English
Hot News
Baron Davis addresses 'the only reason' the New York Knicks lost to the Pacers, failure around one player
The New York Knicks unexpectedly lost to the Indiana Pacers 4-2 in the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals despite entering as favorites, resulting in head coach Tom Thibodeau's firing. Mike Brown was named as his replacement for the upcoming season. Former NBA player Baron Davis disputed that Thibodeau's tactics caused the defeat. Instead, Davis attributed the loss to the Pacers' defensive strategy that targeted Jalen Brunson—who averaged 30.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in the series—by using half-court pressure to limit his space. Davis explained on Podcast P that Indiana turned the half-court into an "extra defender," forcing Brunson into cramped pick-and-roll situations despite the court's size. Davis emphasized that Brunson lacked backcourt support, stating, "Nobody on the Knicks outside of Jalen Brunson could bring the ball up." This allowed the Pacers to induce turnovers (Brunson averaged 4.0 per game) and disrupt New York's offensive flow. The pressure forced extended possessions where Brunson "dribbled all shot clock," denying him opportunities to pass or create separation. The isolation-heavy offense also impacted teammates like Karl-Anthony Towns, who faced constant one-on-one matchups. Davis concluded that Brunson's unsustainable workload as the "lone warrior"—compounded by turnovers and defensive traps—directly caused the Knicks' elimination.
Views 4833Likes 2154
Jaire Alexander was just handed 120 million reasons to prove the Packers wrong
The Baltimore Ravens' signing of cornerback Jaire Alexander has generated excitement among fans, quarterback Lamar Jackson, and his new teammates. Alexander, released by the Green Bay Packers, is highly motivated to prove his former team wrong. Following New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner's recent 4-year, $120 million contract, Alexander sees a rising market for his position. While Alexander isn't expected to command Gardner's $30 million annual salary, the Gardner deal sets a positive precedent. Entering his age-28 season with his second team, Alexander's primary challenge has been injuries. When healthy, he is considered one of the NFL's top cornerbacks, but his ability to stay on the field consistently has been hampered by a documented injury history. If Alexander can overcome his injury issues and play a full, strong season in 2025 at age 29, the article speculates he could command a contract averaging around $20 million per year, especially if it includes incentives. The Gardner deal suggests $20 million could be a realistic ceiling for Alexander under these circumstances, though achieving that level of performance and durability is acknowledged as a significant challenge. Alexander is likely viewing Gardner's contract as motivation for his own potential future deal.
Views 4540Likes 3856
Q&A: Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle Opens Up On Finals Run, Offseason
The Indiana Pacers experienced a condensed offseason following their appearance in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 22, where they lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Head coach Rick Carlisle noted that the NBA Draft began just three days later, and free agency followed less than a week after that, leaving little time for the team to decompress after their deep playoff run. Carlisle described the quick turnaround as normal for the NBA and expressed pride in the team's effort, calling it a "great year" and a "great run" despite the disappointing Finals outcome. The 2024-25 postseason validated the Pacers' earlier progress, elevating them to top contenders after skeptics questioned their 2024 Eastern Conference Finals appearance. Built on depth and speed, the team challenged traditional playoff expectations and came within one game of winning the championship, with Carlisle highlighting their underdog status and inspiring competitiveness. However, the Pacers now face significant roster challenges for the 2025-26 season, as star guard Tyrese Haliburton will miss the entire campaign due to a torn Achilles, and starting center Myles Turner has departed for the Milwaukee Bucks. Carlisle acknowledged that the team must navigate these changes, with plans to reassess their direction for the next two seasons until Haliburton's expected return in 2026-27. During a Q&A session at a summer league game in Las Vegas, Carlisle addressed the team's future, stating that the Pacers' playoff performance was motivating to fans and that the team "will be fine" despite Turner's exit. He praised Turner as a "stretch big who can protect the rim" and noted the Pacers have multiple options at center, including Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman, and Tony Bradley.
Views 3463Likes 2235
Packers player issues challenge to Caleb Williams and the Bears
The Chicago Bears once held a 24-game lead over the Green Bay Packers in their historic rivalry back in 1992, before the Packers acquired quarterback Brett Favre. Since then, the rivalry shifted dramatically, with the Packers now holding a 12-game lead. While some fans considered the rivalry dead, a recent Bears win at Lambeau Field and comments from Bears quarterback Caleb Williams have reignited tensions. At Fanatics Fest, Williams called Packers fans negative and declared they "suck," while proudly stating he is "1-0 at Lambeau." Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker responded to these remarks on Good Morning Football, dismissing the Bears' win as lucky and warning, "They got lucky. We're gonna remember he said that." The article disputes Walker's characterization of the Bears' win as "lucky." It points out the Bears were severely short-handed, missing several starters including three offensive linemen, were on their third offensive coordinator of the season, and the game was meaningless for their playoff hopes (already eliminated) compared to Green Bay's seeding fight. The author argues the Bears "gutted out a tough win" requiring significant effort from Williams on the game-winning drive despite being out-coached and undermanned. Furthermore, the article counters that if discussing luck, the Packers themselves narrowly avoided being swept by the Bears and shut out by the NFC North in 2025 due to a blocked field goal, which it describes as "about as lucky as it gets." The author concludes that regardless of the arguments about luck or fan bases, the renewed animosity is beneficial for the Bears-Packers rivalry and the NFL overall. The league thrives when these teams are competitive and trading dramatic wins, contrasting sharply with previous years of futility. With this level of offseason trash talk already occurring, significant anticipation and intensity are expected for their Week 14 rematch at Lambeau Field.
Views 5871Likes 1192
‘I don’t want to leave’… 23-year-old Barcelona player talks about his future, more competition, and the Nico Williams operation
FC Barcelona's summer transfer window has focused on internal adjustments rather than major signings. The club prioritized player renewals and exits, securing extensions for Wojciech Szczesny and finalizing Lamine Yamal's renewal. Departures like Pablo Torre and Ansu Fati generated income and freed up significant funds. Amidst exit discussions, 23-year-old left-back Gerard Martin's future has been a topic. Despite Alejandro Balde being the undisputed starter, Martin expressed clear motivations in an interview. He stated his collective goal is to "win everything" and his personal aim is to "always improve on last season and keep growing." He firmly denied wanting to leave, saying, "I'm really happy here at Barça, and I don't want to leave," and emphasized his hope for the coach and club's faith in him. Martin also addressed potential squad competition calmly, stating, "No, I'm calm... competition is good—it helps everyone improve." He commented positively on new signing Joan Garcia, calling him a "great signing" who was "good and happy." Regarding the failed move for Nico Williams, Martin admitted limited knowledge, simply noting, "It seemed like he was going to come, but in the end, he didn't." Martin enters the new season as an established Barcelona player, benefiting from coach Hansi Flick already knowing him from the previous campaign.
Views 5835Likes 5834
Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu Headline 3-Point Contest at 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend
Caitlin Clark will make her WNBA All-Star Weekend debut by participating in the 3-Point Contest on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. She will compete against notable players including Kelsey Plum, Sonia Citron, former contest winner Sabrina Ionescu, and defending champion Allisha Gray for the three-point title. Defending champion Allisha Gray will also participate in the Skills Challenge on the same night. She will face Natasha Cloud, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Erica Wheeler, and Courtney Williams in this event, which features a timed obstacle course testing dribbling, passing, and various shooting skills. Both the 3-Point Contest and Skills Challenge are scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Friday, preceding Saturday's All-Star Game. The Skills Challenge field includes three of the league's top four assists leaders: Williams, Diggins-Smith, and Cloud. Wheeler returns after missing last year's event due to flight issues. Gray enters the 3-Point Contest ranked fourth in the WNBA for three-pointers made this season, behind only Rhyne Howard, Kayla McBride, and fellow competitor Plum. She made history last year by becoming the first Atlanta Dream player to win an All-Star event and the first WNBA player to win both the 3-point contest and skills challenge. Gray won the 2024 3-point contest with a score of 22-for-40. To defend her 3-point title, Gray must outperform Sabrina Ionescu, who set a single-round record by going 37-for-40 to win the 2023 contest. Ionescu, who skipped the 2024 event while preparing for the Olympics, is shooting 30.9% from three-point range this season for the New York Liberty. Caitlin Clark, who set a WNBA rookie record with 122 three-pointers last season, declined to participate in the 2024 competition, citing a need for a break after transitioning directly from college. The reigning Rookie of the Year hopes her participation in the 2025 contest will help her bounce back from an injury-plagued second season where she is shooting just 28.9% from behind the arc. Sonia Citron enters the 3-Point Contest as the lone rookie participant. She has made 36.3% of her three-point attempts while averaging 6.2 attempts per game as a starter for the Washington Mystics.
Views 3630Likes 3628
Hot
