DETROIT, MI - JUNE 23: Carlos Rodon #55 of the New York Yankees pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on June 23, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a great start from a lefty in Sunday’s win, the Yankees will turn to another southpaw as they kick off a road trip with three games at Camden Yards. The Orioles may be three games under .500, but they’re sniffing around the final AL Wild Card slot, and Carlos Rodón will have to handle what is at least ostensibly a playoff-caliber lineup.
The Yankees decided to eschew a final rehab start for Rodón, returning from elbow inflammation and missing from the big-league rotation since June 28th. He has a 3.30 ERA albeit in just 49.1 innings this year, returning from injury twice. His biggest liability is a horrific 13.4 percent walk rate, and we know that command is usually the hardest thing to recover after an injury. Keeping the ball in the strike zone will be the key to his outing tonight, especially given he’ll likely only have 70-75 pitches to work with.
Opposing him will be Shane Baz, who feels like he’s been around longer than he has. The former Ray is still just 27 and has been bang-on league average by his top-level stats, but a tremendous ability to suppress power keeps his FIP at a strong 3.34, driving a three-win season at this point in the year.
This is Baz’s eighth career start against the Yankees and they’ve handled him fairly well, notching a 7.00 ERA and hitting 11 home runs in just 27.0 innings pitched, but I bet a lot of those starts came when there was more thump than the current New York lineup offers.
How to watch
Location: Oriole Park at Camden Yards — Baltimore, MD
First pitch: 6:35 pm ET
TV broadcast: YES, MASN
Radio broadcast: WFAN 660/101.9 FM, WADO 1280 (NYY), 98 Rock 97.9FM (BAL)
An aerial view of Tropicana Field, domed multipurpose stadium of the Major League Baseball American League East division Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball team on 3rd March 1998 at St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Allsport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I hate games at Tropicana, but here we are.
There was a little bit of Jays news. Lenyn Sosa was taken off the 60-day DL outrighted to Buffalo.
Maybe Trey will be back this season:
Trey Yesavage resumed throwing from flat ground on Tuesday at the Blue Jays player development complex in Dunedin, Fla.
Yesavage had meniscus surgery on his left knee a week ago. He'll continue working to put himself in position to return to games late this season.
And Spencer Arrighetti might be able to make it back this year.
Spencer Arrighetti said he had no pain in his right foot Sunday during rehab outing for triple-A Buffalo. He used a different cleat with a new insole that helped.
He's throwing a side tomorrow and next steps decided after, said John Schneider. Possible Arrighetti's next outing…
Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Díaz works against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of Monday's game. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
The Dodgers are putting closer Edwin Díaz on the injured list for the second time this season because of inflammation on the right side of his neck, manager Dave Roberts said before Tuesday’s game.
The move comes after Díaz allowed nine runs and recorded three blown saves in a span of six appearances.
Díaz has only made 16 appearances for the Dodgers this season, recording an 11.85 ERA and 5.79 FIP. He spent three months on the IL after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow in late April.
During the Dodgers’ 11-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night, Díaz pitched the ninth inning and gave up three runs and four hits.
SAN DIEGO, CA - AUGUST 11: Brice Turang #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers looks on during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ryan Levy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
After a well-earned day off, the Milwaukee Brewers are back in action today as they welcome the Seattle Mariners to town for a three-game series. And after a day off, the Brewers get some welcomed reinforcement to their ailing lineup.
Yes, Brice Turang is back in the lineup. Turang missed the entire four-game series in Los Angeles with knee soreness, but was able to avoid the injured list and returns to action this evening. More reinforcements are on the way, as well: Pat Murphy told reporters that if Cooper Pratt gets through tonight’s Timber Rattlers game with no trouble, he could be back as soon as tomorrow. (Whether that game gets played tonight is an open question, as this humble scribe looks at rain coming down outside his window, mere miles from the Rattlers’ ballpark.)
If Cooper Pratt comes through tonight’s @TimberRattlers game feeling good, he could be back in the Brewers lineup as soon as tomorrow, Pat Murphy said.
There are no other major surprises in the lineup. Turang will be joined in the infield by Jake Bauers, Joey Ortiz, and David Hamilton, while Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, and Luis Lara make up the outfield. Christian Yelich is the DH, while William Contreras is behind the plate.
Contreras this evening will be catching Kyle Harrison, who is making his first start in a week and just his second since coming off the injured list at the beginning of the month. Harrison’s last start went quite poorly, though his season ERA was greatly aided by a change in scoring that took away five earned runs from his line, lowering those earned runs from eight to three. Still, Harrison got beat up for 10 hits, eight runs, and three walks in 4 2/3 miserable innings as the Padres blew out the Brewers last Tuesday.
Pitching for the Mariners is the righty Bryce Miller, who celebrates his 28th birthday later this week. Miller has had a good season overall, with a 3.39 ERA, 3.85 FIP, 0.988 WHIP, and 8.9 K/9 versus 1.7 BB/9 in 15 outings covering 85 innings. But things haven’t been as smooth lately; after a fantastic start on July 2, Miller has a 6.12 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 11 walks over his last six starts (32 1/3 innings), and the struggling Mariners are 0-6 in those games.
Tonight’s game kicks off at 6:40 p.m. and you can catch it on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
AGAINST THE SOX: The Cubs now lead the all-time regular-season series vs. the White Sox, 79-77. They are 39-38 at home and 40-39 on the South Side. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
WHO’S ON SECOND: The Cubs are 24-16 in second games of series this season, their best other than 5-0 in fourth games. They are 22-20 in first games and 22-17 in third games. They have lost two of their last three second games, after having won eight in a row and 11 of 12. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
WINNERS AND LOSERS: The Cubs are 33-25 against teams that had winning records going into games. They are 15-7 during their 39-19 surge that began June 11. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
RUN SCORING: Their dramatic 7-5 win last night made the Cubs’ record 16-35 when they have allowed at least five runs. With four or fewer, they are 57-18. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SEIYA SUZUKI: The Cubs right fielder turns 32 today. Here’s hoping he celebrates several more birthdays in a Cubs uniform.
Kevin Gausman has made two starts for the Cubs, one good (vs. the Royals), one not so much (vs. the Nationals). The last time he pitched in Wrigley Field he wasn’t good either, but… that was facing Cubs hitters!
Gausman has not faced the White Sox since their awful 121-loss season in 2024, so that has little predictive value. The only current White Sox player with more than a handful of at-bats against Gausman is Andrew Benintendi (4-for-19, .211, one double).
Bryan Hudson is a left-handed reliever who’s serving as an opener tonight, largely because the Cubs generally have two left-handed hitters (Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch) at the top of the lineup.
Hudson was the Cubs’ third-round pick out of downstate Alton High School in 2015. He did get as high as Triple-A Iowa, but never got called up and left as a six-year minor league free agent after 2022. Signed by the Dodgers, he was eventually traded to the Brewers, where he had a really good year under Craig Counsell in 2023, then not so much in 2024. The White Sox signed him before this year and he’s been pretty good.
He made two relief appearances against the Cubs in the series on the South Side in May. In the first of those he allowed four hits and two runs. No Cubs hitter has faced him more than six times. Seiya Suzuki is 2-for-2 with a home run.
Erick Fedde is expected to be the “bulk guy” after Hudson. Fedde threw three innings against the Cubs May 17 and Michael Busch homered off him.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. It’s also on CHSN and WCIU-Ch. 26 with the Sox announcers, and there’s also a full national broadcast on TBS (outside the Cubs/White Sox shared market territory).
Please visit our SB Nation White Sox site South Side Sox. If you do go there to interact with Sox fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.
The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
The Live! (formerly “First Pitch”) thread will still post at five minutes to game time. It will also post to the front page. That will be the only live game discussion thread. After the game, the recap and Heroes and Goats will also live on the front page as separate posts.
You will also be able to find the preview, Live! thread, recap and Heroes and Goats in this section link. The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.
There are a lot of great players in the National Hockey League. They are all rated by EA Sports each year ahead of the release of their video game. In NHL 27, the New Jersey Devils have multiple highly rated players. The forward ratings were all released on Tuesday.
Jack Hughes leads the way. He tops all Devils forwards with a rating of 94, which makes him the 16th overall forward in the game. At center, he ranks 8th. He only trails Connor McDavid (99), Nathan MacKinnon (97), Leon Draisaitl (96), Sidney Crosby (95), Macklin Celebrini (95), and Sasha Barkov (95).
Hughes' 94 rating ties him with Jack Eichel when it comes to centers. That's a great rating, especially when you consider the injury that caused Jack Hughes to miss some time in 2025-26.
The top of the forward rankings is set in #NHL27 🔥
99 OVR Connor McDavid leads the Centers. Nikita Kucherov leads the Right Wings at 97. Kirill Kaprizov on top the Left Wings at 94.
Jack helped his case by scoring the Golden Goal in the Olympics to cap off his run as one of Team USA's best forwards. He was also red-hot from that point until the end of the season, which ended shy of the playoffs for the Devils.
There is still room for Jack Hughes to improve, too, and be healthier, which could increase his rating in future editions. He may never be up there with McDavid or McKinnon, but being just a tick below is a compliment.
Jesper Bratt is second on the team with an 89 overall rating. Nico Hischier is third at 88; Timo Meier and Anthony Mantha are in 4th and 5th with an 85 rating (there are attribute ratings within the overall rating, which create tiebreakers).
With their ratings, Hughes (16th), Bratt (55th), and Hischier (88th) are all top-100 forwards in the game. Based on the way that they've played up to this point in their careers, along with projections for 2026-27, that is accurate.
When you use the team in the video game, you can bank on having one of these premier centers on the ice for most of the game alongside some highly rated wingers for support.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive, and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting on the article below on THN.com or by creating your own post in our community forum.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 17: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after scoring a run against the Minnesota Twins during the fifth inning of the game at Target Field on August 17, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Join us and discuss tonight’s game in the comments below!
Díaz returned to the Dodgers on July 29th after having surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow. The Athletic reports that Díaz's latest setback is "believed to be related to his upper-body," and not an issue with his elbow.
Díaz has an 11.85 ERA and 2.56 WHIP in 13.2 innings pitched over 16 games this year. He has seven saves and a 2-2 record.
Manager Dave Roberts brought Díaz in during the ninth inning with the Dodgers leading 11-2 against the Colorado Rockies on the road. Díaz allowed three runs on four hits before the Dodgers won 11-5.
"Obviously the results weren't good, but I still think him getting out there and pitching major league innings is going to help him,” Roberts said. “We're just still working through some things.
“I just hope he doesn't lose his confidence. He's still working through it. I believe in him. I think the (competitiveness) was there. The fastball was just more thigh-high and more flat. If we can raise that up a little bit ... but I'm not putting a lot of stock in it."
The Yankees placed Max Fried on the IL on Monday due to a bone bruise, but manager Aaron Boone revealed that the team was taking a cautious approach with the left-hander and that they are optimistic about Fried's health.
Speaking with the media ahead of Tuesday's series opener against the Orioles in Baltimore, Boone broke down the events that led to the organization's decision to put Fried on the IL.
"Felt it on a pitch in his last start and then a little bit after," Boone said. "We were going through his normal five-day, expecting him to pitch Wednesday. Played catch Saturday, threw a side on Sunday, which actually went ok. We collectively decided that it’s best to keep it calmed down and keep it a smaller issue."
Boone said Fried had an MRI that confirmed that "low-level" inflammation, and that he played catch in New York on Tuesday.
Fried missed two months this season for the same injury, which is a big reason for the Yankees' approach to this latest injury. Carlos Rodon was activated Monday and is starting Tuesday, taking Fried's spot on the active roster. Although Boone said Rodon's return did not directly determine whether Fried was placed on the IL, the stars aligned for the move to be made without the Yankees losing a starter.
Boone repeatedly said Tuesday that this bone bruise is not the same as the last one, but since it has to deal with the elbow, things could change, although Boone does not believe this will take Fried out for the rest of the regular season. When pressed why he felt it wasn't the same, the Yankees skipper said he's going off of what the medical professionals had told him and how Fried has felt.
"I was told that it was good news," Boone said. "And based on how he was doing, he’s probably in line to take his next start; we’re just being cautious with this to have him healthy the rest of the way."
Fried made 10 starts before being placed on the IL in mid-May and made five starts since returning. In those five starts, Fried pitched to a 1.82 ERA. His last start saw him allow one run in five innings against the Mariners.
Judge starting hitting progression
Boone also gave a short update on Aaron Judge, saying the slugger will start his hitting progression sometime this week.
Judge played catch Friday for the first time and now that he's getting ready to take swings, the reigning two-time AL MVP is getting closer to an eventual return.
Judge was placed on the IL with a right rib stress fracture in early June. The 34-year-old was slashing .248/.375/.533 with an OPS of .908 to go along with his 17 home runs and 38 RBI before going down with the injury.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - AUGUST 06: Ranger Suarez #55 of the Boston Red Sox pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park on August 06, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been a strange couple of months for Ranger Suarez. He missed a few turns in the rotation back in the middle of July with a groin strain, and even though this will be his fifth start back since that injury, he’s largely faded into the background, even during games he’s pitched. For instance, he was the guy who started on the mound during the 13-inning circus act against the White Sox back on August 6th. He only lasted three innings on an inefficient 70 pitches, and he was largely a footnote by the end of the night.
But as the summertime sunsets start to creep back closer to 8:00pm, we’re getting to that point in the year where the Red Sox are really going to need Ranger Suarez to make an impact. Since coming off the IL, he’s only averaged 70 pitches per start, and on a related note, he also hasn’t received a decision in a game since June. To be clear, Suarez hasn’t been awful when he’s gone out there (he’s allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last ten starts dating back to the end of May), but he also hasn’t looked like a guy you want at the top of your rotation in October, which we know he’s capable of being.
In other words, tonight is one of those nights that will be an interesting check in to see what he’s got in the tank. With the groin injury a full month in the rearview mirror, he should be able to get to 90 pitches in this one if he’s throwing the ball well.
On the other side of the ball, there’s Merrill Kelly, and if you have no idea what to expect from him tonight, you’re not alone. He’s been Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in his 22 starts this season. In eight starts, he’s allowed five or more earned runs, but in 12 others, he’s allowed two or fewer earned runs. That leaves just two outings in which he’s given up three or four earned runs. A very strange season indeed.
Speaking of strange seasons, Roman Anthony is also about to play baseball for the first time in three months up in Portland for the Sea Dogs as he begins his rehab assignment. He’ll bat second and DH. Adding to the excitement up there will be Justin Gonzales making his Double-A debut and batting leadoff.
Below are the lineups for both games, and a comment thread to discuss all the action.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 12: Carmen Mlodzinski #50 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on August 12, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pittsburgh Pirates are back in action tonight as they take on the Detroit Tigers for the second contest in a three-game series.
The Pirates will hand the ball to All-Star Braxton Ashcraft, who is coming off arguably the best start of his career, on August 13. Ashcraft pitched his first career complete game, giving up just three hits and one earned run while striking out 10 in a 13-1 rout over the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. The Pirates hope he can continue the dominance as they face off against the Tigers, who find themselves in the thick of a very tight AL Wild Card race.
The Tigers are tossing the ball to third-year pro Kader Montero, who is enjoying a breakout season. Montero is also coming off a strong performance in his last start on August 13 against the Cleveland Guardians. Montero pitched 6.1 innings, giving up three hits and no runs as the team won 3-0 at Comerica Park. Montero has already surpassed his career high for innings pitched in a season and is throwing the best stuff of his career. He has been crucial for the Tigers in their rotation after the Tarik Skubal trade, and the team will rely on him heavily to get the job done.
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 1: RJ Barrett #9 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers CLECAV during Game Six of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 1, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The buzz around NBA2K27 is picking up ahead of its September 4th global release. In addition to early access, cover art, and first look images, they’ve finally released the top 100 player OVR ratings.
If you’ve played the game, or follow the global conversation, every year there are huge surprises and disappointments. More than ever if you’re a Raptors fan. While they haven’t released the full roster yet and many of the player ratings won’t be available until closer to the early access release date of August 28th, there’s already more than enough to have opinions on just in the top 100.
Some of the ratings were on par as expected. Back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander having the highest OVR of 97 is respectable. Right there with him are the other top finishers in voting, Wemby and Jokic. Jalen Brunson edging Lebron James out of the top 10 also feels warranted with his performance and championship. But the longer you look at the list, the more you start to realize some things that are… not really anything that can be rationalized. While we could take all day and point them out, there’s enough just amongst the Raptors to get worked up about. So let’s break down the three most shocking:
Scottie Barnes is an 88 OVR.
You would have to have seen this coming. A huge leap from his 51st rank to start last year in 2K26, he now sits 23rd. Positionally I’m okay with this. Until you start to compare him to other 88 OVR players. Deni Avdija, whose post season numbers were substantially worse than Scottie, who only played 66 games last year, and whose defense is considerably worse than Scottie sits at the same OVR. The exact same can be said about Austin Reaves who also sits at an 88. To add insult to injury, Anthony Davis who only managed to play 20 games last season is two points higher at 90. The only solace in this situation is finally both Paolo Banchero and Evan Mobley are ranked lower than him.
My hot take: Scottie is an 89, and Jamal Murray and him should both be above Davis.
The 19-position fall of RJ Barrett.
So last year, RJ started at an 82 OVR. This year, he is starting as an 82 OVR. Already, I have some questions. Statistically, he may not have been as electric, but if you actually watched the games he played better. He had to share the scoring load with more ball-handling players. He had less touches. Still, he was efficient, played better in the clutch, and in some games, felt like the only reliable scoring option. Apparently that means you stay the same OVR. Since there’s so many guys that sit at 82 though, this means he’s actually fallen from 68th to 87th, suggesting he’s gotten worse. Even if that was the case, compare that to players rated more highly: Ajay Mitchell (a talented player, but genuinely, what am I missing here?), Payton Pritchard (absolutely not), and Paul George (????).
My hot take: If they’re all 82s fine, but there’s no way there’s 86 people in the league you’d rather have than RJ Barrett. Especially those three.
Kawhi Leonard erasure.
It’s no secret that the investigation has complicated things for the Raptors, the trade still isn’t official, and Kawhi is listed in 2K27 as a Clippers player. But it already feels like he’s getting the Raptors treatment. Yes, he moved up and OVR point to 93 and from 15th to 11th, all great. But now, Cade Cunningham is above him, despite averaging 4 fewer points per game, fewer rebounds, a lower FG percentage, and his complete disappearance in game 7 against Cleveland. It feels like while previous years, 2K has valued the “grandfathered in” greats, giving guys like LeBron, Kawhi, KD, and Steph the edge, now they seem to be favouring the “younger talent” and the fresh faces in the League. Wemby being second after three years isn’t undeserved, just surprising. Cunningham being 8th this quickly also caught me by surprise. It seems like things are slowly changing.
My hot take: I’d have Steph 8th, KD 9th, and Kawhi 10th if it’s them over Cunningham (although honestly I think Maxey, Tatum, and Mitchell could all make a case for 10th over Cunningham too).
Let’s see how the rest of the Raptors OVRs stack up as more information is announced.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 6: Andrew Abbott #41 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches during the game against the Athletics at Great American Ball Park on August 6, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a rocky start to the 2026 season, there was a time that Cincinnati Reds lefty Andrew Abbott settled into a rather great groove. That time, though, has sadly evaporated, and he’s been nothing more than mediocre – at best – for a little bit now.
Over his last 9 starts dating back to June 26th, he’s pitched to just a 4.66 ERA/4.41 FIP with an extremely discouraging 38/25 K/BB in 48.1 IP. He was shelled for 5 ER in his most recent outing (in just 4.1 IP), and the month of August has seen him allow 11 ER with a brutal 8/10 K/BB in just 16.0 IP (6.19 ERA).
The Reds will surely hope he can find a way to flip that script on Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals, who boast the second lowest K% against southpaws among the 30 MLB clubs (just 18.3%).
Kyle Leahy gets the starting nod for the Birds, and first pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET.
Here’s how both clubs will line up to begin things:
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 14: Cody Freeman #39 of the Texas Rangers reacts before playing against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on June 14, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Rutherford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for August 18, 2026 against the Washington Nationals: starting pitchers are Cal Quantrill for the Rangers and Jackson Kent for the Nationals.
The Rangers return home after a disappointing, to say the least, West Coast road trip. They play the Washington Nationals today. The Nationals are starting a lefthanded pitcher named Jackson Kent, who I had definitely heard of and knew was a real person before two minutes ago. The newly activated Danny Jansen is behind the plate.
The lineup:
Langford — LF
Seager — SS
Burger — 1B
Nimmo — RF
Duran — 2B
Foscue — DH
Jansen — C
Freeman — 3B
Carter — CF
7:05 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -147 favorites.
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 11: Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni meets with Sacramento Kings head coach Rick Adelman before their teams take on each other at Arco Arena on April 11, 2006 in Sacramento, California. The Suns won 123-110. 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 2006 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country.
You ready for this week’s question? It’s a good one. With former Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni recently being named to the Basketball Hall of Fame, it’s time to discuss who was the second-best coach in Rockets history?
I had the luxury of being a senior in high school when the Rockets won their first title and a college freshman for the second, so it’s clearly Rudy T for me in the top spot. But both D’Antoni and former Rockets coach Rick Adelman (RIP) have a legitimate case for the number two spot.
Adelman finished with 195-135 Rockets record (.588), while D’Antoni was 217-101 (.682). However, it’s important to note that the Rockets only had a true contending roster until about 2009 for Adelman, with the next several seasons being mired in mediocrity. Adelman was 108-56 in his first two seasons (.659) until Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady fell to pieces.
Adelman was 9-10 in the postseason, getting to the Western Conference Semis in 2009, where the Rockets had a legitmate shot at the NBA Title (Yao was playing out of his mind), until injuries did them in against the Los Angeles Lakers.
D’Antoni made it all the way to Western Conference Finals in 2018, where injuries also did him in against the Golden State Warriors. I think both of those teams wind up with hardware if they didn’t get hurt. But the history books show they both fell short. D’Antoni was 28-23 in the postseason for Houston.
D’Antoni did take home Coach of the Year honors in the 2018 season, and he was the architect of the best regular season Rockets record at 65-17, while Adelman peaked at 55-27, but was the man to turn a perennial first round out under Jeff Van Gundy to a legitmate title contender. He also won multiple NBA Coach of the Month awards, but never took home Coach of the Year trophy.
So what say you? On paper, it looks like D’Antoni has the edge. He also transformed James Harden into an offensive juggernaut. But Adelman brought the best out of that group in 2009 and had a coaching tour de force during 2008 and 2009, including the famous 22-game win streak.
So what say you, TDS?
Cast your vote, tell us in the comments, and we’ll be back soon with the results.
