ATLANTA, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Luguentz Dort #0 of the Atlanta Hawks poses for a portrait during media day at PC&E Atlanta on September 28, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 GettyImages License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks made several additions to their team during the offseason, but there was none bigger than acquiring Lu Dort. After lacking consistent depth in the wing department last season, the Hawks made an effort to improve that area, and Dort ended up being a big key in improving the roster.
Coming from a championship team, Dort will bring a lot to the Hawks as they look to continue setting their eyes on building a contender. Not only will Dort bring his defense, but he has the experience that most of the young guys on the team will need.
Defense is Dort’s calling card, and that’s where he’ll help the Hawks in a major way. A former All-Defensive player, Dort can take on about any matchup on the floor, and that’s going to make Dyson Daniels’ job even easier. When Dort, Daniels and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are on the floor, teams may have a hard time getting an easy bucket on the perimeter.
Dort’s versatility on defense can also allow Quin Snyder to go into some smaller lineups if he wants to, especially since he can stretch the floor.
On offense, Dort doesn’t have the biggest variety of skills, such as shot creation, but his IQ is going to put the Hawks in some good positions on the floor. On the Thunder, Dort was able to get most of his 3-point shots from the gravity of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and it’ll be interesting to see if he can get those same shots with the Hawks. Outside of that, Dort knows how to make the right play on the court, and that’s only going to make the team better.
The one thing that many people have wondered is whether Dort will be inserted into the starting lineup, since that was his role with the Thunder. As much as that could be a valid question, it’s more important who finishes games instead of starting them. There could be a lot of scenarios where Dort could finish games with the Hawks, especially if they need 3-point shooting. In that case, it may be better to have him in the games rather than Daniels.
The Hawks’ starting five already has a lot of chemistry, and it doesn’t look like there are any plans to switch things up as the season approaches. That also probably isn’t a problem for Dort, who seems to be willing to do whatever he can for the betterment of the team.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Dort was the first player off the bench for the Hawks, and he can be slotted in for any player Snyder would want to take off the court at that moment. That’s how much of an impact he could have on the team this season, and there’s no doubt he makes the Hawks a better team.
The numbers reflect a promising individual night for the 30-year-old defenceman, who finished with three shots on goal, three blocked shots, one hit and a power-play assist while skating 31 shifts. Raddysh was on the ice for Marchenko’s first goal at 13:10 of the opening period, when he and John Tavares set up the right winger’s finish that gave Toronto a 2-1 lead. That assist extended Raddysh’s point total to four in eight games this season.
Yet the Leafs (3-3-2) could not hold a 4-2 advantage heading into the third period. Buffalo (4-3-1) scored twice in a span of just over two minutes to tie the game before Owen Power won it at 3:14 of overtime on a feed from Jack Quinn. Toronto managed only four shots in the third period after generating 15 and 11 in the first two frames, respectively. Overall, the Sabres outshot the Leafs 35-30.
Raddysh told The Hockey News after the game Thursday that the Leafs felt good entering the final regulation period after controlling play and forcing turnovers earlier.
“I just think we sat back a little bit. They’re a good rush team and take great chances from our mistakes. And I think when we saw that in the third period there, we just kind of sat back and let them come at us.”
He described the shift in approach as the difference between the first 40 minutes and the third.
“We made a mistake by sitting back. We just can’t give them an inch, and we kind of gave it to them. The first two periods, we played in their end, made them make the mistakes and give us the puck, and we kind of did that in the third period for them.”
Prior to the third, Raddysh felt the Leafs’ defensive structure was effective when they stayed aggressive and used their skating.
“Just trying to get up in the rush, trying to move our feet and defend with our feet and be skating,” he said. “We did that good. They were turning the pucks over to us and flipping them out to us, and we were just going right back at them.”
HOW COULD YOU EVER DOUBT THE SABRES DOWN TWO HEADING INTO THE THIRD PERIOD
MATTIAS SAMUELSSON IS THE GREATEST GOAL SCORER WE'VE EVER SEEN
“Not the result we wanted, but learn from your mistakes and get better for next game,” he said.
The Leafs host the New York Islanders on Saturday.
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Through nine games, the Philadelphia Flyers are the worst offensive team in the NHL, but the good news is that they could get a big boost from their top prospects if and when they deem necessary.
As we have been harping on for the better part of two weeks, the Flyers at least partially put themselves in this position by their own doing.
Top winger prospect Alex Bump was a healthy scratch just four games into the season, and soon after he was replaced by veteran Michael Bunting on the NHL roster.
Meanwhile, Bump, since being sent down, has recorded a goal in each of the four games he's played in for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Overall, the 22-year-old has five goals, two assists, and seven points in four AHL games this season, and is quickly proving to the Flyers that his demotion was a mistake.
Surging alongside Bump is 2024 first-round pick Jett Luchanko, who did not make the Flyers' NHL roster out of training camp for the first time in three seasons since being drafted.
Jett Luchanko taking a major leap?
Jett Luchanko is finally producing offense, which has long been a question mark in his game. (Photo: James Guillory, Imagn Images)
The 20-year-old is quickly finding his groove in his first professional season, having already tallied a goal - his first as a professional player - and five assists in six games for the Phantoms.
In 14 AHL games across parts of two seasons, Luchanko has a goal, eight assists, and nine points, and that doesn't include the six points he recorded in seven Calder Cup playoff games in 2025.
Overall, Luchanko has 15 points in 21 games at the AHL level and, well, he might very well end up being one of those players who excels more at the pro level than the junior level because of the differences in how the game is played.
Indeed, Luchanko is not an offensively-oriented high-wire act, but he brings hockey IQ, superb attention to detail, speed, and playmaking to the table at his best. And, with years of the Flyers hammering the point home, it looks like the former 13th overall pick is finally taking initiative to shoot the puck, too.
There is a case to be made that, maybe the Flyers shouldn't break up a good thing with the Phantoms and instead just take their licks with the players they have for now.
Bump, Luchanko, and Cole Knuble have all played well early in the season, and the older prospects, like Hunter McDonald and Jacob Gaucher, have complemented them in kind.
The Flyers also learned last year that weakening the farm team too fast can have consequences, as the Phantoms crashed and burned out of playoff contention without Bump and Denver Barkey, combined with a slew of injuries that depleted them further.
At the same time, the Flyers called up Oliver Bonk and immediately thrust him into top-pair duties, and now it doesn't look like the 21-year-old will be returning to the AHL level any time soon.
It's a tough judgment call for the Flyers to make, as they generally prefer to let their young players to develop at an appropriate pace.
In Bonk's case, he proved and has continued to prove that he is ready for the NHL level, and it is now a matter of when, and not if, Bump and Luchanko do the same.
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman walks to the dugout after striking out during the fifth inning of Game 4 against the Brewers on Thursday night. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
In the NLCS, the Dodgers faced two HUGE opponents. The Milwaukee Brewers and “Father Time.” The Brewers are an exceptional young team and Father Time is undefeated.
Wayne Kamiya El Segundo
Outpitched. Outhit. Outmanaged. Now OUT!
Richard Jewell Los Feliz
It’s the fall of the Dodgers empire. It was great while it lasted. I suspect the lineup will change dramatically next year. With a pending lockout, expiring player contracts and possible retirements, who knows what the future will hold. Thank you everyone for some memorable baseball.
Cheryl Creek Anaheim
There should be a master class for Dodgers left-handed hitters to learn how to hit opposing team’s left-handed pitchers when they throw sliders and sweepers!
Larry L. Gurewitz Los Angeles
Due to their 2020 championship, 2024’s World Series title earned against their AL rival New York Yankees, and last year’s thrilling seven-game World Series victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, irrespective of how this season ended — getting to the NLCS ain’t bad — the Dodgers should continue to be celebrated and the Boys in Blue appreciated.
Ken Feldman Tarzana
The Dodgers don’t suck. This season wasn’t a failure. They got beat by a better team. It’s a simple as that. The playoffs are about which team is playing its best this time of year, and right now it’s the Brewers. They are a complete team. They won 103 games in the regular season, which was more than every other team. They have good discipline at the plate, speed up and down the lineup and a bullpen that was near perfect in this series.
Dave Roberts didn’t get outmanaged. His team lost to a better one.
Ron Epstein Woodland Hills
Good news and bad news. Bad news: The Dodgers were swept by the Brewers. Good news: At least they are no longer ruining baseball!
David Waldowski Laguna Woods
The excuses for the Dodgers collapse flew off the page minutes after the last out of Game 4. Observations: 1) The Brewers were a better team, more prepared and clearly better managed. No excuses, please. 2). Anyone surprised has not been paying attention. During the regular season the Dodgers lost more games than they won against teams with better than a .500 record. 3). I never thought I could write this but has Shohei Ohtani become the LeBron James control freak of the Dodgers? 4) Will the next headline be “Mark Walter puts the Dodgers up for sale?”
David Bialis San Diego
Starting with the Blue Jays last year, and continuing with the Brewers, Rays and Guardians this season, I truly hope MLB teams will return to “anti-analytics “ baseball. Watching games with base runners, tough at-bats and actual strategy by managers is much more enjoyable than strikeouts and home runs with no one on base.
Thanks for bringing back baseball. Keep it going!
Tim Boyd San Juan Capistrano
I’m sure there are Dodgers fans unhappy about losing to the Brewers. But nobody wins all the time and the Dodgers have won a lot.
Another great season. Three World Series titles in six years isn’t too bad. Lots of people would love to see their team win a championship just once. Ask a Padres fan.
Doug Dunlap Valencia
Stumbling finish
“OK Rams fans, don’t change the channel, we promise we’ll do it right this time. Just keep watching as we hold the ball and our kicker will come running up and kick a field goal. OK, here we go. .. Whoops! Ha! Gotcha again, didn’t we?!”
I’m not sure who’s been duped more times; Charlie Brown as Lucy keeps yanking the ball away from him when he’s about to kick it, or Rams fans, when the special teams are sent out to attempt a field goal.
Jerry Leibowitz Culver City
Hey, is George Blanda still alive? Maybe we can sign him to kick for us.
Eric Monson Temecula
If there were a real time machine would Les Snead and Sean McVay go back to the end of the 2023 season and re-sign Matt Gay instead of letting him go in free agency so they could save a few dollars?
Alan Lawler La Verne
Les Snead has built a Rams roster capable of winning championships, but his persistent failure to address the kicking game might have cost the team at least one or two more trips to the Super Bowl. With the departure of Harrison Mevis, the Rams will have used six field goal kickers in five seasons. Until the Rams prioritize the position and stop relying on practice-squad castoffs, they will continue to undermine their own championship hopes.
George Pisano Rancho Palos Verdes
Bumbling start
Thank goodness the Chargers again snapped defeat from the jaws of victory with that pathetic fourth-down try when they were leading 17-10. They increased their chances of the No. 1 pick in the draft.
Russell Hosaka Torrance
To Jim Harbaugh, what are you waiting for?
Cut yourself loose of Mike McDaniel now. It’s past time. McDaniel sold us all on a bill of goods that is now very fraudulent. Be a CEO and cut the guy loose!
Felipe Varela Whittier
The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.
Jul 20, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner (7) slides safely into second base with adobe ahead of tag by Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas (72) during the first inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
I don’t know, I’m not all that inspired by Dave Dombrowski’s end of year presser. He sounded like he’s going to try and make changes, but with this roster as it is, how will be actually do that? Some are going to have waive some no-trade clauses for that to actually happen.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 15: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks with Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs after the NBA Cup game on NOVEMBER 15, 2024 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
San Antonio Spurs former vice president for strategic research Kirk Goldsberry recently posted this graphic.
“It’s a young man’s game, and increasingly so. Over 80% of the NBA is now 29 or younger. This hasn’t always been the case but the combination of pace and space basketball with the lack of durability we associate with older players has resulted in the NBA getting younger and younger. Pretty soon it’s just gonna be 50 year-old LeBron and 500 23 year-olds!”
Goldsberry is an expert of the modern game, differentiating how the game has evolved. In addition to his time with the Spurs, he wrote for Grantland, the ESPN blog brainchild of Bill Simmons, from 2012-2015. Other notable writings include The Kobe Assist, The Evolution of King James, and DataBall. His 2019 book SprawlBall: A Visual Tour of the New Era of the NBA commented on the inefficiency of shots taken from the restricted area to the three-point line.
While the game has skewed younger, Goldsberry doesn’t delve into the rationale for the shift. Is it the pace of the game wearing players out at an earlier age? It’s commonly accepted that load management and modern healthcare allows for players to have longer careers. So why are they not?
Perhaps the propensity to draft and sign younger players feeds into the “win now” mentality that franchises have established. It pairs with the hiring and firing of coaches without allowing time for a team to fully develop.
Whatever the reason, players are entering the league younger — the “one and done” collegiate effect — and exiting the league sooner. Think of former Spurs shooting guard Lonnie Walker IV. At age 27, he’s played on four teams over seven seasons. Now, at age 27, it looks as if his time in the NBA is over. He can still have a long and prosperous career overseas (in fact, he just signed with Beşiktaş of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi two days ago).
Seven years seems to a fair amount of time to analyze a player’s NBA career. But is it his age relevant to his ability to play in the NBA, or is he being assessed solely on talent?
A look at many players could yield a clearer picture. For now, it’s important to note that players do not have the time to develop that they did a quarter century ago.
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Oct 10, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Headshot of Minnesota Timberwolves small forward Isaiah Evans (33) during the first half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Michael Laughlin-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Two former Blue Devils and current NBA rookies had big nights Friday.
Cameron Boozer had 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists to help the Memphis Grizzlies past the Charlotte Hornets.
Meanwhile, Isaiah Evans showed his potential for the Minnesota Timberwolves, finishing with 21 points on 6-13/5-10 from the floor, in a 133-116 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
People have come to expect big things from Boozer already, but Evans still has to prove himself at the NBA level. As Duke fans know, he knows how to shoot, and every team can use a good sniper. He made a solid argument for himself Friday night. Now he needs to build on it.
Sep 22, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates his two run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays with designated hitter Ben Rice (22) during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Thanks to an ill-timed storm in Cleveland, we were left without baseball last night. Baseball-less nights will be a fate we’ll soon have to resign ourselves to, once the World Series concludes, and with a lockout on the other side, we have little idea of when the MLB-less stretch of the calendar will end once it starts. Best not to think about that now! If you’re able to stomach watching the ALCS without the Yankees’ participation, they’re gonna give it another go tonight, with the Guardians looking to extend their lead over the Rays.
On the site today, Nick will profile Red Rolfe, one of the great supporting players on many of the Yankees’ early championship teams. Later, Matt looks back on the finest pitching performances by the Yankees in 2026, and Michael delivers his weekly Arizona Fall League update. And also, Peter writes why Ryan McMahon was the Yankees’ LVP this year, and Kento analyzes the Yankees’ (lack of) a plan against Drew Rasmussen in the ALDS.
Today’s Playoff Matchups:
American League Championship Series Game 4 (Cleveland leads, 2-1)
Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays (TBD vs. RHP Nick Martinez)
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
TV: TBS/HBO Max/truTV
Venue: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Questions/Prompts:
1. The buzz has it that the Yankees are likely to tender David Bednar a qualifying offer. What are the odds that he accepts?
2. How worried should the Dodgers be that their decline has at last begun? Will they no longer be the juggernaut that paces the NL every year? Or will they bounce back in 2027?
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Zaccharie Risacher #10 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball during the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Zaccharie Risacher might be the most interesting player on the Mavericks this season because I genuinely have no idea what he’ll become.
Two years ago, he was the No. 1 overall pick in a draft class that was widely viewed as weak at the top. No one saw an obvious generational prospect, a consensus superstar, or a player anyone felt great about taking first. Atlanta eventually settled on Risacher because of what he could become: a 6-foot-9 wing with shooting touch, defensive versatility, and enough feel to fit next to better players. Even NBA.com’s scouting at the time framed him more as a high-level complementary piece than a future heliocentric star.
His rookie year was encouraging. Risacher averaged 12.6 points, shot 35.5 percent from three and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting. Then everything went backward. Last season, his scoring dropped to 9.6 points per game, his minutes fell, he lost his starting job in March, and Atlanta took off once they pushed him further down the rotation. Over the Hawks’ final 15 games, Risacher averaged just 16.3 minutes per night and even got a DNP-CD.
That’s where Dallas enters the story.
The Mavericks acquired Risacher this summer in a three-team deal that sent Ryan Nembhard to Atlanta and cost Dallas a second-round pick. At the same time, Dallas also received a protected second-rounder back. It was a classic buy-low swing on a former No. 1 pick whose value had completely cratered.
Now the expectations are different.
Dallas does not need Risacher to justify being drafted first overall. It just needs him to become a good NBA player.
Biggest question
What is Zaccharie Risacher actually good at?
That sounds harsh, but I think it is the entire point of this season. For the Mavericks to make this experiment work, they have to figure out where Risacher helps them win. Is he a spot-up shooter? Can he be a connective passer? Can he defend well enough to close games? Is he a wing, a big guard, or something in between? Does he need the ball at all, or is he better spacing the floor and playing off Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving? The theoretical version of Risacher fits Dallas almost perfectly. The Mavericks need size on the perimeter, shooting next to Flagg and Kyrie, plus another defender who can take on difficult wing assignments. Risacher was supposed to be exactly that kind of player coming into the league. Ht has actually got to become that player.
Dallas has started him in both preseason games so far, and although the results have been mixed, that at least tells us Dusty May is willing to give him a real chance. He had nine points and eight rebounds in the preseason opener, then showed a little more life in the second game with two made threes and some hustle plays.
Best case scenario
The best-case scenario is not Risacher suddenly turning into a 25-point-per-game star. It is much simpler than that. He becomes a dependable two-way starter.
If Risacher can shoot somewhere around 37 to 38 percent from three, defend at a legitimate NBA level, and make quick decisions without needing the offense built around him, he suddenly makes a ton of sense next to Flagg and Kyrie. He does not need to dominate the ball. He does not even need to be the third option every night. He needs to become the kind of player who makes lineups work. That is probably the most encouraging part of his situation in Dallas. The pressure is gone.
No one is asking him to save the franchise or carry an offense because he was drafted first overall. Flagg is the centerpiece. Kyrie is the veteran star. Dallas has P.J. Washington, Santi Aldama, Naji Marshall, and others who can take on bigger offensive roles when needed.
Worst-case scenario
The worst-case scenario is that Atlanta was simply right. Maybe Risacher is not good enough to consistently help a winning team. That is the uncomfortable possibility Dallas has to be prepared for.
He was not just struggling last season. At times, he actively hurt Atlanta when he was on the floor. His role shrank as the Hawks improved, and that is never a great sign for a young player whose value is supposed to come from being easy to fit around others. If the jumper is inconsistent, the defense is average, and he cannot create anything off the bounce, then there is not much left.
That version of Risacher gets pushed out of the starting lineup pretty quickly. Dallas has too many forwards and wings fighting for minutes to let him play simply because of where he was drafted two years ago. If that happens, he becomes another developmental project instead of a real part of the core.
Season goal
Become boring. That is honestly what I want from Risacher this year. No more massive expectations. No more conversation about whether he lived up to being the No. 1 pick. No more trying to figure out whether he is secretly a future star. Just become reliable. Hit open shots. Defend. Move the ball. Run the floor. Make the right read. Stay on the court. If Risacher can become a player Dusty May trusts for 25 to 30 minutes every night and does not have to think twice about closing with, that would be a huge success.
Overall
Risacher is probably one of the biggest swing players on the entire roster. The Mavericks do not need him to become what Atlanta hoped it was drafting in 2024. They need him to become the kind of player Dallas thought it was buying low on this summer—a big wing who can shoot, defend, and fit around better players. On paper, that player makes perfect sense next to Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. The problem is we have spent two years waiting to see if that player actually exists.
Pete DeBoer discussed his meritocracy and in-game demotions for Cal Ritchie and Anthony Duclair: “The players make those decisions for me.” [Post | THN]
Five early questions for the Isles, including what the hell can be expected of Mat Barzal. [Newsday]
Semyon Varlamov did his job the other night, but the team couldn’t hold up their end. [Post]
Island Ice podcast with Andrew Gross: The ups and downs that are sure to continue, plus Logan Stanley. [Newsday]
Elsewhere
Well-traveled former Islanders coach Rick Bowness has the cantankerous old-man thing going early and hard with the Blue Jackets, who he says should be embaraassed for their poor defensive play thus far. “I’m not a babysitter. I’m too old to be a babysitter for these guys.” [NHL | Sportsnet]
Former Blue, Oiler, Penguin, Duck, Blue, Golden Knight, Blue, Senator, Red Wing, and Senator David Perron has signed with the Stars for his 20th season. [NHL]
The Oilers are off to a great star that will ultimately be undone by their goaltending, but Mike Babcock admitted to playing his top stars too much during their loss to the Mammoth. [Sportsnet]
On the winless Kings and Flyers, Sidney Crosby on pace for only 48 points, and more. [Sportsnet]
(Original Caption) 4/18/62 -BOSTON,MA.- : HAPPY CHAMPS...The victorious Boston Celtics, NBA basketball champions for the fourth consecutive year, whoop it up in the dressing room, flanking their coach Red Auerbach {white shirt} Gov. John Volpe of Mass., {rear,L} and Celtics owner Walter Brown {front,L}. The Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 110-107, Boston Garden{4/18}.
There have been a lot of great coaches in basketball. In high school, we saw Bob Hurley Sr. of St. Anthony’s and Morgan Wootten of DeMatha.
In college, we’ve seen Mike Krzyzewski, Dean Smith, and John Wooden.
And in the pros, we’ve seen Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, and perhaps most of all, Red Auerbach.
What he built in Boston is still astonishing. The Celtics were good, and when he saw that he had a chance to get the final piece, Bill Russell, he swung a trade that made it happen.
Russell won the last game of every season he played in the NBA except for two: 1958, when he was injured, and 1967, when the Philadelphia 76ers had a truly great team.
After Russell retired, Auerbach rebuilt around an undersized Dave Cowens and John Havlicek, and then again around Larry Bird.
But it wasn’t just about talent. It was about how he dealt with people. Auerbach had many talents, and was an intense competitor, but his greatest talent may have been his insights into people. He knew how to deal with Russell, which wasn’t easy. He knew just how far he could push Bob Cousy.
He knew how to deal with every player on his team as a coach or under his supervision as GM or team president.
This video gets into a lot of what made Auerbach one of, at a minimum, the two or three best coaches in the history of basketball. He was unbelievably good at what he did.
The Saturday afternoon game between the New Jersey Devils and the Washington Capitals should be a fun one with plenty of offense. The Capitals are coming off a game where they scored five goals, while the Devils are coming off two games where they combined for 12 goals.
It’s also a game that, like the one against the New York Rangers the other night, will say a lot about where the Devils stand in the Metropolitan Division. The Devils are 4-3 and look like a middle-of-the-pack team, but a win against the Capitals proves they can beat anyone in their division.
The Capitals are also a prime example for many teams of how it’s possible, with the right moves and patience, to retool on the fly. To remain competitive, turn over the roster, and not move on from the core. The Devils are hopeful they can do the same, at least after the first offseason of general manager Sunny Mehta’s tenure.
Capitals Took Some Swings To Revitalize Their Core
In the 2022 offseason, the Capitals took a chance on Dylan Strome. He was a good but not great player with the Chicago Blackhawks, someone they didn’t see as part of their plans. The Capitals saw him as a late-bloomer who still had his best in front of him.
Two years later, the Capitals made a move for Pierre-Luc Dubois, a 25-year-old center who previously played on three teams. That same offseason, the Capitals made a move for Jakob Chychrun, hoping he’d hit his stride in Washington.
All three moves worked out and gave the Capitals a new core to build around. Strome was a point-per-game player in 2024-25, while Chychrun became the scoring defenseman to take the offense to another level.
Fast forward, and the Capitals rolled the dice with a busy summer, acquiring Alex Tuch, Boone Jenner, and Jordan Kyrou. To varying degrees, all three moves are paying off and turning the Capitals into a Cup contender.
Mehta took similar swings this summer. Luke Evangelista is at a similar point in his career as Strome was when he joined the Capitals. Declan Chisholm, like Dubois, saw multiple teams move on from him before he ended up with the Devils. Mehta hopes these players become key parts of the Devils this season.
It will take time before the Devils find out if the swings paid off. There’s plenty of hope that it will, with the new players fitting in with the core so far. Moreover, there’s a chance some of them become building blocks for the future, whether it’s Evangelista or Amadeus Lombardi, who has shown flashes as a depth forward.
Finding Depth
The biggest difference between the Capitals and the Devils recently is the depth. The Devils might have just as good, if not better, a core than the Capitals, considering Alexander Ovechkin is in the twilight of his career. It’s the production that comes from the bottom six and the second or third pair that made the difference.
Like the offseason moves, the Capitals slowly added depth to their roster. Matt Roy isn’t a household name, but a key part of their defense. Likewise, a handful of the prospects initially filled in but slowly worked their way up in the lineup.
The Devils are still searching for depth. The recent games suggest they’ve found it, whether it’s Anthony Mantha and Evan Rodrigues leading the third pair or Johnathan Kovacevic and Brenden Dillon rounding out the defense. The Devils have won three of their past four and look like a complete team, something they want to see throughout the season.
Adding Young NHLers Through The Pipeline
For years, the Capitals have had a strong farm system thanks to their American Hockey League team, the Hershey Bears. The Bears are one of the few independently owned teams in the AHL and focus on winning first and developing second. It’s a contrast to the rest of the league, but it created a culture that helped prospects develop.
It all came together with the Capitals' turnaround. It started with depth players joining the NHL roster, whether it was Ethan Frank or Ivan Miroshnichenko. Now, they have some high-end prospects joining the team, including Ilya Protas, who is a middle-six center, and Andrew Cristall, who is an exciting winger who is still developing with the Bears.
It’s unlikely Mehta wants the same thing with the Utica Comets, where the AHL team’s primary focus is winning. However, he wants something similar to what the Florida Panthers had with the Charlotte Checkers: a winning culture that helped the players develop and join the NHL team ready to go.
A hot start from the Comets is a promising sign that a winning culture is being developed. It’s allowing the prospects to take strides forward, whether it’s defenseman Anton Silaev or 22-year-old forward Lenni Hämeenaho, who has a team-leading five points in three games. It’s a bright spot for the Devils, who hope to have the reinforcements soon enough.
NBA referee Bill Kennedy is known for his sideline theatrics, and he’s used to being the star of the show when announcing whether a coach’s challenge has succeeded or failed.
Enter Steph Curry.
The Warriors star took the opportunity to practice his golf swing during a review on Friday night at Chase Center, and Kennedy couldn’t help but notice his big reveal was being upstaged.
Curry is an avid golfer and gets his practice swing in wherever he can — which often includes the basketball court during timeouts, in pregame warmups and even as a celebration. But Golden State’s point guard should have known Kennedy was bound to call him out, even if it was through a simple, yet hilarious, side-eye and point of his thumb.
Get a load of this guy, Kennedy appeared to gesture.
The longtime NBA official has a knack for turning replay rulings into viral moments and is widely respected. He also is the league’s second openly gay official and was announced as an inductee into the 2026 LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame class in January of this year.
Kennedy’s rulings alone are pure comedy, but adding Curry’s nonchalant stardom into the mix made for an all-timer on Friday night.
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The Steve Kerr lookalike who went viral over two years ago for, well, looking like the Warriors coach was at Chase Center again Friday night for Golden State’s NBA preseason win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
And despite this not being the first time, it appeared as if Kerr couldn’t believe his eyes.
Steve Kerr was visibly confused seeing a complete doppelgänger of himself at a game 😭 pic.twitter.com/9KvZTLFylj
