The Heat have pushed the Knicks to the brink and will push them over the edge in Game Five.
But I’m not sure the Lakers-Warriors series is over, even with L.A. up 3-1. But, yeah, if I were Lakers coach Darvin Ham, I’d probably start Lonnie Walker again in Game Five. Lonnie Legend?
No suspension for the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic following his forearm flipper applied to Suns owner Mat Ishbia in Game Four. I think that’s the right decision. We can turn the page on that one, especially since Ishbia is OK with it. I want to see both teams at full strength tonight in Denver with the series tied at two.
I’ve said throughout the NFL offseason that I expect Bears QB Justin Fields to be among the league’s most improved players in 2023. That guy is figuring things out, and he is a marvelous physical talent. But for about a week now, I’ve been hearing people who ought to know better claiming that Fields will be a strong MVP candidate. That’s ridiculous. But it speaks to Fields’ growing maturity that he just finished up his degree at Ohio State. Applause for the young man.
Who knew that Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco was playing hurt last year? The team confirms that Pacheco is recovering from offseason surgeries on a hand and a labrum. That guy was one of the league’s most pleasant surprises in his rookie season and starred in SB XVII, rushing for 76 yards and a TD. Not bad for a seventh-round draft choice out of Rutgers. Pacheco should be good to go for training camp in July.
Mahomes will have two new tackles protecting him this year. Free agent acquisition Jawaan Taylor will play right tackle, while recently signed vet Donovan Smith will protect #15’s blind side.
While the Broncos’ 2022 collapse was stunning, I expect them to be right back in the mix in the AFC West this year, primarily because Sean Payton is now their head coach. That Denver D is still among the league’s best, and will still feature veteran safety Kareem Jackson, who Monday signed a one-year deal to remain with the team.
Texans owner Cal McNair says he did not force his team’s front office to draft C.J. Stroud. Why is that an issue? Why is that a question? Why is that a thing? Looks to me like everything fell into place pretty well for Houston.
I expect the Cowboys to be very good. But I also expect the Eagles to be at least a little better.
OK, so I’m a geek. Do you hear me ever denying it? But I’m excited about Thursday’s release of the NFL schedule. That’s when everything gets real for me. Some schedule “leakage” will begin on Wednesday, when we’ll find out who is going to match up in the international games in London and Germany.
OK, Irsay. You made your point. You don’t want teams trying to lure Andrew Luck out of retirement. But he’s not coming out of retirement. So let it go.
Of course, I expect the Astros to straighten themselves out. But I wish they would start immediately. Houston has now fallen back under .500 following Monday’s come-from-ahead loss to the Angels.
Last week Alabama fired its baseball coach amidst concerns he was involved in sports gambling. I raised an eyebrow. But Monday we learned that both Iowa and Iowa State are investigating some of their student-athletes for illegal sports gambling. Here goes the other eyebrow as well. This is really starting to worry me.
I will largely withhold comment for now, but the Tiger thing is really going to get ugly.
I almost never call someone a bad guy. But West Virginia basketball coach Bob Huggins is a bad guy, and always has been throughout his four-decade coaching career. Bobby, you used WHAT homophobic slur on a Cincinnati radio broadcast Monday? Later apology not accepted. I expect WVU to drop the hammer.
