data-mm-id=”_zfjob8pvq”>Much of the buzz about Sunday afternoon's matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks rightfully surrounded Luka Dončić, superstar in the making, who canned a 28-foot step-back three to defeat Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in overtime. What has flown mostly under the radar because of the spectacular play that ended the game was how the Clippers even got there. They were up 21 on Dallas and blew the lead. They have no injury excuse to fall back on. Leonard and George both played most of the second half. Yet Los Angeles couldn't beat a Mavs team that was missing its second-best player. Some of that can be chalked up to the greatness of Dončić. Some can be attributed to George's exceptionally poor shooting continuing to rear its ugly head as "Playoff P" scored two points in the final three quarters and overtime. But the biggest issue has been the lack of Patrick Beverley and Doc Rivers' inability (so far) to adjust. Beverley is not important on offense. That's never been his thing anyway. He's crucial on defense, though. Beverley is what unlocks the best version of the Clippers' defense, where they can switch nearly every screen without giving up much. He's a hounding defender and irritant, but he's also good enough to guard three positions. The Clippers don't have another point guard like that. All they have are Lou Williams, known for everything but his defense throughout his career, and Reggie Jackson, who had the misfortune of guarding Dončić when he sank the game-winner. Despite his absence, Rivers is still having his guards and wings switch screens. The Mavericks absolutely abused Jackson, in particular, down the stretch. Dončić got whatever he liked when Jackson was on him and made several huge plays in the stretch run to send the game into overtime with Jackson guarding him. Yet Rivers continues to treat Jackson like Beverley, a player who can handle his own on defense. He cannot, as has become clear. On the final play of the game, the Clippers switched on a Maxi Kleber screen that took Kawhi Leonard, the best defender in the world, off Doncic in favor of Jackson. The reasoning isn't completely illogical; with Los Angeles only up by one, trying to keep Leonard on Dončić could have resulted in a wide-open layup for a rolling Kleber or an open shot for Dončić. But if Jackson is going to be out there in those crunchtime situations (as appears to be the case for the near future after today brought no news that Beverley would be back in Game 4), he needs to be schemed like Williams or even Landry Shamet, where they fight over the screen and do their damndest to stick with the ballhandler instead of getting switched onto a bigger or more skilled opponent. It forces the Clippers defense to scramble, sure, but it also doesn't give the Mavericks the ability to dictate whatever matchup they want. The series is tied at two games apiece and Rivers has the talent advantage when it comes to his squad. But the Mavs are coached by Rick Carlisle, who will relentlessly exploit any weakness at all. Rivers has failed to try and force Carlisle to do something, anything different than sending Dončić through a series of screens that gives him a weaker defender than Leonard or George. It's about time he did, or the Clippers might be in more trouble than anyone expected.
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data-mm-id=”_cr46ioyun”>More crazy weather is hitting the country this week and Denver was the target on Thursday. The downtown area got absolutely clobbered by hail as a storm system passed through the city. The hail was so thick the aftermath looked like a snowstorm had hit town. Check some of these videos and photos out:Hail is pelting the heart of Denver. This was taken in RiNo at Brighton and 33rd. #cowx 📸: Lucas Fleissner pic.twitter.com/sfzclwK54t— Denver7 News (@DenverChannel) June 29, 2023Denver #hail in RINO @BianchiWeather pic.twitter.com/5NERrmKJEE— Chris Murphy (@murphyspunch) June 29, 2023#Denver hail. So crazy. 😳 pic.twitter.com/njGSrEgSlP— Liset. (@Liset_Alvarado) June 29, 2023Denver hail strikes again. Currently 3:44pm pic.twitter.co…
data-mm-id=”_x6h02gmyw”>With the NBA preseason underway it's a crucial time to tune in and remember that some guys are playing for new teams. Like Dillon Brooks, who had a very eventful time with the Memphis Grizzlies before LeBron James and the Lakers put an end to that all. The controversial guard is now with the Houston Rockets and wasted no time making a major impact.To Indiana Pacers big man Daniel Theis' under carriage. Dillon Brooks was ejected from the Rockets' preseason game 😅 pic.twitter.com/qWt0RwQBzA— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 11, 2023Theis was immediately frustrated because who isn't when someone whacks them there for an unauthorized cup-check. After a brief video review, officials sent Brooks packing. Getting tossed from your …
data-mm-id=”_56kkwou0q”>The Kansas City Chiefs sleep-walked through the first quarter of their much-anticipated game against the Buffalo Bills. They trailed 14-0 about 20 minutes in when Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce connected on a huge play to convert a 3rd-and-18. It was the type of play that required a replay, analysis and, of course, a cutaway to Kelce's girlfriend — recording artist Taylor Swift — who is once again in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium. CBS lead analyst Tony Romo marveled over the throw so much that it may have distracted him and caused him to identify Swift as Kelce's "wife." Which is both very funny and harmless but will probably set off a hellacious discourse among the Swifites for, like, several weeks even though he realized the mistake…
data-mm-id=”_vv4dz1fbv”>President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with congressional leaders this afternoon in the Oval Office and they surely talked about something important that people care about but that's not the point here. Because how could any human being possibly focus on something other than the Category 5 inferno that was commanding the room from the fire place?That fire knew somewhere deep in its initimate core that it was performing on the world stage and left nothing on the table. You first notice it when they do the wideshot, then you notice the tremendous sound crackling and roaring in equal parts. Then C-SPAN takes a tight shot of Biden and it honestly looks like he's been green-screened into one of the two volcano movies they made at the same …
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data-mm-id=”_41hb08m0f”>Get ready for a Southern showdown as the Georgia Southern Eagles head to Oxford, Mississippi, to take on Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. This matchup pits a Georgia Southern team coming off a big win against South Carolina State against an Ole Miss squad that has been steamrolling its competition all season long.WATCH: Ole Miss vs Georgia Southern Live | Stream free on FuboThe Eagles are flying into Oxford with some momentum, currently sitting at 2-1 after a dominant win over South Carolina State. Georgia Southern looked sharp in that game, but they know that squaring off against the Rebels will be a whole different challenge.Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin and his Ole Miss Rebels are firing on all cylinders. After dismantling Wake Fores…
Arsenal will be keeping a close eye on striker Dusan Vlahovic’s contract situation at Juventus with a view to a possible summer bid, it has been claimed.
The Serbian international is Juve’s top scorer with 16 goals in 28 league outings this season, despite themselves having a disappointing campaign in which they have particularly struggled to find the net. haul accounts for over a third of their strikes this season.
Arsenal transfer link to Dusan Vlahovic just won’t sod off
This is far from the first time have been linked with a move for Vlahovic, who has been reported as a Gunners target for over two years.
The connection was revived earlier this season and rumbled on throughout the January transfer window, which always reeks to us of an agent drummin…
Erik ten Hag, manager of the worst coached team in the Premier League , has insisted he will keep fighting and remains adamant he is the man to take Manchester United forward next season.
United were embarrassed by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, defending terribly and failing to create anything of note in the absence of Bruno Fernandes, as a brace from Michael Olise and further goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell condemned the Red Devils to their 13th defeat of the season, the most in a campaign in their history.
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Mikel Arteta vowed Arsenal would come back stronger and win the Premier League after they suffered title heartbreak for a second season in a row.
claimed a late 2-1 win over Everton on the final day but Manchester City’s 3-1 victory at home to West Ham crowned them champions for a fourth consecutive year.
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