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How we got here: The 2021-22 NBA season as told by #NBATwitteron June 20, 2022 at 1:44 pm

By now you know the Golden State Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics to win the NBA Finals in a six-game series that was almost as unpredictable as Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid‘s Twitter activity. What you might not know: How you’re going to fill the gaping hole in your evening plans where watching elite-level basketball used to reside.

While we can’t help you with that particular conundrum, we can make you feel even more nostalgic for the 2021-22 season by regaling you with some of the defining #NBATwitter moments of the past nine months — we’re already in our feelings, so might as well go full send.

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If you’re not familiar with the mammoth sports community that is #NBATwitter (weird, but OK), some of this might be news to you. If you are well-versed in the space, most of this will likely be a refresher. Either way, you can think of the following as an #NBATwitter yearbook of sorts. HAGS … that’s “have a good summer” for the untrained eye.

The birth of Bing Bong

Linsanity walked, so “Bing Bong” could run. The New York Knicks‘ season was off to such a strong start … until it wasn’t. The subway doors-inspired rallying cry — which was adopted by fans and took on a life of its own — lasted longer than the Knicks’ winning record, but all the “Bing Bong” hoopla still made for some fun nights on NBA Twitter.

On this particular night, after Orlando handed New York its first loss of the season, it was probably a little more fun for Magic fans.

You really do hate to see it.

Sweatergate

It was a choice. Kyle Kuzma took a (large) risk when he decided to step out in an oversized, pink sweater on Nov. 22. Fashion-forward (and sometimes outlandish) fits have long been ingrained in the fabric of the Association, but this was something else entirely.

To say #NBATwitter took notice would be putting it mildly.

The Raf Simons sweater, priced at a cool $1,360.94, also elicited feedback from the Washington Wizards forward’s former Los Angeles Lakers teammates.

“Ain’t no f—ing way you wore that!!!” LeBron James commented on Kuzma’s Instagram post. “I’m not pressing the like button cause this is outrageous Kuz!” Anthony Davis echoed LeBron’s sentiment, writing “You’re outta line sir!!!!”

Now you’re just somebody KD used to know

Listen, the basketball gods did James Harden no favors in letting news of his trade from the Brooklyn Nets to the Philadelphia 76ers break the same day as the NBA All-Star draft. Meanwhile, team captain Kevin Durant did his former teammate no favors in passing on selecting him seven times.

Durant using his last pick on Rudy Gobert instead of Harden? Wildly uncomfortable. LeBron’s reaction? Priceless.

Troel Embiid has entered the chat

Speaking of salty reactions from ex-teammates, Joel “Troel” Embiid had thoughts about the trade that sent Harden to Philly along with Paul Millsap in exchange for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and draft picks.

The king of cryptic tweets enlisted the help of a Twitter meme to make his formerly diplomatic feelings perfectly clear about Simmons, who was once viewed as his forever running mate.

On the off chance you’re not eternally online, the photo originated from an Instagram user who posted that he showed up at “one of my biggest haters’ funeral” just to ensure his hater was deceased.

Embiid’s Simmons send-off wasn’t the only time Troel raised eyebrows online this season. During Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Celtics and Heat, he turned to Twitter fingers to lament Miami’s need for another star.

Given the Heat had eliminated the 76ers in the previous round of the playoffs — and Embiid’s close relationship with ex-Philly teammate and current Miami star Jimmy Butler — the response from #NBATwitter was fast and frenzied, with many fans convinced Embiid was eyeing a move to South Beach.

LeBron’s deleted tweet … and other musings

The thing about the internet is you can’t really take something back. Even if you change your mind or think better of a tweet a few hours later, once you hit “send,” it’s out there — this lesson rings especially true if your name is LeBron James and you have over 51.5 million followers.

So was the case with the following message LeBron shared on Aug. 4, 2021, about the Lakers’ offseason moves: “Keep talking about my squad, our personnel ages, the way he plays, he stays injured, we’re past our time in this league, etc etc etc. Do me one favor PLEASE!!!! And I mean PLEASE!!! Keep that same narrative ENERGY when it begins! That’s all I ask.”

If the above hadn’t already been deleted by LeBron, it would have no doubt been fodder for @OldTakesExposed and the like as the Lakers’ season imploded.

For King James’ sake, here’s hoping his April 22 tweet in which he vowed to never miss the postseason again during his career ages better.

Tee Morant has a series

While being the father of up-and-coming Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is a cool claim to fame in its own right, being a dead ringer for Usher makes for a better party trick. It’s also more useful for being featured on a “Look-Alike” cam.

On April 16, a tweet likening Morant’s father, Tee, to the eight-time Grammy-winning R&B singer had #NBATwitter doing a double take. The only thing left to do was to get Tee and Usher in a room together. On April 26, the Grizzlies delivered.

The uncanny Usher resemblance was just one of the reasons Tee took center stage during the postseason. Earlier in Memphis’ first-round series he made a wager with Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns’ father that called for the losing dad to wear the jersey of the winning son.

Not only did Morant win the bet, he quite possibly scored some Usher tickets in the process. Not bad for a series’ work.

The saga of the ‘Luka Special’

Underestimate Luka Doncic at your own peril. It’s a lesson Devin Booker & Co. learned firsthand during the Western Conference semifinals. The series between the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks was heated from the start. But one particular Game 5 moment would become a gift that keeps on giving for the #NBATwitter faithful.

In the third quarter, as the Suns were blowing out the Mavs, Dorian Finney-Smith fouled Booker as the Phoenix guard was driving to the hoop. Booker went down on the floor and stayed there to sell the foul. As a courtside fan captured, he wasn’t injured, rather having a laugh. He then proceeded to call what he was doing the “Luka Special.”

As you’ll recall, the Mavs went on to win Game 6 and force a Game 7 in which the +6.5 underdogs blew out the Suns 123-90. Dallas was led by Doncic, who had 35 points, 10 boards and 4 assists in only 30 minutes in the win. “You can’t get this smile off my face right now,” Doncic said after the victory. “I’m just really happy.”

Once fans unearthed a photo of Luka uninhibitedly smiling at Book in Game 6, the “Luka Special” took on new meaning.

The Dallas Fort Worth airport even got involved.

Nothing says “taking an L” quite like getting trolled by a public transportation hub.

Pat Bev slanders CP3

DBook wasn’t the only one taking flak after the Suns’ untimely exit from the postseason. On the morning after the Game 7 blowout, Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley joined First Take and Get Up! to share his thoughts on what happened — and did he ever.

Beverley, who admittedly has had beef with Chris Paul since high school, held absolutely nothing back. He even went as far as to compare the 12-time All-Star to a practice cone.

#NBATwitter came alive in support of CP3, with the general consensus being: You don’t say that.

Curry predictions

Not to reignite the ol’ Stephen Curry vs. LeBron James rivalry, but in a tale of two proclamations, one aged considerably better than the other. While LeBron’s defense of the Lakers’ shift to a relatively older roster was for naught, Curry’s declaration after being eliminated by the Grizzlies in the play-in tournament in 2021 proved to be spot on.

But long before the Warriors hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the fourth time in eight seasons and Steph earned a previously elusive Finals MVP award, it was Candace Parker who was manifesting for the Golden State star. Ahead of the Warriors’ Nov. 8 game against Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, Parker said Steph would have a 50-piece.

A casual 50 points and 10 assists later, and the Chicago Sky star was looking prophetic.

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How we got here: The 2021-22 NBA season as told by #NBATwitteron June 20, 2022 at 1:44 pm Read More »

The 10 questions that will dominate the NBA offseasonon June 20, 2022 at 1:00 pm

The NBA Finals wrapped up only a few days ago, but The Association’s calendar stops for no one.

This week, the next generation of players will be welcomed into the league when the Orlando Magic begin the 2022 NBA draft Thursday night at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. From there, free agency and summer league will follow, as teams begin blueprinting how they can catch up to the defending champion Golden State Warriors.

Will some of the biggest names worth watching this summer — including Zach LaVine, Bradley Beal and Jalen Brunson — remain with their current teams? Where is the Deandre Ayton saga headed with the Phoenix Suns? How will the Los Angeles Lakers retool around LeBron James and Anthony Davis after last season’s failed run to the playoffs?

Here’s a look at the top 10 questions facing the NBA heading into what should be, as always, an eventful offseason.

Mock draft: First-round changes and lottery movement

1. How will the Warriors reload for their title defense?

Golden State emerged from two seasons in the wilderness by claiming a fourth title in eight years and reestablishing its dynasty. A fifth title, though, will require some expensive decisions.

Kevon Looney, whose interior defense and offensive rebounding played a critical role in the Warriors’ run, is likely to get a significant raise from $5.2 million in 2021-22. The same could be true for Gary Payton II, the Warriors’ defensive ace who, after years of fighting to gain a solid foothold in the NBA, seems set to get more than the minimum for the first time in his career.

Extension decisions also await the Warriors, specifically with Andrew Wiggins, who has one year left on his deal, and Jordan Poole, who is a year away from restricted free agency. After spending a record $350 million in combined payroll and luxury tax payments in 2021-22, the Warriors are on pace to hit $400 million in each of the next two seasons.

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Amar’e Stoudemire and JJ Redick assess LeBron James’ chances of winning a fifth NBA championship.

2. How will the Lakers retool around LeBron James and Anthony Davis?

When LeBron came to Los Angeles, he had reached the playoffs in 13 straight seasons. In four seasons with the Lakers, he has now missed the playoffs twice — and L.A.’s 33-49 mark this season was the worst of his career. Changing those fortunes will require a lot of work this summer. It began with hiring former Milwaukee Bucks assistant Darvin Ham to replace Frank Vogel as head coach.

Next up? Figuring out how to fill out a roster that, once Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Nunn opt into their deals, as expected, will be sitting right around the luxury tax line with only six players under contract. (That’s presuming Westbrook will remain in Los Angeles next season, which at the moment seems the most likely path forward.)

Like last summer, the Lakers will be forced to fill the remaining nine roster spots with minimum players and the taxpayer’s midlevel exception. That may not be enough to keep one of their few bright spots from last season, unrestricted free-agent guard Malik Monk.

And by the way, James himself has a decision to make in August: whether or not to extend his contract. If he chooses not to, he can be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2023.

3. Which direction are the Jazz headed?

Utah was expected to face a tumultuous offseason after losing to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round, and that began with coach Quin Snyder resigning from the Jazz after eight successful seasons.

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Now, following two straight disappointing postseason exits, the focus will shift to how Jazz CEO Danny Ainge will reshape this team in his first full offseason in charge — namely whether that will include breaking up the All-Star partnership of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert after five seasons together.

Without a pick in Thursday’s draft, the Jazz don’t have many options to dramatically change the roster. And of course, there’s the decision Ainge will make on who will succeed Snyder on Utah’s bench, one of two remaining coaching openings in the league. (Charlotte has the other, after Kenny Atkinson accepted the job last week only to reverse on that decision a few days ago, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.)

After 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was reunited with James Harden at the 2022 trade deadline, it was expected to begin an extended partnership in the City of Brotherly Love.

And while that is still likely to be the case, a disappointing playoff run leaves both sides with decisions. Will Harden choose to opt into his $47 million player option or will he survey the free-agency landscape? Will the two sides agree to a longer-term contract for a lesser number to create some more financial flexibility moving forward?

Elsewhere on Philly’s roster, Danny Green, likely out for all of next season with a knee injury suffered during the playoffs, has a $10 million expiring contract that can be used as a trade chip — along with the No. 23 pick in Thursday’s draft, after Brooklyn opted to take next year’s first-rounder instead as part of the Harden-Ben Simmons trade.

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Stephen A. Smith sounds off on Kyrie Irving’s postgame comments on the Nets’ struggles.

Irving and the Nets have the same set of options as Harden does in Philadelphia.

The Nets, meanwhile, have plenty of decisions to make beyond that, as they try to improve on last season’s disappointing first-round sweep at the hands of the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics.

Patty Mills has a player option for next season, while one of the team’s best defensive players, Bruce Brown, will be an unrestricted free agent. Nic Claxton, a rim presence at both ends who fills a need in which Brooklyn is in short supply, is a restricted free agent.

The Nets, who must also fill several spots at the end of the bench, are expected once again to be one of the most expensive rosters in NBA history.

6. Will Deandre Ayton remain with the Phoenix Suns?

What a difference a year makes.

In June 2021, the Phoenix Suns were enjoying their first trip to the NBA Finals in nearly 30 years, and Ayton was being praised for his integral role in helping the franchise get there.

But after a second-round exit against the Mavericks thanks to a blowout loss in Game 7 — Ayton was benched for most of that second half — the future of the 2018 No. 1 pick is unclear.

Will Phoenix agree to a sign-and-trade deal with Ayton to reshape the roster and move on from him? Or will he sign an offer sheet elsewhere that would likely lead to the Suns matching?

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Jalen Brunson steps up with 41 points to lead the Mavericks to a 110-104 win and even the series in Luka Doncic’s absence.

7. What will Zach LaVine, Bradley Beal and Jalen Brunson do?

The three guards in their mid to late 20s will be unrestricted free agents next month.

LaVine is coming off knee surgery this offseason but is likely to have his choice of max contract offers — though a return to the Chicago Bulls, who traded for him five years ago, seems the most likely outcome. The odds are that Beal will make a similar decision and re-sign with the Washington Wizards once he opts out of the final year of his contract between now and June 30.

The more interesting situation lies in Dallas, where Brunson — a critical part of the Mavericks’ run to the Western Conference finals — will be an unrestricted free agent at 25 years old. After agreeing to a trade for Christian Wood last week, a deal with Brunson could push the Mavericks deep into the luxury tax.

The New York Knicksa team to which Brunson has many ties, including his father, Rick, who was hired to Tom Thibodeau’s coaching staff this offseason — could make a healthy offer to lure him away. So could the Detroit Pistons, who would provide an intriguing fit for him next to last year’s No. 1 pick, Cade Cunningham.

8. How will the top of the NBA draft shake out?

The top three picks in this year’s draft, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, are projected to be Auburn’s Jabari Smith, Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren and Duke’s Paolo Banchero. The order, however, remains a bit unclear.

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Givony projects Smith to be the Magic’s selection at the top, followed by Holmgren going second to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Banchero going third to the Houston Rockets.

After the top three, things get unpredictable in a hurry. The Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans have the next five selections.

9. What will the combo guard market look like in free agency?

One of the more intriguing aspects of free agency is how four fairly similar players, restricted free agents Anfernee Simons (Portland) and Collin Sexton (Cleveland Cavaliers) and extension candidates Poole (Golden State) and Tyler Herro (Miami Heat), wind up being paid. All four are explosive offensive players with, shall we say, questionable defensive abilities.

Simons is likely to stay in Portland, particularly after CJ McCollum was dealt midseason to clear a spot next to Damian Lillard for him. Sexton’s free agency will be interesting, as he missed virtually the entire season after undergoing meniscus surgery — and Cleveland already has lots of money on its books moving forward.

Both Poole and Herro will be fascinating extension candidates, as they both have played big parts in Finals runs — Poole in Golden State’s title run this year, and Herro helping Miami make the Finals two years ago.

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Marcus Spears breaks down why Zion Williamson can be a cornerstone for the Pelicans if his commitment level is high.

10. How many of the top players in the 2019 draft class will be extended right away?

The Memphis Grizzlies and Ja Morant will all but certainly agree to a max contract extension at the start of free agency. But three of the other top five picks in the 2019 NBA draft — Zion Williamson (New Orleans Pelicans), RJ Barrett (New York) and Darius Garland (Cleveland) could have slightly more complex negotiations.

Both Williamson and Pelicans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin have talked about re-signing with New Orleans, but after playing a combined 85 games across his first three NBA seasons — including zero in 2021-22 — there could be some negotiating surrounding potential guarantees in the deal as protections for New Orleans moving forward.

Barrett could become the first Knick to be extended off his rookie contract since Charlie Ward in 1999. Despite Barrett making improvements across his first three seasons, it could be a complicated negotiation ahead for both sides, particularly if Barrett is looking for something close to a max extension.

Garland, on the other hand, will be looking for something in that range after a breakout third season that saw him make his first All-Star Game and finish third in Most Improved Player voting.

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The 10 questions that will dominate the NBA offseasonon June 20, 2022 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Look out, NBA: Golden State has no plans of slowing down thanks to young coreon June 20, 2022 at 12:54 pm

PRACTICE BEFORE GAME 2 of the NBA Finals had not begun yet but rookies Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody took a moment on the Golden State Warriors bench to soak up the rare atmosphere inside Chase Center.

Everywhere their young eyes turned, there was a not-so-subtle reminder of exactly where they were. Flashing repeatedly on the gigantic big screen, on the LED board that wraps around the arena, on the scorer’s table and even on the seats they were sitting in, the NBA Finals cursive-script logo and Larry O’Brien Trophy were impossible to miss.

“What do you think?” Kuminga asked Moody as they looked at the Finals signage.

“What do you think when it’s us running this team one day?”

While Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were fortifying the Golden State dynasty by winning their fourth championship in eight years and defeating the Boston Celtics, the Warriors were also doing something that no champion in recent memory has done. As coach Steve Kerr put it, the Warriors were also “raising” two 2021 NBA lottery picks during this title run and hoping the championship masterclass Kerr and his Big Three delivered each day of their quest left a permanent imprint on the pair.

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“They’re going to have to [eventually] chart their own course, and fight their own fight,” said Bob Myers, the Warriors’ president of basketball operations. “They’re lucky that they get to see what it looks like.

“Steph, Klay and Draymond never got this advanced kind of scouting on what the Finals is and the playoffs. They had to go through it and find a path. This is why it’s huge for young guys to just taste it, see it and hopefully crave it.”

Kuminga and Moody will be parading down Market Street in San Francisco with the Larry O’Brien Trophy during Monday’s Warriors championship parade, nearly a year after they were drafted.

Kuminga and Moody are the first rookie lottery-pick teammates to play in the NBA Finals, and they are the youngest pair of teammates to win a championship, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Add on 2020 No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman — who missed this past season because of a knee injury, though Myers says he is expected to go through contact soon and participate in next month’s summer league — and Golden State returns a trio of lottery picks in their third season or less for the title defense.

The tradeoff of going through the misery of losing Thompson to two devastating injuries and Curry to a wrist injury, enduring 50 losses in 2019-20 and not making the playoffs for two straight seasons is a championship core and a new generation of lottery talent to groom in Wiseman, Kuminga and Moody. Along with 23-year-old Jordan Poole, the young players will push for more significant roles next season.

Green had his doubts earlier this past season about whether this was the recipe for another championship: a combination of experienced vets and young first-round picks to develop.

“When you look around at how championship teams have historically been built, unless it is a super young team like the Warriors early on that had veterans around us, then you just really haven’t seen it before,” Green said. “Historically, we just hadn’t seen it work.”

Golden State resisted the urge to trade away its future to add more experience after it started the season 27-6, and the Warriors made it back to the NBA mountaintop again. While most defending champs have to find creative ways to keep key players and improve, the Warriors next season will boast a pair of homegrown lottery picks who enter their second year with invaluable playoff and Finals experience, no matter how little they played.

Now, the Warriors’ championship DNA also flows through Kuminga and Moody.

“Most people spend their career chasing that,” Green said. “And worried like, I need to get to this team, I need to be around these guys, we need that coach. If you are not a loser, which we have a bunch of come through this league, then you worry about that your entire career.

“For them to not have that worry moving forward, like you already have that stamp of ‘I’m a champion.’ Now everything you do from there, you can do it from a different space. You are not chasing anything or really wanting for that, which some people never get.”

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Relive the top moments from every game of the 2022 NBA Finals as the Warriors defeat the Celtics to reclaim their spot atop the NBA.

THE INTOXICATING AROMA of champagne can be detected down the hallway from the visitor’s locker room in TD Garden after Golden State’s triumph over Boston in six games. Kuminga and Moody are soaking in something no rookie lottery-pick teammates have ever experienced.

As Warriors players go to take professional photos with the championship trophy, Kuminga, 19, holds it like a baby, nestling it into his left arm. Moody, who turned 20 last month, holds the greatest prize in the sport like an expensive guitar.

The Warriors’ grizzled veterans hope that this moment isn’t lost on the duo they’ve been trying to raise all season long into NBA champs.

“They’re 19-year-old kids,” said Andre Iguodala, who started his pro career in 2004, two years after Kuminga was born. “They’re supposed to be on college campuses learning about themselves, who they are as people, what they like instead of these guys making five-plus million dollars a year, got all the pressures, the madness of having money and being in the spotlight. You can become jaded. You can start taking these things for granted.”

This was Iguodala’s seventh NBA Finals. And he made sure to tell Kuminga and Moody to record this moment, even “take pictures.”

Articulating these tips to teens without sounding like a parent can be tricky at times with the generational gap.

Green noticed earlier this past season that every time he saw Kuminga walk by him, the teen would “start laughing.”

“I’m 32 and he’s 19,” Green said. “And what I like to do may just not be cool to him. … Imagine when you see one of the old heads doing something. … You’re really laughing at the fact that that’s so old-school that it’s funny.

“That’s how I feel like he was looking at me, like, ‘Dude, you’re just old. You move old. You look old.'”

Kuminga — a raw forward from Congo drafted No. 7 overall after playing one season with the G League Ignite — has had to be more patient than some of his lottery peers. Kuminga played a total of eight minutes in the NBA Finals. He averaged 9.3 points in 70 regular-season games and 5.2 PPG in 16 playoff appearances.

The Golden State Warriors beat the Boston Celtics 4-2 in the Finals.

GAME 6: GS 103, BOS 90
o Curry captures first Finals MVP
o Stars hit social media to congratulate Warriors

GAME 5: GS 104, BOS 94
o Whatever it takes: How Warriors won G5
o Warriors are suffocating C’s game plan

GAME 4: GS 107, BOS 97
o Curry’s epic game changes series
o Celtics, Warriors need their big men

GAME 3: BOS 116, GS 100
o C’s use size, quickness to regain control
o Curry in unfamiliar underdog territory

GAME 2: GS 107, BOS 88
o Steph was a problem for the Celtics
o C’s lament more third-quarter woes

GAME 1: BOS 120, GS 108
o Boston’s win one year in the making
o Celtics beat Dubs at their game

“I learned that he was a freakish athlete,” said Warriors center Kevon Looney, who will be a free agent along with Gary Payton II and Otto Porter Jr. “He’s one of those different type of athletes … like the best athletes in the NBA, Andre at his peak, guys like LeBron.”

The 6-foot-7 forward started 12 games as a rookie and played some key playoff minutes in the second round against Memphis when Green was ejected in Game 1 for a flagrant foul 2, and in Game 2 when Green needed stitches after being hit in the eye. Kuminga also scored 18 points in Golden State’s blowout win over Memphis in Game 3 and 17 points twice in blowout losses against Memphis and Dallas, respectively.

While other rookies such as Orlando’s Franz Wagner (No. 8 overall) and Sacramento’s Davion Mitchell (No. 9 overall) logged more minutes in the regular season on non-contenders, Kuminga had to bide his time and learn.

But unlike the other lottery picks, Kuminga and Moody now have championship experience.

“I never really worry about whether we’re playing, not playing,” Kuminga said. “As long as I’m still here, learning, getting better every day. When my moments get called, I know I’ll be ready. … Everybody here [is] just helping me, way more than dudes [other rookies around the league] are, wherever they are right now.”

Moody, who was drafted after one season at Arkansas, is the more polished rookie. But the shooting guard is still learning from two of the greatest shooters in the game in Curry and Thompson. He also has the emerging Poole ahead of him.

Still, Kerr played the 6-6 Moody in the Western Conference finals against Dallas, and the guard’s 65 minutes were the most in a conference finals by a teenager since Kobe Bryant’s 87 minutes in 1998. Like Kuminga, Moody played sparingly in the Finals, seeing a total of 10 minutes. During the regular season, Moody averaged 4.4 points in 52 games.

Curry, though, repeatedly lauded Moody’s approach and habits, noticing how the rookie works like an experienced veteran every day with the same intensity no matter how little playing time he was getting.

“It’s amazing to see the result in just one short year,” Curry said. “Him coming into a playoff series in the middle of the Western Conference finals and making an impact.

“That’s the stuff you’ll probably look back on and be really proud of because there’s a lot of instability around this league. Not everybody has the infrastructure and the presence to bring guys along like that.”

IN THE MIDDLE section of the Warriors’ team plane on their flight to Boston for Game 6, Myers saw Curry, Thompson and Green sitting together at the same table, laughing and joking.

Myers couldn’t help but appreciate the rarity of the moment. A trio of All-Stars, still enjoying each other’s company after a decade on the same team.

“I think they see it,” Myers said of Kuminga, Moody and Wiseman. “I hope it registers. I’m sure it does, but it might register differently with each of them. They’re all different too. Just like Steph, Klay and Draymond are different. … It’s almost like a band, that the personalities complement each other and that’s how you stay willing to sit next to each other when you don’t have to.”

Perhaps Kuminga and Moody will produce the same championship hits as their predecessors once it is their turn. All they know is, they are world champions already.

“If you give a pig a pancake, then he wants some syrup,” Moody said. “Once I get the championship, you’re going to want something else.”

As for when their turn will come to run the Warriors, Kuminga and Moody will have to wait before the Curry, Thompson and Green era is ready to hand the reins over.

“Eventually, years from now, they’ll pass the baton and see what the other guys can do,” Myers said.

“But it’s a tough act to follow, I’ll tell them that. It’s about as tough of an act to follow as you can find, whoever’s next in line to try to carry that baton.”

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Look out, NBA: Golden State has no plans of slowing down thanks to young coreon June 20, 2022 at 12:54 pm Read More »

Duncan Keith retiring could really hurt the Chicago BlackhawksVincent Pariseon June 20, 2022 at 11:00 am

Of course, Duncan Keith is one of the greatest players to ever play for the Chicago Blackhawks. In fact, there is a case to be made that he is the best defenseman in franchise history. Not many people would argue with it. However, there is a chance that he could hurt his old team this offseason.

The Blackhawks traded Duncan Keith to the Edmonton Oilers last summer. He had a really nice year with his new club as they reached the Western Conference Finals before being eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche.

They are sure to be back in the mix next year as well and it would really help the Blackhawks out if Keith takes advantage of that. The Oilers have asked Duncan Keith to give them clarity on his future plans by July first. That will either be a notice of playing next year or retiring.

If he does choose to retire, the Blackhawks will have a cap recapture penalty for the next two seasons. There will be a 5.5 million dollar hit in 2022-23 and a 2 million dollar hit in 2023-24. That is less than ideal for a team looking to rebuild. Meanwhile, Edmonton will feel cap relief.

The Chicago Blackhawks will get a cap penalty if Duncan Keith retires.

If this happens, however, it won’t be the end of the world. The Blackhawks don’t have any aspirations of winning anything so having that cap hit go to no players won’t hurt them too badly. They will have to work around that extra cap hit which isn’t ideal during a rebuild.

The Edmonton Oilers would love to have Keith back. He was one of their top-four defensemen in 2021-22 and they made it all the way to the Western Conference Final. They would still probably love to make some upgrades to push everyone down a little bit but Keith has been solid.

He isn’t the Norris Trophy-winning defenseman that he was back in his prime but he can contribute some solid minutes to a contender. Continuing to share the ice with some of Edmonton’s superstars surely has to be intriguing as well.

It would be difficult for the Blackhawks to see Keith retire with this cap penalty but that is just the reality of the situation. If he doesn’t, Kyle Davidson can use that extra space to use as a weapon to gain assets for the future. Regardless of what happens, his life is going to be filled with hard decisions about this hockey club.

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Duncan Keith retiring could really hurt the Chicago BlackhawksVincent Pariseon June 20, 2022 at 11:00 am Read More »

The Chicago Bears look to stay fit for the future of the NFL

It’s summertime, and the Chicago Bears have put their players through sweltering offseason practices. Inside the team’s front office, a few people might be feeling the heat, too.

It’s got nothing to do with how draft picks play or whether the team shakes the losing habit this season. It’s about the upcoming financial decision that looms as the biggest in the franchise’s history and ultimately might affect control of the team.

Heading into the second half of the year, the Bears will have to compile serious development plans, and weigh counterproposals, over a new stadium.

Will the team stay in Soldier Field, winning an agreement for a retrofitted stadium that it rents, or go to Arlington Heights, where it has a deal to buy the 326-acre former Arlington International Racecourse for $197.2 million?

Bears President George McCaskey said he wants to close the sale early in 2023. Even if he gets to that point, that’s only one step in a circuitous route.

Taxpayer subsidies will weigh heavily in the decision. The Bears will have digested details of the NFL’s latest deal for a new stadium. The $1.4 billion plan to put the Buffalo Bills in new digs comes courtesy of $850 million in financing from state and local governments, a commitment that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul insists will be repaid from tax revenue the club’s business will generate.

Economists who examine sports subsidies have grown weary of rebutting that argument. Numerous studies contend that stadiums produce a fraction of the promised gains. Yet the subsidies have risen with the construction costs.

“I think it just goes to show that policy decisions don’t seem to be tied to actual knowledge,” Kennesaw State University economics professor J.C. Bradbury told USA Today. The University of Chicago’s Allen Sanderson has argued that stadium fiscal benefits are commonly oversold by a factor of 10.

NFL markets, however, believe they must spend to keep their teams and the prestige they represent. As a percentage of the project costs, the Buffalo Bills subsidy is hardly an outlier.

Reviewing the financing for the 21 new NFL stadiums since 1998, the Buffalo News found public financing commonly was 60% or more. It was 100% in Tampa, Florida. The newest stadium, shared by the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, was the most expensive ever at $5 billion and had zero public subsidies because the uber-rich owner is relying on the development of 300 surrounding acres.

The Bears’ principal owner, Virginia McCaskey, heads a family modestly situated by league standards and without capital to risk. The family has a large third generation that might have different views about keeping the team.

The size of the Arlington Heights venture also has implications for team control. To develop most of the racecourse site, the Bears will need partners or a joint venture for the real estate. The team can count on the NFL to back a charter franchise and on revenue from personal seat licenses, stadium naming rights and more luxury suites, clear advantages over Soldier Field.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, however, has factors in her favor for keeping the Bears. As you read details of stadium subsidies, you get repeated references to bond issues and taxes on retail sales, hotel stays and car rentals, all ready-made Chicago revenue sources Arlington Heights cannot match. The city has better odds of drafting a package for the Bears that doesn’t require state money.

Whichever way the Bears go, the demands from the league and its consultants are to spend more on stadiums. The NFL is the world’s most pumped-up TV show, and it wants staging to match. Trends in stadium design call for more technology sold as enhancing “fan experience,” but it’s really about mining data and separating people from their money. In 2019, analysts in the U.S. sports practice for Deloitte Consulting imagined football fans’ “smart-stadium experience” and described this scene during a big play:

The team bracelet on your wrist pulses faster, in sync with the heartbeat of the running back dashing to the end zone. Your glasses render numbers hovering over the player showing his speed and distance covered as he scores for the home team, while chats from stadium friends scroll down the side of your view. You stomp your feet in rhythm with 80,000 fans, inflating a giant balloon on the Jumbotron until it finally bursts. From the end zone, the running back opens a camera stream that broadcasts a personal message out to VIP ticket holders.

Your smartphone lights up: The bet you placed on the play earns a free sponsored concession. Across the stadium, fan jerseys glow with LEDs blazing the teams’ colors as machine algorithms review the play and stitch together a highlight reel for distribution to networks, social media, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR).

Sheesh — you’ll have to smuggle in a hip flask just to calm your nerves.

The former Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights could make way for a Chicago Bears stadium and other commercial development.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times file

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Chicago White Sox Kopech limited in start vs Astros in 4-3 loss

The Chicago White Sox played the rubber game of the three-game set against the Houston Astros under the lights of Sunday Night Baseball. The White Sox made the game close, with two late runs but ultimately lost 4-3.

The story of the game however was the start of Michael Kopech. After suffering an injury in his previous start, it was unclear if he would pitch in the rotation. The White Sox are reeling with injuries and losing one of their best pitchers for a game would have been another blow. The problem is, the Astros got to Kopech and piled on the runs in the game.

Kopech’s breakdown vs. Astros: 75 pitches. 41 fastballs. 21 sliders. 13 curveballs.

Kopech was pitching at 80%

The previous start for Kopech was a nightmare for the White Sox and the fanbase. The pitcher who is having a breakout year left with an apparent knee injury. Throughout the week, manager Tony La Russa was optimistic that he would be fine to start on Sunday. Kopech was healthy enough to start, that was clear in the game.

The problem was that Kopech, powering through the injury, was pitching at 80% or less. The injury still lingered, and it was clear that he was laboring. The Astros constantly made contact and got on base, scoring an early run in the first inning. Furthermore, Kopech didn’t last long in his start, with a five-inning outing instead of the usual six or seven the team has received this season.

Michael Kopech went 5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, BB, 4 K, 2 HR, 48 of 75 pitches for strikes, with seven swinging strikes.
Not at his best a week removed from a knee injury, but not great luck either. His ERA is 2.38.
Jimmy Lambert is in.

The White Sox were prepared for a short start, with Jimmy Lambert waiting in the bullpen as the bulk pitcher. However, for a team that has received security in their starts from their 26-year-old pitcher, the setback was a tough blow. It makes for an argument of whether it made sense to start a pitcher who was pitching as a shell of himself.

The fastball was down

Kopech has relied on his fastball throughout this season and it has become one of the best pitches throughout the MLB. The pitch is thrown in the high 90s and often paints the high part of the strike zone, giving it a rising fastball feel. Opponents can know the pitch is coming and still struggle to hit it, that’s how good Kopech’s heater has been this season.

Unfortunately, the fastball that normally hits the high 90s was treading in the low 90 range against the Astros. Kopech threw the fastball 41 times but only topped 95 miles per hour once. To make matters worse, the pitch continued to sail to the lower half of the strike zone.

The Astros batters were not only getting to the pitch, but they were also able to get into their swing. Normally, Kopech’s fastball, especially in the upper part of the zone, forces flyouts and awkward swings. Instead, the Astros, even the back half of the lineup, were getting into their swinging motion to power the ball as a result.

The slider and curveball were working. However, with his best pitch taking a step back, the overall night was a letdown, resulting in a difficult outing. The White Sox were coming off a much-needed sweep of the Detroit Tigers and were hoping to carry momentum into the weekend. Instead, the team once again is left middling.

White Sox exit weekend with mixed bag

To be fair, the White Sox faced one of the best teams in the American League, second-best record-wise. Like the New York Yankees a few weeks ago and the Los Angeles Dodgers last week, the Astros were a measuring stick. They are a team the White Sox can not only play to see how they stack up against the elite teams but also to see the weaknesses of the roster.

With this in mind, the weekend had its promising signs. The lineup continued to pile in runs, scoring seven in the win on Saturday and 13 on the weekend. The team completed the road trip with four wins in six games, meaning they slightly gained ground in a divisional race that is shaping up to be an interesting one.

However, the White Sox once again displayed weaknesses. On Sunday night, they had plenty of baserunners but failed to make contact to drive in runs, squandering chances to come back in the game. The White Sox also saw the top of the batting order struggle in the final game of the series, with Luis Robert being the only batter to record a hit in the first five spots in the lineup. This team has already played a roller-coaster season and is within striking distance of the division lead. However, they need to still turn things around and get on a run and they have yet to do that.

Make sure to check out our WHITE SOX forum for the latest on the team.

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White Sox fall to Astros, head home after 4-2 road trip

HOUSTON — It’s been a rough and turbulent 64 games for the White Sox, a team that’s not supposed to be fighting to get to .500 in mid June. Injuries have strewn upheaval all about the roster, shaky play has cost them games and the manager has been booed and his firing called for at home games.

Tony La Russa has seen his Sox (31-33) play better of late, a 4-3 loss to the Astros Sunday notwithstanding. They dropped two of three in Houston but swept the Tigers for a 4-2 road trip.

La Russa just wants to get to .500 and climb from there.

“You can be a contender at .500 but under .500 you’re always upstream, upstream,” he said Sunday. “Get over it then you start getting plusses, then you get double figures and the vibe changes.”

La Russa has been upstreaming, too, but has at least one important voice at his back.

“As a person, as a leader, he’s all that you can ask for in a manager,” Jose Abreu said through translator Billy Russo before Sunday’s game. “I’m glad that he’s our manager.

“We all support Tony because we all know at the end of the day it’s our responsibility to perform the way we can perform on the field. It’s not his responsibility.

“It’s easy to blame the manager when things aren’t going right, but at the end of the day, it’s on us. We are the ones who are performing on the field.”

La Russa was appreciative of the support.

“You have to please the people that hired you and you have to please the fans who pay to watch your team play,” La Russa said. “But in the end, the opinion that means the most are the guys in the clubhouse. If they quit playing for you, I leave.”

Michael Kopech made his first start since throwing 13 pitches the previous Sunday and leaving with right knee soreness, and it wasn’t great. He gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings, three of the runs on homers by J.J. Matijevic and Maricio Dubon. Matijevic’s 343-foot opposite field homer into the Crawford Boxes was his first career hit.

Kopech said he felt fine. He threw 75 pitches and threw his right elbow at an object on the bench in frustration.

“The truth is I care a lot about this game and I want to pitch to my ability and be the best competitor I can be,” Kopech said. “I wasn’t any of those things today. It was an emotional challenge and it got the better of me today. It happens.

“Just didn’t do my job. Have to make better pitches.”

The Sox’ offensive punch came on Luis Robert’s RBI double to right center field against Cristian Javier in the fifth, AJ Pollock’s RBI triple scoring Robert from first in the eighth and Jake Burger’s groundout that plated Pollock to get the Sox within one.

Ryan Pressly walked Josh Harrison leading off the ninth but Adam Haseley, Danny Mendick and Andrew Vaughn were retired and the Sox headed home for Chicago.

When last seen there, the Sox went 2-4 on a home stand against the Dodgers and Rangers. Fans let La Russa know they were unhappy. At times some made it clear they want him to leave.

When the Sox play the Rangers Monday night, Tim Anderson will be back at shortstop and leading off.

“And we’ll be better because he’s there,” La Russa said.

“Having him back is going to be huge for us,” Abreu said.

And Lance Lynn will let his big presence be felt on the mound.

“If everybody stays healthy, we’re going to be in a good position,” Abreu said. “One loss doesn’t change the whole picture of the season. Try to stay healthy and perform at the level we all know we can.”

“We go 4-2 on every trip, we’ll have a good year,” La Russa said. “And we had a shot [in the ninth] Sunday.”

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Braves avoid sweep with 6-0 victory, provide a template for Cubs to emulate

Keegan Thompson and Justin Steele displayed glimpses of potential in the weekend series against the Braves that provide hope for the Cubs’ rebuilding foundation.

But the Cubs will need more pillars before proving that foundation is sturdy enough to regain their status as a National League title contender.

The reigning World Series champion Braves serve as a model without investing heavily in the free-agent market.

After losing two back-to-back games in the wake of a 14-game winning streak, the Braves rebounded Sunday by pounding Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks en route to a 6-0 triumph at Wrigley Field.

The Braves have built a cohesive roster comprised of dazzling prospects and seasoned veterans. Ian Anderson, 24, who pitched five no-hit innings to beat the Astros in Game 3 of the 2021 World Series, controlled the Cubs with 6? scoreless innings.

Michael Harris II, 21, the Braves’ top prospect whom they declined to trade while acquiring first baseman Matt Olson from the Athletics, fueled a three-run fifth with a home run against Hendricks.

Travis d’Arnaud, 33, set the tone with a three-run homer against Hendricks in the first and provides balance behind the plate with William Contreras, 24.

”There’s an unlimited amount of young talent,” said Cubs left-hander Drew Smyly, who posted an 11-4 record in 29 games for the Braves last season. ”Everyone is young over there, except for Charlie Morton, and he’s on a whole different level with the way he pitches at 38, throwing 98 [mph]. He gets better every year. He’s like a fine wine.”

Morton pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, but Thompson countered with six-plus scoreless innings as the Cubs seized a 1-0 victory in the series opener Friday. But the Braves haven’t lost more than two consecutive games this season.

Meanwhile, injuries have compounded the Cubs’ growing pains, and May sensation Christopher Morel is six for his last 36 with 17 strikeouts.

Hendricks (2-6) has an 8.10 ERA in his last five starts and has a 15.00 ERA with nine homers allowed in his last three starts against the Braves.

”Right now . . . repeating that [consistency] from outing to outing has been a little bit of a struggle,” manager David Ross said.

The Braves have survived nicely without first baseman Freddie Freeman, who signed with the Dodgers after Olson was acquired. Olson went 3-for-3 with three doubles Sunday, including one that knocked out Hendricks in the fifth.

”It’s mostly the same team they had last year, minus Freeman, so I see a team that’s hungry to win, competitive and pretty good,” Cubs infielder Jonathan Villar said.

The buy-in process by the young players has allowed the Braves to win and develop consistently, even as they recover from the loss of speedy second baseman Ozzie Albies to a fractured left foot.

”We do a really good job in the minor leagues of preparing our guys,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. ”We’ve got guys like Greg Walker, Terry Pendleton and Eddie Perez before I stole him from the minors. They’reestablished and very successful major-league players and coaches, and they do a great job of preparing these guys.

”And none of them know before they get [to the majors]. I don’t think anyone does until you get here and do this. And the makeup of the player has a lot to do with it. We pride ourselves on the makeup of our players in the system.”

Shortstop Dansby Swanson, who is batting 381 in his last 26 games, might be peaking as he reaches free agency.

”We want a finished product,” Snitker said. ”It doesn’t work that way. It takes a lot of at-bats and years to figure things out. I think he’s starting to do it.”

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Cubs manager David Ross will be tested by 13-pitcher limit

After two extensions, Major League Baseball’s edict for teams to trim their staffs to 13 pitchers will take effect Monday. And it will put Cubs manager David Ross’ patience to the test.

Because of blowout deficits, Ross has been forced to use a position player to pitch four times and would prefer that it never happens again.

”I’ve seen all I want to see from my end,” Ross said. ”But I could have made that comment earlier, and I refrain from it.”

Nevertheless, Ross will try to protect the health of the pitchers, which means he might be forced to continue using position players to pitch in blowouts.

With 13-man staffs, Ross envisions teams will deploy more multi-inning relievers, especially those who are effective against hitters on both sides of the plate.

Because of the late start of a 3.5-week spring training, teams were allowed to carry as many as 14 pitchers through May 2. They then were issued extensions through May 30 and Sunday. Ross appreciated the leniency.

”They’re doing that, in theory, to keep the starters in the game,” Ross said.

The reduction in relievers might mean that Ross could use Scott Effross for longer stints but not as frequently. Effross leads the majors with 31 appearances and has pitched more than one inning six times, He has a 3.10 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

Adrian Sampson stated his case by pitching 4 2/3 innings of one-hit ball Sunday against the Braves.

Suzuki’s slate

Right fielder Seiya Suzuki will continue his rehabilitation for a sprained left ring finger at the Cubs’ complex in Mesa, Arizona, while the team embarks on a seven-game trip.

There is no indication when Suzuki will return, and Ross intimated he will need a rehab assignment before rejoining the Cubs.

Suzuki hasn’t played since injuring the finger on a slide May 26 at Cincinnati. Ross said the swelling has subsided, but he indicated Suzuki will receive as much baseball work as needed before returning.

”We want to get him as many looks and let him feel comfortable for when he comes back, for sure,” Ross said.

Frazier’s future

Ross was tickled that outfielder Clint Frazier accepted an assignment to Triple-A Iowa after being designated for assignment 10 days ago and clearing waivers.

”I’m so happy for us,” Ross said. ”I think Clint is a real big-leaguer. He’s got a chance to get some regular at-bats down there, get himself locked in and be able to come back. I think that is a real positive for us, and I hope he sees it the same way.”

Reliever Ethan Roberts left after throwing four pitches in his first game on a rehab assignment for Iowa. Roberts hasn’t pitched since April 29 because of inflammation in his right shoulder.

Catcher Miguel Amaya, who underwent Tommy John surgery in November, is scheduled to start playing next Monday in Arizona with the hope he can report to Iowa in a few weeks.

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NBA draft: Bulls’ No. 1 pick up in the air (but aren’t they all?)

It’s NBA draft week, and you know what that means: Every sports outlet with a pulse is doing what it does best — purporting to have more than the faintest clue about what’s going to happen Tuesday night in Brooklyn.

Let alone what’s going to happen with all these draft prospects after that.

You know what the very best thing about Sun-Times Bulls beat writer Joe Cowley’s mock draft is? He mocks it himself, promising it will go irretrievably wrong by pick No. 4. That’s how it’s done, folks.

But everyone else? They’re kidding themselves. That doesn’t mean you have to let them kid you.

Whom will the Bulls select at No. 18 in the first round? It could be any number of players: Ohio State’s E.J. Liddell, LSU’s Tari Eason, Santa Clara’s Jalen Williams, Auburn’s Walker Kessler or none of the above. My money’s on none of the above. And all that is assuming Bulls exec Arturas Karnisovas doesn’t trade the pick, which is an utterly unsafe assumption to make.

And if the Bulls do get their man, then what? Well, he’ll turn into a great player, of course. They’re all great on draft night, just like No. 4 pick Marcus Fizer was in 2000 (“This guy has everything going for him,” Kenny Smith said) and No. 4 pick Eddy Curry was in 2001 (“A very safe pick,” Charles Barkley praised).

Man, what do any of these people know? It reminds me of what some yahoo player said many years back after being taken in the first round by the Bulls:

“Hopefully,” he said, “I can go in and contribute and maybe turn it around.”

Puh-lease.

Oh, wait: That was Michael Jordan in 1984. Never mind.

Here’s what’s happening:

MON 20

Avalanche at Lightning, Game 3 (7 p.m., Ch. 7)

Bold prediction: The Bolts will not lose a second straight Stanley Cup finals game by a touchdown and extra point. Look, these are the two-time-defending champs we’re talking about, not the Blackhawks.

Lynn goes back into the fray.

Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

Blue Jays at White Sox (7:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

Lance Lynn takes the bump for his second start of the season, but back to what really matters: Which is better, filet or ribeye?

TUE 21

NBA draft (6:30 p.m., Ch. 7, ESPN)

Entering the week, the consensus top three was Auburn’s Jabari Smith (Magic), Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren (Thunder) and Duke’s Paolo Banchero (Rockets). After that, it’s all blindfolds and darts.

“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” (9 p.m., HBO)

Forty years after romping to her sixth and final U.S. Open title, 67-year-old Chris Evert — who won 18 Grand Slam events in her extraordinary career — opens up about her battle with ovarian cancer.

Sky at Aces (9 p.m., CBSSN, CW 26)

Going by record, the Aces are the best team in the league. Going by banners, guess what? Different story.

WED 22

Blue Jays at White Sox (1:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

Four starts ago, Lucas Giolito began his day with an ERA of 2.63. Then he got a little off track, two homers by the Jays’ Alejandro Kirk happened, yada yada … it’s 4.78.

Wolves at Thunderbirds, Game 3 (6:05 p.m., AHLTV)

The Wolves — the AHL’s best team all season — can’t wait to hoist the Calder Cup. And they’ll have fun, fun, fun ’til they gladly put the T-Birds away.

Avalanche at Lightning, Game 4 (7 p.m., Ch. 7)

A sweep tonight? The Avs are ridiculously good no matter what, but blowing up Tampa’s dynasty plans in four games would be the ultimate power move.

THU 23

Cubs at Pirates (11:35 a.m., Marquee)

A four-game set in Pittsburgh comes to a close, leaving all of us to wonder: Is there really any chance either of these teams is good enough to finish the season in third place?

Orioles at White Sox (7:10 p.m., NBCSCH)

A four-game set begins, and one truly does have to wonder: If the Sox can’t go at least 3-1 against these guys at home, what’s the point?

Sky at Sparks (9:30 p.m., Marquee)

The Sparks have already fired coach Derek Fisher, still are struggling to get Liz Cambage going and have sunk near the bottom of the West standings. How did this team win the season opener at Wintrust Arena again?

FRI 24

Cubs at Cardinals (7:15 p.m., Apple TV+)

What says baseball better than these age-old rivals playing in the shadow of the Arch on a streaming service with announcers nobody has ever heard of? OK, so it isn’t perfect.

SAT 25

College World Series finals, Game 1 (5 p.m., ESPN)

Notre Dame? Oklahoma? Arkansas? Mississippi? Whichever team wins it all, the title really should come with a Peyton Manning “Omaha!” Award.

Fire at Dynamo (7 p.m., UniMas, TUDN)

Last time out, the Fire snapped a 10-game winless streak. Dare we dream of a two-game lossless streak?

SUN 26

Cubs at Cardinals (1:15 p.m., Marquee)

You’ve got to hand it to the Cards, who are well on their way to a 15th winning season in a row. It’s almost like they don’t even realize great organizations are supposed to rebuild once or twice per decade.

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