As Mario Cristobal continues to build a top-notch coaching staff, another big name be added to the fold. Hall of Famer Jason Taylor is expected to join the Miami hurricanes staff in an off-field role per InsideTheU’s Gaby Urrutia.
Taylor made his name first on the gridiron, as he recorded 520 tackles, 139.5 sacks and 40 forced fumble’s while a member of the Miami Dolphins. Taylor spent 13 years with Miami finding tremendous personal success.
Taylor has been able to find success in the coaching ranks as well. Currently the defensive coordinator at St. Thomas Aquinas, the school has been able to win three consecutive 7A state titles.
This hire is just another notch in the belt for both Cristobal and the Miami Hurricanes. We have talked about the depth of the coaching staff ever since the head coach was hired. Every coaching position is one of strength on this staff.
— The Sixth Ring Canes Show on 5 Reasons Sports (@SixthRingCanes) March 3, 2022
What can Taylor do for Miami Hurricanes?
Bringing in a guy like Taylor will be able to just give the coaching staff another set of eyes. Taylor was one of the best ever do it at his position. Another important piece to this is that he could help the Miami Hurricanes in recruiting. He is a familiar face in not only the Miami area but the state of Florida. That combined with his knowledge of the game makes this a big get for the Miami Hurricanes program.
As far as coaching positions are concerned, Cristobal has swung for the fences. Having somebody with as much football talent as Taylor in an analyst role just speaks to how deep this coaching staff truly is. It’s a testament to how people believe in what Cristobal is doing, and how people want to work for him.
Results on the field are what matter. However, at the end of the day, bringing Taylor into the program is a win for the Miami Hurricanes.
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/1363D29B-CE3A-4621-9C2F-41EA61B8E345-scaled.jpeg17072560Danny Jaillethttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgDanny Jaillet2022-03-03 14:45:272022-03-03 14:45:27Miami Hurricanes swing for fences with Jason Taylor hire
Some may begin Tyler Herro evaluation tonight by pointing out his hometown return, but you guys already know how I roll with throwing narrative right out the window. The more important aspect is the way he was generating his looks, as he pranced into a 17 point first half. Pointing out that he was facing drop coverage is a great starting point, but it’s a bit different look than he’s used to. This is a crowded drop, which means the attack element of a pick and roll could be taken away. His floater has been surging as of late, but as he started off this game a bit rocky, I pointed one thing out on Twitter: abort that floater. The mid-range pull-up is sitting there for you to take, so it must be utilized. But instead, Herro spaced out into more high PnR sets, flowing right into that pull-up three. Stretching out the floor in that way is the exact read, and I’m not sure if the credit goes to him or the coaching staff yet.
#2: Duncan Robinson finding his set, and finding his rhythm.
Speaking of strong first half performances, Duncan Robinson was soaring from deep to begin this one. 5 for 6 from deep at the half I’d say is a pretty decent stat line for him in a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview. But this wasn’t the same as Herro shifting his shot profile against this specific defense. Instead, it was the exact opposite. Duncan Robinson thrives against a crowded drop coverage, since it basically translates to DHO fun. Only one defender is needed to eliminate with a screen, which means the next step is turning the corner, squaring up, and firing away. Robinson has seen these looks recently, but the simple analysis is that he was able to knock them down in this match-up. Shooting the lights out against this team is always going to be the game-plan, but this version of Robinson changes things dramatically for the offense.
#3: The transition narrative.
I’d like to take a second to address transition offense in a few different lights, which is odd due to the fact Kyle Lowry wasn’t associated with this game. It started when Bam Adebayo couldn’t put the ball in the basket, then all of a sudden, a quick steal, fast-break run, and mid-air switch of the hands for the and-1 finish shed some light on this topic: Bam Adebayo is a different player on the break. It means that he can be instinctive, he can be physical, and it allows him to find a scoring rhythm. Now, some may counter that by saying that avenue can’t be explored as often in a playoff series. And to that I’d say that’s partially true. There seems to be this overarching narrative that playoff basketball is a half-court game, which is true, but it should be noted that transition play and a faster pace can still be explored in that setting. It almost feels like some imagine that to be fully eliminated when that time comes, and it should be said with this specific team especially, it’ll be explored frequently with the young bench unit.
#4: Third quarter analysis: Gabe Vincent’s spark, Jimmy Butler’s struggles.
To hone in on player specifics a bit more, Gabe Vincent had as good of a start as humanly possible in this third quarter. Three straight offensive possessions, three straight Vincent triples. The interesting part about that is it wasn’t because he was being left open off the catch. It was just pure strong side dominance, due to defenders going under screens or PJ Tucker utilizing his hammer screen specialty. On the other side of things for Miami in the third, Jimmy Butler restricted some things. 2 for 13 from the field was where he stood entering the fourth quarter, but it transcends a stat sheet, since it’s actually about the half-court shift for Miami. With his top of the key ball dominance, especially without Lowry, he relies heavily on that help at the nail. That allows him to manipulate the strong side to his advantage as that defender drops. And well, that defender wasn’t dropping tonight. It limits thing, which leads to them looking in the direction of guys like Herro even more often.
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#5: Heat fall late due to poor execution.
We’ve seen Erik Spoelstra’s ATO excellence work in the past, but that needs to be addressed in the larger scheme of things. It’s one thing to bring up Miami’s 3 man offense late in games, while Tucker and Vincent land immobile in the corners, but it’s another thing to fall short on an inbound up 1. They tried to go to the usual ATO with two guys in the back-court, but a timeout was forced. The next trial run was to only leave one guy in the back-court, and have three in the front flash. Nothing was there, and he lobbed it up to Butler which led to a jump ball. Late-game execution lost them this game, and well, a poor Jimmy Butler performance.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/193FC290-9E9C-4D04-AC7F-883343B8B5F1.jpeg599865Brady Hawkhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgBrady Hawk2022-03-02 22:33:062022-03-02 22:34:37Five Takeaways from Heat’s Loss to Bucks
Before the month of February, Bam Adebayo was objectively having his worst season as a starter in the NBA. All numbers were down and efficiency was easily the lowest it’s ever been. While some pointed to simple regression, the reasoning behind this drop-off was largely related to a massive and necessary role change for Adebayo. The addition of Kyle Lowry meant Adebayo needed to change from “play initiator” to “play-finisher”, a crucial piece of development for the Miami Heat’s championship title aspirations.
Since the calendar hit February, Adebayo has learned to thrive in the role of a play-finisher, while simultaneously being the best defender on the planet. Looking back on Adebayo’s last month of basketball being played, it’s completely fair for Heat fans to wonder “are we seeing a real leap from Bam Adebayo?” Let’s dive into some of the numbers from the best month of Adebayo’s career:
Bam’s offense going downhill…. is a good thing?
To this juncture in his career, Adebayo’s Achilles heel as a face-up scorer had been his inability to get downhill consistently off the dribble. The Heat could mismatch hunt to find a favorable matchup for Adebayo but the aggression necessary to get all the way to the rim was not there. After being hardwired to create easy looks for others, Adebayo seems to have made it through the natural adjustment period to understand that it is OK to create easy looks for himself.
The change in disposition (S/o Ariel Attias) when driving to the basket should not be something that’s quantifiable as Adebayo has never been a high-volume rim pressure guy with the ball in his own hands, however; the numbers show a staggering difference when Adebayo would attempt to go to the rim on his own in the month of February:
In the chart shown above you will see Bam Adebayo’s February stats in blue and his Pre-February stats in orange. In his 11 games played in the month of February Adebayo showed an increase in these driving stats relative to his performance before the injury: Drives (+.7), Field Goals Made (+.5), Field Goals Attempted (+.6), Free Throws made (+.8), Free throws Attempted (+1) , Points (+1,8), Points Per Drive (+.33) and saw a decrease in Passes (-.4) and turnover % (-4.6%). While the volume of those numbers doesn’t pop off the screen, it is important to understand the picture that the numbers paint: Bam Adebayo is now going to the rim with the exclusive intention of scoring the basketball. A massive development for Adebayo to be able to anchor non-Jimmy Butler lineups on both ends of the floor.
Where is all the efficiency coming from?
Over the first 26 games leading up to the month of February, Bam Adebayo had been shooting 12.8 shots per game on 51.2% efficiency. Over the 11 games of February, Adebayo averaged 15 shots per game on 57.6% efficiency. An increase in volume typically tends to lead to a decrease in efficiency, for Adebayo it has done the opposite, why?
The simple answer, Adebayo isn’t just adding more shots, he’s adding the right kind of shots. Adebayo’s increase in field goal attempt volume is coming exclusively from within 5 feet of the basket. 1.9 of his 2.2 “new” shots each game are either layups or dunks, with the other .3 coming on hook shots. The most exciting part about this increase is Adebayo is creating more of these looks on his own. Before February, Adebayo was unassisted on 21% of his dunks and 48% of his layups. During February, Adebayo was unassisted on 31% of his dunks and 50% of his layups.
Adding the right kind of shots is important. Being able to create the right shots at will and doing it consistently shows a concerted effort to eliminate all variables except the most important person in the equation: Bam Adebayo. It doesn’t matter who he shares the floor with, this newly adopted “flat-out scorer” mindset is exactly what this Heat team needs.
A leap on defense?
Anyone who has watched the Miami Heat play basketball over the last 3 seasons would be able to tell you Bam Adebayo has been a great defender. Is it possible that the All-NBA defender could be even better? There aren’t many statistics to quantify the impact that Adebayo has on the defensive end, however; seeing Adebayo have the 4th most Stocks (Steals + Blocks) in the month of February will help bolster his DPOY candidacy in a major way. The Heat’s ability to force teams into contested jump shots as opposed to rim attempts has been detrimental to Adebayo’s individual statistics, but his improvement as a weak-side help defender has helped him overcome this obstacle and still take the “statistical” leap from a second team All-Defense defender to one the media can’t deny for the DPOY award.
FAQ’s on Bam’s month of February
While Adebayo played a near perfect month of basketball, the inevitable questions will be asked: Is this sustainable? How does this affect the Heat’s playoff outlook? Where else can Bam improve?
Let’s answer those questions:
Is this sustainable?
Yes. There will be fluctuation from a scoring perspective on a nightly basis but what Adebayo has done isn’t relying on some sort of irreplicable jump shooting efficiency (He’s actually struggling as a jump shooter), he’s simply putting his head down and using his athletic gifts more consistently. It’s completely possible, and in my opinion quite likely, that Bam Adebayo averages 20 points per game over the remaining portion of the season.
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How does this affect the Heat’s playoff outlook?
The recipe for slowing down the Heat over the last few years has been to put an athletic big on Jimmy Butler in hopes of making anyone else beat you from the Heat’s roster. Previously teams could get away with stuffing a smaller, quicker defender on Bam Adebayo but that *might* be a thing of the past. If Adebayo can sustain some self-created offense against mismatches, this will force teams to choose which of the Heat’s stars they wish to slow down, and there may never be a right answer. Until the jump shooting normalizes for Adebayo, beating drop coverage remains a question mark but Kyle Lowry, Tyler Herro and crew have shown the ability to beat it when necessary.
Where else can Bam improve?
The toughest dynamic to figure out is the Heat’s late game offense with a healthy Miami Heat team. There is an overreliance on Jimmy Butler and a shocking lack of Bam Adebayo. Whether it is by design or not, there needs to be a shift in the team’s process when the game slows down. Adebayo’s continued struggles from mid-range (29.2 during February) and his overall lack of volume as a pick-and-pop big (10 attempts over last 11 games) have paved the way for the smaller role in clutch moments, but can also be the reason for the Heat having a big turnaround in late game offense.
These two facets of offense were Adebayo’s strength in the 2020 playoffs as he shot 46% from mid-range and 51.5% on catch-and-shoot opportunities over a 19-game span. While improvement as a jump shooter isn’t the only path to success for this Heat team, having Adebayo function as an efficient two-level scorer will put defenses into an unsolvable bind and make life easier on everyone who plays for the Heat.
*All stats provided from https://www.nba.com/stats/
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/E87E15AB-4606-411C-88C0-4C9E7AFA6758.jpeg511767Gadiel Cartagenahttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgGadiel Cartagena2022-03-02 10:25:482022-03-02 10:26:13Bam’s Leap: A Statistical Look into Bam Adebayo’s Impressive Month of February
As a new era of Miami Hurricanes football begins, we are already seeing some of the members of the coaching staff wanting to set expectations. For offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, getting the run game going is important.
Miami certainly has work to do in that area. They averaged 127 yards per game in 2021, which ranked 97th in the country and 12 in the ACC. They averaged 3.69 yards per carry, which was 102nd in the country.
Obviously, those are not exactly great numbers. However, if you look at what Gattis has been able to get out of his running game recently, there are certainly reasons for hope.
In 2021, Michigan’s rushing attack was one of the best in the country. Hassan Haskins was second in the Big Ten in rushing yards with 1,327. His positional partner Blake Corum had 952 yards on the ground, good enough for eighth in the Big Ten. Haskins averaged 4.9 yards per carry, Corum averaged 6.6. Together, they were able to help pace a Michigan offense that led all of the Big Ten with 39 touchdowns.
Recent trends bode well for Miami Hurricanes
If getting the run game going is a focus for Miami, they certainly have a good coordinator to get it done with. Not only do they have a good coordinator, they have a running back room with depth. Two guys that should be able to help get the job done are Henry Parrish and Jaylan Knighton.
Knighton had 561 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry. Parrish rushed for 551 yards and three touchdowns as the third-string running back for Ole Miss last season. For a third-string back, that is certainly decent production.
There is no doubt that Haskins and Corum were good at Michigan. I have reason to believe that Knighton and Parrish can be a formidable one-two tandem as well. When you look at how those Michigan running backs were able to help the Michigan offense, they were put in positions to succeed via good playcalling. Now it’s up to Gattis to make sure the Miami Hurricanes running back room is in a similar position. Can he make that happen? If recent history is any indication, I would say yes.
Gattis wants the running game to be a focus, and he has a recent track record of success that indicates he can get that done. It is an achievable goal, and it will be intriguing to see how it develops over the course of the spring.
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/gattis.jpg7201280Danny Jaillethttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgDanny Jaillet2022-03-01 12:52:062022-03-01 12:52:06Miami Hurricanes: Josh Gattis wants to revitalize running game
The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine allows prospects to participate in on-field drills in front of NFL evaluators. Additionally, prospects have the opportunity to interview with NFL teams.
There are around 324 total combine participants ranging from SEC powerhouses to FCS and HBCU players.
Analysis
The NFL combine is the biggest draft-centric event of the year. A year after its full cancellation, the NFL combine is returning this year but the National Invitational Camp planned to implement several COVID-19 protocols, including a “bubble.”
Here's the memo Saturday from the NFL combine outlining the bubble environment (and expulsion for violators) that agents for more than 150 draft prospects — roughly half of all combine invitees — are now threatening to boycott: https://t.co/7Ajg1drbk4https://t.co/KBOy4pBpZS
However, The NFL Combine is lifting bubble restrictions shortly after the news that player agents were organizing a boycott. Most prospects train for the NFL Combine right after the season ends. Each prospect has a team of nutritionists, agents, and trainers- to help them with their testing, nutrition, training and even sleep schedule.
Training for the combine is no joke as it is the biggest interview of prospects lives. It may be entertaining for fans and media alike to enjoy the testing events such as the 40 yard dash and even the bench press. NFL teams view the medical evaluations as the most vital aspect of the combine.
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Deebo crushed it at the 2019 Combine 🔥 @19problemz
These medical evaluations are critical in decision making for NFL teams. At times if a player fails the evaluation it may knock them off a teams board or may even shatter their dreams of playing in the NFL.
Interviews with NFL team evaluators is the second most important part of the combine process. It’s a rare opportunity for scouts, coaches, and general managers to get to know players in a one-on-one format.
This allows players to understand what teams are looking for in them and teams to really pick a prospects brain and see if they can be a cultural fit within their organization.
Prospects see a volatile change in their training regimen for the NFL Combine. The Combine itself has a different structure compared to how players train.
Players are in a new uncomfortable environment which interferes in how they go about doing things. It’s not an optimal environment that will translate into testing numbers they usually hit.
Furthermore, it’s why teams go to prospects pro days. Pro days are similar to the NFL combine except colleges host it for their players. This allows prospects to be comfortable in familiar circumstances to put their best foot forward.
Pro days are essentially structured by college training staffs where players know the surface they are working on. In short, players create the workout during pro days where the combine creates the work for them.
Conclusion
For many of us in the draft world, analysts don’t “trust” the pro day testing numbers as they want to see how prospects react to different environments as it translates to prospects figuring out things in the league and on game days.
New #FinsUp head coach Mike McDaniel knows how to play the game and what we’re all about — so he’s willing to play our silly game.
Agents of prospects sometimes tell them to forgo the combine testing and do the medical testing and interviews with teams. Teams still take into account pro day numbers and can use their evaluation criteria to better judge players.
*** This article was originally posted at PhinManiacs***
Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel
The Miami Heat played an anticipated one on Monday night against the Chicago Bulls, and well, they came out to play.
Gabe Vincent came out firing, the team’s defense was absolutely elite, and they had production 1 through 10.
So, here are some takeaways from this one…
#1: The nightly takeaway of Bam Adebayo defensive dominance.
Another half-time evaluation of Bam Adebayo, another mesmerizing exercise. We know how good he is on the defensive end, specifically when watching a highlight reel of him locking up your favorite player on the perimeter, but it transcends that stuff. We see plenty of great perimeter defenders, and plenty of in-action defenders. Bam Adebayo, ladies and gentleman, is both. When looking at the latter, a play from the second quarter sums it up well. Coby White and Nikola Vucevic running a pick and roll, means Adebayo ends up on White. After blanketing him on the attack, White makes the correct read to lob it up to Vucevic. What happens next? Adebayo turns around fully, goes up in the air, and gets the block. It sounds simple when explaining it in these terms, but in real speed, it’s just simply not normal. But it’s just another night for Adebayo on that end of the floor.
#2: Gabe Vincent-Caleb Martin stepping up in their own ways.
Gabe Vincent had to step right up into the starting role with Kyle Lowry out due to personal reasons, and man did he come out firing. 14 points at the half, but it’s more about how he’s getting those points. We know about strong attacks or off the catch threes, but the mid-range play from him has been something to keep an eye on. Running down the lane, stopping on a dime, and flowing into a tough turnaround J. The reason I bring up Caleb Martin as well is because they come as a package deal. Literally. Defensively, these guys essentially *are* the 2-3 zone, since it’s always gone to with them headlining it at the top. Guys like DeMar DeRozan can shoot over the top of that, but do you know what he can’t shoot over the top of? Physicality. Both Vincent and Martin have a real gift to guard up due to both of their imcreased strength. That’s how good defensive players make up for their biggest weakness.
#3: Does Chicago fit the build of team’s Miami wouldn’t mind seeing?
As we inch closer to the post-season, more conversations are had about specific match-ups, or the type of team that possibly fits your scheme best. And as I’ve been saying for quite some time, inside the arc teams fit Miami’s defensive build pretty perfectly. Yet, while the Bulls only hit 1 three in the first half tonight, they’re clearly an inside the arc based unit. If they go to the DeRozan-Vucevic PnR, Miami made it known PJ Tucker will handle Vuc and Bam will take DeRozan. That leaves Jimmy Butler in free safety mode on the weak-side, waiting to make that baseline double on the entry pass. That’s the reason they fit teams in that area. This current team is one that is as crisp as it gets in terms of defensive rotations, and that’s when you can fully commit to doubling, blitzing, etc.
#4: A personal favorite offensive set from Miami.
Once again, I always have to throw in my one minor evaluation point in these pieces, and this one is something I’ve been watching all year. In terms of offensive actions, utilizing Butler-Bam-Robinson on the strong side is always a good start. With this specific set, though, Bam is running things at the top of the key, while Gabe Vincent and PJ Tucker space out on the weak-side. Robinson sets a back screen on the loop for Butler, which starts the domino effect. The lob option is there for Butler, which Bam threw up to Jimmy in the third. If that isn’t there, Robinson flows into a DHO as both flash down to Butler. And if that DHO is blitzed, it’s Bam go time. The way to defensively counter is send one of those weak-side guys across as the other splits the difference. The issue: it happens so quickly that decision can’t be made.
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#5: Tyler Herro passing down the igniter, becoming steady hand.
I’ve sat here on many occasions discussing a Tyler Herro scoring outpour, just through a pure igniter stand-point. But looking at tonight specifically, we saw that guy was Gabe Vincent. Past games it’s been Caleb Martin, Max Strus, etc. Watching Herro pass down the torch of that one dimensional spark piece, into a guy who is simply the steady hand on good efficiency, could be the most important development for this team. Early in this one, there were moments where he was thrown off his game a bit, which was a clear focus from the Bulls’ game-planning. But an ability to not only bounce back, but takeover the offense in the absence of Kyle Lowry is absolutely major. His downhill presence was felt, and I could eliminate the word downhill for the statement to still be correct.
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/EB768431-5A09-4D4B-8E52-8E0062A479FA.jpeg8641170Brady Hawkhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgBrady Hawk2022-02-28 21:49:092022-02-28 21:49:09Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Chicago
The Miami Hurricanes will get several big-time prospects on their campus in the month of March. One of them is 2023 five-star defensive lineman David Hicks. He will make a visit to Coral Gables this weekend per Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports.
Hicks is the top player in the state of Texas and the sixth overall player nationally per the 247Sports rankings. Right now, he is predicted to go to Texas A&M via the 247Sports Crystal Ball. He took two unofficial visits to Texas A&M on September 18 and November 6. He also attended the Aggies Junior Day on January 20.
However, the Miami Hurricanes have been known to make strong recruiting pitches to prospects. They will certainly need to do that here.
What could take Hicks bring to Miami Hurricanes?
What could Hicks bring to the Miami Hurricanes? For one, he could bring a pass-rushing presence. He is extremely strong and fast. One of the things I really liked when I was watching his highlights was his versatility. He played very well off the edge, and was able to use his size and speed to get past the offensive lineman. He used his hands and struck quickly in order to get to the quarterback.
That same athleticism was on display when he was playing on the inside as well. He was able to overpower the offensive lineman, and seal running lanes. Hicks was very good at taking proper angles on a play. It seemed like he always stayed square with the ball carrier, and was able to get a good read on the play before it fully developed.
Hicks recorded 13 sacks for Allen High School last year.
The 2023 Miami Hurricanes recruiting class is still being built. However, they do have some good athletes in the class. The class itself ranks 27th nationally and fifth overall and ACC per the 247Sports team rankings.
I’m not expecting Hicks to commit this weekend. It will be nice just to get him on campus, and let the coaching staff try to work their magic. They will have their work cut out for them, as it is difficult to get players to leave the state of Texas. Nevertheless, this coaching staff has the ability to go toe-to-toe in recruiting in even some of the toughest areas.
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/image0-2-1.jpeg12321125Danny Jaillethttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgDanny Jaillet2022-02-28 15:54:072022-02-28 19:05:56Miami Hurricanes: No. 1 2023 prospect to visit campus this weekend
Inter Miami kicked off their 2022 season with a 0-0 draw against the Xherdan Shaquri lead Chicago Fire.
Donned in their “Heartbeat” pink kits, Phil Neville’s men came into this game looking to turn a new leaf after their awful 2021 campaign.
With nine debuts in starting eleven, Saturday night’s match wasn’t pleasing to the eye. But, there were plenty of positives to build upon for the Herons.
2nd Half Resurgence
2022 Inter Miami is, essentially, an expansion club.
The sheer amount of outgoing and incoming players would make it difficult for any team to play a consistent style of play for ninety minutes. For Inter Miami, that much was evident in the first half.
The team struggled to play out of the back and looked nervous as Chicago pressed high. At one point, the Fire had 70% of possession while Miami was pinned in their own half of the field.
Leonardo Campana had two good chances during the first 45’ but, the 21-year-old couldn’t get them on target.
In the second half, however, Miami started to look a bit more lively. The substitutions of Ariel Lassiter and Robert Taylor changed the complexion of the match.
Once those changes were made, the Herons began to attack with pace, drive and managed to put Chicago on their back foot. Lassiter had several excellent chances to give Miami the win, but Chicago’s defense held up.
Equally as impressive, Finland international Taylor impressed in his 24-minute cameo. The 27-year-old showed his quickness, dribbling ability, and knack for finding pockets of space.
Neville mentioned in his post-match conference that last year, Miami would’ve “lost that game.” It’s a testament to the offseason work the Herons have done that they were able to fight till the end.
Need For Speed
There were numerous moments during the game where Miami needed more speed in behind.
In pre-season, Neville’s go-to strike partnership up top would be Campana and Gonzalo Higuain. While at times, the relationship between the duo worked well, neither striker is particularly quick.
Once Campana was subbed off in the 66th minute, the game started to open up a bit more with the inclusion of Lassiter and Taylor.
The 3-5-2 formation can work well when a team has runners in behind. When Lassiter came on, his speed and aptitude for running at defenders gave Higuain the perfect outlet. Taylor, on the other hand, showed that he has the potential to be a real playmaker once he gets up to fitness.
That begs the question: will either Taylor or Lassiter start when Miami takes on Austin FC later this week?
If the second half of Saturday’s game was any indication, the answer should be: yes.
Future is Bright
Last but not least, Saturday night’s match marked the first team debut of 17-year-old Noah Allen. Allen held his own against a tricky Chicago Fire team and seemed the least nervous out of anyone on the pitch.
He put in a solid shift and managed to find himself in decent scoring positions. Allen ended the night with two interceptions, four recoveries, and two clearances.
With Neville confirming that Inter Miami will be able to call up MLS Next Pro players for a certain amount of games this season, expect Noah Allen to get meaningful playing time with the first team.
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0548-scaled.jpg17072560Alex Windleyhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgAlex Windley2022-02-28 11:54:222022-02-28 11:54:22Three Observations from Inter Miami’s Draw Against The Chicago Fire
Inter Miami tied 0-0 in its MLS Opening Day against the Chicago Fire at DRV PNK Stadium.
Head coach Phil Neville talked about the team’s “nervous” first half, and the adjustments they did to play a better second half:
https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC_0577-1-scaled.jpg17072560Alejandro Villegashttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgAlejandro Villegas2022-02-27 10:10:342022-02-27 10:10:34Phil Neville: “It was a little bit of nerve and panic, but we expected that” (+Video)
The Miami Heat faced the San Antonio Spurs, and man did it fade far away from expectations.
A close game was not expected whatsoever, but some big performances came out of it as Miami closed it out late.
Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro were big, but Bam Adebayo was the storyline as he completely took over this game on both ends.
So, here are some takeaways from this one…
#1: Rough beginnings for starting group yet again.
There’s been a trend at the start of games recently for this Heat team, and it’s something to keep track of. A 10-0 start for the Knicks occurred on Friday night, and a 10-2 run for the Spurs on Saturday night followed that right up. Except this time around, the opposing team just kept piling it on, putting Miami in an awkward position. They were switching absolutely everything on and off the ball, which led to plenty of miscues for a copy and pasted free lane for San Antonio’s offense. Now, looking forward, it definitely is something to take note of. It almost feels like they’re looking around for that Tyler Herro spark to save them, which he kind of did again in this one as soon as he entered. They may have put up 40 in the first, but the starting group’s defense isn’t the worry. Instead, it’s the stagnant and lost looking offense that appears way too often than it should.
#2: Jimmy Butler’s first half offensive takeover.
There were some ugly things offensively for Miami early on, as I mentioned, but Jimmy Butler mitigated pretty much all of it. For starters, he kicked off his scoring display with quite the route on the low block. And it wasn’t like he was getting a smaller match-up so he went to it, because that really wasn’t the case. He brought a plethora of moves down there, and had some great touch around the rim whenever he got the chance. Secondly, it was another display of clock work in terms of getting to the free throw line. Strong attacks one-on-one, side pick and rolls to perfection, etc. He simply took-over on that end for Miami to race their way back in it, and that quickly leads into other things. After that hot start, we see them go into a Duncan Robinson back screen for Butler, as Duncan raises up for a potential DHO with Bam Adebayo. The thing is that wasn’t the first option. The only reason Robinson got that three off was the entire Spurs defense collapsed at the thought of a wide open Butler cut. We often discuss Robinson’s gravity, but Butler’s gravity is right there with him in an opposite fashion.
#3: Another Bam Adebayo DPOY case?
Watching Bam Adebayo in that second quarter specifically, some takeaways were clear. For one, the things Adebayo was doing to finish off that second quarter not only spearheaded Miami’s first half come-back, but a portrayed the pure dominance he can provide on that end. We saw the individual stuff at times, but nothing stands out to me more than when Adebayo is lined up on that weak-side dunker spot, as the ball-handler simultaneously comes steamrolling down the lane on the attack. For about three possessions in a row, it either ended in a Bam block, or him just mucking things up enough to lead to an awful shot attempt. As much as I discuss Butler’s ability to take over offensively, it’s equally impressive to see what Bam did on the defensive end. While it must be stated, his offensive turnaround after the rough start was crucial in the Heat’s comeback, as we saw him continuing to both attack and run the floor with great pace.
#4: One minor evaluation: Tyler Herro disguising his floater/lob pass.
In many of my post-game takeaway pieces, I like to take one section to highlight a minor piece of the game that may hold high importance moving forward. And well, that one tonight involves a very active Tyler Herro inside the lane. Something he has gotten to a ton over the last two nights is his floater out of the normal pick and roll, but there’s an interesting twist to that. One of the major elements to a player’s floater game is how similar it may look to a lob pass when your big is running right alongside you on a 2-on-1. With that said, Herro seems to have really improved recently in that category. And for a player who goes to it as frequently as him, that is quite the addition moving forward if he can master it even further. His lob passes have been a focus in general to clean up a bit, and that definitely will do the job.
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#5: Bam Adebayo again? Yes, Bam Adebayo again.
I felt it was necessary to devote an entire section to the greatness of Bam Adebayo defensively, and more specifically the impact he had in that second quarter, but I need to address some more, because this wasn’t a one-sided affair. Actually, it was quite the opposite. To think that he started this game out a bit non-aggressive and inefficient is just wild. He started taking that face-up on the Spurs rotating bigs time and time again, realizing they couldn’t stay in front of him. That spiraled into an increase in pace, which led to easy basket after easy basket with about 19 seconds left on that shot clock. And of course, he still dominated as a roller. Kyle Lowry’s double digit assists deserve major credit, but he was getting the ball in the gaps and just going. When he’s attacking the rim like that and making defenders pay for that deep drop with big time slams, it’s something to discuss. Bam Adebayo was absolutely elite in this one.
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https://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/A8E07916-9A5B-4C6E-838B-4D85B912C26D.jpeg8791170Brady Hawkhttps://www.fivereasonssports.com/wp-content/uploads/FiveReasonsWebsiteLogo.svgBrady Hawk2022-02-26 22:24:532022-02-26 22:24:53Five Takeaways from Heat’s Win Over Spurs
