Jimmy Butler takes his new Heat culture to Chicago

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The media were waiting for Jimmy Butler in Chicago.

Butler, after all, make his name here — rising from 30th overall pick to Most Improved Player, All-Star, and maximum salary candidate player, even though he would have to go elsewhere to get that last reward.

Now Butler is back, as a member of the Miami Heat and of team Giannis in the 2020 All-Star Game.

He was a few minutes late getting to the podium Saturday for his scheduled availability but, once he did, he did not disappoint.

Here are a few of Butler’s more illuminating and/or amusing thoughts on his transition to the Heat and more.

First, the arrival….

Next, the deep thoughts on the changes to the All-Star Game.

He’s been, um, racking his brain about this one…

Then, on the Heat’s plan after the break…

His assimilation to the Miami culture…

What he has learned about Miami Heat president Pat Riley…

More on the Heat as they chase a home court seed…

How he feels about being a villain….

More praise for his All-Star and Heat teammate, Bam Adebayo…

And of course, the continued taunting of Philadelphia 76er fans..

Chris Bosh NOT a finalist for Hall of Fame

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This felt like a given.

Chris Bosh made 11 All-Star teams.

He won two championships.

He represented the game well.

He basically invented — or at minimum, perfected — photo bombing.

He was Tall Justise.

And he would have done more if not for his career ending prematurely due to multiple bouts with blood clots, blood clots that resurfaced during this weekend four years ago in Toronto.

But Bosh was always disrespected during his career, and it continued again Friday in Chicago, when he was not named a finalist for the Hall of Fame. Eight others were, including three obviously deserving players — the late Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan.

Bosh was not in the same stratosphere as Bryant, Garnett and Duncan, all of whom won MVPs as well as championships. But he has better credentials than some who have been inducted on the first try — or at the very least, been finalists. But the Hall did change some rules, limiting some international and female candidates to put a spotlight on the superstars of this class. And no player other than the three above were named finalists.

Bosh figures to get in eventually, as Alonzo Mourning, whose career was also short-circuited by an ailment, did. That is more than we can say about Tim Hardaway, who was a finalist a couple of times but now seems forever on the back burner.

Still, Heat fans aren’t taking it well.

And South Florida sports fans already have a persecution complex because Zach Thomas should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame already… and isn’t.

Miami Heat: Tyler Herro, after scare, expects to return soon

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The Miami  Heat rookie could be on his way back relatively soon.

As All-Star Weekend is set to begin, we are finally getting an update on the injury status of Miami Heat rookie Tyler Herro. The rookie will have his boot coming off his leg on Wednesday. He was initially told that he could be out until the playoffs. The injury in question is an ankle injury, not a foot injury.

The Kentucky product is having a great season. He is averaging 13.1 points per contest in just over 27 minutes of play. He is also proving to be a marksman from the field, shooting 41.4%.  He has not seen action since February 3 against the Philadelphia 76ers. In that contest, he scored two points in 10 minutes on the floor.

He gave more of an update on his injury when he spoke to the media Friday.

Florida Panthers: Defense struggles again in difficult loss

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With the Florida Panthers and the Philadelphia Flyers meeting on Thursday,  the Panthers needed to put together a strong showing to remain in the playoff hunt. On home ice, they had a perfect opportunity to put themselves right in the playoff mix. Instead of winning, the Panthers were defeated 6-3.

This was a game the Florida Panthers completely squandered on home ice. As they took on the Philadelphia Flyers, they got into a hole and  could never dig themselves out. in what is becoming a common theme, the defense was flat. They played on their heels for a majority of the game, and that did not bode well for a win.

Florida Panthers fall behind early

It started with three straight goals in the first frame. They were never able to fully put together a comeback. Jonathan Huberdeau finally scored for the Florida Panthers 33 seconds into the third frame. However, by that time, the Florida Panthers already put themselves in a four-goal deficit. Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov scored their 20th and 17th goals on the season. However, the late comeback was still not enough.

Thursday night, defensive play was the Achilles’ heel again. It’s been a problem throughout most of the season. Once again, they left the goaltender hung out to dry. Thursday night, Sergei Bobrovsky  had another rough affair. After giving up three goals on nine shots, he was pulled at the end of the second frame.

Sam Montembeault struggled in relief. He gave up three goals on 19 shots in 40 minutes of ice time. No matter who the Florida Panthers put out there, the Flyers were able to find ways to score. Both goaltenders had a rough night, but it also spoke to the fact that the defense was not up to par. The goalies could only do so much, and they struggled containing Philadelphia’s offensive attack.

James van Riemsdyk had a huge game for Philadelphia. He scored a goal and two assists. Scoring the opening goal at 4:24 in the first frame, he set the tone early.

Now, the Florida Panthers take on the Oilers Saturday looking to take back some momentum. One thing is becoming apparent. Florida needs to quickly address the defensive woes as we get closer to the playoffs.

Florida Panthers: Sergei Bobrovsky has little room for error Thursday

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It’s not too often that a goalie can be the focal point of the game, but such is life with Sergei Bobrovsky and the Florida Panthers. Bobrovsky has struggled over his past couple of outings, and the Philadelphia Flyers will be a tough test for him on Thursday night.

Bobrovsky has not won a game since February 3, losing three decisions in between. One of those was to the Flyers. In that contest, he gave up three goals on February 10 in what was a 4-1 loss for the Panthers. Ivan Provorov, James Van Riemsdyk, and Travis Sanheim each scored goals against Bobrovsky.

Bobrovsky in rut for Florida Panthers

Bobrovsky is in a bit of a rut right now. He has struggled for much of the 2020 calendar year, and he has a tough road from here on out. Some of it has to do with the defense of the Florida Panthers . However, a lot of it can be traced back to Bobrovsky’s play. He has not looked comfortable in net, and that is especially apparent during his three-game losing streak.

He is definitely going to be challenged Thursday. This is a Philadelphia Flyers team that is on a bit of a roll right now. They did lose to the Islanders by a 5-3 score on Monday. However, they have won two out of their last three games. This includes beating Washington 7-2 last Saturday.

The Eastern Conference is in the midst of a close playoff race. A win on Thursday for the Panthers could help them inch closer to the eighth spot in the conference.

Prior to Thursday’s game, Florida is in the 10th spot with 66 points. Toronto holds the eighth spot with 68 points.  Philadelphia is clinging to the seventh spot with 69 points. There is not much that separates these two teams from switching places.

Bobrovsky needs to have a solid game on Thursday. He needs to be alert and ready. Philadelphia has a balanced scoring attack. Bobrovsky found that out the hard way the last time these two met. If he can have a clean first period and withstand the initial rush from Philadelphia, he should be in much better shape than he has been the past three games. He needs to be on top of his game Thursday as each game becomes more important for the Florida Panthers.

Inter Miami CF Sign Rodolfo Pizarro

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For weeks there had been speculation surrounding Rodolfo Pizarro and his rumored move to Inter Miami. On Wednesday, C.F. Monterrey announced in a press release that Pizarro “unilaterally rescinds his contract with the club due to his wish to continue his sports career with the new MLS franchise in Miami.”

Although there is still no official word of the transfer fee, the number being thrown around is just shy of $12 million. The issues Inter ran into when going after Pizarro had mostly to do with the release clause and how much Paul McDonough was willing to spend. Monterrey was looking for a sum between $17 million and $20 million, but Miami was not spending that much. The Athletic reported that with the $12 million transfer fee, Inter Miami also gains 100% rights to Pizarro, meaning no sell-on clause. Miami had the option to trigger a fee around $10 million, but only retain 80% of Pizarro’s future transfer fee if he were to move on from MLS. Fans and media are still waiting on Inter Miami’s official announcement.

Rodolfo Pizarro – The Player

Pizarro will become Inter Miami’s second Designated Player, and are rumored to save the last spot for a European talent. At 25 years old, Pizarro is at a great spot in his career and has a lot to offer. On the ball, Pizarro is crafty, and loves shielding off defenders and plays low to the ground. His ability to retain possession going forward will offer the front line a lot of chances. Pizarro, when given a chance, also has the ability to score himself. Inside the box Pizarro knows how to find the back of the net.

Inter Miami head coach Diego Alonso is very familiar with Rodolfo Pizarro having coached him at Pachuca and Monterrey. Pizarro had become one of Liga MX’s top players under Alonso at such a young age, and he also became a regular with the Mexican National Team over the last couple years. His experience playing under Alonso and his talent will likely give him the starting role as Miami’s attacking midfielder. The signing could also allow Alonso to play his past desired formation, a 4-2-3-1, where the attacking midfield role is so critical.

Here is how Inter Miami CF could line up on March 1st

Head Coach: Diego Alonso

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Striker: Jerome Kiesewetter (Julian Carranza out 10-12 weeks with leg muscle injury.)

Left Winger: Matias Pellegrini

Attacking Midfielder: Rodolfo Pizarro

Right Winger: Lewis Morgan

Central Defensive Midfielders: Wil Trapp and Victor Ulloa

Left Back: Ben Sweat

Center Backs: Roman Torres and Nico Figal

Right Back: Alvas Powell

Goalkeeper: Luis Robles

You can check out the first ever Inter Miami Podcast, “The Black and Pink Show” over on Cinco Razones Deportes Network where the signing is discussed, as well as the starting XI. Included is also very insightful interview on Jerome Kiesewetter from his former club’s current podcast provider, Seriously Loco.

Magic rally to defeat Pistons in overtime

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This story was written by Marcos Chisholm. Follow him on Twitter @marcosgchisholm.

After losing a 22 point lead, the Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 116-112 in overtime at the Amway Center on Wednesday.

Markelle Fultz earned his third double-double on the season, scoring 22 points and tallying 10 assists. Aaron Gordon finished the night with 25 points and nine assists in 42 minutes.

During the first half, Orlando was at its most comfortable after Evan Fournier made a three-point field goal with 6:51 left in the second quarter. The Pistons erased the 22 point deficit by converting 40 percent of team three-point attempts and outscoring Orlando 38-20 on bench points.

“It was huge. I think that’s what we all had on our minds, we know we gave a big lead, we know it was going back but we know we needed a win,” Fultz said.

Fultz’s balanced approach to Orlando’s offense helped the Magic lead both teams in assists (34-28). Magic forward Evan Fourier recognizes the young player’s progress and journey following his injuries.

“That’s really his first year playing,” Magic forward Evan Fournier said. “He’s getting more comfortable and he understand what the defense gives him, he makes the most of it and he had some huge plays for us down the stretch.”

Christian Wood had 26 points and 12 turnovers throughout 38 minutes of play. He shot 7-of-8 from the free-throw line and Tony Snell scored 16 points and earned five assists. Both players were the only Pistons starters to finish with negative net ratings for the evening. The Pistons developed a lead as large as seven points in the fourth quarter.

Heading into Wednesday, the Magic were 2-8 through their last 10 games. They head into the All-Star break in control of the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Florida Panthers: Fourth line comes up huge in win

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The Florida Panthers beat the New Jersey Devils by a 5-3 margin on Wednesday night. That was due largely to the play of the fourth line. They were flying all over the ice, and getting themselves involved in every play.

They had their hands all over this game. Mark Pysyk had a goal and two assists on the evening. Michael Matheson had a goal and two assist to his credit as well. Not to be forgotten, Noel Acciari  had a goal and an assist on the evening.  The Florida Panthers were able to get production from somewhere else besides the top line. This is certainly a positive development for a young organization that is looking to get a winning streak going come playoff time.

Fourth line crucial for Florida Panthers

It’s not that this Florida Panthers team does not have depth. They certainly do, proving it on Tuesday. However, having the fourth line excel on Wednesday night speaks to the depth of the team. Especially with the Florida Panthers struggling over the past couple of weeks, having this line come up as big as they did is certainly good for the team moving forward.

As the dog days of the season are approaching, not having to rely on the top line Wednesday night was  important. The fourth line produced some gritty shifts. It was exactly the type of performance that you would expect from that line. The scoring prowess on the part of that line was just a bonus. As a result, all three players have been named the three stars of the game.

It would be premature to call them the best fourth line of hockey . However, those individuals were able to help the Florida Panthers secure a victory over New Jersey. Even more impressively, it came without a ton of help from the top line. It will be interesting to see how this line plays throughout the remainder of the season. With division races heating up, all players need to be firing on all cylinders from here on out.

Miami Hurricanes

Miami Hurricanes: Program lands explosive RB in Thad Franklin

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The Miami Hurricanes continue to build their program. On Tuesday night, they landed the top 247Sports running back in Thaddeus Franklin.

Franklin comes from Chaminade-Madonna Prep and is a native of Hollywood, Fla.

He is the 11th overall running back in the 2021 class, and the 25th overall player in the state of Florida per the 247Sports Composite Rankings. In addition to Miami, Franklin held offers from Auburn, Baylor, FIU, and Florida.

Prior to his commitment on Tuesday, he recently received an offer from Texas A&M on January 23. In addition, he attended the South Carolina Junior Day on January 18.

What can he bring to the Miami Hurricanes? The answer is, he can bring a little bit of everything. Measuring in at 6 feet, 185 pounds, he is an interesting mix between a power and speed back. He runs hard, and is very difficult to tackle. Once he misses an initial defender, he is off to the races. That hard type of running style will certainly fit well with the Miami offense. The Miami Hurricanes want to be explosive and Franklin fits the bill. He has the opportunity to be a big-time playmaker.

Looking at the Miami Hurricanes 2021 class

Currently, the 2021 class is stacked. It is ranked fifth overall nationally and second in the ACC per the 247Sports Team Rankings. Franklin, a four-star running back, headlines a great class. In addition, guard Laurence Seymour, defensive tackle Savion Collins, and outside linebacker Chamon Metayer also hold a four-star distinction.

Franklin is a huge get for Miami as they look to continue building their program . He is a player that the program can build around. It will be interesting to see what other additions occur for the 2021 class. Miami is already building a solid group,  and it would be beneficial for the program to continue trying to add as much talent as they can to the class.

Alabama Athletics

Tua Tagovailoa Aces Three-Month Doctor Visit

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Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa’s hip looked ‘as positive as possible’ according to reports. Will the Dolphins draft the talented passer?

The NFL offseason is a long and grueling process.

No one truly knows what the team’s end game is, but if early reports are accurate, Tua Tagovailoa is at the top of their wish list. Acquiring the talented quarterback is an entirely different beast. And one that the Dolphins will soon have to make a franchise-altering decision on.

Is Tagovailoa worthy of the #5 overall pick? Absolutely.

Is he worthy of trading multiple draft picks to move up and secure the quarterback of the future? I believe so, but do the Dolphins?

That answer we may not know until April 23rd. But one thing we do know is that Tagovailoa is progressing quite nicely.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tagovailoa’s three-month CT scan came back great.

There’s still a ways to go in Tagovailoa’s development, and the potential for AVN is still prominent. However, this is a massive win for Tua and his agent, who hope the QB can throw before April’s draft. One would assume that if he can showcase his skills to NFL teams and general managers, the likelihood that he would be a top-5 draft pick dramatically improves. As does the possibility that Miami–or any other team–would have to trade up to land The Left Arm of God.

In the end, there is no player in the history of the NFL draft that I wanted my favorite football team to draft more than Tagovailoa. And for years, Miami passed on elite quarterbacks, to settle for the safe prospect. Perhaps this is the end? Maybe, after twenty years of failing to address the most critical position in football with anyone other than Ryan Tannehill, a bunch of second-round draft picks, or aging veterans–maybe they finally land a once-in-a-generation QB.

The time is now. Tua Tagovailoa, No Matter What.

This article was written by Josh Houtz (@houtz) a lifelong Tua Tagovailoa stan.