South Florida Voices
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Haywood Highsmith pops off the bench as the Heat slaughter the Cavaliers
Evan Mobley’s return nor divine intervention could stop the Cavaliers from getting slayed by the Heat at Kaseya Center. The Heat was missing Tyler Herro (foot), Duncan Robinson (back), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (ankle) and Kevin Love (heel). The Cavaliers were absent Donovan Mitchell (knee), Max Strus (knee) and Dean Wade (knee). Early, the Heat’s zone ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Kim Mulkey senselessly tried to intimidate the Washington Post
As LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey gaslighted the press for nearly four minutes, assuredly, her team’s communications department watched in horror as queen pomposity ensured their jobs would get exponentially burdensome. Goodness willing, parents of current players watched, questioning why they want their daughters to take instruction from a bully. The Washington Post is ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Pelicans eradicated Heat
The Heat, supposed masters of the zone, were inept against it and later wiped out in the fourth by the team that played one night earlier and lost its second-best player, Brandon Ingram. On top of that, the hosts were maimed on the glass by 22. When commenting on the group’s frustration offensively, Heat analyst ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Terry Rozier saved the Heat in the fourth quarter
Jimmy Butler feasted on his matchup and Terry Rozier saved the crew late on its Cleveland visit with multiple strikes on Pat Riley’s 79 birthday. Bam Adebayo (back), Duncan Robinson (back), Tyler Herro (foot) and Kevin Love (heel) were missing for the Heat. The Cavaliers were absent Donovan Mitchell (nose), Max Strus (knee), Dean Wade ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat let go of the rope in the final minute against the short-staffed 76ers in Philadelphia
Bam Adebayo and Co. climbed out of a 17-point second-half deficit to tie late, but the “Hardest working. Best Conditioned…Nastiest Team in the NBA” was gassed, physically and mentally. Jimmy Butler (foot), Tyler Herro (foot), Kevin Love (heel) and Nikola Jović (hamstring) were absent for the Heat. The 76ers were missing Joel Embiid (knee), Robert ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Bam Adebayo buried the Pistons at the horn
Despite a surge from the European Union- Evan Fournier (France) and Simone Fontecchio (Italy)- and the hosts smothering the Heat’s offense late, Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson carried the crew to the finish line. Adebayo logged his 34th double-double of the campaign, and Robinson became the fastest player in NBA history to hit 1,000 triples ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat start four-game road trip with win in Detroit over the Pistons
The visiting Heat exchanged 10 leads with Simone Fontecchio’s Pistons in the first half, then shut off the hosts in quarters three and four, taking the first game of the weekend miniseries in Detroit. The Heat were absent Tyler Herro (foot) and Kevin Love (heel). The Pistons were missing Quentin Grimes (knee) and Ausar Thompson ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Nuggets sweep the Heat in season series and deliver the reigning East champs its fourth straight loss
The Nuggets came into Kaseya Center and quenched the Heat in the fourth quarter, sweeping the season series with its Finals Rival. The Heat was missing Tyler Herro (foot) and Kevin Love (heel). For the hosts, Terry Rozier, Duncan Robinson, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jović and Bam Adebayo got their eighth start together, the most of ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Nuggets get serious in second half, taking out the Raptors late
The Champs came out blasting on offense, but we’re giving it up as easily because of inattentive defense and turnovers putting them on their heels. Then they got punked in the second quarter, getting outscored by 15 points. It was as if they were transported back to the Mesozoic era, and they were the prey ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo couldn’t save the Heat from dropping a stinker at home against the Wizards
Delon Wright, waived by the guests on Feb.18 and now a Heatle, watched on the bench, likely repulsed, as the hosts couldn’t separate themselves from a G-League team their previous coach quit on for an advisory role. He witnessed his EXs spoil the fourth quarter while coach Erik Spoelstra ignored his number. (Tyler Herro (foot) ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat couldn’t overcome turd quarter vs Thunder in Oklahoma City
Despite controlling the game early on the second night of a road back-to-back, the Heat’s offense fell apart in the third quarter and its embers were extinguished late by Shai Gilgeous Alexander. Early, Jimmy Butler attacked the basket, scoring the Heat’s first six points. But Bam Adebayo and Duncan Robinson were cold- the former missed ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Luka Dončić and the Mavericks put the Heat away late in the fourth quarter
The Heat hung around with the Mavericks until it was floored by the knockout blows with two minutes left. Tyler Herro (foot) and Kevin Love (heel) were absent. As was Josh Richardson (shoulder), who will miss the rest of the season. Early, the Heat stunned the Mavericks, converting 13 of its first 15 attempts and ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Terry Rozier’s big second half propels Heat to win over Pistons
The Miami Heat withstood the Detroit Pistons - arguably the most pitiful team in the NBA- after seven lead changes and one tie. Early, Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier were passive, and Bam Adebayo chronically misfired for the Heat. But Duncan Robinson sprayed drop coverage, pierced the zone, burned Ausar Thompson on the baseline with ...
‘We Know What It Takes in the Playoffs’: The Panthers Are Taking the League by Storm as the Postseason Approaches
The Florida Panthers are rolling and the league is taking notice. Last season’s run to the Stanley Cup Final was an unlikely one for the Panthers. They got in as an eighth seed, by one point and had to upset the Presidents' Trophy winning Bruins in Game 7 of the first-round. Everyone knows that story, yet, ...
Tea leaves predicted it: DT Christian Wilkins set to hit FA market
If you have been following the breadcrumbs or reading the tea leaves since the Miami Dolphins season ended in January, you may have gained a sense that the Fins and their star defensive tackle were about to part ways. And it’s no surprise that THAT is exactly what is about to happen come March 13th ...
Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Heat win, outdueling Jazz in the second half
Early, the Heat’s prosperous long-range marksmanship and Jimmy Butler’s shot creation – nine points and four dimes- carried the unit in the first quarter. The Jazz were slow to contest in transition and gave up threes because of overreacting to the ball handler. Defensively, the group neutralized Utah’s Lauri Markkanen in the paint, and he ...
