[MUSIC PLAYING] Welcome to "Five on the Four," a daily insider show on the Miami Heat and the NBA featuring Ethan Skolnick, Greg Solvander, and Alex Toledo, plus others from the Five Reasons Sports Network. Welcome into the latest "Five on the Floor" live. I am your host, Greg Solvander. Today's floor plan with me, we have Sean Rochester, the coach. You know, I'm S. Rochester NBA on Twitter. Also, on playback, you can find him all around the network. And then we also have major pass-ins. You can follow him at major underscore pass-ins on Twitter. He is our Sky Force consultant. He is one of the top analysts in the game as it relates to the Sioux Falls Sky Force, our Sioux Falls Sky Force, as I fumble that. And also a contributor here at "Five Reason Sports Network." So thank you both for joining me. We're getting into the floor plan of an ugly loss. 110, 108 to a team. You shouldn't lose to a team that had lost 16 straight and now has won two in a row. This was abysmal. This was no other way to put it. There were moments late that you felt like they could come back and get this victory. But it did not ultimately materialize. We're gonna get into all of it before we do. Wanna call out off the floor. This is our Discord server. This is where we are talking Miami Heat Basketball. We are taking the conversation off other social media platforms and we are funneling you to Discord. That's where you're gonna be able to talk. Just Heat Basketball, you can get away from all the other nonsense, block out the noise like SPO says and just talk heat. We have host updates, the main thing chat, all these different chats so that you can talk other sports. You can talk gambling. You can find all of our promo deals, music. This is the place to go. 299, link is in description. 399 on your Apple device, off the floor. Check that out for sure. 110, 108 hertz. This team was not good defensively. Sean, I'll start with you. You're opening thoughts on tonight's loss. Yeah, I agree with the defensive end. I mean, the entire night was inconsistent, but defensively, they were consistently unable to defend without fouling and/or really defend what seemed like the ramen threes, like modern NBA basketball, right? Like they could get to the basket when they wanted to. They could get to the free throw line when they wanted to, which is not a typical thing for the Wizards. And then it just seemed like we continually gave up open threes. I mean, they shot 41%, 16 to 39. It just was a weird game. I don't know how to describe it otherwise. I think all of us kind of felt like at some point, things were going to click into gear and all of a sudden, you know, you would build that 10 point leading to be over. And even late, you know, when they made that comeback, and I'm sure we'll talk about the last two possessions at some point, but just, yeah. I mean, it's just a disappointing loss. And you have a couple of days off before the defending champ Denver Nuggets come into town on Wednesday to fix some things, but it's a lot of blame to be spread around, not just one or two people. - Major is usually really good at keeping a positive spin on things, so we're gonna lean into that and hopefully he can bring some wisdom. Because now we're talking about a losing streak. We're talking about the defending champs joining us in Miami. I think the Heat fan feels as if the team is reeling at the current moment and they were just playing so well. I mean, I still in their last 10, I think they're seven and or last 11, they're seven and four or something like that. So they're still relatively above water, but your thoughts on tonight and also just this losing streak in general, did you see anything tonight that made you think that they are climbing out of this even though it wasn't another loss? - I mean, honestly, I can try to spin it in a positive, but there's not really much to say when you lose to the Wizards like that. And they did, like we were all waiting for them to turn it on and grow lead, they did. And then they just went straight back to how they were playing and played terrible again. There was just a lack of energy, a lack of effort. One thing that stood out to me and you already talked about the defense, so I won't talk about that. On the offensive end, obviously there's just Duncan having an off night and a lot of people not hitting shots that they typically hit. But one thing that stood out to me is, there's started hunting for foul calls. And anytime you purposely try to get a foul call, you're never going to get that foul call. So they did get a couple at the end, but overall there was times where they probably could have just gone up stronger and actually get the foul call versus trying to lack a better term flock to get free throws. Like Jimmy was not getting any free throws. Bam, he missed four straight at the start. And it just looks mental on his free throws right now. As far as like, if I think the team's reeling and that this means they can't do well in the playoffs, to that I'll give some positivity and be a hope merchant of this has happened every year since Jimmy has been here. And every year there's a stretch where it's like this team looks terrible. And then they always bounce back and find a way. I mean, was it two years ago or last year, whenever they were on that two week stretch where they looked like the worst team in the league and everyone was saying that they couldn't do it. And they were the one seed that year and then they ended up finding a way to get to the Eastern Conference Finals and playing good. So this team, I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. It's extremely hard right now 'cause this is just a terrible loss. Now you have to go to the Nuggets. And I mean, it's just the Nuggets. Like it's not like it's getting any easier next game. - It's so true. And tonight was supposed to be a gamey. You were an 11 and a half point favorite, I think is where I saw it close. So to lose tonight is just absolutely awful. There's no way to spin that. We're not going to even try to, but we're going to tell you about a guy who particularly hurt the heat and that's the Rock Esports gamer of the night. - And now on five on the floor, it's time for the gamer of the night sponsored by Rock Esports Center, the place to eat, drink and play all day. Host your next birthday party with them. Located at 15305 South Dixie Highway in Palmetto Bay, they've got a 5,500 square foot state of the art center equipped with all the high end power, play all day passes available for just 25 bucks. But if you mention five reasons, it's just $20. So mention five reasons or five RSN, you get to play all day for $20. And now the gamer of the night. - So we debated about this because I think that Tyus Jones had a hell of a game and man, did he look like a player that could help a lot of teams. I'm surprised he did not get picked off for a contender at the deadline, but ultimately we land on Kyle Kuzma. He was nine of 23 from the field, 32 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks. Got to the free throw line. I think they said it was season high, 16 times. So he had a big night. Major, I'll come back to you on this one. Your thoughts on Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones and just the wizards collectively tonight, I'll playing Miami. Do you think that Kuzma, this is a situation where the defense was lagging or like with the fouls specifically, was Kuzma being intent on getting to the basket? I felt like it was some lazy defense and some questionable calls, but I might be looking at it through a bias lens. - No, I thought it was a little bit of both, right? There's certainly some foul calls where I'm like, okay, he's not a superstar. Why is he getting this foul call? But at the same time, he knows he's getting those foul calls, so he's gonna keep doing the same thing that we're getting in the foul calls. And so, I mean, that's just smart basketball. I'm not saying Kuzma's the smartest player we've seen, but this just seemed like a Kyle Kuzma game. Like shoots a lot, he's gonna get really streaky, make a lot in a row, miss a couple in a row, have some smart plays, have some questionable plays like his float or attempt at the end that gave Miami a chance again. To your point about Ties Jones is I love him. I thought he was gonna get picked up. I don't see why people didn't pick him up. He's like a perfect backup point guard specifically for a contender as well as he's starter quality as we've seen. He just doesn't turn the ball over. He sets everyone up. And so, I think actually that pairing of him and Kuzma works out really well, 'cause Kuzma has never seen a shot he doesn't like. And Ties Jones can just pass it to anyone. So I thought Kuzma played well today. He played for the most part, smart basketball. Like I said, if you know you're getting those free throws, we see Jimmy do it. If you know you're getting those free throws, just keep doing that same exact thing, whether it is lazy defense or where it is beneficial calls. - We talked about Jimmy doing it there or major did. What did you think of Jimmy's game, Sean? I thought he had an interesting night. It was uneven at times, really inefficient from downtown. Didn't get to the line maybe as much as I normally would expect, but what did you think of Jimmy's night? - Yeah, I saw Ethan tweet this out. It had to be early second half that he didn't have a rebound or a steal at that point in the game. He finished with three rebounds and a steal, but 23 points, not his usual efficiency, nine to 20 from the field, 0 for 4 from behind the arc, only got to the line six times. He, I think major reference to earlier, seemed to be looking for foul calls, seemed to be frustrated with foul calls. And he's typically not one of those guys that's chirping and complaining, and he just didn't seem to have that edge, I guess, to him. He didn't seem to have the ability to like mismatch hunt. And something that could be said, when we talked about Kuzma right before the game, obviously they scratched and didn't have a starting center. I mean, Bagley was out and Kuzda had to just mark out at the end. Who was going to start? I can't think of who it is right now at the top of my head, but we'll come back. - Sean Holmes, Sean Holmes, I'm sorry, my also a bowling green grad. So I think that had something to do with it. Like they obviously got beat up on the glass, 51 to 40, to heat one on the glass. But think about what that does to a defense, it spreads you out. Kuzma's playing essentially the five. You got a threat from outside. The insert whispered into the starting lineup. You got another shooter. When pool's on the floor, you got another shooter. Then you got a dynamic guard that can find open people. Kula Bali didn't really have a good game, but like, they just had, you know, they were able to spread them out. Deniabia obviously can get to the basket and use his strength, it just, you know, it's no excuse, right? Like we should be able to defend the wizards, no matter who they put out, they're Mitch Richmond, like Wes Unceld, I don't care. But the effort that we gave on defense and the breakdowns that we have were just not good enough. And it's disappointing because you were seeing progress and now you're starting to see sort of this backtracking really on both ends of the floor. - I know and it's a shame because I felt like Bam started to look more like himself tonight and that is basically gonna be like, we don't even recognize it because the team lost to a team that they shouldn't lose to at home. So it's a pretty tough loss. I mean, there's no real way around this. Like when you go and lose to Dallas and Oklahoma City, I felt like fans should adjust expectations on those road trips. Those are tough venues to get through. But then you come home and I felt like they just take, they took this team lightly. Bam did not play necessarily perfect offense by any means. But 16 and 16 is a much better effort than what we've seen recently, but that's gonna get lost in the sauce. But you know that I'm still gonna call it out. Let's get to the A-aggressive play of the night. - And now it's time for the Insurance BileNet Play of the Night. Sponsored by InsuranceBileNet.com. It's an A-aggressive insurance agency. You can reach out to our friend Lynette at 954-581-8800. That's 954-581-8800. Or insurancebileNet.com. That's insurancebileNet.com. With two N's and two T's, your best play for auto insurance, homeowners insurance, condo insurance, life insurance, or a retirement program, reach out to Lynette@insurancebileNet.com. - So I'll give it to you with about three, 14 to go in the third quarter. Terry Rogier had a sick alley-oop to bam out of bio and traffic. I don't care if they lose or they win. That was the play that got me off my chair, out of my chair and cheering the loudest. So that's getting the A-aggressive insurance by Lynette Play of the Night. Shout out to that play in particular. And shout out to Terry Rogier. I feel like he's playing really good and finding his ways of Miami Heat player regardless of these losses. I think that this is gonna be, it's gonna bode well for the future. Not a ton else to say about this game. That's really beautiful. And we are gonna get to the injury report. We're not gonna do a long show with you guys. It's weird timing. Everybody is off with the time change. Major, your final overarching thoughts on tonight's loss. And let's talk about the end of the game specifically. Let's get into those final possessions, your thoughts on how the Heat handled the end of the game, the Jimmy Butler shot to win, your thoughts on how the Heat closed. - I mean, I think that was one of the few bright spots of the game was the end. Like the end is when they started like doing that, "Oh crap, I gotta play good." Like we might actually lose this. And they did what the Heat should do the whole game against the Wizards. I mean, Duncan gets a couple wide open threes that he makes most games and he missed them. The game's completely different. If he makes those. Did Jimmy Butler shot? I've said this numerous times before on Twitter and everywhere else. Like, is it the best shot? No. But do I like that he has the confidence in himself to keep taking it? I do. Like, I just think confidence long term. And, you know, people are like, "Oh, well, he should look at statistics. "He should do this." Like he never makes them at the end of games. But, you know, I'm just gonna somehow maybe in my mind, cope with it and say let's look at his confidence in the playoffs and, you know, his ridiculous performances in the playoffs. It's that same thing, that irrational confidence that we have no evidence for to do it. But he's like, "No, I'm gonna make it." So I think they're kind of connected. So I just live with it and it is what it is. What I've liked him to grab the rebound and just go straight into the paint. And maybe he gets a foul call. He's good finisher through contact. So even if he doesn't get the contact or even just grab the ball and shoot it from the free throw line, those are probably the best basketball plays. But I mean, we know Butler and the Heat don't want overtime. That's pretty evident with how they play late-game situations. They always hunt for a three. So maybe that played into it as well. - I think you're right. And I think Spolstra would say he'd live and die with what Jimmy Butler decides as well. But Sean, I didn't love the shot particularly. What were your thoughts on that final possession? And just all of that as they went down the stretch 'cause they did come back. So, I mean, we should give them credit there. It was an unorthodox way of doing so. But then your final thoughts on the possession and the game itself. - Yeah, we were having discussion in the discord off the floor if you're not joining that. It's $2.99 a month. It's in all of our Twitter handles. You can check it. It's pinned to the top of the five reasons, sports page. Before the defensive stop where Kuzma got the offensive foul, I said I would not call a timeout, which Spol did not, which I think is the right play because one Washington is a horrible defensive team. So don't even give them the chance to get anything set up. Yes, it was a dead ball. I wish it was a live ball rebound or a turnover that makes it really problematic. The shot by Duncan, I don't like. He wasn't that on tonight. - You're right. - And side step three. I will just say this 'cause I know we wanna keep it short. If that was a different person taking that shot, the conversation would be different. - True. - We know what we're talking about because that's a shot that he likes to take too. And that was not in transition. That was not the shot we needed. And we still got the offensive rebound. And in that moment, do you want Jimmy to drive in there and put his head down and try to get a foul? I would say yes, but I think rewind, get the ball to someone else that can get downhill. And then you spray it out to Duncan. I'll live with the three. But just, I didn't like the way that it came out. And I'm saying that, even saying I would not have caught a timeout, even looking back at it now, I live with the result of that. It's just disappointing. You shouldn't have been in that spot basically. And the longer he kept saying it, Kratty kept saying it. The longer you let those teams stick around, they just build confidence. And then you could see at the end, they started hitting threes and it was like, what can you do? The Heat came in thinking that this team would roll over and that they would be gifted this game. And that's a bunch of bullshit. They can't play like that. They're not that good. And Parity is alive and well. And now, any night, y'all know how these NBA players can get going. And you saw it tonight. The Heat have to step up. This was an unexcusable loss. Let's go to the Eric Rubenstein injury report. And then we'll wrap this one. And now it's time for the official five on the floor injury report sponsored by our friend, Eric Rubenstein, the personal injury attorney. Born, raised in Lauderdale, Florida, lives in Miami, went to St. Thomas. He's a South Florida guy and a huge Miami Heat fan. But the important thing is he can help you get your money that you deserve when something happens to you. So reach out to our guy, Eric Rubenstein, again, Eric Rubenstein.com or ask about me. I got you on Instagram. And now the injury report. - So the injury report is pretty simple. We're still waiting for Kevin Love and Tyler Hero to return. They have not, they're not back yet. We don't expect him against Denver. We thought that they'd be back at least one of the two by Denver. So things are getting weird on Tyler front. I think the fact that things are quiet there is not a great thing. But I don't want to speculate. I just, I know typically when things are vague like that, it could be that there's a pain tolerance issue. We'll see. I don't want to speculate too far, but they got to get him back on the court. So that's what worries me is just we're getting so close to the regular season and it's a weird time to mess around like that. So hopefully they'll have him back on the court soon. I have no further thoughts in this game other than I do think that it is a plus that Bamada Bio shot seven to 14. The free throw shooting was still not there. Terry Roger continues to look a little more comfortable. Nico Yovitch in his minutes did have some solid play as well. So there are some things to take from this game, but I don't want to be overly positive. This was a game that they had to have. And when you look back on the schedule, if they're starting in the play in instead of the top six, it'll be because of a game like this. If they're starting in the five seed and not the four, it could be a game like this. We just don't know. I appreciate the time Sean major. We appreciate our sponsors. We will have you covered the rest of this week for all the other games. And thank you very much for joining us. We appreciate the love on playback as well. Thank you for listening to the five on the floor on the fibers and sports network. After all, someone needs to listen to my dad. Bet MGM has an unreal deal for sports fans in Colorado. Turn $5 into $150 instantly when you place your first wager at Bet MGM. Simply download the Bet MGM app and sign up using code mountains150. Then place a $5 wager on any sport. You'll receive $150 in bonus bets, regardless of your wager's outcome. And if you think the fun stops there, the king of sports books has plenty of surprises in store. Check out daily promotions, same game parlays, live bets, and so much more. No matter your team or your sport, Bet MGM is for you. 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