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What the Cavs playoff rotation should look like

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 20: Max Strus #1 jokes with Jaylon Tyson #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers gestures before game one of the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Miami Heat at Rocket Arena on April 20, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

This is it. 

The last eight years for the Cleveland Cavaliers will come down to the next eight weeks. From LeBron James leaving town that jumpstarted a rebuild featuring Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. To acquiring Donovan Mitchell in 2022 to start their contention window. To multiple playoff failures, including last year’s catastrophe against the Pacers. To Garland being traded for James Harden in February.

This is without a doubt the most crucial, critical, important…you get the point. There is a lot riding on this Cavs playoff run. They have arguably their deepest and most talented roster of the Mitchell era. They have the experience now with a battle-tested group that is adding someone with 174 playoff games of their own in Harden. Now is the time for them to break through, and it starts with the Toronto Raptors on Saturday.

With that comes tough lineup decisions, and it will be on head coach Kenny Atkinson to push the right buttons. This is what his rotation should look like against the Raptors.

Starters: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen

This lineup projects to be the most reliable and complete unit that Atkinson will put on the floor against Toronto. The sample size is extremely small with this group, but in the 75 possessions this five has shared the court, the Cavs have a +38.9 net rating.

Not much needs to be said about Harden and Mitchell. They are the orchestrators of the offense and are one of the more lethal backcourts in the league. 

Wade, Mobley, and Allen have been Cleveland’s three best defenders for quite some time now. Their length, size, and switchability make them an extremely tough trio to get past on that end. In the 364 possessions those three have together this season, the Cavs have a 99.4 defensive rating. For a team that struggled on the defensive end at times this year, leaning on your best defenders will help alleviate those concerns.

Bench: Sam Merrill, Max Strus, Keon Ellis, Jaylon Tyson

The bench unit may not have as much size as the starters, but Atkinson will be able to stagger the minutes between the nine he ends up deciding on.

Merrill and Strus bring a lot of shooting, movement, and overall toughness that Cleveland is going to need from their role guys. Strus especially has a lot of playoff experience and has proven a willingness to do the dirty work and make winning plays. 

Ellis has shown that he can be an absolute defensive menace for the Cavs. He is great at putting pressure on the ball, getting deflections and steals, and has enough length to disrupt ball-handlers. His offense has been a pleasant surprise as well, as he is knocking down nearly 36% of his threes and shooting 49% overall from the field. 

The last spot should go to Tyson. When Cleveland was struggling early on in the season, he was one of the lone bright spots. His development into a key role player has been nothing short of amazing for the Cavs. His synergy with Mitchell in the short roll, his ability to knock down threes, and just playing with 110% effort every play is what Cleveland needs.  All of the bench guys I mentioned have the toughness, spacing, and tenacity that make them the essential bench pieces. 

Cutting Dennis Schroder from the initial rotation was a tough decision, but Schroder has struggled for the most part since he arrived in February. He’s shooting only 40% from the field and 29% from three. Atkinson could turn to him in spot minutes, and Schroder has enough defensive activity and veteran experience to be called upon at times, but he should not be a nightly fixture in the playoffs.

The Cavs have the star power and depth to make a run. It will be on Atkinson to push the right buttons against the Raptors and hopefully beyond. But this is how he should start out.

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Wizards GM says he expects coach Brian Keefe to return next season

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said he's expecting coach Brian Keefe to return next season after Washington finished with the NBA's worst record.

“Yeah, I anticipate Brian Keefe to be here,” Dawkins said Thursday at his end-of-season news conference.

Keefe took over in the middle of the 2023-24 campaign, replacing Wes Unseld Jr. That was Washington’s first season under its new front office led by Michael Winger and Dawkins. The team eventually took off Keefe’s interim tag.

But the Wizards haven’t been built to win right away under Keefe. He went 8-31 in that first season, then 18-64 in 2024-25. This season Washington lost 26 of its last 27 games to go 17-65, ending any danger of the Wizards losing their first-round draft pick if it wasn’t in the top eight. It’s the first time since 1967 — when the franchise was the Baltimore Bullets — that the team finished with the league’s worst record.

“We put him in a situation this season which was a little difficult," Dawkins said. "We led the NBA in starts for players under 21. I think we had 50-plus different starting lineups. So we threw a lot at him.”

But soon, Washington hopes to turn the focus away from collecting picks and lottery odds and improve its performance on the court. There were certainly some steps in that direction this season, when the Wizards traded for both Trae Young and Anthony Davis, although Young played only five games for them and Davis didn’t play any. If both are healthy next season, Washington could be improved.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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Exclusive: NBA matchup for 2026 Mexico City game revealed

The matchup for the 2026 NBA Mexico City Game is set.

USA TODAY Sports has learned that the Denver Nuggets will face the Indiana Pacers at Arena CDMX on Nov. 7, 2026, marking the 35th NBA contest played in the city since 1992.

It’s an intriguing matchup that should feature a fully healthy Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers star point guard who missed the entire 2025-26 season as he recovered from the torn Achilles tendonsuffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The Pacers are also likely to end up with a top selection in the 2026 NBA Draft after they finished with the second-worst record (19-63) in the league.

The Nuggets, one of the premier teams in the Western Conference, are led by three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, who averaged a triple-double this season. This will mark the second game in Mexico that the Nuggets play, while the Pacers will be making the trip for the first time.

And, for the third consecutive season, the game will coincide with the Día de los Muertos festivities across the country. To commemorate that, the game will be played on a themed court.

The NBA has continued to expand its reach across Latin America, with Mexico as its most prominent market. In fact, removing the U.S. and Canada, both of which are home to current and former NBA franchises (including the Vancouver Grizzlies), no country has hosted more NBA games than Mexico since 1992, when the first NBA game was played in the country.

That game, an Oct. 27 preseason matchup between the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, spawned a relationship that will enter its 34th year when the Pacers and Nuggets square off.

"The NBA Mexico City Game continues to give fans in Mexico a front‑row connection to the league, its teams and its players," Raul Zarraga, NBA Latin America and Canada senior vice president and head of operations, said in a statement. "Hosting our 35th game in the country reflects the depth of the NBA’s relationship with Mexico and the role this event plays in bringing the global game to fans locally, across Latin America and around the world."

The NBA will make the formal announcement with Zignia Live, a live event promoter, about the matchup Thursday, April 16. As is typical with the NBA’s international games, the league will offer social programs and activities in Mexico City to engage with the local community.

The 2026 Mexico City Game will air on ESPN.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA reveals teams for 2026 Mexico City showdown: Exclusive

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Penguins To Terminate Veteran Defenseman's Contract

According to PuckPedia, the Pittsburgh Penguins have placed defenseman Matt Dumba on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination.

With this move, Dumba is not required to report to the AHL playoffs with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. In addition, with Pittsburgh's regular season over, he will not be losing any money with this contract termination. 

Dumba played in 11 games this season with Pittsburgh, where he had one goal, three points, 16 hits, and a minus-5 rating. In 27 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after clearing waivers, the right-shot defenseman had six goals, 14 assists, 20 points, and a plus-3 rating. 

The Penguins acquired Dumba from the Dallas Stars with a 2028 second-round pick in exchange for defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok. 

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Are the Phoenix Suns overthinking their “playoff” rotation?

Mar 28, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns head Coach Jordan Ott with forward Rasheer Fleming (20) against the Utah Jazz at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Look, I’m not here to tell Jordan Ott how to do his job. He’s in the building every day, around the guys, diving into film like no one else. He is a sicko. A junkie. I’ve appreciated the job he’s done this year.

I am merely a spectator, offering observations on what we all saw on Tuesday night. Now that we’ve got that part out of the way, it’s time to dive into a few rotational flaws that I believe cost Phoenix the game on Tuesday night.

The Small-Ball Trap

It’s vital for the Suns not to get caught up in pre-made plans again and to make in-game adjustments or counters as things develop in front of them.

The most glaring issue in the fourth-quarter collapse was the insistence on staying small while Deni Avdija was treating the paint like his own personal playground. Avdija is a 6’8″ matchup nightmare who plays with the strength of a power forward and the vision and speed of a guard as he attacks downhill. When he’s attacking, you can’t meet him with a “switch everything” mentality that leaves a 6’4″ guard as the primary rim protector. Or by throwing a slower Brooks/O’Neale/Oso on him when he’s already hitting full speed. It puts you at a disadvantage from the start.

Credit to Portland for creating those advantages and putting Deni in a spot to succeed.

By the time Jordan Goodwin hit that layup to give us the lead with 32 seconds left, the damage was already done. The Suns had spent the previous six minutes getting bullied on the glass. Portland finished with a +4 rebounding edge, but it felt like +20 in the final frame. In a game decided by four points, those extra possessions are the difference between the 7th seed and a do-or-die that we now face against Golden State.

Leaving Size on the Pine

The Suns have length and athleticism on the bench that remained largely untapped when the Blazers turned up the physicality. Against a Portland team that starts length at almost every position, Phoenix opted for lineups that prioritized spacing over survival. Rasheer Fleming has shown he is already one of our best defenders. Rookie or not, he had to be out there. That’s the hill I will die on.

We needed a “hit back” presence. There were stretches where the Suns’ interior defense looked like a revolving door because the help-side rotations were coming from players giving up three or four inches in height. Jordan Ott has been a master of adjustments all season. He’s a major reason we’re even in the Play-In conversation in the first place, but on Tuesday night, the “tactician” got out-muscled. Using the bench’s size to disrupt Avdija’s rhythm or to at least make those 13 free-throw attempts harder to earn would have changed the geometry of the court.

The individual matchups didn’t tell the whole story, because it takes team defense (switching, helping, etc.) to slow down a downhill threat like Deni.

Deni got to the rim basically whenever he wanted. It’s what he does, but they had to make it more challenging. It was way too easy all night.

Jalen Green was spectacular, but he looked gassed in the final two minutes. That 18-8 run Phoenix put together to take the lead was fueled by pure adrenaline, but once the Blazers responded, the Suns had nothing left in the tank. Once the game slowed down, Portland’s size took over and won.

The Suns were up 11 halfway through the fourth. They had a 95% win probability. You don’t lose that game because of “officiating” or a few missed free throws, although nine misses at the line certainly didn’t help. You lose that game because you let the opponent dictate the physical terms of the engagement.

Friday is a new season. If Ott and the Suns want to avoid being the first 7th seed to ever miss the dance entirely, they have to stop leaning into the “small and skilled” identity when the game turns into a “long and athletic” street fight.

Things couldn’t be more polar opposite in this next one. The Warriors present an entirely different matchup problem, so it’s time to scrap the Portland plan and focus on doing what’s needed to take down Steph and the Warriors.

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NBA Conference Finals MVP Odds, Picks & Predictions: Why Wembanyama and Cunningham Are Worth the Risk

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The NBA Conference Finals MVP odds market is one of the simplest bets to understand, and one of the easiest to misprice. In most cases, it comes down to this: the best player on the winning team takes the award.

That’s why the board is typically loaded with short-priced favorites from the top contenders. But that also means value can show up quickly if you’re willing to back a team, and its star, before the market fully catches up.

Instead of laying chalk on established names, we’re targeting two young guns in Victor Wembanyama and Cade Cunningham, both of whom have the usage, narrative, and upside to carry their teams through the Conference Finals.

NBA Conference Finals MVP predictions

Playerbet365
SpursVictor Wembanyama+320
Pistons Cade Cunningham+550

Odds as of 4-16. 

Western Conference Finals MVP best bet

Pick: SpursVictor Wembanyama (+320 at bet365)

The San Antonio Spurs are going to be a matchup nightmare for any team that stands in their path to the franchise's first NBA title since 2014.

A very big part of that will be the unique playing style of Victor Wembanyama. He's a walking highlight reel and virtually un-guardable, whether he's doing work in the paint, the mid-range, or stepping out and knocking down threes. 

While the offense will always be there (25 points per game), it's his defensive presence that will impact games more often than not. His ability to protect the rim (11.5 rebounds, 3.1 blocks), alter shots, and disrupt timing is the added edge needed when picking a standout player in the conference finals. 

While the Spurs still need to win two rounds, and then potentially meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, Wemby's odds will not linger around at +320 for very long. 

Act now before you miss out on the best number. 

Long shot play

Pick: Rockets Alperen Sengun (+8000 at bet365)

If you're looking for a long shot play, look no further than the engine of the Houston Rockets, Alperen Sengun. 

Sengun has been nothing short of stellar for the Rockets this season, averaging 20.4 points per game and leading the team in rebounds (8.9) and assists (6.2). 

He may not be the sexy name on the Rockets with Kevin Durant still around, but he's still the straw that stirs the drink, and his ability to stuff the stat sheet in more ways than one can only help his case.

Eastern Conference Finals MVP best bet

Pick: Pistons Cade Cunningham (+550 at bet365)

The Detroit Pistons go as Cade Cunningham goes, and that’s exactly what you want when betting this market.

Everything runs through him. He’s the primary scorer, the primary playmaker, and the one with the ball in his hands when games tighten up. That kind of usage matters in a series where every possession is magnified.

Cunningham has taken a clear step forward as a scorer while still filling up the box score across the board. Points, assists, rebounds. It’s all there, and it shows up every night.

If the Pistons break through to the Eastern Conference Finals, it won’t be because of depth or balance. It’ll be because Cunningham carried them there.

At +550, you’re getting the best player on his team at a number that won’t last if Detroit makes a run.

Long shot play

Pick: Knicks Mikal Bridges (+20000 at bet365)

If you’re swinging for a number, Mikal Bridges checks every box as a long shot.

He’s one of the most reliable two-way players in the league and rarely comes off the floor. That kind of workload adds up over a playoff series.

Bridges doesn’t need high volume to make an impact. He scores efficiently, defends the opposing team’s first or second option, and consistently finds ways to influence the game without forcing it.

If the New York Knicks can put it all together for three rounds, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will play a part, but Bridges' ability to impact the game at both ends in meaningful moments could tip the scales in his favor.  

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Will Alex Ovechkin retire? Capitals star's kids want him to keep playing

As Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin debates whether to retire or return for a 22nd NHL season, he has two big supporters for the second option.

"My kids are already asking me, 'Dad are you staying or not?'" he told reporters at his end of season media session. "I tell them, "We'll see.

"They're excited. They want me to come back because they love the city, they love the team, they love the boys."

The NHL's all-time leading scorer said on Thursday, April 16, that he hopes that the season-ending win in Columbus won't be his last game.

But he said he will have to talk to the team and to family before making a decision. He didn't give a timeline.

"If I'm going to come back, it would have to be a decision, first of all, are we going to make the playoffs and are we going to fight for a Cup?" he said.

The Capitals missed the playoffs by four points, just the fifth time Ovechkin hasn't been in the postseason. He thought he and his line were inconsistent at times and noted that the game has become a lot faster.

Still, at age 40, he played all 82 games and scored 32 goals, giving him an NHL-record 929. He's excited about the team's youngsters, particularly Ryan Leonard and late-season signee Cole Hutson.

Asked specifically what he'd like to hear when he meets with general manager Chris Patrick to discuss the team, he joked, "We want you for two more years. This is the contract. Sign it."

Asked if the free agent would consider signing with another NHL team, Ovechkin said, "Probably not. No."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Capitals' Alex Ovechkin says his kids want him to play, not retire

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Hurricanes Supposedly Undecided On Starting Goalie As Game 1 Nears

Carolina to face Ottawa in first round of 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Game 1 of the Carolina Hurricanes first round series against the Ottawa Senators is set to take place in less than 48 hours, but so far, it looks like the Canes aren't quite yet decided on who'll start in net.

At least, that's what Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour told the media at Thurday's practice.

"We'll get to that when we have to," Brind'Amour said. "We have another practice and then we'll figure everything out after that. They both played really well in the last stretch there. Gave us exactly what we wanted and so we have a decision to make."

It should be noted though that Frederik Andersen had a crease to himself on Thursday — the prototypical starter's net — and if I were to make a bet, I'd say he has the best odds of starting Saturday.

Despite weak regular season numbers, the veteran netminder is an experienced goaltender who's proven that he can deliver in the postseason.

The Danish goalie is heading into his 10th year of playoff hockey and over the course of his career, he's been pretty reliable, with a career postseason record of 46-35 along with a 0.914 save percentage, 2.40 goals against average and five shutouts.

Andersen also looked much more like himself in the final weeks of the regular season, a promising sign.

"I like where my game's at," Andersen said on Thursday. "I've just been trying to build every day and continue to work on good habits. I know what it feels like when I'm playing well, so I'm just continuing to stretch for that every day."

And even if Andersen starts Game 1, there's no guarantee that he's the guy all the way.

"There's a likelihood that you'll see both, probably," Brind'Amour said.

Rookie netminder Brandon Bussi has had quite the year in Carolina, putting together the best numbers out of any Hurricanes goalie.

Bussi started the most games for the Canes this year, posting an outstanding 31-6-2 record.

However, he had just a 0.894 save percentage, a number that started to really slip post Olympic break.

Heading into the Olympics, Bussi had a 0.906 save percentage and looked to be the guy for Carolina. However, he struggled out of the break, posting just a 0.864 save percentage in that span.

But as Brind'Amour pointed out, Bussi had a good close to the year, stopping 50 out of the 53 shots he faced in back-to-back games, and overall, he probably has the higher ceiling between the two goaltenders at this point.

"I feel good," Bussi said. "I think over the course of the year, I've learned a lot. I've also learned that there's a lot about my game that I like. When I do those things right, I have success."

And even though he hasn't ever experienced NHL playoff hockey, he isn't a stranger to high-stakes games.

"I'm just really excited," Bussi said. "Obviously it's a little new, first time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but I've been in the American Hockey League playoffs, junior hockey playoffs, college, the one-and-done environments, so I'm not gonna say I'm used to it, it's going to be a little different, but I feel pretty prepared for situations like this."

Many fans have also been curious about the possibility of even seeing Pyotr Kochetkov in net, but it doesn't sound like the team is really considering him at this point.

The Russian netminder hasn't seen NHL action since Dec. 20 and has only seen 60 minutes of total game action of any kind following his surgeries thanks to a short conditioning stint down in the AHL earlier this month.

"We were hoping to get him in for that last game, but we had that little mishap there and weren't able to see where he's at," Brind'Amour said. "He's certainly healthy, but I wouldn't call him an option yet. But it looks like he could if we had to. You never know if you're gonna need that, but it's nice to know that if you get into a jam and guys do get hurt, we have some options."

So it's going to be between Andersen and Bussi and we probably aren't going to get any confirmation on that until Saturday.

"You'll get one of those two guys, I'll guarantee that," Brind'Amour said with a smirk.

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Boston Celtics Daily Links 4/16/26

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 03: A detail view of the Nike basketball shoes of Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks before a game against the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum on April 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

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Nottingham Forest v Porto: Europa League quarter-final, second leg – live

⚽ Europa League updates; kick-off 8pm BST (first leg: 1-1)
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4 min: Sangare releases Gibbs-White down the right. Promising for Forest … until the whistle goes, Sangare having come through the back of Alberto Costa on the touchline. The correct decision, if annoyingly belated from a Forest point of view, everyone all excited for a second.

2 min: It’s an absolutely belting atmosphere, both sets of fans giving it plenty. But Porto nearly quieten the home fans in short order, Moffi latching onto a prod down the inside-right channel and attempting to flick past Ortega. The Forest keeper swipes away. The rebound falls to William Gomes, who blazes over. Yikes.

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Terry Rozier Co-Conspirator Damon Jones To Change Plea To Guilty

InGame

Damon Jones, the former NBA player and Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach indicted with Terry Rozier and four others in November on federal charges of conspiring to rig NBA outcomes and peddle inside information, has requested a hearing with the Eastern District of New York to change his plea.

Jones pleaded not guilty in November to one count of wire fraud conspiracy and two counts of money laundering, but ESPN reported at the time that he was already in discussions for a plea deal. His plea hearing is scheduled for April 28 in Brooklyn.

Jones’ attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, told ABC News in New York, however, that his client is “not cooperating” with prosecutors against his co-conspirators, who also pleaded not guilty. Jones is the first of the group to request a change of plea.

Jones accused of dealing non-public tidbit

Jones is accused of providing non-public information from his league contacts so that gamblers could make more informed bets on NBA games than the general public. Specifically, he’s accused of providing information that LeBron James would not play in a Feb. 9, 2023, game against Milwaukee. Jones is alleged to have texted to gamblers: “Get a big bet on Milwaukee tonight before the information is out! [Player 3] is out tonight. Bet enough so Djones can eat.”

James is not named in the charging documents, but he was the only rostered player not to dress against the Bucks, who won, 115-106.

Federal prosecutors will file documents by next week updating which charges will have a change of plea.

Jones is also named as a co-conspirator in the so-called “rigged poker” case in the Eastern District of New York where sports celebrities including then-Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups were allegedly used to lure in high-value players to scam. Jones pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges in that case.

Rozier, who was waived by the Miami Heat last week, has pleaded not guilty and asked for a dismissal.

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In praise of the Play In games, against tanking

Apr 15, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (9) reacts after a score against the Orlando Magic during the fourth quarter of a play-in round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

It’s only natural for most people to not want to fix what they don’t believe is broken. It’s also fairly natural to suspect ulterior motives in any new plan or scheme. While those questions are worth asking, it seems clear to me that if the answer was not to change anything, ever, we’d still be living in caves with dinosaurs.

There is something to be said for novelties, even those with a profit motive of some sort, that succeed. I would argue that the NBA Play In system has succeeded. I understand some people have a need for a certain sort of mental tidiness, or a desire to make accomplishments more meaningful. The NBA’s play in games would seem to go against both things. Is a number seven seed in or out? Why does the 10th ranked team get a shot at a playoff series?

For the mental tidiness people, well, it’s a bit untidy not knowing exactly who the bottom ranked playoff teams will be, but there’s an upside to be gained in giving the teams that were not in the Play In more rest after the regular season. The system itself is also pretty easy to understand, and once you get how it works, it ceases to be untidy, just uncertain. If you are the sort that wants to get rid of all uncertainty in life, well, good luck with that.

There’s also hope for teams that say lose a crucial player for part of the season to be found in the Play In. They might still get into the playoffs, and create a better match up for the top teams, as opposed to ritual execution found in the typical 1v8 match up.

That goes for the sense of accomplishment argument people, too. Don’t want to keep playing games after the regular season, and before the Real Playoffs begin? Win more games. I believe the Play In bracket produces more incentive to win, for good teams, rather than less. A playoff team is guaranteed at least four post season games. A play in team is guaranteed nothing.

There’s something else the Play In offers while we wait for the more successful teams to being their playoffs: fun. These games are the NBA’s way of partaking in the chaotic fun of the NCAA Tournament. It’s one and done for a couple of teams. Their season ends with a loss. We saw some amazing games in that regard, played with real intensity and fire. The Hornets vs Heat game was a true battle, and a ton of fun to watch. It went to overtime, and we saw all kinds of intense things, including potentially dirty play, surprisingly not from Miami. Also, more shockingly, LaMelo Ball coming through in the clutch. Who would have predicted that?

In the end, that’s why most of us are watching basketball, right? To see great competition in a game we love? To see a spectacle?

The Play In, for all it’s gimmickry has worked, if the goal is fun. It’s easy to sneer, because it’s not how things were, but it’s easier to love something that can bring if not joy, then entertainment to the end of the season. There is not some law of the universe that the stricter the playoff system is, the better it is. There might be some logical contradictions, but the goal of sport is not to achieve logical consistency, at least as I see it.

That said, I’d much rather the Rockets be in the playoffs, not the Play In. Too much uncertainty in the Play In.

On another note, I’d say the play in may not have entirely (or sadly, largely) accomplished one of its goals, to curtail tanking, but it has brought fun to the league. Playing for stakes of some sort brings more fire, more interest, to competitions, generally. That’s why tanking is so bad, to me. Sure, it’s rational, but if we’re watching sports for their pure rationality, we might be missing the point. Or one might be better served watching competitive chess. Further, tanking, however you choose to define it, destroys intensity, destroys the idea of stakes in a contest. A tanking team isn’t so much playing basketball, as it is playing lottery ball odds, which might loom over a season, but are not part of the competition in any immediate sense. We’ve seen what immediacy does for a single game, with the play in. Tanking does the opposite, but spread, depressingly, across a season. A teams’ reward for tanking might be heaven, but their actual games are hell, as we well know.

Because winning, keeping a season alive, is possible in the play in, teams go all out. The stakes are real. Tanking is the opposite, it destroys in game stakes, and competition, and that’s why it must be ended, somehow, some way. We can expend a lot of words on what the best way to do that is, and maybe there isn’t a best way, as any system has trade offs built in. The NBA is going to do something in the off season. I’m sure we’ll discuss it when it happens. Anything, though, that is in favor of good basketball, in favor of striving to win, instead of working to lose, has to be better for the game of basketball, and the NBA.

Meanwhile, GO ROCKETS. A genuine playoff team.

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Mark Messier’s GAME 7 Brand Launches New Colorado Avalanche Merchandise

It wasn’t too long ago when Mark Messier, along with popular actor Danny DeVito, Isaac Chera of Crown Acquisitions, and more, unveiled the GAME 7 apparel collection to the NHL world. GAME 7 is a multi-platform sports and entertainment brand that, along with the NHL, works with the NBA for officially licensed apparel. 

 GAME 7 was also a five-part docuseries on Amazon Prime that received Emmy nominations and was directed by Connor Schell. They got the initial opportunity to work with the NHL and New York Rangers during their Centennial year and help design the patch they would wear on their jerseys. 

After initially expanding with NBA apparel, it partnered with the NHL in December for an officially licensed NHL collection of nine NHL teams, those being the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and the Florida Panthers.

Now, alongside a partnership withCentric Brands, they are introducing new apparel to six additional teams: the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, and Colorado Avalanche.

Here are some of the new pieces of merchandise they are offering for the Avalanche:

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With the heightened energy of the Stanley Cup playoffs right around the corner, there is no better time for them to release a new line for some teams that are looking to make a deep run this season. We could very much see a second round that includes the Avalanche versus the Stars, with the winner facing the Oilers in the Conference finals and potentially the Lightning in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The NHL itself is covered in fashion, and we see it every day when players enter the arena before warm-ups. With the league dropping the formal dress code, players can express themselves more and wear what they see as “fashionable”. From the standard suit-and-tie style we see many adopt, we also see more outgoing styles worn by David Pastrnak, William “Willy Styles” Nylander, and Patrick Laine.

Highlights Of NHL Fashion In The First Half Of The Season Highlights Of NHL Fashion In The First Half Of The Season With the formal NHL dress code a thing of the past, players have had more freedom in their gameday outfits, and a few players have taken the freedom to fully spread their wings in what they wear to arenas this season.

To see the full Colorado Avalanche and NHL collection from GAME 7, you can head to their Amazon storefront HERE.

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Former NBA player, assistant coach Damon Jones expected to plead guilty in federal gambling sweep

Damon Jones, the former NBA player and assistant coach arrested as part of two federal illegal gambling probes around the NBA, is expected to change his plea to guilty, according tomultiple reports. He would be the first person to plead guilty in these cases.

At the request of Jones' attorneys, a change-of-plea hearing is scheduled for May 6 in Brooklyn federal court, the Associated Press reports.

These changes are part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, although the details of that deal are not public.

Jones was the one NBA figure tied to both parts of the federal probe that led to more than 30 arrests. Jones had been charged with wire fraud and money laundering in relation to both cases: One, that he provided sports bettors (with mafia ties) non-public information about injuries to key players such as LeBron James and Anthony Davis (Jones, a former teammate of LeBron, was not on the Lakers staff but did work out LeBron pregame); second, that he profited and helped draw players into rigged poker games.

In that same sweep, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier was arrested as part of the federal probe for allegedly providing sports bettors with information that he would not meet prop bet numbers in certain games. Former Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups was arrested for allegedly being the "face" who helped draw people to the rigged poker games. Both men have pled not guilty.

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NHL Announces Game 1 Start Times

The NHL has finally announced the start times for Game 1 of the eight first-round series.

The Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators will open up the postseason with a 3 p.m. showdown Saturday at Lenovo Center and streamed on both FanDuel Sports Network and ESPN.

Parking lots and team store will open at noon that day and there will also be a pregame plaza party beginning at 12:30 p.m.

The arena will open its doors at 1:30 p.m., with warmups set to take place at 2:30 p.m.

The Dallas Stars/Minnesota Wild and Pittsburgh Penguins/Philadelphia Flyers will follow up that game on Saturday, with puck drops scheduled for 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

The Montreal Canadiens/Tampa Bay Lightning, Boston Bruins/Buffalo Sabres, Utah Mammoth/Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche series will all then kick off on Sunday at still to be determined times.

Finally, the Pacific #2/#3 series (which has yet to be decided) will start on Monday.

No other game information has been released yet, but the NHL will apparently announce the full first-round schedule after the regular season officially concludes tonight.

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