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Cleveland Cavaliers’ frustration boils over when JB Bickerstaff is sent off in a 119-98 loss to the Charlotte Hornets

Cleveland, Ohio – The Cleveland Cavaliers’ disappointment reached a boiling point Wednesday night.

The Falling Cavaliers lost to the Charlotte Hornets 119-98. This is their fifth loss in the last six games, although they remained fifth (with .03 percentage points) in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Just a month ago, the Cavs were second, looking down at the first seeds. Now this slippage makes them stagger to the scary Play-In tournament. Even the return of Darius Garland from an annoying bruise on his lower back can not prevent another loss.

In the days before this match, the coach of Cavs JB Bickerstaff spoke about the importance of the team to finish what it started this season. There is still time, but the possibility of error continues to shrink.

Bickerstaff wasn’t even in the final on Wednesday. At 8:36 in the third quarter, with Cleveland eliminated by 20, the persistent coach removed his disappointment from referee Natalie Sago, receiving two technical fouls – an automatic throw. Bickerstaff tends to ride the judge’s crew. He needs a Throat Coat after each game to help his voice recover. Part of that is calls and not calls. The other part is shouting instructions to your team.

This moment of aggression stemmed from a block / attack against Cedi Osman. But he definitely felt that there was more to the angry protest. It seemed like an accumulation of factors.

The building pressure from this seven-week play-offs, which will determine if this season is a success. Untimely regression. The stockpile of injuries that are currently threatening to derail this magical season. The All Star player is inside and outside the squad. Suddenly leaky defense, which lost 96 points in the first three quarters, just 48 hours after one of the worst readings of the season. Deficit of 20 points for the fourth time in the last nine games. The effort does not reach the standard of the coach. A team that has lost its advantage.

“It’s that I’m losing my temper,” Bickerstaff said. “I apologized to the boys, I apologized to my staff. Apologize to my children. No one should see this. It is for me that I need to improve and be better. It’s a combination of disappointment, obviously, but I have to stay in the battle. I have to be better. ”

The Cavs, with their starting five for the first time since Jan. 22, were defenseless against the NBA’s No. 1 attack with goals – even one night All Star defender LaMelo Ball was plagued with bad problems, playing just eight minutes.

The Hornets, who are just 3-11 from Jan. 28, shot 50.6% of the field and 44.7% from 3 points. They have 32 assists on 43 shots, 17 3s and 52 points in a fight.

“One physical one to start with. Second, there are many mistakes in discipline, we are not where we need to be. And then the third of it is that we are not doing the extra things we have been doing so far to put ourselves in that position that made us who we were. This is our core. These are the things we have always done to protect each other. Let’s do it together. To put another one. To play with firmness. This is what we need to return to. You have to be prepared and you have to solve it. ”

Although Garland played for the first time since the All Star break, Cleveland failed to keep up. Garland led the way. He scored 33 points in 13 of 22 off the field and 5 out of 10 over the arc in 33 minutes. All-Star teammate Jarrett Allen added 18 points and 11 rebounds. Lauri Markanen shook off a lower leg injury and finished with 12 points.

After making just 2 of 13 of the deep in the first half, the Cavs made 8 of 16 in the last 24 minutes, briefly scoring the crowd at the start of the fourth quarter.

This excitement was short-lived.

“If we’re not worried, I don’t think that’s a good way to look at how we play,” Alan said. “It simply came to our notice then. We know this is not Cavs basketball. We know we haven’t played like that in the past, no matter how long the season lasts. It’s just an effort at the end of the day. It looks inside who we are as a team, who we are as individuals. I’m just playing harder. “

Terry Rosie scored 29 points. Kelly Oubre Jr. joined with 19 from the bench. In all, the Hornets had six double-digit players, including Isaiah Thomas. The little guard, who played his first game in the NBA on December 29 and signed with Charlotte after a dominant period in the G League, sparked the bench. He finished with 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.

The Cavs glide began in February. They hoped to turn the page by turning the calendar. I wanted to start March with some positive momentum. Instead, the same problems.

It’s time to check the bowels.

“We need to look in the mirror and just reduce everything and ask myself if I’m doing the right thing,” Garland said. “JB has been talking about this all week. I know a lot of guys are tired of listening to him. We do not play in the same way as in the first half of the season. We need to get back to that. “

Next

The Cavs will head to Philadelphia for a game against the 76ers on Friday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

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Cleveland Cavaliers’ frustration boils over when JB Bickerstaff is sent off in a 119-98 loss to the Charlotte Hornets Read More »

Paralympic Winter Games: Russian and Belarusian athletes will no longer compete in the 2022 Games after numerous protests, says IPC

The decision comes less than a day after the IPC initially allowed athletes on both sides to compete as neutrals under the Paralympic flag and Paralympic anthem.

IPC President Andrew Parsons said on Wednesday that Russian athletes should not be seen as “aggressors” and that the organization’s board does not have the power to ban athletes directly as a result of its constitution.

However, the IPC said in a statement Thursday that many National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), teams and athletes are now threatening not to compete and that the situation in the athletes’ villages is “escalating” […] and ensuring the safety of athletes has become untenable. “

“It is not our fault that the war has already come to these games and behind the scenes many governments are influencing our costly event,” Parsons said.

“In making our decision yesterday, we were looking at the long-term health and survival of the Paralympic movement. We are very proud of the principles and values ​​that made the Movement what it is today.

Ukraine will send a full delegation for the 2022 Winter Paralympic Games

“It is clear, however, that the rapidly escalating situation has now put us in a unique and impossible position so close to the start of the Games.

“Over the last 12 hours, a huge number of members have contacted us and were very open, for which I am grateful. They told us that if we do not reconsider our decision, it is now likely to have serious consequences for the 2022 Beijing Paralympic Winter Games.

“Many NPCs, some of which have been linked by their governments, teams and athletes, are threatening not to compete.

“With this in mind and in order to preserve the integrity of these games and the safety of all participants, we decided to reject the applications of athletes from RPC and NPC Belarus.

“As far as parachutists from the countries concerned are concerned, we are very sorry that you are affected by the decisions that your governments took last week to violate the Olympic truce. You are a victim of the actions of your governments, “Parsons added.

A total of 71 Russian and 12 Belarusian Paralympic athletes, along with leaders for both nations, had to compete in the Games, which begin on Friday with the opening ceremony.

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NFL Scouting Combine 2022: Break the top 5 prospects of each offensive position

The NFL Combine has arrived and is less than two months away from the NFL 2022 draft. The week in Indianapolis and Pro Days may lead to a slight change in the rankings, but things are starting to take shape. Here is my offensive ranking:

Quarterback

1. Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh (CBS Sports Rank: 22)
2. Matt Coral, Ole Miss (20)
3. Malik Willis, Liberty (21)
4. Sam Howell, North Carolina (48)
5. Carson Strong, Nevada (55)

Pickett looks like he’s ready to compete for an NFL team today. There are concerns about the size of his arm and whether this will be a problem in the NFL. The ball is a little bigger and the confusion was a problem for the quarterback in college. Coral showed a lot of growth from 2020 to 2021. Its decision-making and accuracy have improved significantly. Although slightly smaller, the California native shows the ability to attack all three levels of defense. Willis offers the best as a player with elite mobility. However, he can get stuck in his testimony and keep football too long. Howell is resilient and throws the best deep ball in his class. He takes some unnecessary punches when he fights. Strong has limited mobility to cope with a knee injury, but he does a fantastic job of driving the ball into narrow windows.

Running backwards

1. Kenneth Walker III, Michigan (66)
2. Breece Hall, Iowa (53)
3. Kieran Williams, Notre Dame (80)
4. Dameon Pierce, Florida (NR)
5. Isaiah Spiller, Texas A&M (49)

From his last season in Wake Forest to his first season in Michigan, Walker showed more flexibility in his ankles and the ability to redirect. He showed more like a pass and wished his team numerous victories this season. When we look at players who have steady success in the NFL, they are usually around the threshold of 220 pounds. Hall and Spiller fall into this category. They are larger backs with medium speed of the highest class. Williams is a bulldog in the running game, despite the lack of an ideal size, and he excels at catching passes. Pierce really impressed at Reese’s Senior Bowl after being used lightly in the Florida attack. He is a strong player.

Narrow end

1. Trey McBride, CO (31)
2. Greg Dulcic, UCLA (141)
3. Jeremy Rockert, Ohio (78)
4. Cade Otten, Washington (83)
5. Jalen Wydermyer, Texas A&M (47)

McBride is the best rounded tight end in the class. It is not a burner, but it moves very well and does a good job as a blocker. Dulcic has shown many improvements from 2020 to 2021. He is a talent who easily takes the ball out of the air and quickly turns up. Ruckert is also well-rounded, but like Pierce in Florida, he was used sparingly in the Ohio State pass game, given the amount of talent the Buckeyes had in a wide receiver. Otton is a good blocker, but is more athletically limited. Wydermyer is a bigger, stronger tight end that uses its physics to its advantage through routes.

Wide receiver

1. Gareth Wilson, Ohio (7)
2. Jameson Williams, Alabama (10)
3. Traylan Burks, Arkansas (17)
4. Chris Olive, Ohio (23)
5. Drake London, USC (18)

Currently, the first three receivers are slightly grouped. The study of the combined and more bands should separate them before the draft, but in the overall ranking all three fall in the range of five players. Wilson has great body control and can apply the brakes sharply. Williams is hot after the catch. Burks is a large, physical receiver that plays mostly in the slot, but differs in the vertical plane. It will run faster than people expect for its size. It also shows a willingness to block, which can make it intriguingly suitable for a wide area scheme. Olav is just Mr. Consistent with good speed. He is weak, but he is on good paths. Finally, London ended the season with an injury after presenting absurd figures for the Trojans. A former basketball player, London is using his size to create a separation and win at the starting point. Georgia Pickens of Georgia is another prospect that has the potential to develop to No. 1 in the broader successor. He showed this ability before suffering an ACL injury and was limited after returning from injury at the end of the year.

Internal offensive line

1. Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa (5)
2. Kenyon Green, Texas A&M (15)
3. Zion Johnson, Boston College (37)
4. Darian Kinnard, Kentucky (46)
5. Jamaree Salyer, Georgia (101)

Linderbaum is ideal for a wide area scheme where you can use your athleticism to work in space. He plays against the background of the whistle and faces the best center. Green showed versatility on board and guard, but really found a home inside. He is a broad body that drives opponents out of football. Johnson is another one that offers flexibility. He played to tackle the eagles one step at a time and was also cross-trained at the Mobil center. Kinard is a running player, but he is still improving in the defense of passes. He wants to play tackle on the next level, but his brightest future is inside. Salyer is another physical player that the Bulldogs loved to line up and run over people.

Offensive strike

1. Evan Neal, Alabama (6)
2. Charles Cross, Mississippi (8)
3. Ikem Equonu, North Carolina (9)
4. Trevor Penning, Northern Iowa (50)
5. Bernhard Reiman, Central Michigan (29)

Neil is a monster physically, although this athleticism was not always evident in the film. When Mehmy Becton was healthy, he showed the challenges that big size can have for defenders. The cross is the best defense in the pass at the moment and that would be the argument for Jacksonville, which could potentially bring him to number 1 overall. He is just a sophomore and has something to grow in the game on the ground. Ekwonu is the opposite. He is a road grader who pancakes every defender who stands up to him. Offensive line players are praised for playing in the middle series, but Penning may need to reduce a bit. He throws a defender at the back of Desmond Reeder’s legs in the Senior Bowl and unnecessarily tries to end his opponent’s existence with each click. Reiman is an athletic Austrian who is still technically developing, but the sky is the limit.

For more coverage of the 2022 NFL draft – including fake projects, lead rankings and articles aimed at the team and players – click here!

NFL Scouting Combine 2022: Break the top 5 prospects of each offensive position Read More »

Titans’ GM John Robinson becomes emotional

Gmin is not easy.

In a high-stakes race in which fans, players, staff and property depend on their off-field decisions to succeed on the field, only one 32-year-old NFL general manager leaves his team’s final game happy with his job. . The work is a relentless pressure cooker, where critics drown out applause and fluidity is the norm.

Losing the playoffs is still heavy for Titans GM

For Tennessee Titans general manager John Robinson, the weight of the pressure is staggering. The Robinson Titans won No. 1 in the AFC playoffs last season, only to lose at home to eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals in their first playoff. They lost by the slightest margin when Ryan Tanehill’s late interception led Cincinnati to a winning goal of the game after the time was up.

But the margin for the participating teams does not matter, only the result. And Tennessee’s season ended in a devastating end to that January Saturday. When asked Wednesday at the NFL Scout Factory what he could do better this off-season, Robinson had to hold back his tears before he could answer.

Tennessee Titans general manager John Robinson speaks at a press conference at the NFL Scout Factory in Indianapolis on Wednesday, March 2, 2022 (AP Photo / Michael Conroy)

John Robinson was emotional when he talked about losing to Tennessee in the playoffs. (AP Photo / Michael Conroy)

“It keeps me awake at night,” Robinson said before taking a long pause as his emotions rose. … “The trust that the property has placed in me, our fans and – I want to say that the stadium was shaking. And you can only imagine what next week would be like. Quite a long list of things I need to be better at. “

It is rare for this type of emotion to occur from a player immediately after an emotional loss. For an CEO six weeks after the fact – this is unheard of. It is also completely understandable.

It is impossible to do this job with any degree of success without being truly invested. Robinson has obviously invested. But the probability dictates that he will probably face the same kind of disappointment at this time next year. This is just part of the work for 31 general managers each out of season.

Titans’ GM John Robinson becomes emotional Read More »

Rangers knocked down Pavel Buchnevich’s blues to end the slippage

Rangers bailed together for their leading 18th NHL win on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, overcoming a one-goal deficit at the start of the third period with three unanswered goals and winning 5-3 over the Blues.

Even the effect of Pavel Buchnevich’s return to his old treadmills would not stop the Rangers. No matter how bravely the former blue shirts and blues fought, scoring three goals in three shots in the 2:14 interval in the second period, the Rangers found a way to avoid their third consecutive loss in the regulations – skating they have not yet experienced this season.

After approximately 12 minutes left in the last period, the puck loosened from the Rangers’ attack and jumped to defender Patrick Nemeth at the top of the zone. Nemeth had a wide open net and made a shot that bounced off the skater of the blue striker Ivan Barbashev, from the crossbar and went for his first goal of the season to make the match 3-3.

Rangers won a strong game shortly after Colton Paraico was called in to delay the game. Adam Fox struck from the top of the zone, which Crider directed at 11:40 to regain the lead for Rangers. Then Artemi Panarin improved the score with a goal from an empty net.

Igor Sheterkin stopped Pavel Buchnevich's rebound (№ 89) during the Rangers' 5-3 victory over the Blues.
Igor Sheterkin stopped Pavel Buchnevich’s rebound (№ 89) during the Rangers’ 5-3 victory over the Blues.
NY Post: Charles Wenzelberg

As long as the Rangers were able to celebrate their rally at the end of the match, head coach Gerard Galant and the rest of the team were fired as the wave of blue goals changed the game.

“It’s great to have, but I was really disappointed that I gave up these three like that,” Galant said of the team’s endurance after the win. “[Goalie Igor Shesterkin] I just removed my tail tonight. He made some incredible saves in that first period, the last eight minutes of that period were amazing to keep us 1-0 ahead.

“Such things happen when you have character in your team, good leadership. They find a way and dig between periods. “

The Rangers celebrated Ryan Straw's goal during the second period of their victory over the Blues.
The Rangers celebrated Ryan Straw’s goal during the second period of their victory over the Blues.
NY Post: Charles Wenzelberg

After Ryan Straw passed Panarin’s pass past St. Louis goalkeeper Ville Husse to increase the 2-0 lead at the start of the midfield, the Rangers suddenly became observers as the Blues took advantage of three consecutive shots.

First, the invasion of a strange man ended with the captain of the blues Ryan O’Reilly, who transferred Shesterkin. Then Barbashev defeated Shesterkin’s high glove a little over a minute later and tied the score. The Blues grabbed their first lead of the night after a goal by David Perrin with 15.8 seconds left in the middle to send the Blues ahead 3-2 in the third period.

Rangers lost center-back Kevin Rooney after the first 20 minutes, forcing Galant to continue with 11 strikers and change lines. Rooney, who won three of four matches in 5:26, remained in the locker room after the first break with an upper body injury, according to Rangers. Galant did not have an immediate update for Rooney after the match.

Still, the Signorians found a way to grab two points. Just call them the Returning Children.

“There will be certain nights when you don’t have it,” Crider said. “But being able to dig and do whatever it takes to win hockey games is obviously easier when you have the best goalkeeper in the world. But at the same time, to be able to find our game, to be able to forget about a bad shift or a bad period, not to let it accumulate, not to let disappointment overwhelm us, not just to go out and work. But we start working hard and working for each other and communicating. ”

Rangers knocked down Pavel Buchnevich’s blues to end the slippage Read More »

Russia-Ukraine war: Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich plans to sell Chelsea as pressure grows

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich succumbed on Wednesday to growing pressure to sell English football club Chelsea over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Abramovich issued a lengthy statement setting out his reasons. Although he did not call on Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine, he said the proceeds from the sale would go to the victims of the war.

RUSSIA INVASES UKRAINE: LIVE UPDATES

“I would like to draw attention to the speculation in the media over the last few days about my ownership of Chelsea,” he said in a statement. “As I said, I have always made decisions with the best interests of the club. Therefore, in the current situation, I decided to sell the club, as I believe that it is in the best interests of the club, fans, employees, as well as sponsors and partners of the Club.

Roman Abramovich

Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich is seen at the final football match of the UEFA Women’s Champions League in Gothenburg, Sweden, on 16 May 2021. (Associated Press / AP Newsroom)

“The sale of the club will not be quick, but a proper procedure will follow. I will not ask for any loans to repay. It was never about business or money for me, but about pure passion for the game and the club. I also instructed my team to set up a charity where all net sales proceeds would be donated. The foundation will benefit all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical resources for the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting long-term recovery work. “

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Abramovich, worth more than $ 13 billion, bought the club for more than $ 187 million in 2003.

Here are some more details about Abramovich.

Chelsea’s success

Chelsea players

Chelsea players Romelu Lukaku, Mateo Kovacic, Cesar Aspilikueta, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic celebrate after scoring a goal during the final match of the FIFA World Club Championship at the UAE 2021 between Cherasse and Palm on February 12, 20 Oak (Getty Images / Getty Images)

Abramovich’s money injection in Chelsea has led to many successes on the pitch since 2003.

The Blues have won five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, two Champions League titles, two Europa League titles and a 2021 World Club Championship victory.

Some of the star players who will play for the club during Abramovich’s term include Eden Hazard, Petr Cech, Frank Lampard, Christian Pulisic, Eidur Gudjohnsen and John Terry.

The wealth of Abramovich

Eclipse3

Eclipse, the private luxury yacht of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, is anchored in Hisaronu Bay in the Marmaris district of Mugla, southwestern Turkey on October 19, 2015. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

According to Forbes, Abramovich owns stakes in Britain’s Evraz, a steelmaking company, and Russia’s Norilsk Nickel, a mining and smelting company. He also sold his 73% stake in Russia’s Sibneft to Gazprom in 2005 for $ 13 billion. He is also the founder of Millhouse Capital LLC, an investment firm.

Eclipse

Eclipse, the private luxury yacht of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, is anchored in Hisaronu Bay in the Marmaris district of Mugla, southwestern Turkey on October 19, 2015. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

Eclipse2

Eclipse, the private luxury yacht of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, is anchored in Hisaronu Bay in the Marmaris district of Mugla, southwestern Turkey on October 19, 2015. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

Abramovich also owns one of the largest superyachts in the world. The Eclipse is 533 feet long, has two helipads, 1 mini submarine and three speedboats. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, it also has a missile detection system. It is reported that the yacht can accommodate up to 70 crew members and has 11 cabins.

Pressure racks

Roman Abramovich2

Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich sits in his box before their English Premier League football match against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge in London, 19 December 2015. (Associated Press / AP Newsroom)

British lawmakers opposed Abramovich.

While the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson said that it would be “inappropriate” to comment on individual cases, the leader of the Labor Party Keir Starmer aimed at Abramovich.

“We need to confront Putin and those who support his regime,” Starmer said. “Roman Abramovich is the owner of Chelsea Football Club and various other high-value assets in the United Kingdom. He is a person of interest to the Home Office because of his ties to the Russian state and his public association with corruption and practices.”

Labor lawmaker Chris Bryant is using parliamentary privilege to say that Abramovich now wants to land other properties in London for fear of being sanctioned.

“The danger is that Mr Abramovich has sold everything until we get to his sanction,” Bryant said.

British commentator Pierce Morgan added: “Abramovich is selling Chelsea – but he has not yet said a word of condemnation for what his friend Putin did.”

Potential buyer

Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Vis told Swiss media that he had received an offer to buy Chelsea along with three others. Chelsea and Abramovich reportedly did not dispute the allegation.

“Abramovich is trying to sell all his villas in England, he also wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly,” Vis told Swiss Blick. “Abramovich wants too much right now.”

However, Wyss said he would like a group to help facilitate the purchase. Chelsea is estimated to cost about $ 3.34 billion.

Wysss is an 86-year-old billionaire. It is reported to cost about $ 5.1 billion, according to Forbes. He sold Synthes USA to Johnson & Johnson for nearly $ 20 billion.

Alleged ties to Putin

Abramovich Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on the left spoke with Roman Abramovich, the governor of the Chukotka region, a millionaire and owner of the Chelsea football club, during their meeting in Moscow in an undated photo. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

Abramovich’s relationship with Putin has been highlighted several times over the past decade.

According to the book The Crisis of Russian Democracy: The Dual State, Factionalism, and Medvedev’s Legacy, Abramovich proposed to Boris Yeltsin that Putin succeed him as Russian president. He interviewed potential cabinet members before Putin signed them during his term as prime minister.

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In 2012, a judge at the London Supreme Court ruled that Abramovich had “very good relations” and “privileged access” to Putin, although he could not “pull the strings of the president.” Abramovich denied the allegation.

In 2020, a book published by HarperCollins suggests that Abramovich bought Chelsea on Putin’s orders. Abramovich won a lawsuit against the publisher and author and received an apology with the removed references, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Russia-Ukraine war: Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich plans to sell Chelsea as pressure grows Read More »

Chris Greer on whether Tua Tagovailoa can be elite: I can’t say it can’t be



New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins

Getty Images

The Dolphins had an interest in Deshon Watson in the October trading deadline. But general manager Chris Greer said Wednesday that “the door is closed to Deshon.”

If Greer means what he says, the dolphins are devoted to Tua Tagovailoa.

Tagovailoa met with his new coaches – head coach Mike McDaniel, offensive coordinator Frank Smith and quarterback coach Darrell Bevel – on the team last month. Tagovailoa trains in South Florida with his personal quarterback coach Nick Hicks.

“Mike and the staff came to do a lot of work, learned a lot of Tua and felt good about his development, what he could be like and then how he fits into the attack,” said Greer of the NFL Scouting Combine. “I think we’re fine with Tua.”

The quarterback elected before Tagovailoa in 2020, Joe Barrow, played in the Super Bowl. The quarterback was selected as soon as Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, entered the Pro Bowl.

For two seasons, Tagovailoa has a record 13-8 as a starter. He was up and down, with 27 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and a 88.8 rating.

Do the Dolphins believe that Tagovailoa can become what Bengals and Chargers already know is their quarterback?

“I can’t say it can’t be,” Grier said of Tagovailoa’s chance to become an elite.

Maybe he will. Maybe he won’t. The Dolphins seem ready to give him another year to find out.



Chris Greer on whether Tua Tagovailoa can be elite: I can’t say it can’t be Read More »

7 observations from the loss of the Trail Blazers to the Phoenix Suns

The Portland Trail Blazers continued their losing streak against elite NBA teams tonight, losing to the Phoenix Suns 120-90. The young, impoverished Portland squad couldn’t handle Phoenix, even without star guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker to worry about.

If you missed the action and want to have an idea of ​​how the game goes, you can check out our quarterly summary here. When you’re done, here are a few more observations from the evening.

Mix and blend

Portland’s rotation at this point is like being on an old roller coaster and hearing them shout, “All skates … All skates …” Portland played 10 players in the first period alone and almost everyone got a chance before the game. done. Head coach Chauncey Billups is quite agnostic about playing time. If your name isn’t Anferny Simons, you’re in the Who’s Playing Carousel carousel.

One of the strong developments of this season is the freedom given to Bilap by the complete lack of EXTERNAL expectations and star players. (Obviously, the team still has internal expectations for how to play.) There’s no one on the list who can’t draw. No one is guaranteed playing time. Nothing goes on these games. He can break into pure basketball, style and effort as the Blazers and their players explore the ability of these players to grow.

Revs

The troika remains Portland’s best indicator of success. It is difficult to stay afloat when the threes do not fall. But the revs have become a strong second lifeline. This violation comes to life when the opponent relinquishes the ball and Portland can escape. When they got stuck in the half-field, pfffffttt.

This is not a sustainable recipe for success. However, some of the principles – vigilance and activity, instantly turning the defense into an attack – may fit well into a more balanced attack one day … hopefully?

Move and … Then what?

In addition to their propensity for complacency during long rounds of zone defense, the Blazers are much more active in defense now than with their veteran stars. They are quick on the feet against penetration and almost always help when the ball goes to the bucket. These features were missing to the point of omission two months ago.

Two major problems remain.

First, their help to the edge is not comparable to the speed of closing the arc by three points. Like their predecessors, this lineup seems capable of making one change in defense, but not two. This leaves them open to the old like the hills driving and moving plates. Phoenix trained targets from a distance all night,

Even when they get to the play – which to their credit, they often do inside the rainbow – they are not able to do much there except to force the aforementioned TO, which does not happen so often. They are not large, long or defensively frightening. They have players who could qualify for one of these adjectives, but there is still no one who is all three. That leads to a lot: “That was good in theory, but in practice … oh, good.”

Watford stretching

Thanks to staff colleague Danny Marang for that.

The Blazers let Trendon Watford stretch a bit, not only planning him to finish the games, but allowing him to catch over the free throw line and initiate dribble hands.

Now, if you can just develop a reverse jumper from there …

Simons against the world

We’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating. Every shot that Anferni Simons gets must come with a gold star. Opponents catch him like crazy, forcing the ball everywhere, as long as it’s not in his hands. This is a great practice when one day he becomes an option №1 in a better lineup.

That said, it wasn’t the best night for Simons. He scored just 11 points in a 4-10 shot, albeit 3-4 in the arc. He couldn’t get a clean look — or any look, really — under that kind of pressure.

The other side of the coin

Speaking of compositions …

We did nothing last week except praise the additional Portland players. For the most part, they hit and played smart. They still play smart, but these punches do NOT fall. The difference is quite significant.

This is an integral part of the team’s transition. They will look like a promising team some evenings, completely incapable of others. Anyone who thinks the team has enough infrastructure right now or is even close has to wait ten minutes. This impression will change.

The next great Brandon

Guard Brandon Williams had a good offensive night, shooting 5-8 for 14 points in 15 minutes. He was one of the few Blazers to excel in this department. He left the game with a left hip-pointer, which was unfortunate given the circumstances.

Statistics

Here are some significant statistics tonight:

9 out of 11 Blazers players registered a negative plus-minus. The starting lineup ended with negative two-digit numbers, “led” by Simons with -31 and CJ Eleby with -33. That is a lot.

Portland shoots 38.5% of the field. Phoenix hit even 50.0%.

Portland is forcing 16 turns. Hooray! They performed 19. Boo.

Next

Feel free to add your observations to the comments below! With this level of team, it’s free for everyone anyway. Join and have fun!

Boxscore

The Blazers begin a two-game streak against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday. The match starts at 17:00, Pacific.

7 observations from the loss of the Trail Blazers to the Phoenix Suns Read More »