It appears the band might be getting back together after all. After months of hemming and hawing about if, when and whom their teams will play, all five FBS power conferences have committed to playing football this fall. All Group of 5 conferences might end up patching a schedule together too.

Now that we're looking at a reasonably full, if awkwardly timed, fall of college football, I have a chance to revisit one of my favorite pieces from last season ... and right a wrong of sorts.

Last year, I attempted to look at what I defined as the 25 most important players in the 2019 College Football Playoff chase. I defined the list as "an attempt to look into the future."

It was a fun, forward-facing exercise, and I almost perfectly stuck the landing. My two candidates for the No. 1 player on the list were Texas A&M's Kellen Mond and LSU's Joe Burrow. I chose the former, who had a disappointing fall. The pick was still justifiable since this list isn't a prediction of breakthroughs, but choosing the latter would have had me peacocking about the pick all offseason.

This year, I'm pretty confident in my No. 1 pick, I just don't know the guy's name yet. To the list!

Pure transcendence potential

We already know quite a bit about these guys, but they might have yet another gear.

25. OT Samuel Cosmi, Texas: New offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich's offense might require quarterback Sam Ehlinger to look downfield more and, at times, hang in the pocket more. In Cosmi, Ehlinger has a hell of a blindside protector who could become the best tackle in the country.

24. WR Jaylen Waddle, Alabama: He scored return touchdowns in Bama's two biggest games last year and already has over 1,400 receiving yards despite being the No. 4 passing option. Now, alongside DeVonta Smith, he's a go-to guy. Look out.

23. OLB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame: If the junior rover can top last year's rates -- a havoc play on every 34 snaps, a pass rush pressure rate over 22% -- the Irish defense has top-10 potential. It has looked great early this season, albeit against severely limited opposition (Duke, USF).

Other candidates for this category: Oklahoma State's Tylan Wallace (I listed him 24th last year) and Chuba Hubbard, Tennessee's Trey Smith, LSU's Jabril Cox, North Carolina's Sam Howell, Louisville's Tutu Atwell, Minnesota's Rashod Bateman (if he successfully opts back in), Oklahoma's Creed Humphrey, Oregon's Kayvon Thibodeaux.

The Next Chase Youngs

Here are some recent star defensive recruits who could transform their respective defenses with a huge breakthrough.

22. CB Andrew Booth Jr., Clemson: One could make the case for listing Mike Jones Jr. or Trenton Simpson -- the two players most directly attempting to fill Isaiah Simmons' shoes at nickel linebacker -- but we'll instead go with the guy filling A.J. Terrell's.

21. DT Taron Vincent, Ohio State: We're assuming a lot from OSU's great, recent recruiting classes. The Buckeyes need at least one new DE and one DT to come up big, and the secondary's got a lot of holes to fill. Players like Vincent and sophomore end Zach Harrison should help immensely with the latter need.

20. LB Palaie Gaoteote IV, USC: The Trojans' defense was flaky but ultra young last year, and 2019's sophomores are now 2020's juniors. The QB in the middle of Todd Orlando's remodeled unit is Gaoteote. If he thrives, so does the USC D.

19. OLB Will Anderson Jr., Alabama: Nick Saban signs approximately 113 blue-chip freshmen every year, but we've rarely heard more fall-camp raves about a guy than we've heard about this freshman from Hampton, Georgia, who's already listed as a starter.

18. CB Mykael Wright, Oregon: He thrived as Oregon's No. 3 corner last year with five passes defensed, two TFLs and 0.7 adjusted yards allowed per attempt in under 300 snaps. Now he's potentially No. 1.

17. DE Demarvin Leal, Texas A&M: The Aggies are basically a star pass-rusher away from a top-10 D, and after holding his own in the trenches as a true freshman, Leal could explode in 2020. He's a 290-pounder with the pass-rush potential of a 260-pounder.

16. DB Chris Adimora, Texas: He wasn't quite as much of a star recruit as others on this list, but it appears he has beaten out quite a few, and he's a potential Swiss Army knife for new coordinator Chris Ash's attack.

15. LB Owen Pappoe, Auburn: Speaking of Swiss Army knives, Pappoe had a pressure rate of 24% last year and allowed just 6.4 adjusted yards per attempt in primary pass coverage. He might be Auburn's best blitzer and best nickel coverage guy.

14. LB Brandon Smith, Penn State: With Micah Parsons' return still uncertain, Smith could find extra pressure to dominate as a sophomore. He looked awfully good in a reserve role last year, and if he's ready, Parsons' absence doesn't hurt as much.

Other candidates for this category: USC's Olaijah Griffin, Clemson's Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy.

Spoiler quarterbacks

Plenty of quarterbacks could pilot an upset that turns the title race, even if they (and their teams, probably) aren't quite strong enough to do it repeatedly.

13. QB KJ Costello, Mississippi State: Mike Leach's first MSU squad will feature an enormous receiving corps and former blue-chip quarterback who threw for 3,540 yards in a much different Stanford offense in 2018. This chemistry experiment won't produce a contender, but it could absolutely produce an upset or two.

12. QB Kenny Pickett, Pitt: Lots of names could have gone here, but we'll go with the guy who (A) gets shots at Clemson, Notre Dame and Miami and (B) has a defense so good he doesn't necessarily have to dominate to pull an upset. Pitt's an awfully interesting ACC sleeper.

Other candidates for this category: Tennessee's Jarrett Guarantano, Baylor's Charlie Brewer, Iowa State's Brock Purdy.

Key supporting cast members

These are either returning starters that have to take on bigger roles or new starters facing quite a bit of pressure to thrive immediately.

11. OT Jackson Carman, Clemson: Carman's numbers were decent last year (2.8% blown block rate on passes, 2.0% on rushes), but as the only returning starter on the Tigers' O-line, the former top-25 prospect has to both improve and provide leadership with a solid set of pass-rushing opponents on deck.

10. WR Trevon Grimes, Florida: Grimes is the only returning Florida wideout who caught more than 21 passes last year, and his per-target rates (10.7 yards per target, 67% success rate) suggest he could be ready for a senior-year leap.

9. WR Jalen Preston or Caleb Chapman, Texas A&M: The Aggies' offense stunk on passing downs last year, and no returning wideout caught more than three passes in 2019. Preston and Chapman are "veterans" as sophomores ... but they could be really good sophomores.

8. WR Terrace Marshall, LSU: The junior caught 13 touchdown passes last year and averaged 10 yards per target. But with both Justin Jefferson and Ja'Marr Chase gone, Marshall has huge standards to live up to as the new No. 1 guy.

Other candidates for this category: Miami's Mark Pope, Georgia's Zamir White and Demetris Robertson (No. 14 last year), Clemson's Joseph Ngata and/or Frank Ladson Jr., Texas' Jake Smith and/or Josh Moore.

It'd be really cool if he went Full Burrow

OK, that header sets an unfairly high bar, but this is for QBs who could clearly take another step forward ... and would completely transform their team's outlook if they did so.

7. QB Sean Clifford, Penn State: No. 5 on our list last year, Clifford was perfectly fine as a sophomore -- 17th in Total QBR, 2,654 yards -- but struggled mightily in PSU's two losses. It has been a while since a team won the national title with merely good QB play. Can new OC Kirk Ciarrocca unlock added potential?

Other candidates for this category: Alabama's Mac Jones, Notre Dame's Ian Book, Florida's Kyle Trask, Arizona State's Jayden Daniels, Wisconsin's Jack Coan, Nebraska's Adrian Martinez (No. 9 last year).

No pressure, new guy

These new starters need to play at a high level immediately.

6. QB Joe Milton, Michigan: With Dylan McCaffrey entering the transfer portal, it appears Milton's the guy in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines might be playing for 2021 in some ways, but the offense played at a high level late last year, and if Milton provides extra explosiveness, UM's expectations will change quickly.

5. QB Tyler Shough or Anthony Brown, Oregon: Shough drew raves in practice last year and was almost perfect in backup duty (12-for-15 with three touchdowns), and Brown piloted a unique, speedy, physical offense at BC. Whomever wins this job will have to push the Ducks toward an unbeaten record despite an overhauled line. Have fun with that.

4. QB Myles Brennan, LSU: Brennan's predecessor put together maybe the most impressive single-season passing performance in the sport's history last year. Almost anything he does will pale in comparison. But if he's ready for the spotlight, LSU still has top-five potential.

3. QB Spencer Rattler, Oklahoma: It's easy to assume great things of an OU quarterback, and Rattler certainly looked the part in Week 2. But he needs to keep looking great, especially with OU's defense still potentially in transition.

Other candidates for this category: Washington's Jacob Sirmon or Kevin Thomson.

Full Burrow + spoiler potential

A combination typically reserved for SEC West quarterbacks.

2. QB Bo Nix, Auburn: The Tigers mostly ended Oregon's national title hopes in Week 1 last year and officially ended Alabama's in the Iron Bowl. Nix was at the helm for both, but for Auburn to contend, Nix has to be far more consistent than he was in 2019, and must do so with a new offensive line. The defense will help, but he needs to make more plays. Can he?

Other candidates for this category: Texas A&M's Kellen Mond (No. 1 last year).

All of the above

A new starting QB who has the potential to wreck his opponents' title dreams and fulfill his own frustrated program's ambitions? Sounds like the most important player in college football to me.

1. QB JT Daniels or D'Wan Mathis, Georgia: Daniels was No. 8 on this list last year, when it looked as if he were getting tasked with saving Clay Helton's job at USC. He got hurt in the first game, however, and lost his job to sudden star Kedon Slovis. Now at Georgia, Daniels could be the guy to push the Dawgs out of last year's "all-world defense, terribly limited offense" imbalance. But first he has to be cleared for competition.

His ongoing recovery from injury has opened the door for Mathis, who spent 2019 on the sideline after having a cyst removed from his brain. Mathis has apparently impressed head coach Kirby Smart and new offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

It doesn't really matter who ends up starting here; it only matters that whomever it is thrives. Georgia will start 2020 with the most proven defense in college football, and while the offense could use another top skill-corps player, it still has a couple of proven linemen in receiver George Pickens, running backs Zamir White and James Cook and a new batch of blue-chippers. With great quarterback play, the Dawgs go from SEC East co-favorites to, potentially, national title co-favorites. Sounds like the QB of choice is the most important player in the country to me.

Week 4 playlist

Here are 10 Saturday games -- at least one from each time slot -- you should pay attention to if you want to get the absolute most out of the weekend, from both an information and entertainment perspective.

All times Eastern.

Early Saturday

No. 23 Kentucky at No. 8 Auburn (12 p.m., SEC Network): Maybe the most fascinating game of the weekend to me. It's Bo Nix's first opportunity to prove he has a leap in him, and it's Kentucky's first opportunity to show what lessons it has learned during the Great Lynn Bowden Jr. Experiment of 2019 and how it translates now that the Wildcats have an actual quarterback at quarterback again.

No. 24 Louisville at No. 21 Pitt (12 p.m., ACC Network): Per SP+, this pits the country's No. 13 offense (UL's) against the No. 2 defense (Pitt's). It's also a marquee opportunity for Pitt's Kenny Pickett to prove he can take advantage of what we'll politely call a defense that hasn't quite clicked yet.

No. 5 Florida at Ole Miss (12 p.m., ESPN): Our first look at both what Lane Kiffin can do with a high-potential Ole Miss offense and what Kyle Trask and his new receiving corps might be capable. Expect a Florida win, but how long Ole Miss hangs around might tell us something about the Gators' title potential.

Saturday afternoon

No. 22 Army at No. 14 Cincinnati (3:30 p.m., ESPN): Granted, the potential for a total wild card entering the CFP conversation is far diminished now that the Big Ten and Pac-12 have rejoined the party, but this one still has high stakes. It also pits one of the nation's more interesting and exciting defenses against a good old-fashioned triple-option attack.

Mississippi State at No. 6 LSU (3:30 p.m., CBS): I officially talked myself all the way back into LSU when writing about the Tigers for this week's SEC West preview. Now's our chance to finally find out what they have to offer. It's also a chance to see what Mike Leach does with an utterly enormous receiving corps.

West Virginia at No. 15 Oklahoma State (3:30 p.m., ABC): WVU is one of only three Big 12 teams that actually looked good in their respective first games, and now we find out if the Mountaineers are really second-year-leap candidates. We also get to find out how OSU's offense responds to a first-week dud performance.

Saturday evening

Florida State at No. 12 Miami (7:30 p.m., ABC): Miami has been the story of the young season, but the Hurricanes' offensive efficiency is still pretty questionable. Can FSU's defensive front frustrate the Canes enough to keep things close? Will FSU's own O-line (and QB) issues negate whatever good things its defense does?

No. 16 Tennessee at South Carolina (7:30 p.m., SEC Network): Easily the most tightly projected SEC game of the league's opening weekend, this will go a long way in determining whether Tennessee is worthy of top-25 hype. I'm guessing the Vols' D dominates a depleted SC offense, but the Gamecocks' defense is pretty good, too.

No. 2 Alabama at Missouri (7:00 p.m., ESPN): After a frustrating and humiliating 2019 campaign that saw it finish only (gasp) eighth in the AP poll, we get to find out what Alabama looks like. Is the front seven as dynamite as advertised? Is the offense humming against what should be a pretty solid Mizzou D?

Late Saturday

Troy at No. 18 BYU (10:15 p.m., ESPN): I enjoyed finding killer deep cuts to include in this list last year, but the opportunities for such a thing have been minimal so far. Maybe this one qualifies? BYU looked incredible in humiliating Navy in Week 1, and Troy thoroughly destroyed Middle Tennessee last week. Crushing unprepared competition can be fool's gold sometimes, but this one has lots of potential.

When I first saw the series of passes that led to this Goran Dragic dagger in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, two thoughts whipped through my brain:

No. 1: Why are the Boston Celtics trapping Jimmy Butler on this pick-and-roll with Bam Adebayo? Boston closed with its center-less Best Five lineup of Kemba Walker, Marcus Smart, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Gordon Hayward. You play such a lineup to switch every two-man action that doesn't involve Walker. Why not have Tatum and Hayward -- sturdy, like-size defenders -- switch here? Why let one of the best passing big men alive ease into a 4-on-3? Ducking under Butler ball screens -- something Boston is barely doing, though Miami sets up some such actions in ways that make going under difficult -- is preferable to this all-out blitz.

The Celtics played that lineup only five minutes in Game 4 after they went plus-13 in the seven minutes they deployed it in Game 3. They have had zero consistent answers for Adebayo running amok down the gut on the pick-and-roll. They have adjusted their coverages since Game 2, helping more from targeted places -- including some unconventional ones -- and even daring to lunge off of Duncan Robinson on the weak side when there is no better option. Nothing has worked for long.

I wonder if switching more might be their default response in Game 5. Stretching out this Best Five group would enable that. Daniel Theis, the odd man out in this group, managed well switching onto both Butler and Dragic late in Game 4; Boston might choose to amp up its switching even with Theis on the floor in more traditional lineups.

Alternatively, the Celtics have stashed Theis away from Adebayo, off to the side on a spot-up type -- Jae Crowder, perhaps Andre Iguodala. But sliding Theis there removes one hiding place for Walker. Boston has risked slotting Walker on Tyler Herro in an effort to keep him out of Miami's pick-and-roll game, and the Heat finally exploited that matchup with the right level of ruthlessness in Game 4. (Brad Stevens pivoted to Walker on Iguodala midway through the fourth quarter -- too late.)

No. 2: I've seen that same Iguodala pass in crunch time before -- that inside-out, twisting-in-midair, full-body touch pass-slash-heave from underneath the rim all the way out to the arc. That is such a tough pass. The speed with which Iguodala turns his body and releases the ball all in one motion indicates he knew what he was going to do -- what options were available, and which was best -- before he even touched the ball.

Iguodala is one of those spatial savants who sees everything a beat before everyone else. When he brings the ball up in transition, he sometimes hops mid-dribble, eyes wide and head tilting in a specific direction, begging a teammate to make some cut said teammate has not even registered as a possibility.

The cut might not unlock a shot for the cutter. That cutter might never even touch the ball. That cut might distort the next layer of defense in a way that opens up a shot for another teammate -- a progression of events only Iguodala sees.

Watch this clip from last season, in which Iguodala in full flight instructs Stephen Curry to veer toward the top of the 3-point arc because he knows that will draw the defense and free Alfonzo McKinnie for a layup. Iguodala points back at Curry after McKinnie's basket, acknowledging Curry's selfless act:

Iguodala in those moments vibrates with hyperactive impatience. He sees something you don't, and he really needs you to see it now.

He was probably primed to redirect the ball to Dragic the second Boston trapped Butler.

Turns out I had seen a very similar Iguodala pass in an even bigger postseason moment: the last minute of Game 5 of the NBA Finals in Toronto last June.

It's not precisely the same, but it's close. Iguodala jumps to meet Curry's pass in the air -- a method of getting more oomph on what is basically a long-distance inside-out touch pass to Draymond Green. You only jump like that if you know where you are going with the ball before it arrives.

"That's what Andre does," Klay Thompson told me after the game.

Iguodala was the headliner in Miami's deadline deal with the Memphis Grizzlies, but Crowder has turned into the more important player for the Heat so far. It has felt at times as if Iguodala never quite settled in with Miami after sitting out most of the season -- never made his imprint. He played 14 minutes combined over Games 2 and 3 of the conference finals.

Iguodala's impact can be easy to miss. He doesn't score much. It sometimes seems as if he finds scoring unseemly -- that he's almost disdainful of points and their obviousness. It's as if he wants his contributions to be harder to notice, lest he draw too much attention.

But his impact is always there -- quiet background noise. He's always doing something helpful. You know about his defense. (Iguodala is close now to yet another Finals clash with LeBron James -- a potential fifth head-to-head matchup between their respective teams in six seasons.) He spots transition opportunities, and runs the floor hard. When he doesn't have the ball, he stands in the right places -- and slides to more profitable ones when the defense isn't looking. Even when he passes up wide-open 3s, Iguodala turns those instances of frustrating non-aggression into positive next steps -- smart passes, a canny give-and-go, the handoff that becomes a screen, a running floater if the shot clock demands it.

The lineup with which Miami closed Game 4 -- Dragic, Herro, Butler, Iguodala, and Adebayo -- played zero minutes together in the regular season. It includes three minimal threats from 3-point range -- a lineup construction Spoelstra has mostly avoided.

It is now plus-23 in 42 postseason minutes, per NBA.com. Pristine spacing isn't everything, though it certainly helps against elite defenses. That lineup includes five high-IQ playmakers who all move well without the ball. Collective feel and smarts can compensate for an overall lack of shooting. That is Iguodala to a tee.

Miami going into Game 4 had begun to look like a six-man team -- their five starters, plus Herro. Spoelstra in Game 4 benched three regular reserves -- Kendrick Nunn, Kelly Olynyk, Derrick Jones Jr. -- and even unearthed Solomon Hill. Iguodala gave them a seventh man -- enough to eke out another win, one game closer to an improbable Finals return. If Miami advances, it will need this Iguodala -- the one for whom the Heat traded -- even more.

NBA schedule: Game 5, 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN and the ESPN App

DWYANE WADE SPENT just one season playing alongside Jimmy Butler in Chicago, but that was all that was needed to form a deep -- and familiar -- impression.

"He's a Heat guy," Wade later told Erik Spoelstra, the coach of Wade's longtime franchise, the Miami Heat.

Spoelstra probably didn't need the future Hall of Famer's recommendation -- he saw from afar that Butler and his famous work ethic would fit within the team's system -- but those entrenched in Heat culture know when a player is one of them.

"You know what's really cool about that?" Spoelstra asked a few days before Butler represented the Heat in this year's All-Star Game. "Jimmy's now talking like that. It's cool. Not even because he heard it from Dwyane or heard it from me -- it's just he's now in conversations [about other players], saying, 'Yeah, this guy's like us. This guy's one of us.'"

Those who thrive in Miami are always searching for the next wave of like-minded players who will do the same.

Wade watched Butler work in Chicago and believed he'd fit in Miami. Bam Adebayo saw the way Tyler Herro played at Kentucky and planted a seed with president Pat Riley to draft him. Butler worked out with Herro last summer and recognized the same approach in the 20-year-old rookie that he used to turn himself into a five-time All-Star.

"Man, you had to go through something," Miami lifer Udonis Haslem explained of the connection Heat players share. "You had to go through something in life that put a chip on your shoulder. And that's built grit inside you that you're willing to go through extreme circumstances to get where you're trying to go."

There's a loyalty within the Heat's culture that is rare in the NBA.

"Everyone thinks, 'Oh, it's so militaristic and hard-nosed,'" Heat big man Meyers Leonard said. "No, the Heat just want a level of professionalism ... but truly at heart it's loyal, caring people."

From owner Micky Arison, to Riley, to Spoelstra, to the players, to the staff members who have been with the franchise for decades, there's a familial quality to the Heat. It has been honed over the years through expectations of hard work and discipline.

But it's not always for everyone.

"We are who we are," Spoelstra said after a Game 3 win over the favored Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. "Some years we're a punchline, some years people say it's the wrong culture, but who cares? We're not making apologies for it."

-- Nick Friedell

MORE: How Miami got one win from the NBA Finals

'If you don't have the wherewithal, it will break you'

QUENTIN RICHARDSON HAD heard the stories about the Heat Way before he arrived in Miami for the 2009-10 season. And on day one at the Heat facility, before he formally met anyone in the organization, the training staff measured his weight and body fat percentage. He was then given a conditioning goal he would have to meet. The "or else" wasn't specifically defined, but the message was clear.

"It was real simple," Richardson recalled. "'I know you're new here, but this is how it goes. If you have any disagreements, Pat Riley has an open-door policy. You can take it to him.'"

Richardson was then ushered into Riley's office for a meet-and-greet, before being sent downstairs for a full workout, including multiple sets of wind sprints. When Richardson wasn't running that afternoon, he was throwing up.

Richardson promptly purchased a high-end scale for his bathroom, where he weighed himself every morning. There would be no surprises when he walked into the facility and was sent for a weight and body fat check. He'd go on to lose around 35 pounds in six weeks.

The individual fitness standards are just one facet of a Heat culture that demands a buttoned-up professionalism from its players. The organization exudes intensity, and those who find that vibe repressive or conformist should probably seek employment elsewhere.

"It was the first time in my career -- from top to bottom -- there was no back and forth," Richardson said. "You have to be cut from the cloth. If you don't have the wherewithal, it will break you. It will make you not like basketball."

When Richardson walked into the locker room before the first practice of training camp, two pairs of knee pads were resting at his locker. He told the trainer that he preferred not to wear them. The trainer told Richardson that knee pads were mandatory. Contact is so prevalent at Heat practices that players were often knocking knees. Rather than reduce the intensity, the team would just add protective gear, and Richardson should kindly choose between the lighter hex-pads or the pair with more cushion -- but he would choose one.

"The message is, 'You are preparing yourself for a war,'" said David Fizdale, who served as an assistant in Miami for eight seasons before head coaching stops with the Memphis Grizzlies and New York Knicks.

"Practices should be a war. Practices should be harder than the games."

Though Heat players aren't monks, a certain brand of moderation is practiced. On road trips, for example, a group of guys might set a plan when the team touches down. But whatever the itinerary that night, it will be informed by business.

"I know this is the only time we're going to hit this city, but this is a big game tomorrow," Richardson said of the discussions. "We're going to go out, and we might have a drink or two, chill a little bit, then turn it in early and be ready for tomorrow. We're not going to f--- up tomorrow for tonight."

"Practices should be a war. Practices should be harder than the games." Former Heat assistant coach David Fizdale

Richardson notes that for 25 years, the Heat have had leadership on the roster that set the tone, players such as Alonzo Mourning, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem who genuinely loved the structure, in large part because they believed it made them better players. The coaching staff generates goodwill by committing to the improvement of every player.

Richardson said that Miami was the first team he played for where every coach on staff, from Erik Spoelstra on down, worked with players on the floor. At the time, that role was often played by a developmental assistant.

The Heat Way, of course, was fashioned by Riley. His longevity as Heat president coupled with the enduring success of the franchise buys a lot of equity among players. It's difficult to challenge convention when you play for an organization in which just about every principle has been with the franchise for more than two decades. The Heat demand a lot because they can.

"They want the kind of guys," Fizdale said, "that want those expectations."

-- Kevin Arnovitz

'If you're here 10 years, you're still one of the new guys'

FOR YEARS, WORKING for the Heat has been semi-jokingly referred to in NBA circles as joining "La Familia."

While some of that comes from Pat Riley's legendary personality and impeccable Armani suits, it also stems from Miami operating like a family organization -- one that people join, and usually never leave.

Take the team's organizational flow chart:

• Owner Micky Arison's father, Ted, was the team's original owner when it entered the league in 1988.
• General manager Andy Elisburg has been with the franchise since 1988.
• Coach Erik Spoelstra joined the team as a video coordinator just before Riley arrived in 1995.
• Spoelstra's intern in the video room that year, Adam Simon, is now Miami's assistant general manager.
• Tim Donovan, the team's head PR man, came with Riley from New York.
• Chet Kammerer, a senior basketball advisor, has worked for the team since 1996.

The list goes on. The defining characteristic of the Heat organization -- beyond its success over the past quarter-century, including three NBA titles -- is how many of its employees have put down roots in a profession where that is unheard of.

As a member of the organization joked recently, "If you're here 10 years, you're still one of the new guys."

In a cutthroat world of wins and losses, even the best NBA coaches, scouts and executives change teams several times over the course of their careers. There are even some teams -- most notably the San Antonio Spurs under coach Gregg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford -- known for developing talent that other teams eventually hire away.

Since Riley chose to leave the New York Knicks and decamp to Miami in 1995, though, the Heat have become one of the most stable organizations in the NBA.

But that stability also plays a part in how the Heat go about their business. Teams in the NBA often fall prey to the whims of the moment, trying to chase short-term success to preserve their jobs. That doesn't happen in Miami, save a spending splurge on their own free agents in the summer of 2017 that looked as if it could hamper the team going forward.

Instead, the Heat are one win from the NBA Finals three years later, with institutional knowledge -- and the Heat lifers who possess it -- playing no small part.

-- Tim Bontemps

UD is the OG of Heat culture

DURING THE PLAYOFFS in 1999, Pat Riley once said, "You've got to want to win as much as you want to breathe."

Moments later, inside the Miami Heat locker room, Riley dunked his head in a bucket of water for what seemed like an eternity.

As those witnessing became concerned, Riley eventually came up for air and roared, "Until your last breath!"

Ask anyone around the organization, over the past 17 years of Miami Heat basketball, no player embodies that mantra in the locker room more than Udonis Haslem, an OG of Heat culture.

Haslem, born and raised in Miami-Dade County, has spent 17 years with the franchise as an undrafted gem in 2003. The three-time champion's impact on the franchise continues to be immeasurable.

And it almost never happened.

"The Heat didn't offer me a deal after summer league," Haslem said. "I went to play for the Spurs' summer league team and they offered me a one-year deal. When the Heat found that out, they decided to offer me a two-year deal.

"I was on my way to Pop. A lot of people don't know that."

Haslem became a major contributor in some deep postseason runs, going for 17 points, 10 rebounds and 2 steals in a Game 6 closeout versus the Dallas Mavericks in the 2006 NBA Finals.

Dwyane Wade convinced LeBron James and Chris Bosh to take pay cuts in the summer of 2010 just to keep Haslem on the roster. He made good on their faith in him by gutting out a key win -- on a busted left foot that had derailed most of his season -- in Game 2 of the 2011 Eastern Conference finals against the Chicago Bulls.

"I was on my way to Pop. A lot of people don't know that."

Heat forward Udonis Haslem

"I always wanted to be there for those guys, because they took a chance on me," Haslem said. "Back then nobody was taking pay cuts. So, I always wanted to make good on that for those guys."

Now, he takes his duties as mentor as seriously as when he used to have to guard Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki in the NBA Finals.

"As a captain, I had to learn these guys," Haslem said. "There is a whole generational difference here. So, being able to motivate these guys, comes from learning and hanging out with them."

Since 2015, Haslem has started only 27 games, but he's like an extra coach in the huddle. "Practices are my games," he told The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears last week.

And you'd be hard-pressed to find a person in the organization more widely respected.

"[Haslem] represents everything that Miami is," said South Carolina men's basketball head coach Frank Martin, a Miami native who coached Haslem in high school. "An underdog, hard-working, overachieving person that has always overcome others' opinions in his relentless effort to find success."

-- Jorge Sedano

1995: The year Micky Arison turned up the Heat

A FEW DAYS after arriving for the Orlando bubble and looking for any way to make the environment feel something like home, Miami Heat staffers started putting a cardboard cutout of owner Micky Arison courtside during the team's practices.

For years, Arison, now 71, had made it a habit, when his schedule allows, to attend practices and sit quietly alongside his son Nick, the team CEO, as well as general manager Andy Elisburg and president Pat Riley. They all got the cardboard cutout treatment in Orlando.

Both symbolically and literally, the Heat's leadership is there every day and aligned in a supportive role.

Brutal training camp practices, Arison is there. Midseason light walkthroughs, Arison has been there. Dramatic Finals wins or heartbreaking defeats, Arison was there the next morning with his deep tan, long flowing gray hair and laid-back personality as disarming as any billionaire you'll ever meet.

Needless to say, this is an unusual scenario in any American workplace, much less the NBA, which is often gripped with paranoia, intrateam drama and old-fashioned backstabbing. While it's a basic act, in some ways it defines the way Arison has run his team for the past 25 years that has led to repeated success and the moniker "Heat culture."

In 1995, Arison fought two fierce battles. The first was with two shareholders of the original Heat expansion franchise. Though Arison's father, Ted, owned the largest stake in the team, when it was founded in 1988, the family didn't have operational control. And in the first seven years of the team's history, it had one winning season -- at 42-40 -- in 1993-94.

Arison, a permanent fixture in front-row seats, became frustrated in the struggles. The relationship with the partners soured and then went toxic, leading to threats, lawsuits and more infighting. After months of back-and-forth and hurt feelings, Arison finally struck a deal to buy out the other partners and emerge as the controlling owner with more than 80% of the team.

Two days after he closed the deal, also firing the head coach and installing a new GM, Pat Riley came to town. In a highly unusual move, Arison asked Riley, then the New York Knicks' star coach whom he'd never met, if he could watch him run the Knicks' off-day practice.

Naturally, Riley rejected the request, but the message was sent: Arison had a strong affinity for the coach.

Later that year, after Riley's attempts to get a contract extension from the Knicks that included ownership shares failed, he resigned as head coach with a season left on his deal.

Within weeks, the Knicks had filed a tampering charge against Arison for going after Riley to be coach and run the front office. New York's proof was a memo allegedly created by Riley's attorneys with 14 contract requests from the Heat days before he'd actually resigned. The asks reportedly ranged from a five-year, $15 million salary to ownership shares to Arison buying Riley's homes in Los Angeles and suburban New York.

Arison accused one of his former ownership partners with leaking information to the Knicks and helping their case. For almost three months, there was a standoff between the teams with then-NBA commissioner David Stern both holding a hearing on the tampering charge and trying to broker a deal through intense acrimony.

When it was over, Arison had won again. He agreed to pay the Knicks $1 million in cash plus a top-five protected first-round pick to get Riley out of his contract. Riley got his long-term deal and equity in the Heat, one of the greatest deals ever landed by an NBA executive. And, as it turned out, one of the greatest deals ever made by an NBA owner.

After those two battles, Arison has faded to the background on basketball decisions and let Riley work. He never again had to hire a coach -- Riley promoted assistants Stan Van Gundy and then Erik Spoelstra -- and reaped the rewards.

Within two years, the Heat were a 60-win team and in the conference finals in 1997. In the 25 years since he grabbed the team and made the sweeping move to land Riley, the Heat have made 19 playoff appearances, five Finals and won three titles. The franchise's value has soared, at Forbes' last projection, to $1.95 billion.

The Heat's banners are there because of Riley, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Shaquille O'Neal, Chris Bosh and, who knows, maybe Jimmy Butler.

But the Heat's success stems from Arison, and he quietly reminds everyone of it every day.

-- Brian Windhorst

The number of fans allowed into the French Open has been cut to 1,000 per day after new coronavirus restrictions were imposed by the French government.

The clay-court Grand Slam, which starts on Sunday, had originally been set to welcome around 11,500 fans each day before that number was cut to 5,000 last week amid rising Covid-19 cases.

The event is usually in May-June but was postponed because of the pandemic.

Around 35,000 fans usually attend Roland Garros - a 12-hectare site with 16 courts - every day in the first week.

The new restrictions mean there will be a daily draw to decide which ticket holders are allowed in.

Those who are not selected will be refunded and given priority access to tickets for the 2021 event.

"From the very outset of the public health crisis that our country is experiencing, the French Tennis Federation has consistently worked closely with government departments, to determine how to organise the tournament in the current situation," said the organisers.

"It deeply regrets these new restrictions."

Spanish great Rafael Nadal will be seeking a record-extending 13th French Open singles title, which would also bring him level with Switzerland's Roger Federer on 20 Grand Slam singles titles.

The recent US Open was held behind closed doors in New York.

In Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, the Tampa Bay Lightning's scoresheet had enough star power to unofficially qualify as its own galaxy.

Among the goal scorers were winger Nikita Kucherov, last season's MVP; center Brayden Point, second to Kucherov in playoff scoring; and defenseman Victor Hedman, who had his fourth straight Norris Trophy nomination this season. Even Steven Stamkos, the center playing in his first game since February, scored a goal in less than three minutes of ice time.

The wattage was much different for the Dallas Stars in the 5-2 loss, which dropped them into a 2-1 series hole. No points for captain Jamie Benn for the third straight game. No points for Tyler Seguin, who has just one assist since Game 5 of the Stars' conference semifinal win over the Colorado Avalanche, a span of 12 games. No points and two costly penalties for Alexander Radulov, snapping a five-game points streak.

That trio comprises the Stars' top offensive line, one that has generated 12 goals in 23 games at 5-on-5 and has earned 52.7% of the scoring chances vs. opponents this postseason. For three rounds, when united, they were quite good. But as the Lightning's top players are carrying Tampa Bay to within reach of the Stanley Cup, the Stars' top line has been absent this series.

"They have to figure this out. It's as simple as that," Stars coach Rick Bowness said after Game 3.

He liked some of what he saw in that game. The line showed signs of life early in the first period. "Most of it's based on, 'are they creating offense?' They did a pretty good job of doing that last night. Pucks just didn't go in," Bowness said. "But do we need more from our top guys? Every team does."

The Benn, Seguin and Radulov line hasn't been on the plus side of the possession game for four straight games, tracking back to the Western Conference finals against Vegas. They're a minus-7 in shots on goal against Tampa. After a strong first game of the series, a 4-1 Dallas victory, their expected goals percentage in Game 2 (23.4%) and Game 3 (27.8%) were among the worst on the Stars at even strength.

The Lightning have gotten the better of the 5-on-5 play since coming alive in the third period of Game 1. Defensively, Tampa has been in quite a groove, having given up two or fewer goals in 10 of their past 12 postseason games. Their formula is simple: Great goaltending, puck possession with a crushing forecheck, and working quickly to rid their own zone of danger.

"They've broken the puck out of the zone against us at times to stop some of our momentum," Dallas forward Joe Pavelski said.

The Stars haven't found room to operate on the power play, either. That unit is 1-for-11 in the series, while Tampa's is 3-for-11.

"Special teams are always important. They've been huge for us on this run that we've been on," said Pavelski, who said the frequency of the Stars' penalties is what is fueling the Lightning's offensive buoyancy. "It's when you give them three on a row, back-to-back-to-back, and they start feeling it and figuring it out a little bit. They've gotten some confidence from it."

The Stars' top line hasn't had a chance to build on power-play momentum, or really build on anything thanks to a very good checking unit for the Lightning. The line of center Yanni Gourde, flanked by wingers Barclay Goodrow and Blake Coleman, has been one of the most frustrating defensive lines in the playoffs, and has been matched against the Stars' top trio much of this series. With the last change in Game 3, Bowness tried hard to get them away from the Gourde line; one imagines he'll attempt the same in Game 4.

"I think our line, no matter which line we're playing against, we like to play the same way," Goodrow said. "We generate from the forecheck. We like to get pucks in deep. We're a pretty physical line that likes to take away the other team's time and space by getting on the body. It doesn't matter what line we're playing against, we're going to play the same way. If it happens to be against the other team's top line, that means we take even more pride in shutting them down."

Factor in frequent appearances by Hedman against the trio and the stellar play of goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy, and the Stars' top players have been erased.

Coach Jon Cooper said the Lightning aren't just laser-focused on stopping one line. "We're not sitting here saying 'just focus on this line.' It's not the way it works. We're focused on their team. If some guys aren't scoring, hopefully it's because we have a team effort," he said. "Every game, as you move forward, you look at your opponent and you try to make sure they're not going to have success. To be honest, we really focus on ourselves and how we need to play, and hopefully the opponent is the one making adjustments."

It also helps that the Lightning are confident that their lines can get the defensive job done.

"We have a deep team. Everybody can check," Cooper said.

How can the Stars' top line break through and be a series-turning factor? Avoiding the penalty box is paramount, so they can maintain a rhythm at 5-on-5.

"[Radulov] takes those two penalties last night, that disrupts the lines for a while, too," Bowness said.

Spending less time in their defensive zone also would help. They generated just seven unblocked shot attempts in Games 2 and 3 while allowing 16 to the Lightning. They were outshot 13-5.

But the real question is what shape they're in, and that's where the focus turns to Seguin. The Stars' leading scorer in the regular season with 50 points in 69 games (0.72 points per game) is now at eight points in 23 games (0.35).

Some have argued that moving Benn and Radulov away from Seguin could be the best move for Dallas. Breaking up the "top guys" is something Bowness has considered, having done so in the regular season.

"It depends on how the game is going and how they're going," he said. "They've been together a lot for the last couple of years. They weren't having a lot of success early in the year, so we split them up. It just gives us flexibility to move those guys around."

The Lightning's stars are shining. The Stars' top line has gone cold. With back-to-back Games 4 and 5 on Friday and Saturday, it could be the last stand for Dallas. Whether it's Seguin, Benn and Radulov or someone else, Pavelski said a difference-maker needs to step up.

"There's another level for us," he said. "Bottom line, it's gotta come from someone."

Steven Stamkos made his long-awaited postseason debut for the Tampa Bay Lightning in Wednesday's Game 3 win. It was a triumphant return for the captain, but also painstakingly short; could it be the last we see of him this summer?

Meanwhile, the Dallas Stars look to even up the Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece, and they need their biggest stars to step up -- and, once again, to stay out of the penalty box.

Check out ESPN NHL Playoffs Today every day of the postseason until the Stanley Cup is handed out.

More: What each eliminated team should prioritize this offseason to get better.

Today's game

Game 4: Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Dallas Stars (TB leads 2-1) | 8 p.m.

On Thursday, Dallas coach Rick Bowness repeatedly had to answer questions about his big three -- Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov -- and their lack of production so far in this series. The trio has combined for zero goals and three assists (all of which came from Radulov).

"Do we need more from the top guys?" Bowness said. "Every team does. We're hoping that's coming, but until it does, if it does, then we're going to keep battling. We're going to stay in games, and give ourselves a good chance to win based on team play and everyone contributing at different times. That's why we're here. We made it here by committee, by team play and we're going to keep the focus on that."

The Lightning are playing coy about Stamkos' status yet again -- a trend that probably will continue for the rest of the series.

Question of the day: Will we see Ben Bishop over the weekend?

Stamkos isn't the only injured star player in this series. Ben Bishop's absence hasn't loomed too large, as Anton Khudobin has filled in quite competently. However, with a back-to-back set on the schedule for Games 4 and 5, it's feasible that the Stars might sit Khudobin for one of those matches.

Let's just say 26-year-old Andrei Vasilevskiy is much more likely to start both games than is the 34-year-old Khudobin.

Jake Oettinger has been Khudobin's primary backup -- and even got third-period action in Game 3 after Khudobin was pulled -- but the 21-year-old had zero NHL experience entering this summer. Bishop, who rushed himself back from injury in a disastrous appearance against Colorado, hasn't played since Aug. 31.

Bishop is still unfit to play as of Thursday, but on Wednesday -- the first day reporters were allowed to observe a Stars morning skate -- Bishop appeared to be a full participant on the ice. How rich of a storyline would it be if Bishop got a chance to help save the series for the Stars, against his former team no less?

Let the intrigue build!

Quote of the day

"Tight-knit is an understatement. This group, they'd lay in traffic for each other, and that's what I've seen grow during this playoffs and probably a reason why we're having some success." --Tampa Bay coach Jon Cooper on how his group has grown closer in the bubble.

Three players to watch in Game 4

Miro Heiskanen, D, Dallas Stars

He's still probably the Stars' Conn Smythe front-runner, and needs just one point to become the sixth defenseman in NHL playoff history to score 25 points in a single postseason. He would join the likes of Paul Coffey, Brian Leetch, Al MacInnis, Ray Bourque and Denis Potvin, all of whom are all Hall of Famers.

Steven Stamkos, F, Tampa Bay Lightning

Plain and simple: Does he play, and how much? Stamkos took only five shifts in his first game back before running into an "issue" and being relegated to the bench. Jon Cooper has said he doesn't believe in having players in the lineup for "specialized" or limited roles, such as only on the power play. So if he's a go, he's a full go.

Mikhail Sergachev, D, Tampa Bay Lightning

The 22-year-old is quietly having a terrific postseason. "I can't sit here and say there's a ceiling with Sergachev because I don't know if there is one," Cooper said. "I've had the pleasure of watching Victor [Hedman] grow the last eight years and there are a lot of similarities on how they started their careers and where they're going." That's hefty praise.

Social post of the day

Boom, roasted. pic.twitter.com/pHb0a1YAKL

— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) September 24, 2020

Happy second birthday to everyone's favorite orange fuzzy friend! He's not in the bubble, but this is definitely still the NHL fit of the day.

Tottenham Hotspur have been given a bye to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup where they will face Chelsea, the EFL announced on Friday.

Spurs' third-round tie with Leyton Orient was postponed due to a high number of positive COVID-19 cases for the League One side.

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"In accordance with Carabao Cup Rules, Tottenham Hotspur have been awarded with a bye to progress to Round Four of the Carabao Cup and will now play Chelsea on Tuesday, Sept. 29," an EFL statement read.

"The Round Three tie scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 22 between Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur could not take place following the issue by Waltham Forest Borough Council of an order preventing the match being played as planned. This followed a number of Leyton Orient players testing positive for COVID-19.

"The EFL Board has determined that in line with Carabao Cup Rule 5.1, the club was unable to fulfil its obligations to complete the fixture by virtue of the Council's order and shall therefore forfeit the tie."

Chelsea reached the fourth round after a 6-0 win over Barnsley, which included a hat trick for new signing Kai Havertz.

Lionel Messi has launched another scathing attack against Barcelona's board, accusing them of disrespecting Luis Suarez and effectively kicking him out of the club.

Suarez, 33, had said he wanted to stay at Barca this season, even if it meant taking on a backup role, but eventually agreed to leave after being told by new coach Ronald Koeman he was not part of his plans.

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Barca announced on Wednesday they had agreed on a deal to transfer him to La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid, removing Messi's best friend from the dressing room in the process and further isolating their star player.

"It will be strange to see you in another shirt and even stranger to play against you," Messi wrote on Instagram on Friday, a day after he bid farewell to Suarez in an event at Camp Nou.

"You deserved to depart for who you are: one of the most important players in the club's history, winning things as part of a group and individually. Not for them to kick you out as they have done. But the truth is nothing surprises me anymore."

Messi's comments are further evidence of the relationship breakdown between the forward and president Josep Maria Bartomeu, which led him to try to quit the club in August.

Messi decided to stay and said he did not want to take the club he loves to court over a clause in his contract his legal team believed meant he could leave for free.

However, several of Messi's closest allies at the club have left, including Suarez and Arturo Vidal.

"How hard it'll be not to share each day with you, both on and off the pitch," Messi added on Instagram.

"We're going to miss you so much. So many years, so many mates [a South American caffeine-based drink], dinners... So many things that will never be forgotten, every day together. I wish you all the best in this new challenge."

Neymar, who played alongside Messi and Suarez at Barcelona for three seasons and won the Treble with them in 2014-15, commented on the post: "It's unbelievable how they do things."

Messi first aired his grievances with those running the club when he took to Instagram in February to call out former sporting director Eric Abidal, who had blamed the players for ex-coach Ernesto Valverde's dismissal.

During the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Messi and his teammates complained of leaks at the club as they negotiated a pay cut to help Barca cope with the effects of the pandemic.

Finally, after failing to engineer a departure this summer, Messi was critical of Bartomeu and the board in an interview with Goal earlier this month when he announced he would be remaining at Camp Nou until at least 2021, when his existing contract expires.

The Argentina international accused Bartomeu of lying to him and said it had been years since the club had a proper project, saying they were "juggling things and plugging holes as things go by."

Lionel Messi has launched another scathing attack against Barcelona's board, accusing them of disrespecting Luis Suarez and effectively kicking him out of the club.

Suarez, 33, had said he wanted to stay at Barca this season, even if it meant taking on a backup role, but eventually agreed to leave after being told by new coach Ronald Koeman he was not part of his plans.

- Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)
- Lowe: Messi gearing up for "Last Dance" with Barca
- Inside story: How it went wrong for Messi at Barca

Barca announced on Wednesday they had agreed on a deal to transfer him to La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid, removing Messi's best friend from the dressing room in the process and further isolating their star player.

"It will be strange to see you in another shirt and even stranger to play against you," Messi wrote on Instagram on Friday, a day after he bid farewell to Suarez in an event at Camp Nou.

"You deserved to depart for who you are: one of the most important players in the club's history, winning things as part of a group and individually. Not for them to kick you out as they have done. But the truth is nothing surprises me anymore."

Messi's comments are further evidence of the relationship breakdown between the forward and president Josep Maria Bartomeu, which led him to try to quit the club in August.

Messi decided to stay and said he did not want to take the club he loves to court over a clause in his contract his legal team believed meant he could leave for free.

However, several of Messi's closest allies at the club have left, including Suarez and Arturo Vidal.

"How hard it'll be not to share each day with you, both on and off the pitch," Messi added on Instagram.

"We're going to miss you so much. So many years, so many mates [a South American caffeine-based drink], dinners... So many things that will never be forgotten, every day together. I wish you all the best in this new challenge."

Neymar, who played alongside Messi and Suarez at Barcelona for three seasons and won the Treble with them in 2014-15, commented on the post: "It's unbelievable how they do things."

Messi first aired his grievances with those running the club when he took to Instagram in February to call out former sporting director Eric Abidal, who had blamed the players for ex-coach Ernesto Valverde's dismissal.

During the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Messi and his teammates complained of leaks at the club as they negotiated a pay cut to help Barca cope with the effects of the pandemic.

Finally, after failing to engineer a departure this summer, Messi was critical of Bartomeu and the board in an interview with Goal earlier this month when he announced he would be remaining at Camp Nou until at least 2021, when his existing contract expires.

The Argentina international accused Bartomeu of lying to him and said it had been years since the club had a proper project, saying they were "juggling things and plugging holes as things go by."