With their new coach Taylor Jenkins in the house, are the Milwaukee Bucks going to be able to build out a roster that gets Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign an extension and stay in Milwaukee, or are they going to trade him this summer (as is widely expected around the league)?
Whatever is going to happen, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam wants it to happen soon — before next month's draft.
"I just think before the draft is a natural time," Haslam said at Jenkins' introductory press conference, via the Associated Press. "Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we've got to have a lot of assets. That's Jon's [Horst, Bucks GM] job to do. And if he's here, then you build the team differently."
The expectation in league circles has always been exactly this, that any trade likely would be worked out before this draft. That allows a team trading for Antetokounmpo to include this year's pick as part of the deal (even if the trade couldn't be consummated until the end of the July moratorium). Horst gauged the market for Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline but did not make a deal, in part because he believed more teams would get in the mix and better offers would be available this offseason. That said, because Antetokounmpo now has just one year remaining on his contract (and a player option after that), he has a lot more leverage to get to a place he wants to be because he can just tell a team he will opt out and not extend with them.
"I think he's an incredible person. Obviously, he's an incredible coach… He had incredible culture in Memphis...
"I don't think Milwaukee is just getting just a good coach, I think they're getting a good person. And that's where it starts. Having a good person around that's gonna be able to set the tone, that set the culture and what Milwaukee Bucks basketball is all about. He's a really good coach."
However, when asked about the possibility of being coached by Jenkins...
"We'll see."
Whatever is going to happen, expect the rumors about an Antetokounmpo future and the trade market to ramp up and up as we get closer to the June 23 draft.
With their new coach Taylor Jenkins in the house, are the Milwaukee Bucks going to be able to build out a roster that gets Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign an extension and stay in Milwaukee, or are they going to trade him this summer (as is widely expected around the league)?
Whatever is going to happen, Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam wants it to happen soon — before next month's draft.
"I just think before the draft is a natural time," Haslam said at Jenkins' introductory press conference, via the Associated Press. "Because if Giannis does play somewhere else, we've got to have a lot of assets. That's Jon's [Horst, Bucks GM] job to do. And if he's here, then you build the team differently."
The expectation in league circles has always been exactly this, that any trade likely would be worked out before this draft. That allows a team trading for Antetokounmpo to include this year's pick as part of the deal (even if the trade couldn't be consummated until the end of the July moratorium). Horst gauged the market for Antetokounmpo at the trade deadline but did not make a deal, in part because he believed more teams would get in the mix and better offers would be available this offseason. That said, because Antetokounmpo now has just one year remaining on his contract (and a player option after that), he has a lot more leverage to get to a place he wants to be because he can just tell a team he will opt out and not extend with them.
"I think he's an incredible person. Obviously, he's an incredible coach… He had incredible culture in Memphis...
"I don't think Milwaukee is just getting just a good coach, I think they're getting a good person. And that's where it starts. Having a good person around that's gonna be able to set the tone, that set the culture and what Milwaukee Bucks basketball is all about. He's a really good coach."
However, when asked about the possibility of being coached by Jenkins...
"We'll see."
Whatever is going to happen, expect the rumors about an Antetokounmpo future and the trade market to ramp up and up as we get closer to the June 23 draft.
The Cubs, needing an extra arm in the bullpen for Thursday’s game, today recalled right-handed reliever Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Iowa. Hollowell pitched in six games for Iowa, covering eight innings, with a 2.25 ERA and 15 strikeouts.
To make room for Hollowell on the 26-man active roster, right-hander Corbin Martin was designated for assignment. Martin had made four pretty good appearances for the Cubs, including posting a save against the Dodgers, then he walked the only three batters he faced a week ago in San Diego. One of those batters scored. Fortunately, the Cubs won the game. Then he had a rough inning Sunday against the Diamondbacks and another one Wednesday night against the Reds.. He will likely clear waivers and the Cubs can send him back to Iowa… if they so choose.
This move opens a spot on the Cubs’ 40-man roster, so feel free to speculate.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Evan Carter #32 and Ezequiel Duran #20 of the Texas Rangers celebrate Carter's two-run home run during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 06, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 35-year-old retired in August after a decorated career that included nine seasons as Washington’s star point guard. Wall departed the Wizards as the franchise’s leader in assists (5,282) and steals (976) and led the team to three playoff series wins.
After finishing 17-65 — the NBA’s worst record — Washington owns a 14% chance of winning the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The Wizards can fall no further than No. 5 and own a 52.1% chance of winning a top-four pick.
This isn’t Wall’s first time on the lottery stage. The five-time NBA All-Star represented Washington at the 2011 draft lottery when they owned the fourth-best odds at winning the top pick.
That time, the odds were not in Washington’s favor, the team instead dropping two spots to No. 6 before later selecting Jan Vesely.
Fifteen years later, Wall will take the stage once more, this time hoping for a better result in a monumental draft lottery for the Wizards, who just finished their third tanking season and appear one star player away from making real noise in the Eastern Conference.
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced two new contract extensions on Thursday morning.
They first announced that they had re-signed forward Connor Dewar to a two-year extension before announcing that they had brought back defenseman Ilya Solovyov on a one-year extension.
Solovyov's deal will run through the 2026-27 season and has an average annual value of $850K.
Solo secured 🤝
The Penguins have signed defenseman Ilya Solovyov to a one-year contract extension.
Solovyov started the 2025-26 season with the Colorado Avalanche and played in 16 games with them before he was traded to the Penguins. He played in 30 total games this season, compiling one goal and eight points.
He also played in three Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Penguins and skated on the third pair.
At the very least, Solovyov is a solid seventh defenseman and will have an opportunity to push for more playing time when the 2026-27 NHL season starts in October.
The Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday will look to rebound from their Game 1 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in their second-round playoff series. Once again, Lakers superstar Luka Dončić will not be available for the game.
Doncic indicated to reporters on Wednesday, May 6, that he was given an eight-week recovery timetable for his hamstring injury. It’s been five weeks as of Thursday, May 7.
He suffered the injury on April 2 in a regular-season blowout loss to the Thunder and has not played in a game since.
Dončić also confirmed to reports that he went to Spain shortly after the injury to receive specialized Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections, with the intention of it accelerating his recovery. He stayed for an extended period to receive four separate injections that were spaced out four days apart and worked with specialists.
"I went to Spain to do PRP," Doncic said. "Everybody knows that Spain, they're just one of the best countries to do that. And obviously, I talked with the Lakers' doctors, so everybody agreed for me to go there."
The Lakers have officially ruled out Doncic for Game 2. Doncic would likely need to participate in practice and 5-on-5 simulated basketball games before being fully cleared to play.
When do the Lakers play next?
The Los Angeles Lakers will play the Oklahoma City Thunder on the road on Thursday, May 7. The game is slated to start at 6:30 p.m. PT (9:30 p.m. ET) and will be aired on Prime Video.
Game 1 of their second-round series didn’t go how the Montreal Canadiens hoped, as they lost the first game by a score of 3-2, despite only allowing 16 shots on net. Those who didn’t see the game and only checked the scoreline would be forgiven for thinking that Jakub Dobes had an off night, but that wasn’t the case.
The truth of the matter is, there wasn’t much the Czech goalie could have done on any of those goals. The first goal came on a three-on-one, and he certainly wasn’t to blame for that play. The second goal came on the power play after the Habs had broken the Buffalo Sabres' play, but the puck still got to Zach Benson’s stick, who easily found Ryan McLeod by the side of the net for an easy goal.
In the second frame, the Sabres scored early after fourth liner Jordan Greenway found himself with a golden opportunity when Alex Carrier failed to close him down and effectively screened his goaltender, just like Mike Matheson and Tyler Kozak, who were tangled in front of the net. Dobes couldn’t see a thing as the puck literally went through Carrier. If you’re going to take your goalie’s line of sight away, you need to block that puck. The final goal came on the power play from a great shot by Bowen Byram after Mike Matheson attempted to clear the puck through the middle of the ice.
Despite surrendering four goals on just 16 shots, Dobes battled all night to get a visual on the puck, and he wasn’t panicking. There’s a reason why Martin St-Louis didn’t replace him with Jacob Fowler. It wasn’t the time to do that; pulling him would only have messed with his confidence. Since claiming the number one job, Dobes hasn’t faltered, and the coach not pulling him was his way of showing him that he is their top guy and that he’s behind him. Asked about Dobes after the game, the coach said:
If you look at the first two goals, those are two goals he can’t do anything about. Dobes competed as he always does.
- St-Louis on Dobes
That’s a fair assessment. The goaltender was one of the most combative players for the Canadiens on Wednesday night, even if the scoreline suggests otherwise.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 04: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs defends Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second half in Game One of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Frost Bank Center on May 04, 2026 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. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They predicted a firm Los Angeles Lakers loss to the Houston Rockets in the First Round of this year’s NBA playoffs. Without two of their three best players (Austin Reaves, out with an oblique injury and Luka Doncic, out with a hamstring strain), they had no chance against the talented young Rockets, most media members in an ESPN survey said.
Actually, 15 of 16 believed that Houston would win comfortably.
— Mette L. Robertson (@M_Robertson100) May 6, 2026
And you can’t really blame them. Statistically, their chances of winning was 14 percent, according to Polymarket. That equates to “no chance”, according to Legion Hoops.
JUST IN: The Rockets have an 86% chance to eliminate the Lakers in the first round of the NBA playoffs
But the Lakers still won the series – and pretty convincingly at that – getting up 3-0, which is basically unbeatable historically.
That begs the question of how much attention we should give numbers and stats, especially in the playoffs.
Here’s why.
Numbers are great at calculating how to get the most efficient shots, finding weak points and so much more. But they can’t stand alone. They can’t tell you about chemistry and they can’t predict the big moments of a playoff series. In order to get a full picture of a player, a team, a series, you have to look up from the stats sheet.
Momentum, the intangibles in between possessions, rivalries, chemistry between certain players, trust in each other – and the opposite – overall team connection, leadership, mental toughness – no one can measure these things.
But it is, however, right here that the real story of a game takes place. The story of winning – or losing – of personalities and the biggest moments.
Most things worth experiencing are not quantifiable. It is in between all the numbers we track that the greatness of basketball is found.
Right there, when numbers just won’t cut it anymore, we have only emotions left. In those cracks and in between our logic and reasoning, basketball forces us to feel. The good, the bad, the sad, the disappointment, and the elation.
All of those feelings which we often are afraid to feel in our normal lives, because it would mean we lose control. But when we watch basketball, all of these feelings are acceptable, even applauded. And in that, basketball becomes a vent for all of our big feelings, which most people spend so much energy bottling up to get through the day.
According to a Freudian psychoanalytic perspective on fandom, sports provide a rare, socially acceptable place for behavior that would otherwise be unacceptable. Fans can be loud, boo and scream, and be hostile towards the opponent. That leaves a place to get the aggressive, primal urges of the id (from Freud’s theory) out in a way that’s acceptable by our social norms and the superego, in which our moralistic nature resides. The id’s raw energy is channeled into a civilized activity that we like to call fandom. Sports help us get an emotional release for pent-up tension. And basically, that’s why it feels so important – and gratifying – to be a sports fan.
That leads us to the future of the NBA, and a pretty good representation of the next generation generally, it seems: Victor Wembanyama from another playoff contender, the San Antonio Spurs. Just last week, Wemby talked about how he isn’t interested in trying to hide his emotions or consider it a weakness, which has been the predominant culture in the sports world, and generally, up until now. But that may be about to change.
“I refuse to carry the burden of having to hide my emotions,” he said in an answer to a question about whether being emotional is weakness.
Wemby is unapologetic about not trying to hide his emotions 💪❤️
If sports, fandom and basketball help us cope with life, find balance and release pent-up feelings of the past, that is a powerful conclusion and a meaningful purpose.
This piece started as a reminder to look up from the stats sheet – and perhaps your phone, as well – and how basketball is less about numbers and more about moments and all that comes in between. But as it turns out, it’s a lot about feelings, too.
Sure, for some, it’s about money mostly, but for fans, players and people around the teams, who put so much time and effort into this sport, it comes down to feelings.
Like someone used to say all the time (it was me), basketball is all about feelings. And maybe I was right. One thing I know, though, is that numbers can’t predict heart – so look up, or you might miss it.
The Los Angeles Lakers will try to rebound from their Game 1 loss and even their Western Conference semifinals series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder won the opener 108-90. Oklahoma City is heavily favored with a 15.5-point spread with an over/under of 209.5. The Lakers will again be without Luka Dončić, who has not yet been cleared for contact.
How to watch Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Moneyline: Oklahoma City Thunder -935 (86.6%) / Los Angeles Lakers +616 (13.4%)
Over/Under: 209.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1:Thunder 108, Lakers 90 Game 2: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Thursday May 7, 9:30 ET, Prime Video) Game 3: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 9, 8:30 ET, ABC) Game 4: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Monday May 11, 10:30 ET, Prime Video) Game 5: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Wednesday May 13)* Game 6: Oklahoma City at Los Angeles (Saturday May 16)* Game 7: Los Angeles at Oklahoma City (Monday May 18)*
Apr 24, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images | Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images
The Jays don’t play today, so I figured we’d do the open thread today.
There isn’t all that much for Jays news, as we wait to hear who leaves to make room for Addison Barger. It will be interesting, I’m not sure who I’d pick. Since Barger is a left-handed batter, a lefty batter would generally be the choice, as we do have a lot of left-handed batters on the roster. But some of them are going to have to learn to hit lefties.
Yohendrick Pinango had a couple of poor at bats against a lefty yesterday. Left-handed batters don’t see a lot of left-handed pitchers on their way up to the majors. Hitting pitches moving away from you isn’t all that easy. Of course, when Nathan Lukes comes back, it will be that much more of a question.
Speaking of Yohendrick, it is his 24th birthday today. Happy Birthday, young man. Enjoy it.
In the world of aging, Max Scherzer is seeking medical advise about his ‘battle with forearm tendinitis’ that isn’t improving. I hope his doctor is older than 40, because it will be easy for him. “You are getting older, things are going to hurt.” I’m sorry, things just hurt more. It isn’t all that bad really, just aches and pains last longer.
Ask anyone in their 50s or 60s, things hurt. I’ve had a pain in my knee for about a year. It ranges from slight pain to limping bad. It’s life.
It is part of why not many guys play profession baseball in the 40s.
Anyway, use the thread to discuss anything you want to.
Jaron Williams called time and made his way from behind the plate to the pitcher's mound. Williams overheard the opposing team talking about his pitcher, Aaron Reese.
"He's only pitching with one hand. What can he really do?"
Placing the ball in Reese's left hand, the catcher told him what he had heard. Reese didn't respond. He struck out 10 and walked away with a win.
The only words Williams had for the opposing team at the conclusion of the game was, "That's what my pitcher can do."
This happened a couple of years ago at a summer-league game, but Reese has spent his baseball life hearing variations of the same question – what can a pitcher with one fully-functional arm really do?
At Carver-Montgomery High School, that question has stopped being about limitation and started being about production. He's become a legitimate pitcher competing without adjustments from his coaching staff. What began as a curiosity to outsiders has become, for Aaron, simply baseball.
His junior season ended last month with a win in the area tournament. He struck out eight.
'What we do with two hands, he can do better with one'
Reese was born 13 pounds at birth. He got stuck in the birth canal because he was so big, doctors had to forcefully pull him out. When they did, it dislocated a nerve from his spinal cord, causing Erb's palsy.
"At that time, we didn't care. My baby was alive," Deirdre Reese told the Montgomery Advertiser.
Since then, Aaron has undergone several surgeries and been through therapy. Doctors say he will never have full use of his right arm.
That didn't keep him from developing a love for baseball.
He followed his brother, Kendall Reese, everywhere on a baseball field. Aaron's presence eventually promoted him to batboy. But batboy wasn't enough for Aaron. Sometimes, while sitting on Kendall's lap in the dugout, Aaron moved his hands in all sorts of directions around his torso and head — attempting to give signs to the team.
"He brought extra energy to the dugout," Kendall said.
Kendall knew it was time to get to work with Aaron. He couldn't waste a love for the game because of a nerve condition.
A patient brother and a painstaking process
It started with a tennis ball.
Kendall tossed Aaron a ball over and over in the field that surrounds their house in the country. At first, it wasn't about throwing or velocity, just learning how to secure the ball cleanly with his left hand. Then came the glove, and Kendall transitioned to another basic skill: getting the ball out the glove.
Aaron caught the ball in his glove, threw his glove down on the ground, picked up the ball that rolled out when it hit the ground and made the throw.
"When I first saw that, I was kind of shocked because I was like, his mind is actually working because I was thinking that he was going to try attempt to grab the ball with his other hand," Kendall said.
As surprised as he was, Kendall knew that transition wasn't going to cut it during a game.
Instead, Aaron learned to catch the ball in his glove, tuck it into his right armpit, collected the ball and make the throw.
It wasn't easy.
He would fumble with the glove and lose precious seconds getting the throw off. Kendall clocked him at 6 or 7 seconds to make a throw.
When Aaron first started pitching, he wouldn't put his glove on because he wanted get rid of the ball faster. In one game, he fielded a ball with his bare hand. His finger swelled up from taking the brunt force of the ball, forcing him to be pulled.
The frustration built. Sometimes, it was too much.
Tears in his eyes, Aaron wanted to give up. But the desire to play baseball burned too brightly.
Kendall decided to slow things down and make training baseball simple and fun with the introduction of the three-inning game. The game was a one-on-one showdown between Aaron and Kendall, with the objective of hitting the ball and making it all the way back to home before the other brother could tag the batter out.
As the big brother, Kendall wasn't going to show any mercy. But he started to notice that when he'd hit the ball at Aaron, he attempted to try and catch it. Over time, Aaron started to beat Kendall.
Kendall noticed Aaron smiling and laughing more. So, they started again.
This time, they worked on Aaron taking the glove on and off with the ball already inside. Soon, Kendall was timing his transfer to throw at 2 or 3 seconds.
"I could never make the switch as fast he could, even with two hands," Kendall said.
Fielding the ball, tucking the glove in the armpit and grabbing the ball now only takes Aaron 1.3 seconds. After two years of countless reps in the backyard and in the mirror, it's a seamless transition.
Now parents of opposing players seek Dierdre Reese out after games.
"They tell me that their players or sons can't give them any more excuses," Deirdre said. "They tell me that watching Aaron is an inspiration because it is a rarity to ever do what he does."
'I'm just a pitcher. Nothing else'
Aaron stands tall on the mound, his eyes focused on the catcher. He cradles his glove upright in his right arm with his left hand fiddling with the ball inside his glove to find the right fastball grip.
He kicks his right leg up, puffs his cheeks full of air, pulls his right arm into his chest like he's hugging his glove and rears his left arm towards home plate. As his left leg swings around to touch the ground in front of him, Aaron is sliding his left arm in his glove.
"I would put him up against anyone," Carver coach Quawon Baldwin said.
When Baldwin was coaching at Park Crossing and he'd face Aaron on the mound, he didn't ever see a pitcher with a disadvantage. He encouraged his players to give their maximum effort because that's what they were going to need to beat him.
Now that he is Aaron's coach, he doesn't give the lefty pitcher any special treatment.
During his junior season, Aaron's fastball was consistently clocking at 82 mph and could reach upwards to 87 when he was really feeling letting it fly.
"He wants to feel normal. So, with that being said, I push him as hard as the rest of the team," Baldwin said.
Said Aaron, "I love baseball, it's just something I've always done, and I'm in a mindset that I'm just a pitcher. Nothing else."
Aaron has two dreams, One large and one small.
The grander of the dreams is to be enshrined in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, but before he gets to that point, he needs to reach the smaller dream first.
That dream is of playing college baseball at the Division I level. It's a dream that is slowly unfolding with showcase invitations finding their way into his mailbox. Schools like Alabama, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Jacksonville State want to see Aaron on the mound for themselves.
There haven't been any formal offers extended, but when Baldwin takes his seniors on visits during the offseason, coaches make sure to check in on Aaron.
Aaron has heard the question for years. What can he really do?
At Carver, it's no longer a question that defines him. The answer has stopped being theoretical, it's become routine.
Jaeden Day covers high school sports, Alabama State football and Auburn recruiting for the Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today. You can find him on X at dayjaeden12, or reach him at JDay@montgome.gannett.com.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 09: Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics celebrates scoring a three-point-basket with Luka Garza #52 and Hugo Gonzalez #28 in the second half against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center on November 09, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. 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 Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
BOSTON — For 82 games, the Celtics’ depth — particularly at the wing position — was one of its biggest strengths.
“We just have 15, 16 guys that can impact winning,” Joe Mazzulla said before the playoffs. “At any point in time, people can help us win.”
When Mazzulla made that comment, it resonated. We’d seen it all year, after all.
Jordan Walsh started 25 games and showed flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball, demonstrating an ability to shut down some of the best scorers in the league.
Baylor Scheierman started 20 games and emerged as the perfect complementary role player who had a penchant for winning plays.
At just 19 years old, Hugo Gonzalez started three games, but made his mark in plenty more, drawing charges, diving for loose balls, and becoming one of the league’s top plus-minus guys.
Even Ron Harper Jr., who began the season on an Exhibit-10 contract, got three starts and helped swing several games, outplaying Kevin Durant on the second night of a back-to-back in Houston.
Depth, however you wanted to look at it, was an undeniably positive storyline. All four backup wings came into the season unproven, and all four finished it with big-time performances under their belt and undeniable potential.
But, while that player development was part of what made the 2025-2026 regular season special, the Celtics couldn’t sufficiently leverage it when it mattered most.
Walsh played the most substantial backup wing role, in large part due to his ability to guard Tyrese Maxey, but he played just 5 minutes in Game 7. Gonzalez didn’t play rotational minutes until Game 7, and though he helped key a critical first-half run, all in all, he played just 19 postseason minutes.
Harper Jr. played 21 minutes across the first six games, got an unexpected Game 7 start, and then went on to only record 4 minutes in that game, despite tallying two quick steals.
Throughout the series, fans clamored for more minutes for each of their favorite back-ups: more Scheierman minutes, Walsh in the starting lineup, any sign of life from Gonzalez.
Before Game 7, I posted a thread on X asking fans what they would change; most of the 500+ respondents urged for more minutes from one of the team’s young wings.
The reality, however, is that playoff rotations usually tighten up. By late March, Jayson Tatum was back playing (very effective) heavy minutes, and Sam Hauser had established himself as the team’s fifth starter.
Mazzulla’s rotation conundrum was not made easier by the fact that none of the young guys on the roster separated themselves from one another — while different players stepped up in different moments, there was no clear hierarchy going into the playoffs.
“It was an unusual roster in that we had a lot of unproven young players that had really not contributed at a meaningful level yet in their careers, and [they] really showed themselves capable of that,” Brad Stevens said at his end-of-season press conference. “Oftentimes, as a coach and as a staff, it’s a lot easier if some do and some don’t, because then there’s a clear demarcation line. But that’s a good problem to have.”
In this series, however, the Celtics didn’t really benefit from the fact that there was no set rotation the way they did all season. In the decisive Game 7, Gonzalez, Scheierman, Harper, and Walsh all went scoreless on 10 combined field goal attempts. None of the four players was able to develop an offensive rhythm against Philadelphia.
It’s easy to say that Mazzulla should have played Scheierman, given that he broke through as an all-around player shortly after the trade deadline. But one could also make the case that Gonzalez, who probably brings the most to the table from an athleticism standpoint, should have seen opportunities before Game 7.
But the reality is that there is limited on-court time, and it’s hard to blame Mazzulla for those decisions, considering there was no clear pecking order among the backups going into the playoffs.
Stevens emphasized that it is not the front office’s job to make rotational decisions: “The role questions, and when people play, and how many people play, that’s what a coach has to do — and it’s really hard when, again, there’s not a clear separation.”
At his end-of-year press conference, Stevens was specifically asked about Gonzalez’s growth and, in turn, he praised his rookie season. The 2025 No. 28 pick averaged 14.6 minutes across 74 games, shot 36.2% from three, and was one of the NBA’s plus-minus leaders.
“Hugo had a great rookie year, and is, I think, a critical part of us moving forward because his athleticism can meet the moment in the big games,” he said. “That’s a real thing. You can see it. You know it. His strength is off the charts. He’s probably the strongest — he’s one of the strongest guys on our team right now, pound-for-pound, as a 20-year-old. So, he’s got a bright future.”
Still, Stevens explained that Gonzalez hadn’t done enough during the season to clearly demand postseason minutes.
“That said, he didn’t separate himself from those other guys,” he said. “And so, as a front-office person, I can’t sit here and say that one person should have been playing over another, should have been playing over another. There wasn’t enough separation.”
It’d be hard to argue with that.
Gonzalez had great moments, but he also made rookie mistakes, couldn’t create as much offensively, and didn’t space the floor as well as someone like Hauser, who has been on the Celtics for five seasons and was in the rotation for the 2024 title run.
Now that the 3-1 series lead has been blown, it’s easy to play Monday Morning Quarterback and say this guy should have played, or this guy should have played, but the real challenge lies in the fact that all four wings — who had taken turns being so important during the regular season — came into the playoffs on relatively equal footing.
Mazzulla, for his part, denied that making those rotational decisions was difficult.
“It wasn’t,” Mazzulla said. “I think too many times, pushing the right button gets linked to a positive result. At the end of the day, it’s about pushing the right button [toward the] process of putting us in a position to win. And that’s always the goal. And the locker room, whoever is out there puts us in position to win.”
That’s Mazzulla’s perspective, and it’s obviously a valid one. Still, watching the Celtics-76ers series unfold, it became increasingly clear that the team’s regular-season depth and rotational unpredictability were no longer the asset it was in the regular season.
In Game 7, only five players scored — three of the team’s starters (Harper Jr., Luka Garza, and Scheierman) went scoreless. Walsh was effective in slowing down Maxey in stretches, but none of the other bench guys consistently left their imprint on the game.
That’s, in part, the result of a roster that hadn’t been there before. Nearly half of the rotation — Neemias Queta, Walsh, Gonzalez, Scheierman, Harper Jr., and Garza — had never before logged postseason action.
“There’s positives in that, because these are experiences that will then add up for these guys to take advantage of in the future,” he said. “But when you’re in the midst of it, and you have a chance, you wish you would still be playing.”
Gonzalez ($2.9 million), Garza ($2.8 million), and Scheierman ($2.7 million) are all under contract next season. Harper Jr. ($2.6 million) and Walsh ($2.4 million) have team options. It seems unlikely that all five guys will be back in green next season — and if they are, it seems even likely that, with another year under their belt, there will be a pecking order established earlier in the season.
During the 2024 title run, Mazzulla didn’t have to make these decisions. Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford were all going to see significant minutes. Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser were on the edges of the rotation. Everyone who played had been there before, and the guys who didn’t hadn’t meaningfully contributed throughout the year.
A lot of that, to put it plainly, is just roster construction.
“As I look back, we didn’t have a team that was as experienced or as, certainly, as ready for that moment as you know we’ve had in the past,” Stevens said.
At the same time, in hindsight, it’s clear that one of the Celtics’ biggest regular-season strengths became a challenge when it came to the postseason. The 2025-2026 season was formative for so many players — that’s part of why Jaylen Brown has dubbed it his favorite-ever season.
But when it mattered most, that depth became a challenge.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will try to even their second-round NBA playoff series against the Detroit Pistons in Game 2. The Pistons fought off the Cavs for a 111-101 victory in Game 1. Detroit is favored by 3.5 points in Game 2 with an over/under of 215.5.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons
Moneyline: Detroit Pistons -160 (59.1%) / Cleveland Cavaliers +135 (40.9%)
Over/Under: 215.5
Series schedule, results
Game 1:Pistons 111, Cavaliers 101 Game 2: Cleveland at Detroit (Thursday May 7, 7 p.m. ET, Prime Video) Game 3: Detroit at Cleveland (Saturday May 9, 3 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 4: Detroit at Cleveland (Monday May 11, 8 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock) Game 5: Cleveland at Detroit (Wednesday May 13)* Game 6: Detroit at Cleveland (Friday May 15)* Game 7: Cleveland at Detroit (Sunday May 17)*
The Buffalo Sabres did not repeat the same mistakes they displayed in the opener of their first-round series against Boston late last month, struggling to find their energy until late in the third period, before scoring four goals in the final 10 minutes. The Sabres were energetic from the drop of the puck, put the Montreal Canadiens on their heels for the entire game, took an early 2-0 lead and remained in control in a 4-2 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final on Wednesday.
Josh Doan, Ryan McLeod, Jordan Greenway, and Bowen Byram scored for Buffalo, Zach Benson had assists on both first-period markers. Alex Lyon made 26 saves in his fourth win of the postseason.
"I think we wanted to emphasize on getting to their D early and trying to force turnovers, (Zach Benson) does an unbelievable job of that throughout every game," Doan said after the game. "(It was a) great start by him and it got the building on their feet."
Another trait from the first round that Buffalo did not repeat was their struggles with the man advantage. Although their top unit was still ineffective after going 1 for 24 against Boston, the Sabres second unit cashed in twice on three opportunities.
"It was one of those nights where we had to get more pucks back in retrievals. We were losing too many battles and too many easy one and dones," Doan said. "One series is over, off to the next, and we have two in this series already. So it's going well."
The pace of the series and the difference between the tight checking Bruins and the Canadiens seemed to be to Buffalo’s benefit in Game 1. Montreal never seemed to gather their equilibrium at any point during the game, even after Nick Suzuki cut the margin in half at the end of the first. The most glaring difference from their series victory over Tampa Bay was the mere mortality of Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes, who had a .923 save percentage and 2.03 GAA in seven games against the Lightning.
In Game 1, the Habs netminder allowed four goals on just 16 shots. Montreal’s top line of Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slavkovsky did combine for a power play marker, but did not have much of an impact at five-on-five, which might prompt Montreal coach Martin St. Louis to shake up his lines for Game 2 on Friday.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff indicated after the game that team captain Rasmus Dahlin, who was injured blocking a shot late in the third period, was fine after the game.
