Miami, FL
Pat Riley Should Pull No Punches in Roasting Critics, Struggling Miami Heat
Miami Heat president Pat Riley will speak to the media on Friday afternoon, hitting the play button on an offseason that’s been on pause in anticipation of what he’ll say next.
Riley, criticized often over the past few months as the team he’s run for 30 years has suffered through their worst run in a decade, should come out roasting critics.
Not only that, he should come out and take aim at his team. Last we saw them, the Miami Heat the home portion of their first-round series by 92 combined points in getting swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Shooting from the hip wouldn’t be anything new for Riley. Last season’s media availability session became the beginning of the end for Jimmy Butler.
‘Is that Jimmy trolling or is that Jimmy serious?’” Riley asked when addressing Butler’s assertion that the Heat would’ve beaten the eventual champion Celtics if he’d been healthy. “If you’re not on the court playing against Boston or on the court playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut and your criticism of those teams.”
Jaws dropped around the NBA, and Riley even dropped a “not yet” when asked if Butler was available via trade.
We know how that turned out.
Remember what he said about Tyler Herro in the offseason before he ultimately became an All-Star?
“He’s been fragile a little bit,” Riley said. “What did he play, 40 games? He might have to go to another level nutritionally. He’s got to make some adjustments, definitely.”
So long as he’s not stepping down, expect Riley to deliver some well-earned harsh truths, leaving no ego unchecked. Like Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott in The Office classic episode, “Stress Relief,” the most viewed in the popular, Emmy-winning series, I envision Riley coming out of seclusion just firing one-liners.
Not that he needs any help, but here’s some material he can use.
Erik Spoelstra: “You running offense from our 1995 video cutting room floor?”
Bam Adebayo: “Pick up any pointers from Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley while he was locking you up?”
Tyler Herro: “He might have to go to another level, nutritionally. He’s got to make some adjustments, defensively. Extension?”
Jimmy Butler: “If you thought Dwyane Wade’s statue was butchered, wait to see how we ‘honor’ you.”
Andrew Wiggins; “Do you want to compete, son? I’ve seen more spirit in the weekly bingo game at the nursing home.”
“Speaking of which, stop trying to put me there.”
(Disparage jello. Offer to fight Stephen A. Smith, Kendrick Perkins, anyone with a podcast, really.)
Kel’el Ware: “He might have to go up about 10 levels, nutritionally. Make that weight room your new apartment.”
Jaime Jaquez Jr. “Work on your counters, your jump shot, your attitude.”
Terry Rozier: “Sometimes, you just know it’s time to call it a career.”
(Offer to fight anyone who looks at you sideways or uses the word ‘ironic.’)
Heat fans: “Start showing up before the second quarter. We just showed you games may already be over by then.”
Boom. Roasted.
Riley speaks at 1 p.m. ET. If nothing else, he’s earned the right to say whatever he wants and has proven he’s willing to do just that. Get your popcorn ready.
MORE HEAT COVERAGE
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Tony Mejia is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI. He can be reached at tnyce1414@gmail.com
Should the CFP committee rethink the playoff schedule format?
Extended breaks and logistical challenges have reopened questions about whether the College Football Playoff committee should adjust the playoff schedule format.
Mississippi football’s Nick Cull avoided an ejection during the College Football Playoff Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Thursday, Jan. 8.
As Malachi Toney reeled in a catch from Carson Beck at the Miami 49 in the first quarter, he was hit by Cull in a helmet-to-helmet collision. Right away, the officials flagged Cull for targeting, with both Toney and Cull staying down on the field with an injury.
After officials reviewed the play, the call on the field was overturned, as the officials determined that Cull did not launch and the collision seemed to be incidental. Replay assistant Matt Austin concurred with the call on the field.
The play had a major impact on the game as well. If the call had been upheld, Miami would have had the ball at the Ole Miss 34-yard line with a chance to expand its 3-0 lead. However, a few plays later, the Hurricanes were forced to punt from the 49-yard line.
On the first play of the second quarter, Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacey scored on a 73-yard run to give the Rebels a 7-3 lead.
Because he was not called for targeting, Cull was not ejected from the game, which means Ole Miss will have him for the remainder of the game, if he can clear the concussion protocol. He was in the tent following the play.
Cull has 15 total tackles and three pass deflections this season for the Rebels.
Meanwhile, Toney went to the medical tent briefly for the Hurricanes, but returned to the game.
A crash involving an unmarked Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office vehicle was reported in Northwest Miami-Dade on Thursday morning, and the morning commute was impacted as a result.
Few details have been released, but the crash was reported in the area of Northwest 79th street and Interstate 95.
Video from the scene showed that the vehicles had heavy damage.
The sheriff’s office said the crash also involved a civilian vehicle, and no injuries were reported.
No other information was released.
The Minnesota Timberwolves announced that guard Anthony Edwards is now available to play in Tuesday night’s game against the Miami Heat after originally being listed as questionable with right foot injury maintenance.
Here’s the rest of the injury report and game preview:
INJURY REPORT
HEAT
Tyler Herro: Available – Toe
Jaime Jaquez Jr.: Out – Ankle
Nikola Jovic: Available – Groin
Terry Rozier: Out – Not with team
TIMBERWOLVES
Anthony Edwards: Available – Foot
Terrence Shannon Jr.: Out – Foot
Joan Beringer: Out – G League
Game date, time and location: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 8:00 p.m. EST, Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
TV: TV: Peacock,
Radio: 104.3 FM (Miami/Ft. Lauderdale), ESPN 106.3 FM, (West Palm Beach), FOX Sports Radio 105.9 FM (Ft. Myers/Naples), 1450 AM (Suart), 97.7 FM (Florida Keys), WAQI 710 AM (Spanish-language broadcast, South Florida) 100.3 FM (Minnesota)
VITALS: The Miami Heat (20-16) and Minnesota Timberwolves (23-13) meet for the second and final regular season matchup after just facing off three days ago with Minnesota recording a, 125-115, win in Miami on January 3. The teams split the series, 1-1, last season with each squad winning on the road. The Heat are 36-35 all-time versus Minnesota during the regular season,
including 19-16 in home games and 17-19 in road games.
PROJECTED STARTERS
HEAT
G Davion Mitchell
G Tyler Herro
C Bam Adebayo
F Norman Powell
F Andrew Wiggins
TIMBERWOLVES
G Donte DiVincenzo
G Anthony Edwards
C Rudy Gobert
F Jaden McDaniels
F Julius Randle
Spread: Heat +5.5 (-112), Timberwolves -5.5 (-108)
Moneyline: Heat +166, Timberwolves -198
Total points scored: 239.5 (over -106, under -114)
QUOTABLE
Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra on the forced turnovers: “That is and has to be our identity. We have to play with a recklessness and activity level that exceeds our opponent, and thats not to put down our talent level or anything like that, it’s more about we look different when we’re flying around and making plays and making it tough for the opponent.”
For more Miami Heat information and conversation, check out Off The Floor.
Alexander Toledo is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI and producer/co-host of the Five on the Floor podcast, covering the Heat and NBA. He can be reached at Twitter: @tropicalblanket
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