded that he’d want the ball in the mid to low post, so he can flow right into a little fadeaway jumper.

Yeah, not the normal response.

When looking at his post game in some videos, there are a lot of times where it’s mostly using his size to his advantage once he gets low enough, which is always good to see, yet not always a major factor of NBA translation.

Now the turnaround jumper stuff with solid footwork, on the other hand, is the element of NBA translation.

When comparing to what the current Heat team needs, I think back to early regular season Markieff Morris. He began killing teams in his stints with the mid-post stuff, and it was clear that Miami lacked that more than anything else at the front-court position.

Bam Adebayo has the mid-post jumper, but there’s a big drop-off from there. PJ Tucker, Caleb Martin, Dewayne Dedmon, and Omer Yurtseven all played extended front-court minutes at some point or another, but none were mid-range threats to any degree.

So this will be a pretty fun wrinkle to keep an eye on. When a guy’s favorite move is one of your team’s biggest weaknesses, I’d say that’s a pretty decent fit.

Loading
Loading...

The defensive side of things doesn’t have much of a film dynamic. There just doesn’t seem to be much tape on that side of the ball for him aside from some blocks here or there, which makes this very interesting.

Jovic mentioned being “a big guard who can switch everything,” but that may be a bit of a stretch. There won’t be much expectation for him on that end, but I’m just curious if he will be a drop big or indeed switch in most scenarios.

After Pat Riley hammered home the defense point in a recent press conference, I asked him about where he thinks Jovic can develop on that end. “I think the kid’s athletic enough, quick enough, long enough to be able to play defense the way that we want.”

But much like anything, only time will tell. The Heat’s Summer League will kick off July 2nd as we get our first look at the twin towers of Jovic and Yurtseven.

I don’t know if this was the expected pick, but it’s absolutely intriguing to say the least. There’s a lot of potential sitting there, and the perfect place for it to be molded is in the Miami Heat’s developmental program.

 

For business window graphics, interior office signage, custom flags, custom banners and sign repair, reach out to SignsBrowardFortLauderdale

Marlins sweep the Rockies in three-game series: 5 takeaways

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Miami Marlins have finally obtained a series sweep against a team not named the Washington Nationals. 

After losing three out of four games against the New York Mets in their previous series, Miami needed to win the series against the Colorado Rockies to regain traction in the standings.

The Marlins would have been happy with a series win against Colorado, but a sweep was the cherry on top. Although Miami managed to win all three games, the series was full of back-and-forth action and wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for the Marlins. 

Here are five takeaways from the series.

 

Pablo Lopez bounces back

It’s been a rocky couple of weeks for starting pitcher Pablo Lopez. 

After a tough outing against the New York Mets last Friday where Lopez allowed eight hits and six earned runs in 5.1 innings of work, he knew that he had to be much better in his next start. 

Lopez started Game 2 of the series and pitched lights out. In seven innings, Lopez struckout six batters and had no earned. He also gave up just four hits to the Colorado hitters. 

It’s no surprise that Lopez played much better than his last start. He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball and given the fact that the Marlins were playing a struggling Rockies team at LoanDepot Park, it was almost a given that Lopez would be locked in. 

His numbers at home are great so far this year. Lopez is 3-1 with a 2.41 ERA at home compared to a 2-2 record with a 2.81 ERA away. His numbers when he pitches away are still phenomenal, but it’s interesting to see how well he pitches in Miami. 

 

The bats erupt

Was this series in Coors Field or Miami? Because it sure felt like they were playing in Denver with all of the home runs and extra-base hits the Marlins were producing. 

Over the three-game series, the Marlins hit five home runs and 12 extra-base hits.

Miami exploded right out of the gates with nine runs in Game 1 and seven in Game 2. In Game 3, the Marlins had just three runs but they did get the win, which is all that matters. 

In Game 1, the Marlins tallied 13 hits with big performances from right fielder Avisail Garcia and center fielder Jesus Sanchez. Both Garcia and Sanchez managed to hit a home run over the center field wall. Garcia went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and Sanchez was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. 

In Game 2, Miami got 13 hits and put together back-to-back home runs from second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and left fielder Jorge Soler in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

“He (Soler) can hit a ball way further than I can,” Chisholm said about the back-to-back home runs. “It’s just fun playing with these guys and I’m just enjoying it.

Although the Marlins had just three runs in Game 3, they did have nine hits. What does that tell you? They’re still struggling to score with runners in scoring position. They did well in the first two games, but it would be nice to see them have success in that category on a daily basis. 

 

Brendan Rodgers loves to play against Miami

Colorado second baseman Brendan Rodgers has been giving the Marlins fits all season. 

Going back to the last series in Denver where he hit three home runs in a game that included a walk-off to left field, Rodgers was right back to crushing the ball against Miami pitchers.

In the three-game series, Rodgers batted .461 (6-for-13) and had three RBIs. Rodgers also produced three doubles and two triples. 

It felt like Rodgers was the life of Colorado’s offense during the series and he made it difficult for the Marlins pitchers to throw to him. Luckily, guys like first baseman C.J. Cron and right fielder Charlie Blackmon didn’t get going or else Miami would’ve had some problems shutting down the Rockies hitters.

 

Garrett Cooper continues to hit the baseball

First baseman Garrett Cooper has been hot in the month of June. This month, Cooper is batting .386 (27-for-70) with 13 RBIs and an OPS of .962. 

It’s refreshing to see Cooper giving the Marlins much-needed consistency at the plate. It feels like he’s always locked in and rarely swinSet News Imagegs at pitches outside of the zone. As soon as he finds the pitch he likes, he unloads on it and produces hits. 

Over the three-game series, Cooper was 4-for-13 with three RBIs and a home run. Cooper had a hit in each game, extending his hitting streak to eight games and his on-base streak to 15. 

In Game 1, Cooper came up clutch with a tie breaking double in the bottom of the eighth inning that led to a 9-8 Marlins victory. In Game 2, Cooper found his home run swing, as he sent a ball 413 feet over the center field wall in the bottom of the third inning. Game 3 was a bit quieter for the Marlins’ first baseman, but he did get a hit to extend his hitting streak.

 

Jon Berti makes history

Third Baseman Jon Berti has been a base-stealing machine. 

Berti currently leads the MLB in stolen bases with 21 and he is yet to be caught. In the fifth inning of Game 3, Berti stole his 21st base without being caught which broke Emilio Bonifacio’s Marlins record back in 2012.

“He plays with a toughness and an understanding of the game and when to run and when not to run,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said about the benefit of having a player like Berti on the team. “The more guys you have like that, the better off you are.”

And it’s not like the opposing pitchers or catchers aren’t prepared for Berti’s speed. They’re well aware that Berti is an excellent base runner because every time he’s on first base, the pitcher would throw at least three times to the first baseman to keep Berti close and prevent him from getting a big lead and ultimately stealing a base. But of course, Berti still manages to do it successfully.

“We kind of won in different ways every single game,” Berti said following the win. “We came ready to go this series and we’re onto the next one.”

The Marlins look to extend their home winning streak as the New York Mets come to town for a three-game series this weekend. Those games will be played from Friday to Monday.

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes: 2023 WR Lamar Seymore decommits from program

/1 Comment/in , /by

The Miami Hurricanes are losing a commitment, as wide receiver Lamar Seymore committed from the program on Thursday morning.

Seymore was one of the first recruits in the 2023 class. He has a numerical rating of j 87 per the 247Sports Rankings. He was a three-star recruit. Seymore initially committed to the Hurricanes back on April 16, 2020 during the Manny Diaz era.

A lot can change in recruiting in two years, and it looks like that is what has happened with Seymore. Since his commitment to Miami, he has received interest from a bunch of big-time schools. Most recently, he received an offer from UCF on May 4.

He also has received offers from Florida State, Penn State, West Virginia, and UCF.

It’s also important to note that things really exploded for him on the field as well. Last season, he caught 26 passes for 550 yards and seven touchdowns. The Miami Central Rockets went 12-2 and won the Florida 5A Championship. He was a key offensive piece in helping them get there.

Miami Hurricanes have options at wide receiver

To me, this is not a big loss for the Miami Hurricanes. They are linked to several big-name recruits including five-star wide receiver Jalen Brown. Nathaniel Joseph is also coming this weekend, though Miami may have difficulty landing him. They are getting some big-time talent to come visit Coral Gables, particularly these next couple weekends.

Now that Mario Cristobal and his staff are out on the recruiting trail, it is a whole different ballgame than the previous regime. In my opinion, this was a smart move for both sides. The coaching staff can get a wide receiver that they’ve recruited into the class. Seymore can find somewhere that is more comfortable for him.

Recruiting is constantly moving and changing. This latest news is the perfect example of that.

 

For business window graphics, interior office signage, custom flags, custom banners and sign repair, reach out to SignsBrowardFortLauderdale .