Freshmen stand out again in Scrimmage #2 for Canes

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After a very telling and exciting Fall scrimmage last weekend, the Canes were back at it again on Saturday night with another one. Coach Manny Diaz provided the following notes in a mini press-conference afterwards.

 

Diaz felt as if the defense dominated the first half, which was contrary to the first scrimmage, and attributed it to the defensive line.

 

“You could see the addition of some of the guys coming back on the defensive line and that added an overall edge to their play,” Diaz mentioned. “Quincy and Jaelan were both very disruptive. Getting Jon Ford back, just a lot of guys creating havoc there in the backfield and creating some negative plays.”

 

“…We had very few negative plays in the first scrimmage and it seemed like there are a lot more tonight.”

 

He went on to say that the offense responded to the adversity well and proceeded to piece together a few touchdown drives, but not without a few hiccups in the process.

 

“Overall, though, it was much, much too sloppy of a scrimmage; much sloppier than the first scrimmage.” Diaz noted more penalties, which were very limited in the first scrimmage.

 

Diaz raved about junior RB Cam Harris, calling his performance “fantastic”. Harris was limited in the first scrimmage but he made his presence known when he got the ball.

 

While on the topic of running backs, Diaz also mentioned freshmen backs Donald Chaney and Jaylan Knighton, who followed up the first scrimmage with solid performances on Saturday.

 

“I think after their plays a week ago sometimes you have a tendency to want to hit a grand slam with no one on base…I think once they started trusting their cuts and just sticking to north-south runners, once they cleared that front line now they can use their explosion.”

 

One big takeaway is that not one, but two freshman wide receivers filled the stat line. Xavier Restrepo, who’s expected to see the field this season, caught five passes for 79 yards while Keyshawn Smith had three catches for 53 yards. Both also added a touchdown each.

 

After sitting out the first scrimmage, Brevin Jordan found himself getting back into the groove, catching four passes while Larry Hodges added 45 receiving yards and one touchdown. 

 

DISRUPTIVE DEFENSE

 

The name of the game for the past four seasons has always been defense for the Canes, and Diaz was excited about the defense stepping up. Miami may be without highly-regarded freshman safety Avantae Williams in 2020 but another one stepped up in this scrimmage. 

 

The defense forced three turnovers, two of them by way of Brian Balom. The freshman forced one fumble and intercepted a pass, all while leading the D with seven tackles. CB Te’Cory Couch forced the other one via interception.

 

The front 7 also made an impact, as redshirt-freshman LB Avery Huff added five tackles and a couple of sacks, while DE Jahfari Harvey had six tackles. LB Corey Flagg added a fumble recovery.

 

Coach Diaz mentioned that his goal for practice this week is to tack on the adversity and see who responds the best.

 

“We’ve got to be able to extend these drives, especially in the heat. During training camp, we’re going in the evening a lot. We’ve got to get on Greentree…we’ve just got to continue to push our guys through this week and make it really, really hard on them, make it really difficult on them and really find out…who we can count on to go compete against UAB.”

 

MY TAKEAWAY

 

My biggest takeaway from this scrimmage is easily the standout performances from the freshmen. Restrepo has always been seen as a guy that will easily fit into that speedy slot role, much similar to what Braxton Berrios was. Keyshawn Smith was a guy who barely made it to Miami for the spring semester and scouts thought he was a diamond in the rough. Huff redshirted last season and it seems like he’s ready to go if he’s finding a way to get a couple of sacks. I thought Balom wouldn’t see the field this year but if he’s capable of having performances like that, coaches might find a way to put him in the safety rotation.

 

KEY STAT LINES

QB D’Eriq King: 95 passing yards, 2 TD’s

 

RB Cam Harris: 13 carries, 77 yards, 1 TD, 5 catches, 2 receiving TD’s

 

RB Jaylan Knighton & Donald Chaney Jr.: 40+ yards, 1 TD each 

 

WR Xavier Restrepo: 5 catches, 79 yards, 1 TD

 

WR Keyshawn Smith: 3 catches, 53 yards, 1 TD 

 

TE Brevin Jordan: 4 catches

 

TE Larry Hodges: 45 receiving yards, 1 TD 

 

DE Jahfari Harvey: 6 tackles

 

LB Avery Huff: 5 tackles, 2 sacks

 

LB Corey Flagg: fumble recovery

 

CB Te’Cory Couch: 1 INT

 

S Brian Balom: 7 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF

 

Keep it locked to 5 Reasons Sports for the latest in your Miami Hurricanes coverage.

Sixto Sanchez

Meet the Marlins: Sixto Sanchez

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The Miami Marlins, coming off a five-game losing skid, shuffled their roster ahead of a five-game, four-day series versus the Washington Nationals. This roster shuffle included the return of two players from the COVID-19 IL, as well as the promotion of two of Miami’s top prospects, OF Jesus Sanchez and RHP Sixto Sanchez.

For the Marlins, despite losing three-fifths of the rotation, the starters have not been the problem. Pablo Lopez and Elieser Hernandez have stabilized the starting group, posting a combined 2.35 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 42 IP.

After a rough first outing, Daniel Castano held the Braves to just one run on four hits over six innings. The real problem spot in the rotation came with Jordan Yamamoto’s turns. Yams, who was recently optioned to Jupiter, surrendered 11 earned runs and four homers over 8.2 IP in three starts. Sanchez would slot into his place in the rotation.

Prospect: Sixto Sanchez

Sixto Sanchez came to the Marlins as the centerpiece of the deal with Philadelphia for J.T. Realmuto. Considered No. 16 overall prospect by Baseball America and No. 22 by MLB.com, his arrival put him at the top of Miami’s system. In 2019 Sanchez posted a combined 2.76 ERA with 8.1 K/9 against 1.7 BB/9 in 114 IP between Class-A Advanced and Double-A.

In Double-A Jacksonville, the 21-year-old threw 103 innings with a 2.53 ERA across 18 outings. Over his final six starts, he posted a 0.53 ERA, .161 batting-average-against and .405 OPS, with 28 strikeouts and only five walks in 34 IP. In his Minor League career, Sanchez has a 23-18 record with a 2.58 ERA in 68 games (59 starts), registering 294 strikeouts and 64 walks in 335.1 IP. He only surrendered nine home runs over that span.

Sanchez relies on a two-seam sinking fastball and a four-seam fastball that can touch triple digits. He pairs those pitches with a devastating changeup and an above-average slider.

Marlins manager Don Mattingly praised Sanchez’s stuff and his ability to throw strikes.

“I can tell you he has a good arm, and he’s been throwing the ball good,” Mattingly said.

Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas, recently reinstated from the IL after his COVID-19 stint, spent time in Jupiter rehabbing and faced Sanchez. Rojas likened Sanchez to MLB veteran Johnny Cueto.

“For a guy that young, he already knows what he’s doing on that mound,” Rojas said. “He can mix up some fastballs. He’s got a cutter, and he’s got a really good changeup. He kind of reminds me of a really good Dominican pitcher, Johnny Cueto.”

Fan expectations for Sanchez are through the roof, but he could very well be the Marlins’ future ace.

5 Takeaways from Heat’s Nail-Biting Win Over Pacers

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The Miami Heat played yet another tough game against the Indiana Pacers in game 3, but came away with the win 124-115. This game was clearly a tale of two halves, since Miami dominated in the first half, but let the game get away from them in the second. Here are five takeaways from the game…

#1: If Miami shoots the way they did in the first half, they’re a tough team to beat.

Miami had one of those halves that Heat fans have seen quite a lot this season, which was an absolute three point shooting display. They’re clearly one of the best teams when they are hitting their shots, but when their shots aren’t falling, they struggle getting their offense going. The second half was a perfect example of this, when it seemed to be the complete opposite of the first half. Dragic had 4 first half threes, while Crowder, Herro, and Robinson each had two first half threes. This led Miami to 74 first half points, which was a playoff record. If Miami can withhold their elite shooting for 48 minutes, they’ll be tough to beat.

#2: Goran Dragic hot streak continues.

It feels like Goran is included in every one of these takeaway piece, because he has been. He continues to be an elite offensive presence for Miami, while scoring from all three levels. And though he has a great connection with teammate Jimmy Butler, his best play has come with the second unit. This is obviously because they’ve built up a great amount of chemistry throughout the season when he came off the bench. Goran played 14 of the first 17 minutes of the game, which is interesting considering his age. It seems as if Spo is giving him these minutes, so he can bring Jimmy back in mid-way through the second quarter for him. Miami needs one of either Goran or Jimmy on the floor at all times, and it seems as if Spo has recognized this as well.

#3: Bam Adebayo obviously isn’t a natural scorer, but his on-court impact is crucial.

Bam Adebayo has struggled scoring the ball through the first few playoff games, but that’s because he hasn’t gone to his strengths on offense. Bam displayed it in the first quarter, taking Myles Turner off the dribble. He has continued to struggle with his back to the basket, but when he gets a full head of steam, he’s hard to stop. But what makes Bam so impactful is everything else. His back-door passing, screen setting, and defensive presence was on full display. He may not give you a bunch of blocks, but he will force a bunch of missed shots, both around the rim and on the perimeter. And his ability to take the center out of the paint and make tight back door passes off of cuts may have won them this game. As of right now, this side of his game seems to translate more to wins than his scoring, which is why Spoelstra is so supportive of the way he plays.

#4: Miami will need to clean up turnovers in order to beat a team like Milwaukee.

Miami had more turnovers than field goals made in the third quarter. Let that sink in. Part of it is due to the scrappiness of Indiana on the defensive end. But another part of it is some costly errors from Miami’s stars, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Obviously turnovers will occur since both of these guys have major play-making tasks, but it is essential to clean this up a bit. Jimmy seems to try and force passes out to the three when he drives to the basket, and Bam seems to pick up his dribble on the perimeter at times. But, this is definitely something that can be fixed, especially since Coach Spo has mentioned taking care of the ball a lot over the past week.

#5: Tyler Herro clearly doesn’t shy away from big moments.

Tyler Herro scored 20 points in only his third playoff game, shooting 6-12 from the field. Although he seemed to be taking the role of a play-maker in the eight regular season games, he has now reverted back to the natural scorer he was mid-season. And as of right now, Miami needs the offensively hungry Tyler Herro. Although he’s a threat from beyond the arc, his ability to control the mid-range adds another aspect to their offense. He has led the team in fourth quarter minutes this season, and there’s been no change for the playoffs since he’s apart of the team’s closing lineup with Dragic, Butler, Iguodala, and Adebayo. And even with Jimmy Butler on the floor, Tyler seems to be Miami’s biggest threat late in games.

Jesus Sanchez

Meet the Marlins: Jesus Sanchez

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The Miami Marlins, coming off a five-game losing skid, shuffled their roster ahead of a five-game, four-day series versus the Washington Nationals. This roster shuffle included the return of two players from the COVID-19 IL, as well as the promotion of two of Miami’s top prospects, OF Jesus Sanchez and RHP Sixto Sanchez.

The Marlins have started seven different right fielders through 18 games and those seven players have combined for the worst production at that position (.167/.254/.167) in MLB. Among the players to start in RF this season: Jon Berti, Lewis Brinson and Harold Ramirez.

The struggles haven’t been limited to right field, though, as the entire outfield has struggled to consistently produce at the plate. Top-10 prospect Monte Harrison’s arrival earlier this season sparked excitement within the fan base, but he proceeded to struggle mightily in his first turn with the big club. Harrison was sent back to Jupiter after looking overmatched more often than not. He struck out in 54.5 percent of plate appearances (18 Ks, 33 PA).

Prospect: Jesus Sanchez

The 22-year-old Sanchez came to the Marlins with Ryne Stanek in a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays last season. That trade saw relievers Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards sent to the Rays.

Sanchez clocks in as a Top-100 prospect (No. 88) as a right fielder. He’s known for exceptional bat speed, power and just a feel for hitting. While he’s played come centerfield during his career, Sanchez profiles best as a right fielder or designated hitter.

Last season, Sanchez split time between Double-A Jacksonville and Triple-A New Orleans. He slashed .260/.325/.398, with 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 63 RBI. He struck out 100 times in 465 plate appearances.

Sanchez signed with the Rays out of the Dominican Republic in 2014. In Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, he hit .335/.382/.498. Sanchez rose quickly through the Rays system, winning team MVP awards in each of his first four pro seasons and starting in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in 2018.

As a hitter, Sanchez uses the entire field and handles lefties and righties equally well. His tools are considered above-average almost across the board (hit, power, arm and field). The only tool he’s lacking is speed.

Sanchez has a chance to earn regular playing time in right field for the Marlins if he can consistently produce at the plate.

“I’m here because I think the team needs me. I believe I can help the team win,” Jesus Sanchez said prior to Friday night’s game in Washington. “I’m going to give all I have on the field and a good bat.”

Five Reasons to be Excited About Inter Miami (5/5)

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Inter Miami return to MLS action on August 22 against in-state rivals Orlando City. For each day leading up to the game, I’ll be going into detail explaining one of my five reasons to be excited about Inter Miami.  These five reasons, and dates of all and each coming piece, are listed below:

Reasons to be Excited About Inter Miami

  1. New Signings (August 17)
  2. Return of Robbie (August 18)
  3. Playing with More Experience (August 19)
  4. Potential Acquisitions (August 20)
  5. First Home Game (August 21)

Matchday will feature a pre and post-game piece as well.

Inter Miami CF Stadium (aka Lockhart)

As a brand new club, fans, owners, players, executives, and everyone associated with the team looks forward to the “firsts.” The first game, the first goal, the first win (soon please), and even the first home game. In a perfect world, the first home game for a brand new team comes within weeks of the season’s kickoff. In today’s world, Inter Miami will finally play its first-ever home game just a short five months and eight days after its original date.

The stadium is stunning. Driving on Commercial Boulevard now will have heads turn like never before. In a short time, Inter Miami miraculously had built a stadium that was ready for MLS action.

Old Lockhart Stadium was demolished on May 8 of last year. In what needed to be a quick turnaround, the construction of Inter Miami CF was happening quickly as a Spring debut seemed unlikely.

This photo was captured on November 18, 2019.

It took about six months for the structure to be built, and that was just the interior. Every day new and noticeable improvements seemed to be made at the site. A local Youtube channel, FutbolMiamiTV, had a running series hosted by Pieter Brown (@pieter_brown) that documented a ton of the construction as it went on.

Some color was added along with stands behind the goals by January. The stadium still had not seen the colorful seating that was yet to be inserted.

Finally, by February, a month before the first game was meant to be played, fans had a real sight of what the stadium would look like. Pink, black, grey, and white seating, along with a dark black exterior with pink accents, highlighted the looks of the club’s new home.

Just four days before March 14, the day Miami was set to play LA Galaxy in its home debut, fans were let into the stadium for a special event. A day later, everything changed.

MLS was faced with a tough decision in the following days as March 11 would be the day that the NBA announced their shutdown. A day after a special event for fans, three days before the club’s home debut, MLS announced that they would be suspending the 2020 season.

No other club, not even expansion club partners Nashville SC, will ever have to endure such a long wait to play in their first home game. Over five months since the club’s debut game, Inter Miami will finally be able to play a competitive game in South Florida. Fans in the stands are one of the critical aspects of playing at home, especially for the first time. Unfortunately for Miami, “La Familia” will not be in attendance any time soon unless it’s their cardboard $5o cardboard cutout.

The idea of no fans may hinder some of the excitement, but there’s not enough taken away to say this won’t be a monumental day. August 22, a revenge game against in-state rivals Orlando City, will be a day for the club to remember. Let’s hope the team looks a lot stronger in Fort Lauderdale than they did in Orlando.

 

 

5 Post-Practice Comments from Spoelstra, Iguodala, Leonard

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The Miami Heat talked with some media after practice on Friday afternoon, heading into game 3 of the first round. Erik Spoelstra talked about the offensive production of Duncan Robinson and Goran Dragic, while Andre Iguodala gave many intellectual answers about this team and the game of basketball in general. Meyers Leonard also spoke about his feelings towards his new role. Here’s what was said…

Post-Practice Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the conversation that he had with Goran before making him a starter. He said, “In a perfect world, he probably would have liked to stay on the bench.” He notes that this was because of their rhythm throughout the season. Although Goran has been starting for the first two games, he still gets plenty of minutes with the second unit. And it seems as if he is more productive at times with the lineup of Tyler Herro, Andre Iguodala, Derrick Jones Jr, and Kelly Olynyk. That is because he’s the offensive leader without Jimmy on the floor, and due to the versatility of this lineup, it allows him to do what he does best which is attack the basket. This is why you see him take more floaters and mid-ranges with this lineup, since he can just truly be his best self.

Post-Practice Comment #2:

Erik Spoelstra also discussed Duncan Robinson’s consistent elite shooting abilities this season. He said, “It’s a great quality of this team where guys want to help other guys get shots.” This was shown prior to yesterday’s game, when Jimmy specifically said that his purpose for game 2 was to get his shooters like Duncan and Tyler more involved. This seems to be a huge plus for Spo as well, when he said “Bam and Jimmy really get that.” He also mentioned that they truly understand how important Duncan is for their team. And as I mentioned previously, their offense seriously revolves solely around the production of Duncan Robinson, since this opens up so many other things.

Post-Practice Comment #3:

Andre Iguodala talked about his relationship with Coach Erik Spoelstra, and how it grew over the hiatus. It was speculated for a while, but Andre indeed confirmed it. It seemed as if Andre hadn’t found his place yet when he first joined the team, but in the bubble, he knows his role on this team and plays it to perfection. He’s not a guy that’s going to drop 20 points on multiple nights, but he can bring defensive discomfort and make crucial plays down the stretches of games. Andre also mentioned that him and Spo spent a lot of time talking about Bam Adebayo, and how “he can go above his own expectations.” Andre has seemed to play a pretty big role for Bam’s improvements, since he’s been apart of the closing front-court with Bam for the playoffs.

Post-Practice Comment #4:

Andre Iguodala also touched on the topic of Tyler Herro, which he was asked for a viable comparison for him. He responded, “None yet.” He then gave a deep description of Tyler’s game, talking about his tight handles and other aspects. But the thing he continually harps on is his confidence. He said, “The thing I like about his confidence is he’s a very hard worker, wants to be great.” And well, hard work is the what gives you the ability to be confident, since you are totally invested in yourself. Tyler also has the confidence from his teammates to be the offensive leader that he is. Andre ends with, “That you can’t teach.”

 

Post-Practice Comment #5:

Meyers Leonard touched on his feeling towards going from starter to out of the rotation. He said, “I’m not gonna say it’s been easy. I love competing with this team.” Although he’s not playing a role on the court right now, he still plays a major role for this team. He’s a leader that will do whatever it takes to win, which is why he says he is staying ready, especially since Coach Spo has said many times that their depth will be needed down the line. Meyers also mentioned the success of this team as of late, saying “We’re so damn deep. We have so much talent. And I absolutely love it.” He also has talked to Kendrick Nunn since they share the same situation, which he told him “We are going to need you, period,” and finishes with “He will be ready for the moment. All of these things are things that a leader says, and something a leader would do is donate $100,000 to the city of Miami due to Covid and voter suppression. Which he did as well. This team truly understands the importance of Meyers Leonard.

Five Reasons to be Excited about Inter Miami (4/5)

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Inter Miami return to MLS action on August 22 against in-state rivals Orlando City. For each day leading up to the game, I’ll be going into detail explaining one of my five reasons to be excited about Inter Miami.  These five reasons, and dates of all and each coming piece, are listed below:

Reasons to be Excited About Inter Miami

  1. New Signings (August 17)
  2. Return of Robbie (August 18)
  3. Playing with More Experience (August 19)
  4. Potential Acquisitions (August 20)
  5. First Home Game (August 21)

Matchday will feature a pre and post-game piece as well.

Potential Signings

With the MLS Transfer Window open, Inter Miami has already made the biggest splash in the league. Blaise Matuidi is taking his talents to South Beach. The signing of Leandro Gonzalez Pirez before the MLS is Back Tournament is also going to be impactful in the restart. Fans still question if both these guys will fix all of the club’s problems.

Miami needs help in most areas of the field. If LGP and Matuidi cover the backline and the midfield, what does the club do about goalscoring? Daniel Sturridge, Roger Martinez, Edinson Cavani, are all a couple of names that have been in the mix for a while.

A Number 9

The Roger Martinez rumors were true, however, the clubs never reached an agreement in the pre-season. The Colombian international is a name that should still be considered. He’s a young, talented, prolific striker that may be able to create scoring chances for Miami in the final third.

Daniel Sturridge’s name was thrown around after he had contract issues in Turkey. Shortly around the time of Miami’s first game in Los Angeles, Sturridge seemed to be an intriguing acquisitio.n. As a player whos had major roles at major clubs, MLS would not be much of an issue for him. As he gets older though, the club has t question if it’s worth wasting a Designated Player spot on him, compared to other top tier strikers available.

Recently, Edinson Cavani’s name has been thrown around all over the world. Due to the rise of Kylian Mbappe and the signing of Mauro Icardi at PSG, Cavani has no place in Paris. Reports have come out that he has reached an agreement with Portuguese club Benfica. As a free agent, Inter Miami would be able to bring Cavani in for free, and on a short term deal as a DP, its hard not to say, “why not?” Cavani became a top tier striker in his seven years at PSG, and a move to MLS or Liga Nos would benefit him as he gets into the latter part of his career.

Best fit?

Miami needs a number 9. Miami also needs a wing-back as well as another midfielder to pair with Matuidi.

Roger Martinez would be a great get if the club can put him under the salary cap. This would leave room for Miami to leave the DP slot open for a world-class midfielder.

Arturo Vidal is likely on the move after the demise of FC Barcelona. As the club looks to move on from some older players, Vidal would be the ideal pairing for MAtuidi in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Another older player like Vidal who could be on the move is Antonio Valencia. The Ecuadorian spent most of his career with Machester United. As he became older, he lost his role at the English club and has since moved to a club in Quito, Ecuador. His veteran presence could prove to be impactful as Miami looks to develop rookie Dylan Nealis.

Missed Out

Before Inter Miami signed even half their roster, David Silva was meant to be headed to Miami this summer. The talks ended up being far off, and now Miami has officially lost the Manchester City maestro to Spanish club Real Sociedad. After the early talks, it was hardly mentioned again as he was still an impactful player for City. Silva still has the talent to offer good service to any European club.

Miami take the field this Saturday and no signing looks to be coming before then.

Make sure to look for tomorrow’s piece talking about the club’s debut at the new and improved Lockhart Stadium!

 

 

 

5 Post-Game Comments from Spoelstra, Crowder, Robinson, Butler

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The Miami Heat took a 2-0 lead today, after a big win in game 2 against the Pacers. There seemed to be a mutual topic in each player’s media session, Jimmy Butler. Here’s what was said…

Post-Game Comment #1:

Erik Spoelstra was asked about the second half aggressiveness of both Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler. He started off saying that it’s mainly because they are both “veteran leaders.” He then began to talk about Jimmy Butler’s importance, saying “Everyone knows why we got Jimmy Buter, it’s for these kinds of moments.” It’s pretty clear that this is why the Miami Heat brought Jimmy in, but this is finally the time it can be showcased. And Jimmy has not shed away from showing it, after having two big games to start the series. But, he impacted both games in different ways. One by completely taking over by scoring, and the other by every aspect. This whole team is 100% invested in their leader Jimmy Butler.

Post-Game Comment #2:

Jimmy Butler used a phrase that he’s been talking about a lot lately. He said, “As long as we keep fighting like the dogs that we are, we’ll come out on top.” Not only has Jimmy continually spoke about the amount of “dogs” on this roster, he also continually talks about “coming out on top.” The thing about this is that he truly believes. Actually, the whole team believes it. They have an absolute different mentality than these other teams, which gives them the edge they need.

Post-Game Comment #3:

Jimmy Butler also talked about what is so different about the Heat. He responded, “They let me be me…to cuss people out.” He then talked about nobody taking it personal. Bam Adebayo talked about this yesterday as well, saying that he’s able to yell at Jimmy Butler and others since they all want to win. We saw this in today’s game when Bam wanted Tyler Herro to clear out, but he didn’t. Bam consequently made sure to let him know. But once again, nobody takes it personal. This is truly what separates this Heat team from the rest.

Post-Game Comment #4:

Jae Crowder also talked about the big topic of the day, Jimmy Butler. Jae said, “I’ve been with Jimmy in some of the biggest games of his life back in college.” Jae notes that this has been Jimmy’s mentality for a while now. He mentions “his level of play rises to the occasion.” This is indeed true, since Jimmy has struggled from three all season, but has become truly confident in taking them now. Many have questioned Jimmy Butler’s offensive ability, even approaching the post-season, but he’s showing them all that he’s a different breed in the playoffs.

Post-Game Comment #5:

Duncan Robinson quickly mentioned after the game that he had some elite shooters reach out to him over the hiatus, including Mike Miller and Reggie Miller. Obviously they aren’t giving Duncan huge pointers on how to shoot, but shooters like this have the important insight on the small things. And it seems as if Duncan has picked up on some things since returning, including a side step dribble and an eagerness to attack the basket. And since this is basically Duncan’s rookie year, he has much more time to develop his game even more.

5 Takeaways from Heat’s Game 2 Win Over Pacers

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The Miami Heat had their fair share of ups and downs in today’s game against the Indiana Pacers, but came away with the win 109-100. Consequently, Miami takes a 2-0 lead over Indiana, but instead of flying back home to Miami for game 3, they will be staying in Orlando. Here are five takeaways from this game…

#1: Bam Adebayo’s early foul trouble showcases his importance.

Bam Adebayo got called for two early fouls in the first quarter. He was consequently subbed out of the game, right after the Heat went on a huge offensive run to start the game. This seemed to put a huge halt on Miami’s offense, which is weird since Bam doesn’t seem to be an offensive powerhouse. The thing is that Bam does all of the small things for their offense. Picks, spaces the floor, etc. He had 0 points until mid-way through the third quarter, but made himself useful through his elite play-making skills. This also forced Miami to go small for an extended amount of time, since Derrick Jones Jr subbed in for Bam. These early foul troubles for Bam in the bubble is definitely something to keep your eye on, since you can’t risk not having Bam on the floor in a match-up against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

#2: Heat’s offense seems to revolve solely around the shooting of Duncan Robinson.

Miami’s offense has clearly revolved around Duncan all season, and looks to be even more true in the bubble. This is what caused a huge Heat run to start the game, when Duncan hit three triples in the first two minutes. But once Indiana’s defense picked up on it, the offense became stagnant. Especially since a bunch of Miami’s usual go to scorers struggled early in the game. Duncan ended up hitting a fourth three in the second quarter, which was the start of another Miami run. He ended the game with seven three pointers, which gives Duncan a great amount of confidence after last game’s struggles. This just further proves the amount of pressure Duncan has to elevate this offense. But if anyone is capable of doing it, it’s Duncan Robinson.

#3: Miami’s supporting cast steps up during tough stretches.

As talked about previously, Miami’s usual scorers struggled in the first half of today’s game. But, Kelly Olynyk and Andre Iguodala hit some much needed shots in the first half, to get them out of this drought. Kelly Olynyk had 7 points and 6 rebounds in the first half, while Andre Iguodala did his part on the defensive end. The depth of this Heat team is one of Miami’s biggest advantages, which is why they will need guys like Kelly and Andre to elevate the team when things aren’t going their way. And as Spoelstra said about Kendrick Nunn and Meyers Leonard, these guys will be much needed down the line.

#4: The Heat’s crisp ball movement may have won them this game.

Jimmy Butler said before today’s game that although he scored 28 in game 1, he wants to be better in game 2 with getting the other guys involved. This seemed to be the goal for every player on the team though. Miami played some of the most unselfish basketball that they’ve played all season, which at times seemed a bit excessive. For example, Duncan forced a pass down low though he had an open three, and Jimmy passed out to Herro for a three though he had a wide open layup. The point is that this type of play could win them many tight games, since most teams don’t play this way. Most teams have a go to scorer that they look to in close playoff games. Miami’s primary play-makers, in Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler, are going to play this way no matter what, since they continually say this is the way to win.

#5: Goran Dragic is officially the second half killer.

It seemed to be a repeat of game 1 for Goran Dragic. A slow start in the first half, followed by a second half scoring display. It may be because a 34 year old needs some time to get going. Or maybe he saves himself for the second half. Either way, Goran continues to be a huge offensive spark for this team. He’s one of the only players on the team who can consistently create their own shot, and hit it consistently. It also seems as if the hiatus has helped Goran as much as anybody in the bubble. This time off has made Goran much more explosive for playoff time than he would have been normally. Goran finished the game with 20 points, while playing as good as ever.

Five Reasons to be Excited about Inter Miami (3/5)

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Inter Miami return to MLS action on August 22 against in-state rivals Orlando City. For each day leading up to the game, I’ll be going into detail explaining one of my five reasons to be excited about Inter Miami.  These five reasons, and dates of all and each coming piece, are listed below:

Reasons to be Excited About Inter Miami

  1. New Signings (August 17)
  2. Return of Robbie (August 18)
  3. Playing with More Experience (August 19)
  4. Potential Acquisitions (August 20)
  5. First Home Game (August 21)

Matchday will feature a pre and post-game piece as well.

Five Games In

When Inter Miami first brought in Diego Alonso as manager, not many people knew the name. As a player, Alonso had a brief stint in La Liga in the early 2000s. As a manager, Alonso was extremely successful in Mexico being one of the only coaches ever to win two CONCACAF Champions League titles with two different teams. Fans weren’t convinced he was the first choice, however, must’ve been stoked to find out he was a proven winner.

The difference between every league and MLS is somewhat massive. MLS has a style of play that’s unparalleled across the globe. Bringing in a manager whos not familiar with the league is a risk in itself. Bringing in a manager after you’ve already started building a roster at an expansion club? A huge ask.

Game 1 and 2

The ask became even tougher when he was forced to play 2019 Supporters Shield winners LAFC in the club’s first-ever game. One of the most dominant teams in MLS, with Carlos Vela who was coming off one of the best seasons we’ve ever seen by a player, on the road, was not the ideal matchup.

Inter Miami put up a fight at the Banc of California Stadium though. The match was not dominated by either side, and Alonso in his 4-2-3-1 formation provided us with an attacking style of soccer. Deciding not to go defensive, Miami was split open at the back a couple of times throughout the match with all but one chance being met by Luis Robles.

If it weren’t for any Carlos Vela magic and if it weren’t for a man of the match performance by LAFC goalkeeper Keeneth Vermeer, Miami could’ve left Los Angeles with at least a point.

DC United was up next with a second road game in a row for the Herons. After assisting the first goal in club history, Lewis Morgan but Miami up 2-0 in the second half. It led to a review that changed the entire outcome of the match. The goal was disallowed and was then followed by a penalty, a handball, a red card, a freekick, and an unfortunate rebound goal. This 7 minutes of play led to a 2-1 loss for Inter Miami.

COVID-19

You could call it unlucky because the squad was looking promising. A slight individual mistake and questionable refereeing took away three points. Unlucky became the theme as just two days before the club’s first-ever home game, sports came to a halt.

Saturday, March 14 was meant to be the club’s biggest day in their history. As we all know, the world would be changed as we know it as the threat of COVID-19 had hit American soil and spread through the country worse than a wildfire.

After three or four months since MLS last kicked off, the league had a plan to return to play.

MLS is Back Tournament

Inter Miami took part in the MLS is Back Tournament in Group A. The three group stage games all counted towards the 2020 regular season standings so Miami was eager to gain points.

It seemed as though every game was far worse than the first two. And as they went on, the quality, chemistry, and execution seemed to deteriorate.

After a heartbreaking loss to Orlando City with a 96′ winner by Luis Nani, Miami was instantly in trouble. Nani’s goal was due to a defensive error in the box and that was how Miami conceded every game-winning goal in all three group stage games.

A counter-attack in the 63′ where Miami midfielder Wil Trapp completely misjudged a tacked gave Philadelphia their second goal en route to a 2-1 win. In the final match, one where Miami had to win to have a chance at progressing to the group stage, NYCFC took home a 1-0. An overtop through-ball where the Miami defenders were nowhere to be found punished Maimia and sent them back to Fort Lauderdale with an 0-5 regular-season record.

That is the worst start ever by an MLS club.

How to Move Forward?

At some point, Inter Miami has to get points. The disappointment cannot continue as fans have scrutinized the organization from the players to executives.

On August 22, Miami will face Orlando City in a rematch of the first group stage game.

Diego Alonso as an experienced manager should be able to figure out how to gain at least a point in this game. Orlando had a magical run to the final of the tournament and will look to carry that momentum on Saturday.

In no way was Miami tactically outclassed in their Group A matchup. If new singing Leandro Gonzalez Pirez can come in and solidify the backline, it should be a close one. The likes of Lewis Morgan and Rodolfo Pizarro potentially playing alongside Robbie Robinson again should also lead to more chances for Inter Miami. If they’re able to execute and Alonso doesn’t shy away from Orlando and keeps his attack-minded play, Miami could provide the Lions some trouble.

They’ll go on to play Orlando again on September 12th but not before they play both Nashville SC and Atlanta United twice. Atlanta had a rough tournament and Inter Miami will have to take advantage of what went wrong for them recently. For fellow expansion club Nashville SC, talent-wise aren’t as strong as Miami. Their attack has been weak in the first four games we’be seen them play, and if Miami’s defense can be solid with these new signings, they should come away with points.

Prediction

A strong prediction here would be Miami to finish 4-2. These six games will provide the squad and Diego Alonso the opportunity to prove themselves. Realistically, I could see 2 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws and I’d still be ecstatic. Once this team gets over the hump of finally winning a game, the confidence will be flowing. As long as individual mistakes are avoided, this team has a future.

Make sure to look for tomorrow’s piece on how rumored signings could help this club prosper!