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Miami Heat: Jimmy Butler Snubbed as All-Star Game starter

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The Miami Heat star will not be a starter for the All-Star Game.

Jimmy Butler will almost certainly represent the Miami Heat in the 69th edition of the All-Star Game. Held at the United Center in Chicago Illinois, this will be a homecoming of sorts for him.

However, he will not be a starter. Instead, unless Joel Embiid’s injury keeps him out of the contest — opening a spot in the frontcourt — he will be a reserve.

He played at the United Center frequently as a member of the Chicago Bulls from 2011-2017. Drafted by the Bulls with the 30th overall pick in 2011, he had great success while there.

Butler has been having a career year, and it has shown with how well the Miami Heat have played. In 38 games, he has averaged 20.3 points per game. Averaging seven rebounds and 6.5 assists per contest, he is bringing a multifaceted game to the table.

He is also bringing veteran leadership to a roster full of youth. The Miami Heat have several young players that that could turn out to be cornerstones for the franchise. Right now, it is all about development. Butler has been instrumental in helping the team succeed on the court. The fact that he is not a starter for the All-Star Game is surprising. Charles Barkley was surprised with how voting went.

More Barkley here.

It’s strange to hear him stand up for anyone on the Heat, considering the constant jabs he always took at Dwyane Wade.

For Butler, once he’s selected, it will be his fifth All-Star game. He was selected to be a part of the 2018 All-Star Game while with Philadelphia. However, he elected to rest instead as he was battling with injuries.

The Miami Heat are sitting pretty in the Eastern Conference. They are second in the conference, only to the Milwaukee Bucks. With a 27-12 record they have been one of the biggest surprises in the NBA this season. The fact that he was sixth in player voting was surprising as well. However, Barkley offered a reason for why that occurred.

Butler should have been a starter for this game, in light of the Heat’s success and his role in it. Nevertheless, the fact that that he will be a reserve is at least some sort of silver lining. It’s certainly unfortunate, but Butler could use this as more motivation.

And what about Bam Adebayo joining Butler as a reserve, as he should?

We’ll find out next week.

Miami Hurricanes: Jarren Williams to transfer from program

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A member of the Miami Hurricanes is entering the transfer portal. Quarterback Jarren Williams has decided to move on from Miami according to a report from Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated.

,Williams played quite a bit last season. He threw for 2,187 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His best game came against Louisville. In what was a 52-27 win on November 9, Williams went 15-of-22 on the day throwing for 253 yards and six touchdowns. A 67-yard throw was his longest of the afternoon.

Williams finishes his Miami career throwing for 2,204 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

King changed quarterback room for Miami Hurricanes

With D’Eriq King now in the fold, this does not come as much of a surprise. King should figure to be in the starting quarterback conversation when the Hurricanes take on Temple in the season opener on September 5. With the commitment of King, the quarterback room got a lot deeper, and the dynamics changed quite a bit. Based on what he did in Houston last year alone, King certainly looks to be primed for the starting role. Last year for Houston, King threw for 2,982 yards and 14 touchdowns. He rushed for 674 yards and 14 touchdowns.

N’Kosi Perry will also be part of the quarterback room as well. Last season, he threw for 1045 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions.  There is an option for Miami there as well. However, there is no reason to think that the job would not go to King.

The outlook of Miami’s  offense is certainly a bit different than even a couple of weeks ago. It will be interesting to see how the new-look offense performs during spring ball . As different pieces get adjusted, Miami will certainly have a lot more work with than they did at this time a year ago.

 

 

Miami Heat: Tyler Herro wins duel with Bradley Beal in Heat victory

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Wednesday night was a battle between the Miami Heat and Washington Wizards. The Miami Heat and Washington Wizards took the game to overtime where the Heat won 134-129.

Perhaps the biggest subplot in this game was the battle between Bradley Beal and Tyler Herro. It was perhaps one of the best back-and-forth battles of the season. Both players went toe-to-toe, and it made for some great basketball.

Beal played in 38 minutes, going 16-of-24 from the field. He didn’t perform well shooting from beyond the arc, going two-of-eight. However, he made all four of his to free throws and also contributed nine rebounds. In total, he scored 38 points.

Herro puts on a show for Miami Heat

Herro was extremely successful from beyond the arc. In 33 minutes of play, he went seven-of-nine from three-point range. He also shot two free throws and contributed three rebounds. Herro was a +11 when he was on the floor. He certainly provided a spark coming off the bench. In total, he scored 25 points. He looked comfortable, and he was a major part of the offense.

It was a great night for Herro who has seen his minutes increase steadily. After playing in 17 minutes on Monday against Sacramento, he played in 33 minutes Wednesday night. He had been battling knee issues last week, but those appear to be much better. This  was the Tyler Herro that we have seen throughout the course of the season.

The rookie and the veteran put on a show, and it was a contrast between the present and the future.

For Beal, it was the type of game one would expect from him. He has been on a hot streak as of late, and that continued. Washington is resilient and relentless in their efforts to try and score. That showed on Wednesday night. Beal has been a leader for the Wizards in the scoring department this season, and he certainly assumed that role for Washington on Wednesday.

With Miami moving to 8-0 on the season in overtime games, Tyler Herro won this battle. Seeing him perform this well is just a reaffirmation that the youth movement has a ton of potential for the team moving forward. This team will be a lot of fun to watch come playoff time.

Miami Heat need to stop Bradley Beal on Wednesday

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As the Miami Heat get set to take on the Washington Wizards, there is one player they need to watch on Wednesday. Bradley Beal has been on a tear lately.

In his last game against the Detroit Pistons, Beal put on a show. He scored 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting. He went two-of-seven from beyond the arc, and seven-of-eight from the line.

The last time he played Miami, he was a headache for them. He recorded 26 points in 38 minutes of play. He was inefficient from the field, going seven-of-24. However, he was much more efficient from the free throw line. He went 11-of-13. He also proved to be effective on the glass. He recorded 10 rebounds on the evening as Miami beat the Wizards by a 112-103 score.

Miami Heat can’t send Beal to the line

If Miami wants to beat the Wizards on Wednesday, they have to avoid sending Beal to the line. Looking at his numbers, that is where he gets the bulk of his points. In the month of December alone, he had five games with at least 10 free-throw attempts. In January, he has only one game with at least 10 free-throw attempts. Nevertheless, he has the speed and explosiveness to get to the rim and get the foul calls.

Beal is a player that likes to drive into the lane, and initiate contact. Shooting the basketball is also something he can do. He is efficient from the corner, and has no hesitations about pulling up from beyond the arc. Miami will definitely have to key on him in their matchup on Wednesday. If they can stop Beal, that gives them an opportunity to win.

Washington is a team that will play the Miami Heat hard. They have already beaten the likes of Boston this month. Coming into Wednesday’s game off of a win, they have momentum. Although they come into this game with a 14-28 record, they are still a tough opponent.

Miami Dolphins: Ryan Fitzpatrick expected to be back with team in 2020

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One part of the quarterback equation for the Miami Dolphins is not going anywhere.

At least one part of the Miami Dolphins quarterback equation will be solved in 2020. According to a report from Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier expects Ryan Fitzpatrick to be back in 2020.

Fitzpatrick performed well for Miami given the circumstances. He threw for 3,529 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. His best game came against the Cincinnati Bengals. In what was in overtime contest, he threw for 419 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. His 31 completions that day were his second-most on the season.

Fitzpatrick’s 20 touchdowns on the season were the most he threw in any season since 2015. That year, he threw 31 with the New York Jets. His passing yards were also the most he had in his career since 2015.

The veteran quarterback signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Dolphins in 2019. This included  $7 million in guaranteed money.  This season, he will make an $8 million base salary.

The Dolphins figure to be in the quarterback market heading into this year’s draft. They have the fifth pick in the first round. They are meeting with several quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl this week. There has been an overwhelming line of thinking that the Miami Dolphins will select Tua Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick. The Miami Dolphins certainly have a lot of options at their disposal.

What role Fitzpatrick will play in 2020 remains to be seen. He will either be the starting quarterback as Miami looks to develop a rookie. Alternatively, he could be a mentor as the rookie ascends to the starting role. Whatever the case may be, the Miami Dolphins are making an effort to try and bring stability and talent to the quarterback position. How they will execute it remains to be seen.

Derrick Jones Jr will participate in All-Star Dunking Contest

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Derrick Jones Jr. will finally be at the All-Star Game.

As our Greg Sylvander reported earlier this month, the Miami Heat will have a representative in one of the most exciting features of the NBA All-Star Weekend.

Today, the news were confirmed by Shams Charania, from The Athletic.

With Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo still trying to earn their spot in the roster, Derrick Jones Jr. assures, the Heat, one of the best teams in the league this year, will have a representative in most of the activities that will take place that weekend in Chicago.

Enjoy some of the best Airplane Mode takes and exhibitions this season:

Support Derrick Jones Jr for the All-Star Dunking Contest buying his Airplane Mode Tee here:

Mountain West kickers show off pro potential in Shrine Bowl

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The East-West Shrine Bowl featured two of the Mountain West Conference’s finest kickers from the 2019 season. Wyoming’s Cooper Rothe and Utah State’s Dominik Eberle put in perfect performances in Tropicana Field this past Saturday. The Miami Dolphins also got their kicker from the Mountain West in former New Mexico Lobo Jason Sanders. Theres a lot of turnover in the NFL when it comes to kickers and punters so there’s a possibility one of these two kickers could either provide training camp competition or come to Hard Rock Stadium kicking for the visiting team. The two kickers talked to Five Reasons Sports about their collegiate journey and draft preparation.


5R: What makes kicking in high altitude so challenging?

Rothe: Kicking in Wyoming is challenging because despite being at the highest altitude in college football, I believe it is or can be one of the coldest and windiest places to play at as well. As a kicker, you have to be ready to kick in any conditions and be able to trust your swing enough to not change it just because of the factors you could be playing in.

Eberle: High altitude doesn’t really seem to affect me so much and I hardly think about it. It does help your ball fly a little bit, but I feel like it often gets countered out by the bad Weather games we tend to play in.

5R: How does kicking in the Mountain West prepare you for the NFL?

Rothe: Kicking in the Mountain West has prepared for the NFL because I have kicked in cold and windy places such as Wyoming and also in sea level warm places such as Hawaii or San Diego State. Even though we aren’t a Power 5 conference, I believe based on rankings and the list of ranked teams we have beaten or played as a collective conference proves that we have played in big games or games that can make a difference across the board in college football.

Eberle: Touching up on the bad weather games, I feel like getting the experience in those scenarios is hard to be replicated and shows why it is important to play in them as well. Everything is expected now and has helped me mature as a kicker overall.

5R: Specialists aren’t usually selected high in the NFL Draft. What is the draft process like for a kicker?

Rothe: The draft process for me has been to kick enough to maintain my swing and form while also lifting and conditioning in between to strengthen myself in order to improve my overall performance. I am training with John Carney in San Diego who kicked in the NFL for 20+ years and am getting as much information from him as possible to be able to do what he did.

Eberle: The draft process is similar to other players honestly, we see our kicking coach for a long period of time to really refine our technique and perfect it. We get chances to talk to the scouts but it really is the private workouts that will define which team truly looks at you. I’m excited to soon be taking that next step of evaluation.

5R: You played against Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders in college. Do you compare yourself to kickers in the NFL? If so, who?

Rothe: As a kicker, I strive to be the best I can be which means making every extra point and field goal or putting my team in the best situation to win a game. The best kicker in the NFL for the past couple of years now has been Justin Tucker for the Ravens, so that is who I try to watch film on and critique myself based off the way he kicks.

Eberle: Jason was a great kicker in college, competing against him was truly amazing and I’m glad he’s found success in this league over the last few years. I wouldn’t compare myself to any single person, rather I try to study some of the guys with similar technique to mine to see what I can learn from them. I like to watch Justin Tucker, Shayne Graham, Vinatieri, Wil Lutz, and Gostkowski the most as I have something similar with all of them.

5R: Who in the NFL serves as the most inspiration for you?

Rothe: Being his teammate for two years at Wyoming, Josh Allen serves as the most inspiration for me. He was a kid who nobody believed in from a small town and he proved everyone wrong and was the most respectful and humble person I know to this day with the way he handled all the fame and records he has been rewarded with.

Eberle: My Inspiration in the NFL would have to be Bobby Wagner. He truly was a great player in college, but never satisfied and strives for more. He takes it one play at a time, and his preparation and talent leads him to greatness.

Miami Hurricanes: Program picks up commitment from Keyshawn Smith

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The Miami Hurricanes picked up another commitment on Tuesday. This time, it was from 2020 three-star wide receiver Keyshawn Smith.

Smith is the 152nd overall wide receiver in his class and the 84th overall receiver in the state of California per the 247 Sports Composite Rankings.

In addition to Miami, other teams were vying for his services. Washington State, Boise State, Colorado State, and Fresno State all extended offers his way. He received 15 in total. It has been a wild recruiting process for him over this to past month or so.

He took an official visit to Washington on December 6 and committed to the program on December 12. He officially signed with Washington on December 18. He then  decommitted from Washington on Tuesday, electing to start fresh with Miami.

As a senior for Lincoln High in San Diego last season, he scored 13 total touchdowns. He caught 46 passes for 808 yards and a touchdowns as a receiver. He also rushed the ball 16 times for 188 yards and three touchdowns.

Smith brings speed to Miami Hurricanes

What can he bring to the Miami Hurricanes? Measuring in at 6 feet, 185 pounds, Smith has tremendous hands and speed. Furthermore, he is not afraid to leap up and make difficult catches. He should be another weapon for Miami in what is  already a crowded receivers room. Spring ball  will be a good first-look in regards to the position. Miami has several playmakers at its disposal.

With this commitment, Miami only has two spots left in this recruiting cycle. Currently, there 2020 class ranks 16th nationally and second overall in the ACC per the 247 Sports Team Rankings.

Miami has done very well in recruiting over the past couple of weeks. Time will tell how they will use those remaining two spots on the roster in this recruiting cycle.

Florida Panthers: Organization to host 2021 NHL All-Star Game

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The 2021 NHL All-Star game will have a Florida Panthers feel to it. The team has been selected to host the event for the first time since 2003.

This will be the fourth time that the state of Florida has hosted the All-Star Game. Tampa Bay did the honors in the 2018 season.

Florida Panthers youth movement should make for interesting event

The Panthers have a plethora of young stars. Jonathan Huberdeau, Evgenii Dadonov, and Aleksander Barkov are just some of star talent Florida has. Right now, the Florida Panthers sit with a 27-16-5 record. With 59 points on the year, that is good enough for third in the Atlantic Division. Only the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins have more.

Next season, the Florida Panthers should return the same core group. This should allow for some sustainability as the Panthers look to compete in a tough Atlantic Division. Having Florida Panthers players at next year’s All-Star game would certainly be a great thing for both of the fans and Florida hockey in general.

This is going to be just one of the major events in what should be a huge year for Florida sports. Miami Gardens will be hosting the 2021 College Football National Championship. That too should provide some excitement to the area. It will certainly be a busy time as Florida will be on the national stage with some of the biggest events in all of sports.

The Panthers are gaining more respect around the National Hockey League, and having the All-Star game on home ice is another big development. In what is sure to be a fun weekend for all involved, there is a chance that the Panthers could be well-represented. A lot has changed in the NHL since 2003, and the youth of the Florida Panthers is a representation of how far the organization has come since then.

Miami Hurricanes: Team lands playmaking defensive end in Quincy Roche

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The Miami Hurricanes have been on fire on the recruiting trail lately, and they picked up another commitment on Monday. The team received a commitment from former Temple defensive end Quincy Roche. As a graduate transfer, he has one year of eligibility remaining.

Playing for Temple the past three seasons, Roche had a solid year last year. He recorded 49 tackles and 13 sacks in addition to a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. His best game last year came against Tulane on November 16. In that contest, he recorded 12 tackles and three sacks on the day. For the year, he finished fifth in the nation in sacks per game last season.

It is worth noting his success in 2018 as well. That year, he recorded 57 tackles and six sacks in addition to forcing two fumbles.

As a prospect, he was the 36th overall player in the state of Maryland and the 84th weak-side defensive end in his class per the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

For Miami, this puts the icing on the cake at the defensive end position. Now, they have both Gregory Rousseau and Quincy Roche. Rousseau was second in all of college football with 15.5 sacks in 2019. This brings instant production to Miami’s defensive end position. Furthermore, it stabilizes the position and shores up the defense.

On top of all this, Jaelan Phillips is also eligible to play this year. A former member of the UCLA Bruins, Phillips recorded 12 tackles and a sack in the 2018 season. He should be able to bring an additional boost to the defensive line for the Miami hurricanes.

Miami was sixth in the country with 48 sacks on the season. The addition of Roche will definitely change that number. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to produce. If he can play at a high level consistently, Miami should be in good hands.