Further WRT Miami: I think teams will adjust. I won't be shocked if Miami makes the playoffs and goes far, but I think teams will look at what has been happening and make corrections, just as they did with Pirlo in 2015. He looked unstoppable for 4-5 games and then suddenly not so much. I know Messi is another level (or three) but some of the play against has been ridiculous. Miami's fourth goal last night involved a Miami fast break where all three defenders chased Messi and he made n absurdly open and easy pass to Taylor. It was U8 level defending, but everyone is in the "OMG it's Messi what do we do?!" stage. They are also giving Bousquets too much room to work, which is the same mistake teams made with Pirlo when he first came in. MLS defenders adapted simply by closing in on Pirlo immediately every time he received the ball. It won't be this easy all the time.
Miami needs 26 out of 36 possible points to get to 44, which may or may not be enough. Miami actually has had a slightly harder schedule than NYC so far, but their remaining is not as easy as NYC. Even split of 6H 6A. They play Away games at LAFC and Atlanta, plus surprisingly-tough-at-home Chicago. DC had an amazing run to the playoffs after Rooney came, and Messi and Friends is a bigger upgrade than Wayne alone, but DC also had almost all home games because their stadium opened and they played almost all Away the first half of the season. I'm not even kidding about 1-1 against NYCFC. Since shutting down the set piece leakage, NYCFC defense is very solid.
Finally, if Miami powers through and wins the tournament, I expect a completely natural let down afterwards, and then they focus on a fresh start to try to win the league in 2024.
Again, I won't be shocked if Miami makes enough of a run to squeak into the playoffs, but I'd put the likelihood at least somewhat against.
