Sports News

PHILADELPHIA – James Harden did not score 100 points, but scored enough to repel the annoying Knicks on Wednesday at the festive Wells Fargo Center.

In a bid to ruin the big old 76ers game that Harden met in Philly for his first home game, the Knicks led by 16 points in the first half before dropping 38-3 in the third quarter, the Achilles’ heel of their season.

It felt like a playoff atmosphere, but the Knicks didn’t seem to be going to the playoffs. Harden scored 26 points, nine assists and nine rebounds after the Slip Knicks took another double-digit lead in the 123-108 defeat.

Coach Tom Thibodeut then said he was more “concerned” with the defense than the attack, and Julius Randall repeated to the coach in long jealousy that the club had lost its defensive identity last season. The Knicks have dropped out six in a row and are 3-16 in their last 19 races.

“I just think we have to fight in defense,” Randall said. “The coach had to announce a time-out in the first minutes of the second half because we didn’t fight hard enough. It starts with us. We do not stop at critical moments. The teams start running.

“When you look at who we were last year, we were the best defensive team in the league and we were proud to stop at critical moments,” Randall added. “We will order three or four stops in a row. One of the things the coaching staff shows us after matches is how many times we have had three consecutive stops. We are not doing enough. “

James Harden, who has 26 points and nine assists, made a pass during the Knicks’ 123-108 loss to the 76ers. Getty Images

It was also a night to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point stage when he defeated the Knicks in Hershey, Pennsylvania, as the Philadelphia Warrior.

The NBA deliberately plans this match to coincide with the anniversary. It was branded “Wilt Night” – but it was “Knicks Night” only in the first half.

As they did 60 years ago, the Knicks lost to Philly, this time although Randall (24) and RJ Barrett (30 and seven assists) combined for 54 points. However, Randall has scored just 12 points in the last three periods since the first quarter with 12 points.

Their record fell to 25-37 when the Knicks finished their first of seven consecutive road races. With the remaining 20 games, the Knicks season is over.

On Sunday, Evan Fournier said the club was playing without confidence in the fourth quarter. Randall disagreed.

Julius Randall, who scored 24 points, fell into the basket during the Knicks’ loss to the 76ers. Getty Images

“Personally not, but I think as a team there may be a lack of confidence in general,” Randall said. “When you start losing a few in a row, it kills the team spirit. Personally, I might do something to inspire our game, to give words of encouragement. But this is a really difficult league. That is why victory is so precious. We need to find a way to get it. “

Asked specifically if team spirit was declining, Randall said: “I’m the type of man with a half cup. I know you’re half empty, but I’m half full. “

However, the Knicks played only half a game.

The “beard” roared from the tunnel to applause during the intro before the game, after which Sixers fans applauded Harden every time the former Net touched the ball in the first minutes.

At the last minute, he waved to the audience to applaud even more when they increased the lead to 16 points, and the public call system made a loud “Bing Bong” sound to mock the Knicks mantra.

Harden had a lot of help from his new friends from Phil, as center Joel Embiid (27 points), rising former Kentucky guard Tyris Maxi (25 points) and Tobias Harris from Long Island (14 points) were too much for the incredible Knicks lineup. without security point.

The Knicks had just 20 assists and are last in the league in midfield, but Thibodeau has not been moved to make a change with Alec Burks as starter and Immanuel Quickley as reserve.

“It’s the best we have, so we’re doing it and they’re capable,” Thibodeau said.

Indeed, it was a real stench for the Fournier shooting guard, who can’t stand anything this season. After scoring 24 against Philly on Sunday, he collected just three points (1 of 8, 0-for-5 of 3) and remained on the bench in the fourth quarter.

“We conceded 68 points in the second half,” said Thibodeau. “We have to find a way to win. We do some good things – we don’t do enough to win. “

The Green Bay Packers desperately needed to win special teams after a stunning loss in the playoffs, and the chance to hire one of the best NFL coordinators provided the perfect opportunity.

Coach Matt Lafleur is rightly excited that Rich Bisacha will be the new coordinator of the Packers’ special teams in 2022.

“We are really happy to have a man of this caliber,” LaFleur told the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday. “I think if you ask the coaches in the league, he is considered one of the best in business. Every time you can get such a person, it is a great victory for us. In the end, we all have to go out there and introduce ourselves. But only in terms of the presence it brings, and the experience it brings, and the leadership it brings, will it really benefit us.

Bisaccia, who was the Raiders’ interim head coach in 12 games last season, has 20 years of experience as a special team coordinator at Green Bay. He has been an assistant or assistant head coach for 11 seasons.

LaFleur said that Bisaccia has “proven experience” and his opinion is that Bisaccia should still be the head coach of the NFL. In Green Bay, Bisacha will have the chance to stabilize the third phase for a team with aspirations for the Super Bowl.

LaFleur believes that the staff and players will like Bisaccia in the building.

“Just getting a chance to be around him and know him is no secret why boys love to be around him and love to play for him,” Lafleur said. “I can say that he will demand a lot from our boys, but he also cares so much for everyone he works with. We are very excited to have such a person. “

Bizacha replaces Maurice Drayton, who spent just one season as coordinator. He was sacked after the Packers finished last in the NFL in Rick Gosselin’s Special Team standings and then conceded a blocked field goal and blocked punt during the team’s loss in the playoffs in the 49ers division round of Lambeau Field.

Can Bisaccia finally help Packers overcome the problems of 2022?

“His experience speaks for itself and I think we will all benefit from learning from him,” Lafleur said.

Stanford female soccer star Katie Mayer was found dead on the campus of the University of California at the age of 22.

Mayer, the goalkeeper and captain of her team, died at a university residence, the university confirmed, but the cause of death was not given immediately.

A senior athlete studying international relations and history, he helped Stanford win the 2019 national championship.

“Her friends describe her as a team player bigger than life in all her pursuits, from choosing an academic discipline, which she said changed ‘my worldview and the very important challenges we need to work together to overcome. “She brought passion to Cardinal’s women’s football program and to women’s sports in general,” Stanford said in a statement.

The university says it has provided resources for those affected by Mayer’s death.

“There are no words to express the deep sadness we feel for the death of Katie Meyer,” Stanford Athletic Director Bernard Muir said in a statement.

“Katie was an outstanding student-athlete and a beloved, passionate leader here at Stanford. Our entire athletic community is heartbroken and Katie will miss her deeply. ”

The school initially announced the death of a student on Tuesday, but did not announce Mayer’s name until her family was told.

Mayer, who attended high school in Newbury Park, California, has one older sister and one younger sister.

CONCORD, NC – In addition to competing in Sunday’s Las Vegas Motor Speedway NASCAR Cup, Hendrick Motorsports will compete in support of Ukraine.

To help raise awareness of the growing humanitarian crisis and encourage aid donations, team owner Rick Hendrick and sponsor Hendrick Automotive Group donated $ 200,000 to Samaritan’s Purse to support disaster relief.

Hendrick’s organization will also contribute $ 2,000 in relief to Ukraine for each tour led by the stable Hendrick Motorsports with four cars on Sunday at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas track. If the team equals its total of 150 laps from last season’s event, the additional contribution will be $ 300,000.

“Like the rest of the world, our family has watched the worsening crisis in Ukraine with shock and sadness,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “We were particularly struck by the unnecessary suffering inflicted on innocent children.

“NASCAR provides us with an incredibly powerful platform, and I believe we have a moral obligation to use it to help people in need.

This weekend, the Samaritan’s Purse website will appear prominently at No. 5 on HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 of defending race winner and NASCAR Cup 2021 champion Kyle Larson. Donations that directly support support efforts in Ukraine can be made through the site.

“We hope to encourage others to support Ukraine, whether through Samaritan’s Purse or one of the other critical humanitarian organizations,” Hendrik said. “We cannot ignore the disaster that is unfolding.”

On Sunday at Auto Club Speedway, Hendrick Motorsports reached the cornerstone of 75,000 Cup Series laps, extending his all-time record. In 2021, the team set a new all-time all-time lap ride of 1.5 miles for a combined 1693 season.

Samaritan’s Purse is an organization 501 (c) (3) and donations are tax deductible. Since 1970, it has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and famine. Samaritan’s Purse has a four-star “exclusive” rating from Charity Navigator, which independently rates non-profit organizations.

The NASCAR Cup Series race from Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be broadcast live on Sunday at 15:30 ET on FOX, PRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. If you would like to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, please visit www.SamaritansPurse.org.

INDIANAPOLIS – Dave Ziegler has spent much of the month since taking over as general manager of Raiders, trying to put the big picture in focus before refining many of the details.

“There’s not much sleep, that’s for sure,” Ziegler told a small group of reporters in a remote corner of the Indiana Convention Center at the NFL Scout Factory on Wednesday. “Learning (our own) list is a major part of scouting. So it took a lot of time and effort. When you evaluate every single person under contract and every free agent, these are a lot of players that you have to evaluate along with all the new things you face when you take one of these positions … so it’s a long time management. ”

Although there have not been too many urgent deadlines, as Ziegler helps gather scout and coaching staff and acquires enough institutional knowledge to be fully prepared for his first off-season franchise, he is aware that time is a valuable commodity. .

This week’s combine is a boost to the high-speed black season. The new year of the league officially begins in two weeks with a free agency.

That’s one of the reasons why things like extending Max Crosby’s defensive star contract, which has only one year left in the deal, aren’t very high on the list of priorities.

“As we go through free mediation and get to the draft, there will be some of these organic talks that you will have. “I wouldn’t say we’re still there,” Ziegler said. “I know the question is curious and I understand it, but we’re just trying to take so many small bites right now.

“We will look at all these things in time. But it’s always good to have good players. “

There is also a deadline of May 2, just days after the draft, to decide whether to exercise the options for the team’s three first-round selections in 2019 or allow them to enter the final year of their contracts. recruits.

Defender Josh Jacobs, defender Jonathan Abram and defender Cleanne Ferrell could become free agents after next season if the team gives up. Ziegler said there was still time to make that decision.

“I think they are all just on an individual basis,” Ziegler said of whether he made the decision.

The importance of setting priorities is one of the lessons the 44-year-old general manager learned during his time in Las Vegas, which was largely limited to a two-way trip between M Resort and the Henderson team.

This week’s priority is the evaluation of talent through field work and individual interviews at the plant. This is something he is used to with his rich scouting experience. But now that he’s the general manager, he doesn’t have the opportunity to be so short-sighted.

“It simply came to our notice then. I’ve always been in college, so there was an element of interviewing players and things like that. But you are more here, getting the pulse of what is happening in the world of professionals. “So yes, the range and the lens are definitely much wider now.”

While Ziegler refuses to identify specific goals in any field, he shares a common philosophy.

“It sounds simple, but we will just try to train good players and then find what they do well and use them in the best way,” he said.

“I would say that what we are looking to do is build depth and competition. This is really an important part of team building. I think that when you build depth and competition in your whole team, you will naturally build position groups that have strengths that take advantage of that. ”

Contact Adam Hill at [email protected]. I follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter.

Most of us do not prepare for another 4-6 months. But it’s never too early to dive. While every first round fantasy football the mock draft is still in the works, this early look at the forecasts of elite players for 2022 offers clues as to which players may become drafts theft and which pose a greater risk than many realize.

This draft layout suggests a 12-team PPR league with fairly standard scoring rules (for example, no bonus points for 100-yard quick runs). The starting lineup of this league involves one QB, two RBs, two WRs, one TE, one RB / WR / TE flex, one kicker and one D / ST. Don’t worry: we won’t get to kickers and D / ST until summer.

Look elsewhere if you want a common layout with all the regular players. Since 2015, the first two pre-season fantasy RBs (based on ADP) have played an average of just 10 games this season – the lowest average among all pre-season top 20 fantasy RBs. As a result, 50% of these 14 “elite” humps turned out to be busts, a total of only 79.4 fantastic points per season.

So as we look at this mock-up of Round 1, think about historical probabilities. A large percentage of the alleged “bust-resistant” players will actually drop out. If we can pinpoint who are safe players in the first round and who need to fade, that could mean the difference between a title and a lost season.

1) Najee Harris, RB, Steelers

The main topic of this first round is the excessive use of RB. How much risk will we take for huge potential payouts? When it comes to second-year professional Naji Harris, we will take a lot of risks. Historically, 73% of RBs with at least 350+ touches per season scored fewer fantasy points the following season. In all 350+ touch RBs, the average net regression is 23%.

Harris won 381 touches last season. This is certainly a yellow flag. Still, he played alongside one of the least effective QBs in the league, running behind a distinctly level offensive line. Pittsburgh’s first-round pick for 2021 will be presented again in 2022, this time in a likely more powerful attack. It should improve last year’s almost elite production. Given his youth and elite use of passes, he could easily score 350 fantastic points.

2) Derrick Henry, RB, Titans

Derrick Henry’s huge workload for 2020, which included a huge 378 curries, led me to warn readers to fade it into drafts and sell high during the season. Harris could realistically withstand its heavy use, as a significant percentage was emitted into the air. But drawing lines on the ground takes more influence. Henry will return healthy in 2022, leaving the campaign with 237 touches. While D’Onta Foreman could replace from time to time, Henry must remain at the center of what needs to be an improved attack.

3) Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts

Most people rank Jonathan Taylor as the undisputed number one for 2022. I’m a little more cautious. He made an average of 309 careers in three seasons in Wisconsin. If we include two professional seasons, he has an average of 292 careers a year since his first campaign. Can it handle the load? Obviously yes, for now. Will the Colts relieve their young superstar and give a little more running to the inexplicably forgotten Nyheim Hines? This is the big question.

In the games since his outburst with 35 touches in their victory over the Bills in Week 11, his performance has dropped by more than half a yard yard and mostly against defenses in the bottom half against fantasy RB. During that time, Indy unnecessarily gave him 32 career goals in a 31-point victory over the Texans. All of this was ridiculous overuse, and as the NFL has proven hundreds of times, it’s unsustainable.

Like Harris, Taylor remains young and has many great years ahead of him. But we should expect a modest reduction in touches, as the team strives to keep its RB franchise in basic shape for December, January and beyond.

4) Cooper Coop, WR, Rams

What needs to be said? Not much, except that Cooper Kupp is one of the three WRs in my top 12. Why? Because the elite WRs have proven to be stronger than the elite RB season after season. We do not chase points. We lock elite points with a relatively high probability.

5) Ja’Marr Chase, WR, Bengals

Ja’Marr Chase was WR5 last season despite a tie for 17th in goals (128) and 18th in catches (81). He achieved this despite a period of six games in which Joe Barrow had only 6 passes for a touchdown. Of course, 3 of them went to Chase, who seems to have nowhere to go but up.

6) Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints

Alvin Camara was the overall RB8, although he missed four games and served as a focal point for the opponent’s defense. His yards before the contact fell by half a yard compared to 2020, but he still remained elite in the department of broken boards. Although it will be 27 years old this summer, if we assume that the Saints will stabilize their attack by stepping up their attack (including the return of Michael Thomas), then the Chamber should be no worse than backend RB1 – and as always, with the elite up.

Who are our top players in the back of the first round? Again, some may surprise you.

7) Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings

In his first two campaigns, Justin Jefferson had a 292-3,016-17 reception line. As Adam’s age progresses, Tylen Jefferson will take on an even more dominant role in the Viking game. It is a sure choice in the first round for those who do not want to bet on 50/50 RB.

8) Austin Eckeler, RB, Chargers

Speaking of 50/50, Austin Eckler is coming out of his second consecutive season with an average of 50+ yards per game, while accumulating 50+ assists. We should expect at least a slight regression from his expanded campaign in 2021, when he finished as a clear RB2. 276 touches and 20 touchdowns are simply unrealistic for 2022. Chargers will try to help him even more (maybe give more to Justin Jackson).

9) D’Andre Swift, RB, Lions

How good can D’Andre Swift become? Still just 23, he jumped from 12.3 touches per game in 2020 to 16.4 last season while playing in a very weak attack. His active role in the passing game keeps his floor as high as Eckeler’s (when they are both healthy). And let’s keep in mind that Swift was 10th in RB fantasy points per game. So there’s nothing “bold” about calling him a first-round player. The question is whether he can stay on the field.

10) Christian McCaffrey, RB, Panthers

Christian McCafrey is one of the most difficult RBs to evaluate in fantasy. After almost two lost seasons, the future 26-year-old footballer has reached a key moment in his career. As I wrote in the summer of 2020, the Panthers hit McCafrey in the ground in 2019 and they (and the fantasy managers) would pay the price. But its limited use since then (only 218 touches) and exceptional reception skills would make it the top 12 RB, even if it only makes 250-275 touches.

11) Joe Mixon, RB, Bengals

Last summer I pushed Joe Mixon as the overall pick for the RB5 and the draft in the first round, despite its value in the RB13 ADP and second / third round. A healthy season in an improved attack works wonders for talented defenders like Mixon.

However, be careful not to overestimate it. He slowed significantly over the course of the season and failed to clear 3.9 yards of carry-over in any of his last five regular-season games – not coincidentally, right after an eight-day period when he collected 62 touches. He had as many games with 0 or 1 tricks as with 2+. The volume and TD capabilities in an almost elite attack should keep it well fed. However, I expect a modest retreat, as Cincinnati is looking to keep it fresh for January.

12) Jaylan Waddle, WR, Dolphins

When the Dolphins stopped messing around and started focusing on rookie Jaylan Waddle last year, he proved to be one of the best receivers in the league. In his last 11 games (starting in the 6th week) he scored 191.5 points in fantasy. That reaches 296 points for a season of 17 games, which puts him right next to Tyrick Hill. But unlike Hill, Waddle’s trajectory is sharp. While you can probably wait to pick him up in the late second round, by the end of the season I believe he will be worth choosing in the top 12.

.

Getty Images

Brown says all he has to say about Baker Mayfield in early March. Coach Kevin Stefanski said yes on Wednesday to the question of whether he still has full confidence in Mayfield as a starter in 2022.

He echoed what general manager Andrew Berry had said the day before about “completely” Mayfield’s expectation of returning as Brown’s starter.

But both left open the possibility of adding competition to the position.

“I think every day these guys understand that this is a challenge,” said Stefanski through Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal. “As for the room and things like that, I’m not going to go into that. But I think Baker, all our players understand that this is a race. You get challenged every day. They treat every day as a challenge, so I’m comfortable with how it works.

“But how the rest of the season will go, I think we’ll see.”

Mayfield tore the labrum on his left shoulder in week 2, but played it with a belt. He underwent surgery on January 19. He had the fewest passes (3010), the fewest touchdowns (17) and the lowest passer rating (83.1) in his career, but Stefanski did not use his shoulder as an excuse.

The coach admitted that opponents have eliminated the implementation that made Mayfield effective in 2020.

“It was not the shoulder. “We were not limited in what we did with Baker while he was dealing with the injuries,” said Stefanski.

Browns may open the race for reserve veteran Case Keenum, but cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot says a $ 1 million bonus due March 19 could affect their decision on Keenum. He has $ 8.43 million in 2022.

If the Browns do not sign a quarterback like Mitchell Trubiski to challenge Mayfield, they could return Keaneam for $ 8.43 million, Cabot said.