Miami, FL

Miami the team to catch in NBA’s Southeast Division, though there will be challengers

Published

1 year ago

October 17, 2023

Miami the team to catch in NBA’s Southeast Division, though there will be challengers

There wasn’t much in the way of collective success in the NBA’s Southeast Division last season.

The division had one team finish with a winning record, that being Miami. It had one All-NBA player, that being Miami’s Jimmy Butler. It had one All-Star, that being Miami’s Bam Adebayo. And one team that won a playoff series, that being … yep, Miami, which went all the way to the NBA Finals as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.

So in the Southeast, there’s the Heat. And everybody else.

Yet Miami still feels like it is doubted after an offseason where it hoped to land Damian Lillard in a trade with Portland — only to see him sent to Milwaukee instead after the Trail Blazers simply didn’t engage much with the Heat in any talks.

“We have enough motivation,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We have enough, everything we need, to be one of those teams and that’s what excites all of us as competitors.”

The Southeast was the only division last season to have just one team finish over .500; Miami was 44-38. The combined winning percentage of the five Southeast teams — .441 — was second-worst in the NBA, slightly ahead of the Southwest Division’s .427 win rate. Atlantic teams combined to have a .595 winning percentage, Pacific teams were at .546, Northwest teams were at .500 and Central teams were at .490.

There were two Southeast teams in the playoffs a season ago; Atlanta beat Miami in the play-in tournament to grab the No. 7 seed, then fell to Boston in Round 1. The Heat won a play-in elimination game over Chicago to get the No. 8 seed, then ousted Milwaukee, New York and the Celtics before falling to Denver in the NBA Finals.

“A lot of our improvement and development needs to come internally,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “That’s something that I think is important for us.”

The same can be said for Washington, Charlotte and Orlando as well. The Wizards are in a reboot after trading away Bradley Beal, and the Hornets and Magic are both thinking it’s possible to reach — at minimum — the play-in tournament this season, which would be a step forward for both franchises.

The Magic are hoping that bringing back much of the same team for another season will help fast-track some growth.

“These guys know exactly what they’re going to hear from our coaches, the things that we’re teaching, how we’re expected to play, what we’re demanding,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said. “I think they understand that a lot more now and I think that’s a huge advantage for us.”

Since the NBA went to its current division setup 19 years ago, the Heat have had only three losing seasons – by far the fewest in the Southeast. Charlotte has had 15, Orlando has had 13, Washington has had 10 and Atlanta has had eight.

A look at the Southeast Division in predicted order of finish:

MIAMI HEAT

The defending Eastern Conference champions have one of the game’s best all-around players in Butler, perhaps the league’s most versatile defender in Adebayo and one of the best coaches in Spoelstra. And there is elite veteran presence as well, with Kevin Love and Kyle Lowry among the team’s biggest voices.

Tyler Herro survived another summer of trade rumors and said he’s looking to take another step forward. He missed almost all of last season’s run to the finals after breaking his hand in Game 1 of Round 1 at Milwaukee.

The clear Southeast favorites, though the Heat are seeking much more than a division prize.

ORLANDO MAGIC

The Magic are super-young and rookie of the year Paolo Banchero doesn’t turn 21 until Nov. 12. Of Orlando’s expected starters, Markelle Fultz is the old man in the group. And he’s all of 25.

But the talent is real.

Banchero leads the way as the team’s best scorer. Franz Wagner and Moritz Wagner played big roles in helping Germany win the World Cup this summer. Fultz, Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs keep the backcourt moving, while Wendell Carter Jr. was solid at center.

Signing veteran Joe Ingles was smart; he instantly becomes the voice of experience.

ATLANTA HAWKS

Trae Young averaged 26.2 points and 10.2 assists last season, making him only the sixth NBA player to finish a year with such numbers. The others: Oscar Robertson, Tiny Archibald, Michael Adams, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.

Young with players like Dejounte Murray, De’Andre Hunter and World Cup silver medalist Bogdan Bogdanovic should mean that the Hawks contend for a playoff berth. Having Snyder as coach for a full season will be another plus, after he was hired late last year.

But the defense must improve: Atlanta was 6-23 when allowing more than 122 points last season.

CHARLOTTE HORNETS

Getting point guard LaMelo Ball back — he played 36 games last season — means a ton to the Hornets, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2016.

And the Hornets are raving about the development of rookie Brandon Miller, the No. 2 overall pick who got stronger and added muscle mass over the summer.

It’s a mix of young with veterans like Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier. Miles Bridges’ legal situation – he will miss the first 10 games while completing an NBA-issued suspension over a domestic violence charge — likely worsened when he was accused of violating a protection order.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

It’s a new day in Washington, with Beal among those gone — traded to Phoenix — and a new backcourt with Jordan Poole (acquired from Golden State) and Tyus Jones (from Memphis) set to be the Wizards’ starters.

Kyle Kuzma is coming off his best season (21.2 ppg) and veteran wing Danilo Gallinari is ready to play again after missing last season with a knee injury.

Changes were made after a fifth consecutive losing season, and the second straight in which Washington went 35-47. Expect some growing pains, with 12 of Washington’s first 19 games on the road.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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Miami, FL

Miami football team attends funeral of Mark Fletcher Jr.’s father

Published

2 hours ago

November 2, 2024

Press Room

Miami football team attends funeral of Mark Fletcher Jr.’s father

(This story has been updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)

Miami football is playing Duke with heavy hearts today as running back Mark Fletcher Jr. mourns the death of his father.

Mark Fletcher Sr. died last week before the Hurricanes’ game against Florida State. Fletcher Jr. ran for 71 yards and a touchdown in that game, taking a knee and pointing to the sky in his honor.

“Just a shout out to my dad, paying him respect,” Fletcher Jr. said after the game. “It’s been a long time since he’d seen Hard Rock this packed. I know he would have loved this, this energy out here, all the seats was taken up. I know he would have loved it. So, I just did this for him.”

“Big Mark,” as he was known around the team, was beloved by the team. ABC sideline reporter Katie George said the entire team went to Fort Lauderdale on Saturday for his funeral.

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Miami, FL

Massive $212 million bridge project coming to Miami-Dade County

Published

13 hours ago

November 2, 2024

Press Room

Massive 2 million bridge project coming to Miami-Dade County

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Safer bridges are coming to Miami-Dade County.

Nearly a dozen bridges along the Venetian Causeway are getting a major makeover.

Around 25,000 cars driver over a 2.5 mile stretch of road from Miami to Miami Beach, composed of 12 essential bridges right by the water, every day.

“The amount of traffic, the amount of tourism, and the amount of workers that are coming back-and-forth between the cities of Miami Beach and Miami it’s hugely important,” said Miami-Dade Highway Bridge Engineering Division Project Manager Gebriel Delgado.

It’s also enjoyed by joggers, walkers and bikers, and let’s not forget the stellar views that please many.

“So we are talking about quality of life,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We’re talking about safety, resilience, aesthetics.”

All things that the new, state-of-the-art 11-bridge project will include.

“The bridges were constructed in 1926, so that’s bringing us close to 100 years of age in these bridges,” said Delgado. “As a result, of all of the storms they’ve experienced, all of the deterioration because of the aggressive salt water environment. We’ve had to maintain them with expensive repairs.”

Delgado said she and Miami-Dade officials have three goals: Make the bridges safer for pedestrians and drivers, make them stronger for future storm surges and maintain their historic character.

“These bridges today are structurally insufficient, they don’t meet the current standard,” said Deputy Director for Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works Josiel Ferrer-Diaz. “These bridges that you see, they have standard railings, the lines are substandard, as well as what you don’t see, which is the bottom of the bridge. Can also show some level of erosion and corrosion in the beams.”

Added Delgado: “Those steel plates have been put in place to further protect the existing deck.”

Local 10 News’ Hannah Yechivi decided to take a closer look underneath with the highway bridge engineer for Miami-Dade County.

“So you have corrosion, corrosion of the nots, corrosion of the bolts, you have failure of the coding system, the coding system is really what protects the bridge from these elements,” said Ryan Fisher. “It’s really great that they’ve held up this well for 100 years.”

Corrosion and deterioration everywhere. These days, the bridges require a lot of maintenance and repairs.

New foundations will be built from scratch, making them sturdier for storm events, lifting them for larger boats to pass underneath, and widening these sidewalks for people to feel safe at all times.

All the bridges will be brought up to standard, but in the meantime, Fisher said there is no need to worry, they are not in critical condition and are safe for drivers and pedestrians, as this causeway is a hurricane emergency evacuation route.

“We reduced the weight limit on this bridge over the years as its aged, and that is a great inconvenience for the residents that are not able to bring in various things that exceed the weight limit,” said Levine Cava.

For the duration of the project, engineers and construction workers will build temporary bridges to make sure traffic is always flowing.

“We are estimating a four-year construction timeline for the project,” said Delgado. “So all of the bridges are going to be a little bit higher from what you’re seeing. You’re going to have massive drill shaft going into the water between 50 and 70 feet, you’re going to have more strongly, bolstered, approaches and sea walls. These bridges are going to withstand some of the strongest storm that can be taken in Miami.”

It’s not only high priority, but also the largest public works project in Miami-Dade County. The massive project has been in the works for more than 10 years and has a total price tag of $212 million dollars.

Towards that, the federal government has granted Miami-Dade County $100.5 million, the state came up with $36 million and the remaining money will come from the county.

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Miami, FL

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills Game Preview

Published

23 hours ago

November 1, 2024

Press Room

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills Game Preview

The Dolphins travel to Buffalo in search of their first win at Highmark Stadium since 2016. If Miami can get over the hump against their division rival, they could climb back into the race for both the playoffs and AFC East title.

Last week, the Miami offense got back to its roots with the return of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The offense produced its most points (27) of the season, the best third-down conversion rate (73.3 percent) and scored on five of its eight offensive possessions. To take down Buffalo for the first time since September 2022, Miami will need similar offensive production from a group that has its full complement of opening day starters.

One of the reasons points are so important is because of the quarterback lurking on the opposing sideline. Josh Allen has feasted on the Dolphins since he entered the league in 2018. His 34 total touchdowns have helped the Bills to a 12-2 mark over the Dolphins since Allen’s rookie season.

Miami will need its best effort to slow a Buffalo offense that ranks fifth in the NFL in scoring and has struck a balance between its ground game and aerial attack. Buffalo ranks 11^th in passing offense and 12^th when running the football.

A balanced attack from the Buffalo offense means the Dolphins will need the best version of linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who has played every snap for the Miami defense this season. His versatility to rush the quarterback, drop back in coverage and provide a physical force against the run are all keys to slow down the Buffalo offense.

The Dolphins will see a more star-studded talent on the Bills offense than they did in the Week 2 meeting. Wide receiver Amari Cooper was acquired by Buffalo after their Week 6 victory of the New York Jets. In his first two games with Buffalo, Cooper logged 18 and 37 snaps as he figures to see his role expand each week.

Unless these teams meet in the postseason, this is the last Dolphins-Bills matchup we will see until the 2025 campaign. It’s the earliest the series has concluded on the calendar (November 3) since the 2021 season, when the two sides finished their season series before Halloween. Prior to that, the last time this series concluded this early was the 1998 season when both teams won home games in the series.

Make sure to check out the Injury Report and the team’s official social media accounts 90 minutes before kickoff to see who is active for the game.

Watch the game live on Sunday, November 3 at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS, and listen on the Dolphins Radio Network and view the Game Center for the latest coverage.

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