Posts

Posted on

Stephen A. Smith: 'I might have been wrong' about Bronny James' NBA readiness

Bronny James shoots under the basket as Milwaukee Bucks forward Pete Nance defends
Lakers guard Bronny James shoots as Milwaukee Bucks forward Pete Nance defends Thursday at Crypto.com Arena. James had 17 points and five assists in 30 minutes, all career highs, causing ESPN's Stephen A. Smith to reconsider his position on the rookie's NBA readiness. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Stephen A. Smith isn't quite ready to admit he was wrong about Bronny James.

But the ESPN personality did lay the groundwork for such an admission on "First Take" the morning after the son and teammate of Lakers superstar LeBron James played his best NBA game.

Two weeks earlier, after Smith was confronted by an angry James over comments the TV analyst had made about his son, Smith had taken to the same airwaves to assert that he wasn't being disrespectful in saying he felt Bronny James belonged in the G League as a rookie.

On Friday, however, Smith told viewers, "I might have been wrong" about Bronny James' NBA potential this season.

Read more:Stephen A. Smith says LeBron James confronting him was 'weak': 'I was talking about you,' not Bronny

That acknowledgment came after Bronny James stepped up in the absence of a multitude of his teammates — including his father, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt and Dorian Finney-Smith — against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

The result of the game might have been a blowout loss for the Lakers, but Bronny James had a breakthrough performance. His 17 points and five assists in 30 minutes were all career highs, and his three rebounds tied his NBA best.

“I was very impressed," Smith said of Bronny James' performance. "I was very impressed because I saw an elevation in his level of confidence and poise. It was like it didn’t really faze him. He didn’t look as nervous as he had looked in previous appearances on the basketball court. He looked like somebody that belonged. …

"There were some moves that he put out on the court — ball-handling skills, getting to the basket, finishing at the basket, pulling up for jumpers, hitting a three, 17 points, 7-of-10 shooting from the field — I was impressed."

He added: "And if that kind of stuff continues, then indeed he’ll be in the league as a bonafide player sooner than later. One game doesn’t make that determination. You need to do more than that. But I wanted to make sure I emphasized that point."

Smith was sitting courtside at Crypto.com Arena for the Lakers-Knicks game March 6 when James approached him during a timeout and angrily addressed him face to face. Smith said the next day that James had come up to him “to confront me about making sure I mind what I say about his son.”

Read more:Bronny James credits focus on his game for career-best 17 points during loss to Bucks

On Friday, Smith reiterated what he has said numerous times since the incident, that he had never disrespected Bronny James.

“But I did believe that he belonged in the G League to get himself honed for the NBA level," Smith said. "What may have been wrong about that is that evidently being around JJ Redick and that staff and being around Pops and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers — combined with the G League, going back and forth — may be doing wonders for him sooner than we anticipated. Because I liked what I saw last night.

"And I’m gonna keep the same energy. When he plays well, we gonna give him props. When he doesn’t play well, we’re going to say so. That’s what happens with covering the league. Maybe his Pops didn’t tell him that, but I’m gonna tell him that. Congrats on a good performance last night. I hope it continues. I believe it will.”

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

Kings Cap Road Trip with Win in Chicago, Return Home for Crucial Homestand

© Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Kings concluded their two-game road trip with a split 1-1 record after a commanding 3-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. This victory capped off a six-win out-of-seven-game stretch and was a good rebound from their disappointing 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Monday.

Road Trip Recap

A balanced effort across the roster marked the Kings’ latest trip to Chicago. Trevor Moore opened the scoring in the first period, giving Los Angeles an early lead. Alex Turcotte made it a two-goal cushion in the second period, depositing his eighth goal. 

Despite a Chicago surge that began when rookie sensation Connor Bedard got the Blackhawks on board, Joel Edmundson's empty-netter ultimately secured the win for the Kings. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper backstopped the Kings with 17 saves, extinguishing Chicago's limited scoring opportunities.

The victory followed Monday night's disappointing 3-1 defeat to the Wild that saw LA’s five-game winning streak snapped. The Kings could not penetrate Minnesota's tight defensive approach in that contest. 

Strength Against Strong Competition

Even though the Kings lost to the Wild, who have been playing solidly this season, Los Angeles is still an excellent team against top-heavy teams in the league. 

At 22-15-3 against teams with a record of better than .500, the Kings have consistently been able to push elite competition. Their success comes from the combination of defense-based structure and scoring at the correct times, exemplified in the Kings' latest victories over playoff contenders like the Washington Capitals, the Winnipeg Jets twice, and even the Vegas Golden Knights on three separate occasions this season. 

Quinton Byfield's extra-session heroism vs. Nashville on March 15 demonstrated the Kings' resiliency. During that span, Byfield extended his goal streak to six consecutive games.

Looking Ahead

The Kings are home now for a highly critical three-game homestand. They will start with back-to-back games this weekend against. Carolina and Boston before finishing off against the Rangers on Tuesday night. 

LA will also finish the season playing 11 of its remaining 15 games at home, which will be a big test in deciding where it will finish in the Pacific division and who its matchup will be come playoff time. 

With the Western Conference standings tightening up, Los Angeles must continue playing defense with discipline and convert on prime scoring chances to stay atop the pursuit.

Byfield and Moore are also guys to watch. Byfield is emerging as a consistent scoring threat, and Moore has rekindled his goal-scoring ability. Kuemper's ability to keep his cool in the net will also be key, particularly against high-scoring teams like Winnipeg and Edmonton.

With momentum restored after the win in Chicago, the Kings can ride their good play back home to Crypto.com Arena. As the playoff push intensifies, Los Angeles' performance against quality teams determines its postseason standing and capacity to perform when it counts most.

Posted on

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Quentin Grimes should be added in shallow leagues

Depending on the league's settings, many fantasy managers will compete for a championship during Week 21. The "silly season" has been in full effect for a few weeks, meaning some players on lottery-bound teams have firmly established themselves as worthwhile additions to fantasy rosters. The lingering concern is a player performing so well that they lose out on playing time to protect- or improve- the team's lottery odds. This week's Waiver Wire begins with a player who could find himself in that situation, but fantasy managers must operate under the assumption that he'll continue to play starters' minutes.

Priority Adds

1. Quentin Grimes (shallow leagues)

2. Toumani Camara

3. Kyle Filipowski

4. Jeremy Sochan

5. Aaron Nesmith

6. Kyshawn George

7. Cason Wallace

8. Keon Ellis

9. Kevin Huerter

10. Ziaire Williams

SG/SF Quentin Grimes (63%), Philadelphia 76ers

Usually, this list is limited to players rostered in no more than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues. But an exception must be made for Grimes, who has been elite recently. According to Basketball Monster, he's ranked fifth in eight-cat formats over the past two weeks. The 76ers have been willing to let Grimes play heavy minutes, and he has made the most of his opportunities. Even if the team cut Grimes' minutes, that should not be a significant concern for fantasy managers.

SG/SF/PF Toumani Camara (46%), Portland Trail Blazers

Camara is still rostered in less than 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues, meaning he can help some managers compete in 12-team leagues. While he has only been a 12th-round player in eight-cat formats over the past two weeks, the percentages (41.5 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from the foul line) have been the problem. Camara continues to provide excellent defensive production, making him worth the risk in category leagues.

SF/PF/C Jeremy Sochan (43%), San Antonio Spurs

Sochan's production hasn't been great, as he's ranked outside the top 200 in eight-cat formats over the past two weeks. However, he has played 31 minutes or more in two of his last three outings, most recently logging 38 as the starting center in a March 19 win over the Knicks. Also, Sochan has hit double figures in five straight appearances, his longest streak since mid-December. And with the Spurs playing four games during Week 21, he'll be worth the risk, even if Bismack Biyombo returns to the starting lineup.

PF/C Kyle Filipowski (32%), Utah Jazz

Even though the franchise was fined $100,000 in early March due to its handling of Lauri Markkanen, the team continues to take steps to limit the playing time of its more established players. That frees up additional minutes for players like Filipowski, who has been an 11th-round player in eight-cat formats over the past two weeks. Utah doesn't have the best schedule for Week 21, as its three-game week concludes on Friday, but Filipowski is one of the youngsters who will not lack opportunities to perform.

SF/PF Aaron Nesmith (31%), Indiana Pacers

Over the past two weeks, Nesmith has provided seventh-round value in eight-cat formats, averaging 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.9 three-pointers per game. He reclaimed his place in the starting lineup just before the All-Star break, and Tyrese Haliburton's recent absence has raised Nesmith's offensive ceiling slightly. And even if the star point guard is available for the start of Week 21, the Pacers will play four games.

SG/SF Kyshawn George (26%), Washington Wizards

The Wizards have a four-game schedule for Week 21, and George was removed from the injury report after missing the team's March 19 loss to the Jazz. Over the past two weeks, the rookie wing has provided top-60 value in eight-cat formats. Along with Alexandre Sarr (62 percent), Tristan Vukcevic (13 percent) and Jordan Poole, George is one of four Wizards who has provided top-100 value over the past two weeks. And the Wizards may look to trim Poole's minutes in the final weeks in favor of the team's younger players getting more minutes. Although he's already a starter, George may benefit from an offensive usage standpoint if the team takes that approach.

PG/SG/SF Keon Ellis (23%), Sacramento Kings

While Zach LaVine's return after missing one game for personal reasons pushed Ellis back to the bench, he has a higher fantasy ceiling due to the Domantas Sabonis ankle injury. With Jonas Valanciunas now in the starting lineup, there's a greater need for Ellis to provide consistent production off the bench, even if they don't play the same position. He's worth a look for category league managers needing steals, as Keon has averaged 1.5 per game over the past two weeks.

SG/SF Kevin Huerter (21%), Chicago Bulls

Josh Giddey returned from a sprained ankle on Wednesday, playing 31 minutes off the bench in a loss to the Suns. He'll likely return to the starting lineup before Week 21, but there will still be minutes available to Huerter. He logged 32 minutes against the Suns and has been a top-75 player in eight-cat formats over the past two weeks. While Huerter has been most valuable in the points, rebounds, and three-point categories, he has also averaged 1.7 steals per game over the past two weeks.

PG/SG Cason Wallace (20%), Oklahoma City Thunder

While he was one of the Thunder rotation players who did not play in the team's March 19 rout of the 76ers, Wallace could be given more opportunities as the regular season approaches its conclusion. He's played 27 minutes or more in each of his last four appearances, and the second-year guard would have added value if the team were to give Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the occasional night off in preparation for the postseason. And even if that would not be Oklahoma City's approach, Wallace has been a sixth-round player in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks.

PG/SG Scotty Pippen Jr. (17%), Memphis Grizzlies

While Ja Morant's absence due to a shoulder injury did not result in Pippen moving into the starting lineup (Luke Kennard did), his fantasy value has increased. Over the past two weeks, the Grizzlies' backup has been a top-50 player in nine-cat formats. Pippen is still playing just under 26 minutes per game, and the steals production (2.4 per game) has been noteworthy. Averaging 1.3 per game on the season, he's recorded two or more steals in eight straight outings. The Grizzlies only play three games during Week 21, but Pippen will be worth a look if Morant remains out.

SG/SF Ziaire Williams (16%), Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are effectively playing out the string, and Williams is one of the team's younger players who hasn't lacked opportunities. And over the past two weeks, he has provided sixth-round value in nine-cat formats. With Cam Thomas done for the season, there's no reason why Williams won't continue to surpass 30 minutes consistently. While Brooklyn's Week 22 schedule isn't good, the team will play four games during Week 21.

SF/PF Brice Sensabaugh (8%), Utah Jazz

As mentioned in the Filipowski portion, the Jazz are in a situation where their younger players will see plenty of time as the season winds down. Over the past two weeks, Sensabaugh has averaged 13.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 three-pointers per game. While he doesn't provide much value in the rebound or defensive stat categories, the second-year forward is worth rostering due to his opportunities and scoring ability.

Posted on

Starling Marte says knees 'feel really good,' hopes to get opportunity to play outfield this season

A major X-factor for the Mets this season will be Starling Marte and whether or not he can stay healthy for the duration of the year, something the 36-year-old hasn't been able to do over the last two seasons in New York.

However, this season figures to be slightly different for Marte as the Mets plan on using him mostly as a designated hitter and in a platoon with Jesse Winker, rather than counting on him to be their starting right fielder like in the past.

The injuries to Marte have been aplenty since coming to Queens with last year's problem stemming from a bone bruise in his right knee that cost him almost two months. In 2023, the outfielder missed almost half the season with a right groin strain as well as migraines.

So entering spring training this year, Marte worked hard to get his knee prepared for the season. It took him a bit to be ready to play in any Grapefruit League games, making his spring training debut on March 10, but on Friday afternoon he made his first start in the outfield.

"[My knees] feel really good," he said through an interpreter. "Thank God we’ve been working really, really hard throughout this whole process to get back to where we want to be. They feel completely different from [how] they felt last year."

That's obviously a good sign for the Mets who would love to have the version of Marte they saw in 2022 who slashed .292/.347/.468 with 16 home runs and 63 RBI in 118 games. Since then, Marte has played just 180 games and has totaled 12 home runs and 68 RBI in two seasons.

But with Juan Soto now in the mix and playing right field, Marte just needs to focus on staying healthy and being productive at the plate, which he has been throughout his 13-year career as evidenced by his .286 batting average and .783 OPS.

Nevertheless, Marte hopes to still play the outfield whenever he can.

"I like playing in the outfield, I would like to get that opportunity to play the outfield," he said. "Obviously, being the DH gives me more time for my knee to recover and it gives me more time to be off my feet."

If Marte does play the outfield this season, it will likely be in left field where Brandon Nimmo -- nursing his own injury -- is the starter. It's a position that Marte hasn't played so far in New York (he played right field on Friday), but he has in the past and is willing to do whatever the team asks of him.

"Since being here I haven’t played left field. Obviously I used to play left field a long time ago and I did a good job, albeit a long time ago, but if that’s where they need me to play, I’m willing to play there. I do expect to get reps there at some point," he said.

Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic like his successor Soto, Marte also briefly spoke about what he's seen from his friend and the newest Met in camp.

"It’s been really good, he’s obviously a great kid," Marte said. "He’s someone who is always open to any type of topic that you’re going over there to talk to him about.

"I’ve noticed that he’s really taking a lot of the young players under his wing and when these young players can have someone like that talk to them… I think it can do a lot of good things. We’ve always had a pretty good relationship before he got here and now so I expect it to continue going that way."

Posted on

Brett Baty homers, Clay Holmes strikes out eight as Mets beat Cardinals

The Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 3-2, on Friday afternoon at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie as spring training nears the end.

Here are the takeaways...

- Clay Holmes made his final spring start before taking the mound on Opening Day against the Houston Astros, and continued to look good. The right-hander struck out two Cardinals in the first inning thanks to his nasty kick-changeup. He added his third and fourth strikeouts in the second and third innings while keeping it a scoreless game.

Holmes kept it going in the fourth inning thanks to a double play and another strikeout, and then struck out two more to get through the fifth inning. Holmes stayed in the game in the sixth inning, striking out Jordan Walker for his last batter of the day.

Holmes' final line: two hits allowed, eight strikeouts, and three walks over 88 pitches in 5.1 innings pitched. Overall, Holmes ended his first spring training as a starter with a 0.93 ERA, 23 strikeouts, and just eight walks over 19.1 innings.

- Getting the start at shortstop and fighting for a roster spot amid Jeff McNeil's oblique injury, Luisangel Acuña made a nice sliding stop behind second base and throw to first to get Alec Burleson for the final out of the third inning. Acuña didn't have the same success at the plate, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

- Brett Batymade a leaping catch at third base on José Fermín's liner and quick throw to 1B Mark Vientos to double up Pedro Pagés in the top of the fourth inning. Baty kept the momentum going by registering New York's first hit of the day -- a double to the wall in center field in the bottom half of the fourth, giving him three straight games with a double. The 25-year-old then crushed a two-run homer, his third of the spring, in the bottom of the sixth to give the Mets a 3-0 lead.

- Alexander Canario got the Mets a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth inning by walking and then stealing second base. He came around to score on Pete Alonso's double to left field, making it 1-0 Mets.

- RHP Huascar Brazobán came in for relief in the top of the sixth inning and tossed 1.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts and three walks. Dedniel Núñez replaced Brazobán on the mound in the top of the eighth and got into some trouble. The righty gave up a two-run home run to Leonardo Bernal, as the Cardinals trailed, 3-2. Núñezstayed in the game to get a ground out and strikeout, ending the frame.

Who was the game MVP?

As good as Holmes was on the mound, Friday's game MVP goes to Baty, who continues to show why he deserves a spot on the Opening Day roster.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets play their third-to-last spring training game on Saturday against the Washington Nationals at 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

Tylor Megill is scheduled to take the mound at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie.

Posted on

Why Draymond earned Pippen, Rodman comparison from Kerr

Why Draymond earned Pippen, Rodman comparison from Kerr  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors coach Steve Kerr showered Draymond Green with more two-way praise just days after labeling the veteran forward the “best defender in the world.”

Golden State’s coach compared Green to two of the NBA’s all-time great defenders in talking to reporters on Thursday before the Warriors’ 117-114 win over the Toronto Raptors at Chase Center.

Kerr first cited similarities between Green and his former teammate and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Scottie Pippen. 

“I have a top two, and that’s Scottie Pippen and Draymond,” Kerr told reporters. “And I think what makes Draymond different from Scottie is that Draymond is physically stronger and more capable of guarding low-post players. 

“I’ll give Scottie a break because, back then, the low-post guys were [Shaquille O’Neal] and Patrick Ewing and Hakeem [Olajuwon]; it was a very different game back then where it was very low post-centric, and now hardly anybody goes down to the block.”

Pippen made 10 NBA All-Defensive teams over his 17 seasons and held his own around the rim despite being his best around the perimeter.

Kerr gives Green, 6-foot-6, the edge versatility-wise because he consistently has defended well against some of the league’s top bigs. But as the coach noted, there aren’t any Shaqs in today’s NBA compared to Pippen’s era, which nullifies Kerr’s point.

Still, Green is as strong as they come. But strength is just one of many things the eight-time All-Defensive honoree can bring to the table, as Kerr has seen for himself for over a decade and four NBA championship runs.

“What I see with Draymond when he’s guarding the post, it’s incredible when you then add on top of that his ability to guard [the] pick-and-roll all the way at halfcourt; I think Dennis Rodman is actually a great [comparison] for Draymond in that regard,” Kerr added.

“I should definitely have Dennis in that conversation too, probably those three: Dennis, Scottie and Draymond. And you can see the parallels – the length, the physicality, the speed, the versatility – but ultimately it’s up here, the brain. And Dennis and Scottie were two of the smartest defenders I’ve ever been around, and Draymond is amazing in that regard, just his ability to process.”

Rodman, another of Kerr’s former teammates in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, would suffocate opposing offenses from halfcourt, as reflected by his eight NBA All-Defensive Team selections and two Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Green can guard James Harden’s pick-and-rolls from halfcourt as much as he can a Victor Wembanyama back-to-the-basket situation – that says a lot about the Warrior’s defensive versatility.

Throughout his career, Green also has demonstrated one of, if not the, smartest basketball minds the game has ever seen. It is no secret why Kerr, who has played with and coached the best for generations, sees parallels between Green, Pippen and Rodman.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Spencer Knight Seems To Be Blackhawks’ Number One Goalie Now

Image

The Chicago Blackhawks took a tough loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night. The 3-1 final didn’t indicate how much LA dominated Chicago at United Center. 

The score was closer than it should have been because of Spencer Knight's play. He made 31 saves on 33 shots against a playoff-bound Kings team loaded with talent. Without Knight playing lights out, this game would have been ugly. 

Both goals that Knight gave up came within a minute of each other in the first period. One was a perfectly placed wrist shot by Trevor Moore and the other was a deflection by Alex Turcotte. Outside of those, he was perfect and you can’t ask for much more. 

The most notable fact about Knight’s game against the Kings is that he started it. The loss to the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday was hardly his fault, but he did allow six goals. Interim head coach Anders Sorensen went right back to him, and it paid off. 

This isn’t the first time that Knight has gone back-to-back, either. Last week, he made two consecutive starts for the first time in his Blackhawks career. This is contrary to Sorensen's statement that he would rotate with Arvid Soderblom when Knight was first acquired. 

It seems like Knight is the number one goalie in Chicago moving forward. Being a first-round pick, Stanley Cup champion, and main piece in the Seth Jones trade, Knight has the pedigree needed to be the main guy. 

The Blackhawks have a back-to-back this upcoming weekend. Saturday is a road tilt against the St. Louis Blues, and Sunday is a home match against the Philadelphia Flyers. Soderblom will go against the Blues and Knight will get the Flyers. 

"Good. Today he gave us a chance to stay in the game in the first period." Interim head coach Anders Sorensen said of Knight and how he's been playing. "Really good down low, reads the play, handles the puck well. There is lots to like."

Although Sorensen is likely not going to be the head coach next year, he is giving a hand in developing him right now. Sorensen has confidence in Knight as he continues to start him despite what he said when the deal to get him was first made. 

The organization is showing Spencer Knight that he is their guy and that they are going to ride with him through thick and thin. A champion can be built with that mentality if the right players are involved. 

If Knight can truly be a high-end number-one goalie for a long time, the Blackhawks have an incredibly important piece locked down. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.