News
Early sport specialization can sabotage your child’s athletic future | Opinion
Some 60 million children in America participate in organized sports each year. And more than 26% of those kids specialize in just one sport before puberty. Early sport specialization means that children are involved in intense, year-round training in a single sport to the exclusion of other sports.
The widespread participation is wonderful, but the specialization in a single sport is a growing problem. Researchers, health professionals and athletes increasingly warn that early sports specialization can harm kids’ overall development, well-being, and love of the game — whichever game that may be. And there is hard data to back up their claims.
Dr. Brian Hainline is the president and board chair of the United States Tennis Association and recently transitioned from the NCAA as their chief medical officer. (courtesy, Brian Hainline)What’s driving this trend is no mystery. Parents and coaches are the biggest influencers of early sport specialization and intense, year-round training, according to one survey of elite athletes. As someone who was a Division 1 athlete in college, I recognize why coaches and parents believe early sports specialization is key to athletic success. Excelling in any activity, including sports, takes years of consistent practice. But this belief is misguided, and the consequences to the developing child are often tragic.
Specializing too soon can prove costly and counterproductive for the majority of kids. Children who concentrate on a single sport before age 12 are 70% to 93% more likely to suffer from an injury than their peers who play multiple sports. That’s largely because early specialization places intense pressure on developing pre-adolescent bodies. It can overtax and over-model specific muscles, ligaments and joints that are not physiologically ready for such behavior, leading to serious long-term injuries. Approximately 50% of injuries in youth sports result from overuse, primarily caused by repetitive movements in a singular sport activity.
Importantly, early sport specialization predicts peak performance at a young age but does not predict long-term excellence. The foundation of long-term sport excellence is athleticism: agility, balance, coordination, speed, stamina, strength. Participating in multiple sports nurtures athleticism. A singular focus on one sport before puberty develops the player — but not the athlete.
Twenty-two-year-old Claire Carson, a national champion in rowing, recently warned of the risks from early sport specialization. She described how years of overtraining left her “stuck with a broken back” — and in need of disc replacement surgery — just four years after graduating high school. As a sports medicine physician, I have treated innumerable athletes like Claire. The injuries, the disappointment, the disconnect from sport and family are haunting stories that need not be.
Burnout — or dropping out of sports entirely — is another concern. Kids who specialize in just one sport face higher rates of burnout compared to their multi-sport counterparts. Other studies confirm that young athletes who focus on a single sport too soon are more likely to experience emotional exhaustion and a diminished sense of enjoyment. We must always remember that the primary reason kids want to play sports is to have fun. The absence of joy is a forerunner to burnout.
Perhaps the saddest part of early specialization isn’t the risk of injury and burnout though — it’s that it simply isn’t necessary. Before I played tennis in college, I grew up as a multisport athlete. Playing multiple sports didn’t diminish my ability to succeed on the court. And I’m hardly an outlier — about 90% of NCAA athletes participated in multiple sports growing up.
As president of the U.S. Tennis Association, I obviously love tennis. It’s a sport I’d encourage everyone to try. No two shots are the same, which allows developing brains to improve executive function, and which provides a pathway for young athletes to adapt, control their emotions, and bounce back resiliently for every serve. Indeed, the litany of benefits that go hand-in-hand with participation in tennis are unmatched by any other sport.
And yet, even though tennis is the healthiest sport on the planet, I would never advise any child to only play tennis. Trying a variety of sports enables young people to build a variety of skills, to develop athletically while growing physically and mentally strong and healthy.
Rather than training kids to be professional athletes starting in grade school, we should encourage them to play a variety of sports, learn from each of them and, most importantly, have fun. That is the best and most effective way of developing not only a fine athlete, but also a well-rounded human being.
Dr. Brian Hainline is the president and board chair of the United States Tennis Association and recently transitioned from the NCAA as their chief medical officer. He co-chaired the International Olympic Committee Consensus Meetings on both Pain Management in Elite Athletes and Mental Health in Elite Athletes. He is a clinical professor of neurology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
E-scooter riders need to wear helmets. I’ve seen the results when they don’t | Opinion
Several years ago, I noticed a growing trend at Memorial Regional Hospital South, where I work as an occupational therapist specializing in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. The trend, sadly, is the rapid rise of patients requiring intensive therapy after suffering a severe head or spinal injury while using a micromobility device like an electric scooter (e-scooter).
There is no universal helmet law in the United States. Helmet laws vary by state. Some states require all micromobility and motorcycle riders to wear helmets, others have laws that apply only to certain age groups, and some states have no helmet laws at all. Each state sets regulations regarding safety equipment. In Florida, the only mandated state statute is that a minor under the age of 16 is required to wear a helmet — a statute that is on the books but rarely enforced.
Michelle Weinberg is an occupational therapist, certified brain injury specialist and certified stroke rehabilitation specialist at Memorial Regional Hospital South. (courtesy, Michelle Weinberg)Florida drivers are likely aware of the development of commuter traffic and the rise of micromobility devices on our roadways. Since the advent of e-scooters, who among us has not seen a rider hugging the shoulder or swerving through traffic, headphones on, one hand on the phone? And while micromobility devices are a cost- and energy-efficient way to travel, the lack of bicycle lanes; constant construction; and an influx of mopeds, motorcycles and bicycle riders — all sharing an increasingly congested Florida roadway — have made commuting on e-scooters all the more hazardous.
For almost 20 years, I have helped guide individuals recovering from brain and spinal injuries. For most of that career, patients recovering from stroke, brain cancer and a variety of accidents filled the rooms I worked in. However, in the last few years, the rise of e-scooter accidents has been astonishing. In 2019, trauma surgeon researcher Leslie Kobayashi and her colleagues recorded that during a 13-month period, over half of all intracranial hemorrhages and fractures in their operating rooms were related to e-scooter injuries. Additionally, 98% of patients were not wearing a helmet, and nearly half had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. Encouraging helmets for all riders, discouraging e-scooter operation while intoxicated, and educational programs are imperative and will benefit the public health system.
We know what happens when these measures aren’t taken. Emergency rooms in Tampa reported the highest number of e-scooter accidents among people aged 21-30 years old in 2023, where little regulation controls the use and availability of e-scooters and where the lack of Florida helmet laws provides no additional guard rails. According to a 2023 study, the rate of head injuries increased directly after e-scooters were introduced in Tampa in 2019. In A review of the medical literature published from 2010 to 2020, found these same increases in traumatic injuries not only for e-scooter riders but for those in their path, including pedestrians and cyclists. These findings suggest that the head and upper extremities are increasingly more vulnerable with e-scooters, helmet use is poor, and falls are the most common mechanism of injury. Micromobility accidents can result in long-term functional impairments and require extensive rehabilitation. Acquired head injuries disrupt a person’s ability to engage in daily activities and can cause a lifetime of detrimental effects. The rehabilitation process is wide-ranging, costly and complicated.
The quantifiable data demonstrates the significance of promoting helmet use. I have witnessed countless individuals recovering from post-traumatic accidents because they were not helmeted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that helmets can reduce the risk of head injuries by as much as 69%, highlighting the need for comprehensive regulations that mandate helmet use across all states.
As a society that prides itself on individual liberty, we must find a balance between how we travel and how we travel safely. For e-scooter riders, wearing a helmet is a crucial preventive measure as essential as a seatbelt. It would be prudent as a state, if not as a country, to implement simple statutes that can significantly mitigate the risk of traumatic brain injuries. In the mean time, by advocating and educating our community to wear helmets, we can reduce the incidence of such injuries and enhance the overall community’s health and safety.
If you ride an e-scooter, or know someone who does, I hope you wear a helmet. And if not, they make a great holiday gift.
Michelle Weinberg is an occupational therapist, certified brain injury specialist and certified stroke rehabilitation specialist at Memorial Regional Hospital South. She resides in Surfside.
Are Trump’s picks his idea of a sick joke? | Letters to the editor
Is this Donald Trump’s joke on America?
Why didn’t anyone give him a competency test before he ran again, instead of taking his word that he was sane?
Matt Gaetz for attorney general? That would have made America the laughingstock of the world — if we aren’t already.
Pete Hegseth, a Fox News weekend co-anchor, to be Secretary of Defense? What are his qualifications? Boy, will I feel safe.
It gets worse and worse every day. Is this some warped sense of payback to America for not electing him to a second term in 2020? Is he picking all his appointees out of a fishbowl? Or is it his new buddy Elon Musk’s advice to him to destroy this country, and send everyone to the moon instead?
Rosanne Gordon, Boca Raton
The bone spurs exemptionIn a recent letter to the editor, a writer said she considered Donald Trump a veteran.
He never was. He avoided the draft with “bone spurs.” How dare a reader put him in that category.
Now, Trump is filling his Cabinet with media personalities including Dr. Mehmet Oz. Who’s next, Clarabell the Clown, from Howdy Doody?
God help us. Will there still be a United States of America in 2028?
Fred Brown, Boynton Beach
The voters approveThe newspaper’s negativity toward the governor is becoming worse with every edition.
Maybe Gov. Ron DeSantis should run this state into the ground, like California. The last election proved that the voters approve of everything being done in this state, and in the United States.
Richard Simeone, Orlando
Inflation is still hereLetter writer LaDonna Vieweg wrote that “inflation is already gone, so let’s stop pretending that Trump is not inheriting a thriving economy.”
In what world does she live? I’m here to challenge facts, not buttress the incoming president. The last time I checked, the current inflation rate (for the 12 months ending in October) is 2.6%, up from 2.4%. And yes, food and housing are much higher now than before the pandemic. How about nearly 22% on average?
When people struggle mightily to pay for housing and groceries, “historic” and “bipartisan” bills are irrelevant. Another big lesson learned, I hope.
Kevin Schoeler, Fort Lauderdale
About immigrant laborAnybody who thinks that the deportation of criminals who enter the United States illegally is an immoral act is in serious need of the definition of morality.
If our economy is dependent on illegal labor, as writer Thomas Kennedy claimed in a recent commentary, our economy needs to be reconstructed so only legal immigrants are gainfully employed, and that their earnings mostly stay here to support our economy.
Osvaldo Valdes, Hollywood
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[contact-form]Today in History: November 25, John F. Kennedy laid to rest at Arlington
Today is Monday, Nov. 25, the 330th day of 2024. There are 36 days left in the year.
Today in history:On Nov. 25, 1963, the body of President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery after a funeral procession through Washington; an estimated 1 million people lined the procession route.
Also on this date:In 1783, following the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, the last remaining British troops in the United States were evacuated from New York City.
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In 1986, the Iran-Contra affair erupted as President Ronald Reagan and Attorney General Edwin Meese revealed that profits from secret arms sales to Iran had been diverted to Nicaraguan rebels.
In 1999, Elian Gonzalez, a 5-year-old Cuban boy, was rescued by a pair of sport fishermen off the coast of Florida, setting off an international custody battle.
In 2001, as the war in Afghanistan entered its eighth week, CIA officer Johnny “Mike” Spann was killed during a prison uprising in Mazar-e-Sharif, becoming America’s first combat casualty of the conflict.
In 2016, Fidel Castro, who led his rebels to a victorious revolution in 1959, embraced Soviet-style communism and defied the power of 10 U.S. presidents during his half-century of rule in Cuba, died at age 90.
Today’s Birthdays:- Football Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs is 84.
- Actor John Larroquette is 77.
- Dance judge Bruno Tonioli (TV: “Dancing with the Stars”) is 69.
- Musician Amy Grant is 64.
- Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter is 59.
- Rapper-producer Erick Sermon is 56.
- Actor Jill Hennessy is 56.
- Actor Christina Applegate is 53.
- Former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb is 48.
- Former first daughter Barbara Pierce Bush is 43.
- Former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager is 43.
- Soccer manager and former player Xabi Alonso is 43.
- Actor Stephanie Hsu is 34.
Daily Horoscope for November 25, 2024
General Daily Insight for November 25, 2024
Matters of the mind are likely to be frustrating at present. When the nervous Virgo Moon opposes nebulous Neptune, we may believe that having more information would increase our emotional security. Luna then shifts into social Libra and trines profound Pluto, so answers could be available if we have the patience to ask around. Even so, as intellectual Mercury turns retrograde at 9:42 pm EST, it probably won’t be a quick or easy process. In the meantime, we might try listening to our intuition.
AriesMarch 21 – April 19
Getting stuff done could currently be harder than you’d think. You’re at risk of biting bite off way more than you can chew — at some point, you might just run out of energy! That doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve failed. As logical Mercury turns retrograde in your 9th House of Beliefs, look closely at the expectations you hold for yourself. It’s totally normal to have physical limits and need to rest. A worldview that doesn’t have room for that isn’t likely to succeed.
TaurusApril 20 – May 20
Unsnarling a money matter could seem tedious now. What you’re able to find out from friends or social media might not be the whole story. While fact-finding Mercury covers old ground in your 8th House of Shared Resources, answers are probably available, but they won’t just be handed to you. As much as possible, hold off on making any decisions until you can get information from someone who knows what they’re talking about — even if this takes more time and effort.
GeminiMay 21 – June 20
A relationship conflict may have more to it than meets the eye. Perhaps you’re unwittingly reliving a family dynamic from your childhood. If you expect a current companion to take care of you in the way a parent would nurture a child, you’re likely to wind up disappointed. That said, your longing is a guide to what you need — and learning how to nourish yourself is possible. That’s a piece of the problem you can control, but it’s not necessarily the only piece.
CancerJune 21 – July 22
Communicating accurately could presently be a challenge. You may be putting down typos or details that aren’t quite right. Perhaps you’d be better off just waiting until later! While busy Mercury takes a slower pace in your 6th House of Responsibilities, you’ll potentially feel like others are dragging their feet on paperwork you want to quickly finish. If a given task isn’t a priority for someone else with a stake in the situation, maybe it’s not actually that urgent. Look for perspective.
LeoJuly 23 – August 22
An investment opportunity available to you could currently get your hopes high. Unfortunately, your expectations for it may not be entirely realistic. While calculating Mercury turns retrograde in your speculative 5th house, you’d be wiser to walk, not run, toward your goals. Feeling pressured to act right away is a reliable sign that whatever you’re considering probably isn’t that great. Ask someone you trust for guidance, but don’t necessarily limit yourself to the financial side of the issue — look at what’s really motivating you.
VirgoAugust 23 – September 22
A family relationship may abruptly turn out to be different from what you’d thought. Even though inquisitive Mercury is turning retrograde in your 4th House of Roots, you’re not required to stir up trouble for its own sake. In some situations, letting people see what they want to see is less destructive than pushing them to confront the naked truth at any cost. Contrastingly, a financial or practical question might need the actual facts to move forward. Know what’s worth pushing for.
LibraSeptember 23 – October 22
Telling part of the truth might be more trouble than it’s worth at the moment. Perhaps you’re trying to describe a situation in vague terms so that you don’t reveal a specific piece of private information. However, the story may not make sense without that crucial detail. Putting a muddled message into circulation is a quick way to inflame any confusion further. If you can’t speak freely enough to speak clearly, consider thinking through the problem by yourself for the time being.
ScorpioOctober 23 – November 21
Backtracking on your budget isn’t a crime. Your friends might have an idea for a fun activity that involves spending money you hadn’t planned on — and going with the flow could genuinely sound worth it. Still, as thoughtful Mercury spins retrograde in your 2nd House of Resources, you’ll probably have to reconfigure things to make this change work. If socializing is a reliable source of temptation to run up a big bill, getting more comfortable with your own company may be necessary.
SagittariusNovember 22 – December 21
You may currently be embroiled in a frustrating power struggle. Maybe someone else is jerking you around by being vague about what they want — you’d like to satisfy them, but you don’t know how! As analytical Mercury turns inward and reflective in your sign, you might need to look at how you’re contributing to this dynamic. Your strong desire to work things out could be working against you. By giving this person’s fluctuating grievances more attention than they deserve, you’re increasing their influence.
CapricornDecember 22 – January 19
Your dream life could be especially active today. As articulate Mercury digs deeper into your 12th House of the Subconscious, the images and scenes you encounter might speak more clearly than your actual words. It’s okay to admit that you know some things intuitively rather than through a totally logical thought process. Each tool is suited to its task, so do your best to spend your time on the types of activities that would be a good fit for this energy.
AquariusJanuary 20 – February 18
Reconnecting with friends you haven’t heard from in a while could be exciting today. Still, you’ll have to be realistic about any changes that have taken place since you last met. If they have the idea, accurate or not, that you’ve gotten richer lately, they might be hoping that you’ll share the wealth. Take time before connecting to think through the circumstances under which you would be comfortable helping out. You don’t have to say no, but you should know why you’re saying yes.
PiscesFebruary 19 – March 20
The truth could come out in public at any moment! Whether this is a good or bad thing depends on what you’ve been up to lately. If different people have heard conflicting stories, they may start to compare notes. With observant Mercury turning retrograde in your 10th House of Reputation, any narrative that doesn’t add up is at risk. On the plus side, if you’ve been keeping your charitable efforts to yourself, you might get recognition for that — try not to blush!
Florida Atlantic misses 3-pointer at buzzer, falls in Charleston Classic third-place game
By The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Chaunce Jenkins’ 15 points helped Seton Hall defeat Florida Atlantic 63-61 on Sunday night in the third-place game at the Charleston Classic.
Jenkins went 5 of 15 from the field (3 for 8 from 3-point range) for the Pirates (4-3). Scotty Middleton scored 10 points while finishing 4 of 4 from the floor. Yacine Toumi went 4 of 7 from the field (1 for 4 from 3-point range) to finish with nine points.
The Owls (4-4) were led by Leland Walker, who posted 16 points and six rebounds. Florida Atlantic also got 10 points and nine rebounds from Matas Vokietaitis. Kaleb Glenn had nine points.
Jenkins put up 10 points in the first half for Seton Hall, who led 34-22 at halftime. Toumi led Seton Hall with six points in the second half as his team was outscored by 10 points over the final half but hung on for the victory.
Walker missed a potential winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Winderman’s view: Heat get it done at closing time against Dallas
Observations and other notes of interest from Sunday night’s 123-118 overtime victory over the Dallas Mavericks:
– This was the game the Heat couldn’t close out against the Kings at home.
– The game they couldn’t close out against the Suns on the road.
– This time, the endgame was the Heat’s game.
– Closer to what happened in Minnesota.
– Which means something.
– Because it’s not as if this team has much when it comes to margin for error.
– It requires the best of Jimmy Butler.
– Check.
– Bam Adebayo stepping up.
– Such as the late defensive stop on Kyrie Irving and then the 3-pointer.
– (We’ll forget the other 3-pointer that hit the side of the backboard).
– And a play call from Erik Spoelstra executed to perfection.
– In this case, Butler’s basket at the end of regulation.
– So a step forward.
– And a move to .500.
– Needed.
– Because it didn’t get easier when Terry Rozier was out with a recurring foot issue.
– When Haywood Highsmith left in the second half due to illness.
– When Duncan Robinson was called for a foul seemingly at every turn.
– The Heat could not have been handed a better break than Luka Doncic being sidelined.
– Of course they also were handed ample open shots from point blank.
– And ample free throws.
– Off.
– And clank.
– Still, found a way.
– With Rozier out again, the Heat again opened with a lineup of Bam Adebayo, Highsmith, Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro and Robinson.
– Of lineup continuity or the lack thereof, Spoelstra said ahead of the game, “I think the most important thing right now is whatever’s working for us, we’ve got to look into that right now. We’re not where we want to be. And that doesn’t mean that we shut the door on anything else.”
– He added, “We’re trying to find some consistency, some sustainability in our game, just like every other team in the East except for the two top teams.”
– Kevin Love and Alec Burks entered first together off the Heat bench.
– Then Pelle Larsson.
– And then Jaime Jaquez Jr.
– With Nikola Jovic in at the start of the second period to make it 10 deep.
– But Jovic also only playing a cameo role.
– And Josh Richardson no role at all.
– Herro extended his streak of games with at least one 3-pointer to 53, tying the longest such streak of his career.
– Herro extended his streak of scoring in double figures to 44 dating to last season. His previous longest such streak had been 38 games in 2021-22.
– Herro’s fourth field goal was the 2,000th of his career.
– The double-digit-scoring effort moved Butler past Grant Long for 12th on the Heat’s such all-time list.
– Burks’ third 3-pointer was the 900th of his career.
– Butler’s first steal tied Eddie Jones for seventh on the Heat all-time list.
– Keshad Johnson made it to Miami at 2:30 p.m., after waking at 5 a.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D., and connecting through Chicago from his G League game the night before.
– “It’s been fun to watch the games and the highlights of the ones we haven’t been able to catch live,” Spoelstra said of Johnson’s Skyforce games. “He’s played well on both ends of the court.”
– Johnson did not play.
– The Heat entered coming off a five-day break.
– “If you have an opportunity like this, you do want to move the needle,” coach Erik Spoelstra said going in. “Hopefully we did that, but it’s also good to get back on the routine of playing games.”
Jimmy Butler seizes control as Heat hold off Mavericks 123-118 in overtime
MIAMI — Jimmy Butler was back in attack mode.
Luka Doncic was missing for the opposition.
It was an advantage the Miami Heat needed.
It was an advantage the Heat seized.
With Butler scoring 33, including the tying basket at the end of regulation and a key basket in overtime, the Heat outlasted the Dallas Mavericks 123-118 in overtime Sunday night at Kaseya Center.
“The efforts are starting to get a little bit more consistent,” coach Erik Spoelstra said.
With the victory, the Heat moved back to .500, at 7-7, and ultimately had enough to offset 27 points from Dallas guard Kyrie Irving.
“I feel like I’ve got to start attacking more often,” Butler said of his aggression. “If I can spearhead that part of the offense, we’re good.”
Beyond Butler’s effort that was built on 11-of-16 foul shooting and also included nine rebounds and six assists, the Heat also got 19 points and 10 rebounds from Bam Adebayo and 18 points and 11 rebounds from Tyler Herro.
Perhaps just as significant, there also were 15 points and 14 points, respectively, off the bench from Alec Burks and Pelle Larsson.
“I mentioned that in the locker room,” Spoelstra said of his team’s bench play. “It really gave us a boost again.”
Five Degrees of Heat from Sunday night’s game:
1. Regulation: The Heat led 33-28 after the first quarter, pushed their lead to 10 in the second, went into halftime up 56-51, and were up 89-84 going into the fourth.
Then, with 63 seconds to play in regulation, Butler went into attack mode, took on the length of Mavericks center Dereck Lively II at the rim and converted a driving, spinning layup for a 112-111 Heat lead.
Irving countered with an 8-foot jumper on the other end for a 113-112 Dallas lead. Then, down by that margin, the Heat put Irving on the line with 8.2 seconds to play in regulation, where he was off with his first attempt and true with the second for a 114-112 Dallas lead.
Off a timeout and a Dallas foul, Butler broke free for a tying layup off a Duncan Robinson assist to close the regulation scoring at 114-114.
The Heat thought Butler was fouled on the attempt.
“These are really tough to get any kind of freedom on sideline-out-of-bounds,” Spoelstra said. “Jimmy made a hell of a cut. And Duncan again with a great pass. It seemed like it was a foul.”
2. Overtime: After falling to 10 of 15 from the line, Butler gave the Heat a one-point lead early in overtime, with Adebayo’s third 3-pointer of the night later putting the Heat up 120-118.
After a defensive stop by Adebayo and a wayward 3-point attempt by Adebayo, Butler scored on a driving layup for a 122-118 Heat lead with 1:38 to play.
Adebayo made it five consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer and the third game in the last five with multiple 3-pointers.
Adebayo had converted 3-pointers in only two games prior to the current streak, taking advantage Sunday night of the Mavericks’ paint-based big men.
He closed 3 of 6 on 3-pointers.
“Stay with the preparation,” Adebayo said of his 3-point shooting. “Keep working behind the scenes.”
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3. Toeing the line: A game after going 13 of 13 from the line, Butler again was in attack mode.
Butler was 8 of 12 from the line at halftime, with the Heat just 13 of 21 on free throws over the first two periods.
“That’s what I want to see,” Spoelstra said of the volume of the attempts. “Our guys work on free throws. We’re a good free-throw shooting team. Sometimes you get into these deals during the season.
“The difficult thing is getting to the line.”
Butler’s previous performance came after nine days off, following an ankle sprain, this one after the Heat’s five-day break.
The next question is the performance on shorter rest, with a back-to-back set up next on Tuesday night against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks in an NBA Cup game, and then Wednesday at the Charlotte Hornets.
“He has the highest percentile of processing speed,” Spoelstra said of the way Butler crafted Sunday’s effort. “He’s not just putting his head down and crashing into people, three yards and a cloud of dust.”
4. Rotation reshuffle: The Heat again had to realign with guard Terry Rozier missing his second consecutive game due to foot pain.
Rozier had been expected to return after the Heat’s five-day break, having sat out last Monday night’s victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Instead, the team said Rozier awoke Sunday with recurring foot pain.
That had the Heat again opening with a lineup of Butler, Adebayo, Herro, Haywood Highsmith and Duncan Robinson.
In addition, Burks remained in the rotation after his solid effort against the 76ers.
5. Pelle time: With Highsmith and Robinson both with four fouls by the opening ticks of the third period, and then Highsmith dealing with an illness, Pelle Larsson wound up getting an extended run.
Rather than going with veteran Josh Richardson, Spoelstra instead turned to the second-round pick out of Arizona, whose energy was needed on a night the Heat offense largely was a series of wayward shots.
Larsson closed with 14 points and five rebounds.
“It’s really going to be hard for Spo taking him off the floor,” Butler said of Larsson. “He reminds me of myself, when I was younger in this league.”
Chris Perkins: This is the best I’ve felt about the Dolphins in the McDaniel era
MIAMI GARDENS — Calais Campbell, the wildly productive and amazingly insightful defensive lineman, didn’t want to leave the Miami Dolphins earlier this month at the trade deadline.
I don’t blame him.
I like what this Dolphins team has shown during this three-game winning streak that continued with Sunday’s 34-15 victory over the New England Patriots.
This winning streak has featured good offense. It’s featured good defense. It’s featured good special teams. It’s a solid winning streak.
This is the second-best winning streak the Dolphins have had under coach Mike McDaniel.
And this is the best I’ve felt about the Dolphins under McDaniel.
What they’re doing is real, it’s reliable.
What they’re doing isn’t gimmicky.
That’s the difference between this winning streak and previous winning streaks.
I know that sounds strange to say about a 5-6 team.
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But suddenly this Dolphins team seems to have a solid foundation and a somewhat encouraging future.
Yes, this team has its limits.
Mostly this team must show it can beat a good team (the Los Angeles Rams were 5-5 heading into Sunday night’s game).
It could happen.
Again, this is the best I’ve felt about this Dolphins offense under McDaniel.
And I think this team, with its three-game winning streak and 5-6 season record, could be ready to make a move.
But we’ll see.
Campbell and McDaniel think the Dolphins are definitely ready to make a move.
That’s why Campbell didn’t want to leave.
Campbell, the former University of Miami standout and likely future Hall of Fame member, said “a lot of teams” were interested in him around the Nov. 5 trade deadline.
But Campbell, the sage veteran who has become a heart-and-soul defensive player as well as a team captain, had an influential conversation with McDaniel.
“Me and Mike talked about where we are as a team,” Campbell said from the postgame locker room after Sunday’s victory, “and we came to the conclusion that this team still has a lot of fight left and we got a chance to do something special and we just agreed that we were going to fight for it.”
We’ll see if these good vibrations can turn into a victory against a quality opponent, or a road victory against a quality opponent.
I don’t buy into the cold weather thing; the problem is the opponent and location, not the temperature.
The Dolphins, of course, visit Green Bay (8-3) on Thanksgiving.
This winning streak, the second-best of the McDaniel era, is good.
The best winning streak of the McDaniel era was undoubtedly the three-game winning streak to open the 2022 season.
They were the first three games of McDaniel’s career — a 20-7 win over New England (and coach Bill Belichick), that rousing 42-38 come-from-behind win at Baltimore, and the sun-splashed 21-19 win over Buffalo.
The Dolphins would be hard-pressed to have better back-to-back wins than those over Baltimore and Buffalo.
Even the five-game winning streak that came midway through the 2022 season — Pittsburgh (16-10), Detroit (31-27), Chicago (35-32), Cleveland (39-17) and Houston (30-15) — wasn’t as good as what we’re witnessing now.
The three-game season-opening winning streak in 2023 that included wins over the Los Angeles Chargers (36-34) and New England (24-17) and was capped by that 70-20 win over Denver?
Nah.
The other three-game winning streak last season that included Las Vegas (20-13), the New York Jets (34-13) and Washington (45-15)?
No way.
This winning streak is big because of where the Dolphins came (records of 1-3 and 2-6) and where they could potentially go (a third consecutive playoff berth).
The Rams game, which ended a three-game losing streak, was big.
The Las Vegas game, which gave the Dolphins back-to-back wins for the first time this season, was big.
The Patriots, which gave the Dolphins their current three-game winning streak, was big.
The Packers game dwarfs them all.
Campbell said his decision to stay with the Dolphins didn’t just come down to a conversation with McDaniel.
“It was a lot more than that,” he said.
But rest assured playing in a game such as Thursday’s game, with a chance to extend this winning streak to four games and climb back to .500, and get firmly into the AFC playoff race, is a big reason Campbell is still here.
“This next one’s the big one,” Campbell said. “That’s the next big one. And so Thursday night game, it’s gonna show a lot about our mental toughness. It’s gonna be huge.”
I can’t say for certain the Dolphins will win at Green Bay on Thanksgiving, but I’m certain that I’ve never felt better about his team under McDaniel.
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