City embraced a hostile atmosphere and overwhelmed Liverpool after Ryan Gravenberch’s red card
An update from Will Unwin, who is part of our team at Anfield for today’s game
A group of over 600 Manchester City fans were given a police escort across Stanley Park, chanting as they went about their owners and throwing abuse back at any Liverpool fans who took issue. The message was a clear one of defiance from the hardcore away support.
ARLINGTON, TX - JULY 04: A general view of the Guinness World Records World's Largest Glass of Beer event prior to a Between the Texas Rangers and the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on July 04, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Gunnar Word/Texas Rangers/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Peoria, Ariz. - March 04: Alex McCoy #41 of the San Diego Padres looks on during their spring training workout at Peoria Sports Complex on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
Cheri Bell does a great job covering the minor league system of the San Diego Padres among many other topics for Gaslamp Ball. Even though the big league club closed out its season just a few days ago, she is already looking ahead to what minor league talent will be showcased in the 2026 Arizona Fall League.
Bell will provide updates on the minor league players throughout the offseason and that will be great for readers looking for content as the sport continues to trend toward a lockout, which will bring a halt to any and all baseball activity at the major league level. The minor league players will not be impacted by the lockout, so get your pens and pencils ready because you may need to take noted as the Padres prospects take center stage in the weeks ahead.
Padres News:
It probably does not need to be said, but Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune wants people to back the Milwaukee Brewers against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers laughs with Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dodgers are a juggernaut. They’ve finally met their (re)match.
In a regular season marked by broad parity, two teams stood alone. The Brewers won the most games (103) and finished second in fWAR (48.6). The Dodgers won the second most games (100) and finished first in fWAR (53.1). By any statistic you prefer — or even if you prefer to eschew statistics all together — these were far and away the best teams in the majors in 2026. Their collision in the National League Championship Series seemed inevitable from the earliest days of summer.
On paper, this looks like one of the best playoff matchups ever. It’s only the sixth time both teams in an LCS won at least 100 games during the regular season. The most recent examples were in 2018 and 2019, when the Astros played the Red Sox and then the Yankees in the ALCS. Before that it hadn’t happened since the 1970s. That’s to say, this could be an all-time contest of greatness vs. greatness — a rarity in modern baseball.
Of course, this is also rematch. These teams met in last year’s NLCS, in which the Dodgers throttled the Brewers in a four-game sweep. Los Angeles would go on to win their second straight World Series, and spend the offseason once again “ruining baseball” — signing the best free agent, pushing their payroll to new heights, and positioning themselves as favorites for a three peat.
They look just as formidable in 2026. This is one of the best and most well-rounded rosters the Dodgers have taken into the postseason in what’s now their 14th consecutive appearance. They have a deep lineup, the best pitching staff in the league, and have gotten hot at just the right time.
The brief instances where the Dodgers faltered this year — the stretches that limited them to a mere 100 wins — were due to their star-studded lineup under performing. Kyle Tucker struggled mightily through much of the summer, despite handwringing about what his $240 million deal means for the future of the league. Teoscar Hernández’s power disappeared for several weeks, leading him to finish 2026 with fewer than 20 homers for the first time over a full season. And Mookie Betts generated concern that his Hall of Fame career could be over sooner than anticipated. Without production from the core of their lineup, the Dodgers as a team ran a 92 wRC+ in July and August, bottom 10 in the majors.
That feels like the distant past now. The Dodgers offense exploded in September behind the trio of Tucker, Hernández, and Betts, who combined for a .314/.405/.586 (170 wRC+). With fellow stars Shohei Ohtani, Max Muncy, Freddie Freeman, Andy Pages, and Will Smith, this once again looks like the deepest and most fearsome lineup in the majors. Los Angeles ultimately finished the season with the second best wRC+ (111) and fourth most runs scored (801).
Offense isn’t even the Dodgers strength. They allowed the fewest runs in the majors this year, even with injury keeping Ohtani off the mound in the second half. Yoshinobu Yamomoto, last year’s World Series MVP, leads the rotation following another season of steady excellence. His 2.53 ERA was fifth best in the majors. After him is two-time Cy Young winner in Tarik Skubal, who joined the team at the trade deadline in another “league ruining” deal, adding a second true “ace” to the mix. Then there’s the other two-time Cy Young winner in Blake Snell, who delivered on his particular brand of missing most of the season with injury, walking nearly 10% of batters he faced after returning, and otherwise being completely unhittable.
If one absolutely had to pick a weakness with this Dodgers, it might be the bullpen. There’s not a ton of depth in the middle innings (which is generally not an issue because the rotation covers those innings). But even that appears to be trending in the right direction. Edwin Díaz, after a miserable August following a trip to the injured list, looked untouchable in September, giving the Dodgers four pitchers who could serve as closers on any other team.
Again, this Dodgers roster is powerhouse, and perhaps the best in what may be the final act of their trilogy. But it’s worth pointing out they did not win the most games in the majors in 2026. That distinction belongs to the Brewers, who are just as formidable — and perhaps even the favorites in this all-time series.
Milwaukee, following an abrupt ending to 2025, had murkier offseason. They shuffled pieces subtly at the margins, leaning on their people, processes, and prospects more than big splashes in free agency. The Brewers front office is known as one of the most forward thinking collection of analysts in the league, and they seemed to be betting on themselves. The projections, however, weren’t impressed. FanGraphs projected the them to finish third in the NL Central; PECOTA pegged them at 80 wins. Did the Brewers know something nobody else could see?
Well, the answer was a resounding yes. The Brewers won 103 games, reaching triple digits in the win column for the first time in franchise history. It’s hard to improve on a season where they won the most games in the majors, but they got better in just about every facet, finishing first in run differential and second in fWAR. Again, there’s a good argument they were the best team in the majors this year.
Offensively, the Brewers are a brutal opponent. They work counts, put the ball in ball in play to all fields, and run the bases extraordinarily well. They don’t hit for a ton of power, but they can whittle down an opponent through relentless pressure, as we saw them do against a very good Padres bullpen in the NLDS.
Unlike the Dodgers it’s hard to name a true “star” of the group, but they are no doubt just as deep. Brice Turang finished fifth in the majors in fWAR as the league’s premier second baseman, doing a bit of everything on the field. Jackson Chourio is one of the game’s great young players, having already collected three 20-20 seasons at just 22 years old. Then there’s Jake Bauers, the journeyman first baseman who suddenly broke out at age 31, posting a 143 wRC+ as one of the 10 best hitters in the league. From top to bottom, every batter on this roster provides something, whether that’s defense or base running or platoon production.
In the rotation, Jacob Misiorowski is not so much the Brewers’ ace as the league’s ace — he is definitively the best pitcher in baseball. When he steps on the mound in Game 1, he will set all sorts of “top velocity in the NLCS” records. He is essentially unhittable, with a ridiculous combination of velocity, stuff, extension, and command. Much of the discourse in this series will follow how and when the Brewers choose to use him.
Of course, some of that discourse will be necessary because there isn’t a ton of rotation depth behind Misiorowski. Logan Henderson is a great number two, but Dustin May has struggled since joining the team at the trade deadline. This is where the Dodgers hold the advantage.
Where the Brewers could take that advantage back is in the bullpen. Their relief core is very deep. Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe have been untouchable in high leverage. Aaron Ashby and DL Hall give them excellence from the left side. Much like the lineup, everyone in this group offers something the Brewers can use in the series to keep the Dodgers off balance.
I would love to sit here and give you some “X factors,” or things that I think could sway the series. Maybe it’s Ohtani’s returning to form after coming off the injured list in September. Maybe it’s the sheer quantity of innings Misiorowski can throw. But I’m not sure that such a framing would do this matchups justice. These are two great teams with complete rosters from top to bottom. These are the best lineups and the best pitching staffs — and the best organizations overall — going head to head in a best of seven series. This is the NLCS we’ve been waiting all year for, and now it’s finally here.
LAS VEGAS -- In a city that has embraced Stanley Cup champions, WNBA superstars, NFL personalities and some of the biggest names in professional sports, Ryan Reaves belongs in a rather exclusive category.
Not necessarily among the five greatest athletes to wear a Las Vegas uniform.
But among the five most beloved?
Absolutely.
And it isn’t particularly difficult to make the argument.
Long before the Vegas Golden Knights lifted the Stanley Cup, before the Las Vegas Aces established their championship pedigree and before the Las Vegas Raiders settled into their new home, Reaves helped introduce a different kind of professional sports personality to Southern Nevada.
He wasn’t going to lead the league in scoring. He wasn’t going to win an MVP award. And nobody was confusing his offensive production with that of the NHL’s elite.
But Reaves could bring more than 18,000 people to their feet without scoring a goal.
Sometimes all it took was one thunderous hit, a dropped pair of gloves, or that unmistakable grin that told everyone inside T-Mobile Arena he was having the time of his life.
And Las Vegas loved every minute of it.
Now, after 16 NHL seasons, 962 regular-season games and a career built on toughness, personality and an unwavering willingness to stand up for his teammates, the man affectionately known as “Reavo” has officially retired.
And how is retirement treating him?
"Horrible, absolutely horrible," Reaves said with a laugh during an exclusive interview with The Hockey News at the Golden Knights' 10th-anniversary festivities. "I’m bored. I don’t know what to do with myself. Trying to fill the time in the wrong ways. So we’ll see. I’m gonna get going and doing something soon."
One thing he won’t have to figure out is where he’s going to live.
Las Vegas isn’t simply another stop in his hockey career.
It’s home.
<i>Former Golden Knights Pierre-Édouard Bellemare and Ryan Reaves share a laugh on stage during the Golden Knights' 10th-anniversary Fan Fest festivities. <b>PHOTO: Courtesy Golden Knights</b></i>
A City That Embraced Reavo
Reaves arrived in Las Vegas in February 2018, joining the expansion Golden Knights during their remarkable inaugural season and helping a franchise nobody expected to contend reach the Stanley Cup Final.
But the relationship between Reaves and Southern Nevada became something much bigger than hockey.
"This community opened their arms to me," Reaves said. "I started a business here, and then people flooded out to the bars when I was there, pouring beer and really supported that."
His beer business, 7Five Brewing Co., became another connection between the rugged forward and a community that couldn’t get enough of his personality.
And while millions of visitors associate Las Vegas with casinos, nightlife and the Strip, Reaves discovered the city beyond the tourist attractions.
"The people are just so nice here. The city is great," he said. "I don’t think many people know what kind of city really lies outside that Strip. And so, yeah, we fell in love with this place. And right now I’m calling it home for sure."
For the good times and all the hits that rocked The Fortress, thank you and welcome back Ryan Reaves! 🥊 pic.twitter.com/NGnwyA5Dt0
Reaves also witnessed the city’s transformation into a major professional sports market, with the Golden Knights, Aces and Raiders establishing their places in the community and Major League Baseball on the horizon.
"This is obviously a new sports city, but you can see how vibrant the sports city is," he said. "This place loves its sports. It probably took a little longer than it should have, but good on the fans for coming out and supporting everything and really growing the sports in the city."
Perhaps nowhere has that growth been more evident than in youth hockey.
Reaves remembers a market that was still finding its hockey identity. Today, new ice facilities, youth programs and competitive teams have helped establish a thriving hockey culture in the desert.
"You just go around the rinks, the practice rinks and all the new rinks that are being built, and there’s kids everywhere, and they love the game," Reaves said. "The sport’s really growing here, and it’s going to continue to go up as long as the Knights are here."
An Unforgettable Walk Down The Tunnel
Ask Reaves about his favorite memory inside T-Mobile Arena, and he doesn’t immediately mention a fight, a goal or even the Golden Knights’ extraordinary run to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.
Instead, he remembers the first time he experienced the building as a Golden Knight.
"I think the first time I walked down the tunnel, that John Wick song came out. The place was absolutely erupting," Reaves recalled. "It was the coolest sporting moment I think I’ve seen. Not just playing in, but just being part of, seeing live."
For a player who spent parts of 16 seasons in NHL arenas across North America, that is quite a compliment.
"I just thought the entertainment that this place puts on is like nothing in North American sports," he said. "I always remember that first day walking down the tunnel."
There was another important element to his time in Vegas.
Former coach Gerard Gallant, affectionately known as “Turk,” helped Reaves understand that his value extended beyond intimidating opponents.
Reaves said Gallant’s confidence in him allowed him to become a more complete player, particularly during his second season with the franchise.
"He really trusted me," Reaves said. "We played against a lot of top lines, and he trusted us in all situations. We played 10, 12 minutes as a fourth line, playing a lot of shutdown stuff."
For someone accustomed to limited minutes and long stretches on the bench, that trust changed everything.
"When you’re more involved in the game, you feel better on the ice," Reaves said. "Turk really just allowed me to kind of be myself and play the way I can."
One More Fight? Evander Kane, Of Course
No conversation with Reaves would be complete without discussing the fights.
And when asked whether there was anyone he regretted not dropping the gloves with more often, Reaves didn’t hesitate.
"Oh man, I regret not dropping more with Evander Kane," he said. "I think I got him once, but I regret not getting him every time we played."
That competitive streak apparently hasn’t disappeared in retirement.
In fact, Reaves might have stumbled onto a rather unusual business opportunity.
Teaching other hockey players how to fight.
Reaves said he spent some time this summer working with players on fighting techniques when Golden Knights broadcaster Daren Millard suggested turning those lessons into a camp.
"I’ve actually thought about just flying around and helping teams with, or whoever wants it, just kind of breaking down general basics of what you’re looking for in a fight, how to set your feet, your grabs," Reaves said. "I think it would be cool, but I don’t know if there’s a market for it."
Imagine that.
The same guy who once terrorized opponents with his fists could someday be traveling around the NHL teaching the next generation how to throw them.
Hockey, Television and Fatherhood
Reaves hasn’t ruled out remaining involved in the NHL, whether through coaching, management or broadcasting.
He plans to experiment with television and social media opportunities this season before deciding on a more permanent direction.
"I think I’m going to dabble a little bit in some broadcasting, some social stuff with the NHL, and I’m going to see how I like it this year," he said. "I’m going to spend some time with the family. I’m not going to do anything too permanent."
He also offered a favorable early assessment of the current Golden Knights, particularly rookie Trevor Connelly, whom he skated with during the summer, and first-year head coach Ryan Craig.
"He’s played really well," Reaves said of Connelly. "He looks poised to have a really good season his first year up."
Reaves also praised Craig’s approach and the talent assembled around Jack Eichel, Mitch Marner and Mark Stone.
"This is one of the most talented teams, I think, in the NHL," Reaves said. "The sky’s the limit for this team, as it always is."
But for now, his most meaningful assignment isn’t behind an NHL bench or in front of a television camera.
It’s coaching his son.
"I’m coaching my kid, my son, in hockey a little bit, and I’m just having fun spending time with them right now," Reaves said.
It’s a fitting next chapter for a player whose identity was never limited to the intimidating figure opponents encountered on the ice.
Years ago, Reaves could be seen patiently introducing his young son to skating on the same ice where he entertained thousands of Golden Knights fans attending practices.
Now, instead of worrying about his next shift, his next opponent or his next fight, he can enjoy those moments without the demands of an NHL schedule.
And while retirement may have left Reaves wondering what to do with all his free time, there’s something rather appropriate about where his journey has brought him.
He became one of the city’s most recognizable and beloved sports personalities.
And after 16 NHL seasons, countless fights and memories that will endure long after his playing days, Ryan Reaves isn’t leaving the city that embraced him.
Oct 3, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) reacts after pitching in the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres in game one of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The final four teams are set now, the Dodgers and Brewers in the NLCS, the Guardians and Rays in the ALCS. Both series have their quirks about them, the NLCS being a matchup of heavyweights, the ALCS being somewhat one sided on paper.
Who do you think ends up playing each other in the World Series?
Personally, I’m not sure anyone is beating the Brewers this year. They seem to be the most complete team left, which only means the Dodgers are going to steamroll them and whoever they face in the Fall Classic.
TUSCON, AZ - OCTOBER 10: Brendan Summerhill #21 of the Scottsdale Scorpions doubles in the fifth inning during the game between the Scorpions and the River Rafters at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2026 in Tuscon, Arizona. (Photo by Jill Weisleder/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
For three years, they were two of the best college baseball players in the country and among the best to ever play for Arizona. But now they’re just two of many hoping to someday reach the big leagues.
Former Wildcat stars Brendan Summerhill and Mason White were back in town on Saturday, playing in an Arizona Fall League doubleheader at Kino Stadium. All four teams featured at least one player with ties to Southern Arizona, including a former high school teammate of White’s at Salpointe Catholic and a one-time UA signee from Nogales who bypassed college for pro ball.
“Just being back here is so fun,” said Summerhill, who plays for the Scottsdale Scorpions. “Tucson’s got something in the air.”
Summerhill played center field and batted leadoff in the second game of the doubleheader, reaching base all four times in the 10-2 win over the Salt River Rafters. He had a single and double, walked and was hit by a pitch, scoring four runs and swiping a couple bases.
White, who played shortstop and hit fourth for the Mesa Solar Sox, was 0 for 4 in their 7-3 win over the Peoria Javelinas.
“It was really cool to play here,” said White, who learned he would play in the Arizona Fall League in August. “I never really thought about it until they announced the games here.”
The AFL, an annual monthlong league meant to showcase some of Major League Baseball’s top minor league prospects, has served as a springboard for players to get to the bigs. Former UA catcher Daniel Susac played for Mesa in 2024 and made his MLB debut this past season for the San Francisco Giants.
Summerhill and White just completed their first full season of pro ball, each getting drafted in 2025 after helping Arizona return to the College World Series. Summerhill was a supplemental 1st round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays while White was a 4th-round selection of the Boston Red Sox.
Both played well enough to earn in-season promotions, with White finishing the year at Double-A Portland and Summerhill rising to High-A Bowling Green.
“I hit a lot of the goals that I set for myself, and hopefully to continue that into Spring Training and then next year,” said White, who overall hit .251 with 18 home runs and 55 RBI in 101 games.
Summerhill, who combined to hit .251 with five homers and 45 RBI in 85 games, did not meet the expectations he set for 2026. At the same time, he felt he grew as a player thanks to the way the Rays organization has coached him.
“I hit a lot of the goals that I set for myself, and hopefully to continue that into Spring Training and then next year,” he said. “I think the big thing about the Rays is they …want you to be good at what you’re good at.”
Both Summerhill and White have stayed in touch with former UA teammates and coaches, with Summerhill catching Chip Hale’s ceremonial first pitch between games. White trained and worked out with the Wildcats between the end of his regular season and starting AFL play.
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 08: Nathan Church #27 and Thomas Saggese #25 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate with teammate Nolan Gorman #16 after scoring in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 08, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Chaim Bloom has gotten ahead of the offseason speculation season and all but told the fans that the upcoming offseason will be more of the same for the St. Louis Cardinals. Whether or not you agree with staying the course for an undetermined amount of time, the 2027 season has enough clouds around it that another offseason of inactivity could be excused by fans.
It appears the Cardinals have parts of their offensive core of the future, but that also relies on those players repeating and/or building off of career years with the bat. With a top four in the order mostly settled, assuming no offseason trades, the Cardinals are also expected to extend their lineup with Joshua Baez and Leo Bernal. Rounding out the final three will be, in some order, Masyn Winn, Nathan Church, and a third baseman to be named later.
Winn is pretty much locked in at shortstop and Church was announced as the incumbent starting center fielder if nothing else changes. I do think the last part of that sentence is important as Bloom and Oliver Marmol may want to check out the market for upgrades at that position. In the same conversation, Marmol said that third base is “wide open” with Thomas Saggese and Blaze Jordan looking like the early favorites, especially if Nolan Gorman is non-tendered this winter. Church and the 3BTBNL, to me, are holdovers for the futures of those positions and those players may or may not already be in the system.
Should the Cardinals prioritize center field or third base for the future?
2023 has become my new benchmark when looking at the current state of the Cardinals and so far, I feel as if that has been able to provide some insight on the recent struggles of the franchise. In center field, Cardinals players have put up a total 3.9 fWAR with a 75 wRC+, 39 homers, and a .619 OPS. Of course, the combination of Victor Scott II, Nathan Church, and Michael Siani, the three who have played the most in center since 2023, were known more for their speed and gloves than their bats.
However, those three combined for 73 stolen bases in over 450 games and the position’s .225 batting average was second to last in all of baseball, which never gave those players an opportunity to run. Their defense, while solid, ranked 11th in MLB over the past four seasons, which is nowhere near good enough to make up for the offensive shortcomings. Next year, Church looks to build off his double-digit homer and steals year as he enters his first season in a full-time role. Behind him, Chase Davis, Tai Peete, and Josiah Ragsdale all have different skillsets and timelines to the bigs.
Third base may be the more disappointing of the two positions, especially when Nolan Arenado and Nolan Gorman were supposed to power their way to hot corner leaderboards. Those two led the Cardinals’ third basemen to a 91 wRC+ as a group, good for 19th in MLB, while their 78 combined homers sat smackdab in the middle at 15th. The position’s .388 slugging percentage put them in 18th and just like in center, the defense did not make up for the offense.
Gold Glover Nolan Arenado took a step back before getting sent out of St. Louis and whoever took over for him was never going to replicate the human highlight reel. Gorman, Brendan Donovan, Saggese, and Blaze Jordan put the Cardinals in 10th place by defensive value and the future behind the later two is lacking depth.
Ramon Mendoza had a solid second chance in Triple-A this season, putting up a .291 average with nine homers. He has never profiled high on prospect boards, but he is Rule-5 eligible this offseason so if the Cardinals want him to enter the competition, they could add him to the 40-man roster. Behind him, Jesus Baez looks like a real threat with the bat, but has not yet settled on a final infield position. Third base makes the most sense due to Winn and Wetherholt holding down the middle of the diamond.
Since 2027 looks to be another season hovering around .500, the desire for the DeWitts and Bloom to spend on the roster is likely and unfortunately still low. My most recent Twitter soapbox is that spending money at a position of need without anyone knocking on the door, like third base and center field, does next to nothing towards changing the team’s long-term timeline. Like they did with Dustin May, a quality player can do a lot for a team while he is there, and then the franchise will hopefully reap the benefits of his cameo for years to come. While this happens less often with position players, it is a strategy I would like to see the Cardinals do this offseason.
That does not mean, like Jeff Jones said, skipping to the third page of the free agent list and signing Ramon Urias to platoon around the infield. Since the Cardinals are unlikely to take this path, looking deep into the free agent pool is not worth it this early, so I do not yet have names I am interested in at either spot just yet. For those of you who are 2-3 offseasons ahead of me, go ahead and let me know what you would like the Cardinals to do this winter at those spots. As of October 11, I think that the Cardinals trust Jordan to take the spot with Saggese filling a Jose Fermin role next season with Nathan Church in center.
For now, all of those players seem like placeholders for the future, but I would like some more quality in the lineup that could result in some more offense and a return to the Wild Card without sacrificing the future. The Wild Card is not the ultimate goal, but the 2026 Cardinals have now set a theoretical 77-win baseline for the next few seasons and a couple game jump could keep them relevant deep into September.
Sticking with the offense, let me know what position you would prioritize and if a short-term trade candidate makes sense to you.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 30: Sonny Gray #54 of the Boston Red Sox walks off the mound against the New York Yankees during the third inning in game two of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 30, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images
If you found it a little strange that Sonny Gray was considering retiring after one of the best seasons of his career, Sonny apparently agrees with you. Though he hinted all season that he could hang up the crooked hat for good this winter, Gray confirmed that he will return to Major League Baseball in 2027. Now the question is: with what team? “My family and I have talked about it and it’s an easy decision,” Gray said. “I still want to win a World Series, whether that is [with] Boston or with whoever wants me.” (Alex Speier, Boston Globe)
Another member of the 2026 Red Sox who isn’t done with baseball? That would be Alex Cora. But given that he’s getting married in November and, like the rest of us, seeing a looming lockout on the horizon, he’s taking his time. Cora recently turned down the manager’s job with the Phillies — for the second time in the last six months. (Peter Abraham, Boston Globe)
The loss of Gray in free agency would certainly hurt the Red Sox. But, thankfully, starting pitching is the strongest area of the team. We all know the weakest: power hitting, particularly from the right side. For two years in a row now Craig Breslow has pledged to add power to the Sox lineup. But, this year, he’s already throwing up a note of caution. “I think as teams become more competitive, there are fewer and fewer teams that are willing to move current major league talent because everyone wants to be competitive,” he said. “So we’ll have to be creative in figuring out how we improve our roster.” (Jen McCaffrey, The Athletic)
Adley Rutschman didn’t provide all that much of a power boost when he joined the Sox late this season, but he is nonetheless one of the best offensive catchers out there. So will the Sox look to extend him before he enters free agency next offseason? Craig Breslow isn’t tipping his hand. “What I would say is that Adley stepped in as our primary catcher in the middle of a season, which is not easy to do,” Breslow said. “Especially when pitching is a strength for our team. He immediately endeared himself to the pitching staff, to the coaching staff, to the clubhouse. Just a really, really high-quality teammate and leader. As to the other question, I think that’s something that will develop internally. Any conversations about what Adley’s future looks like will take place between Adley, his representatives and me.” (Patrick McAvoy, SI.com)
David Ortiz also thinks there’s something missing from this Red Sox roster, but the slugger isn’t focusing on home runs. “We seemed shy. We seemed a little [concerned]. We seem a little scared when we go into those series. … We need attitude, bro. … I haven’t seen that this past couple of years going into the Bronx,” Papi said. “You know what I’m saying? And I tell you what, man, when you go to play in the Bronx, you better be ready. You better be ready.” (Conor Ryan, Boston.com)
And, following the Yankees subsequent playoff exit against the Rays, Ortiz had similar criticism of the pinstripes. “I never played for the Yankees, but I competed a lot against the Yankees,” said Ortiz. “There’s one thing that I can see missing from the Yankees. It is culture. There are a lot of little things that in the long run, they start catching up.” (Hayden Bird, Boston.com)
MACAO, CHINA - OCTOBER 11: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Kyrie Irving gave Dallas Mavericks fans something to smile about just 10 seconds into his first start in more than 19 months on Sunday morning against the Houston Rockets at Venetian Arena in Macao, China. He drove past Jabari Smith Jr. along the baseline for a pretty reverse layup where he looked completely recovered from the torn ACL he suffered in March 2025 for the game’s first bucket, which will only feed the preseason hopes that Dallas can improve quickly after a lost year in 2025-26.
The Mavericks would go on to win the second of two against Houston, 132-115, to earn a preseason split in Macao. Pat yourself on the back if you woke up for it, you absolute sickos. Dallas looked good with Irving’s steady hand back at the helm on Sunday. Really good at times. We’ll try not to overreact.
Dallas turned Houston over 21 times in Friday’s 135-117 loss in the same arena and continued that trend in the first quarter on Sunday, when they forced seven more Rockets’ turnovers. Two free throws from Irving tied the game, 24-24, with 1:02 left in the opening quarter, then two more from Max Christie gave the Mavs their first lead of the game 20 seconds later. Dallas led 28-27 after one, when the second of two nifty drives from Christie fell with just 12 ticks left in the quarter.
The Mavs made it a point to get out on the break throughout the first half, scoring 17 points off the Rockets’ first 11 turnovers in the game’s first 17 minutes. The easy looks and trips to the free-throw line that aggression provided gave Dallas a real lift early in the game. Dallas took a 58-51 lead into the break.
The Rockets battled back all the way from down 15 in the second quarter to back in front early in the third, but Dallas pushed the pace in their favor to win back control and take a 95-85 lead into the fourth.
The Mavs shot 15-of-40 (37.5%) from 3-point range in the win after hoisting 51 of them the first time around against the Rockets. Just becoming a roster of willing shooters under new head coach Dusty May is a welcome development ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Mavericks and the Rockets will meet again soon, on Oct. 21, for the first game of the regular season for both teams — this time from Houston’s Toyota Center.
The Mavericks’ reserves borderline assaulted Irving as he made his way through the huddle, dapping up teammates along the way, when his name was called as a member of the Dallas starting lineup for the first time in 19 months. They were so excited for their veteran sensei to return to the court, and regardless of how much time he may or may not have left in a Mavs uniform, so were we.
Irving made some pregame comments at halfcourt, along with Rockets forward Kevin Durant. He thanked the crowd for their hospitality before driving past Jabari Smith Jr. for a nifty reverse layup for the game’s first bucket just 10 seconds into the game. Irving turned the corner against the bigger defender and looked 1000% healed on that first drive.
He caught a grenade six feet beyond the top of the key with half a second on the shot clock late in the third after a PJ Washington miss caromed out to the perimeter. Irving got it up quickly, hoisting and cashing in a desperation heave to pull Dallas to within 22-18 with 2:50 left in the first.
MACAO, CHINA – OCTOBER 11: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks drives to the basket during the game against the Houston Rockets as part of 2026 NBA China Games on October 11, 2026 in Macao, China at Venetian Arena. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Irving just changes the way the Mavs’ offense looks. It’s all-of-a-sudden presentable. It’s not so scattered — not so unhinged. There’s an organization to it all with Irving at the head of the table. He started the break once again late in the second with an outlet pass to Flagg along the sideline that pushed the play forward. Flagg then lifted a beauty of an alley-oop to Daniel Gafford, who looked much healthier and played well inside on Sunday.
Irving absolutely abused Smith Jr. again with 29 seconds left in the first half, spinning off the bigger defender, controlling his body in the air and fading for a finish through the contact. The free throw to complete the 3-point play gave Irving 14 points in the first half.
Irving came back out for more in the third and hit his second 3-pointer of the game 2:32 into the second half after a Zaccharie Risacher steal, finishing with 17 points and three assists in 22 minutes on the floor.
PJ Washington’s slightly less heralded return
PJ Washington was in the starting lineup on Sunday after missing the team’s first preseason game. He made 1-of-4 from the field in the first quarter, including 1-for-3 from 3-point range. He drove through the lane with a purpose with two minutes left in the first, earning a pair of free throws after a hard foul by Tari Eason, then blocked Eason’s driving attempt deep in the lane with 45 seconds left in the first.
Flagg found Washington open for his second 3-ball of the game after a broken play early in the second quarter, as the pace turned a little helter skelter. Flagg then served Washington a perfect little alley-oop after another Rockets turnover with 8:44 left in the first half.
Washington scored 10 points in the first half on 2-of-5 shooting from deep and blocked two shots in the first half as well. He did not return in the second half.
Risacher starts both games
May and the coaching staff really wants to get a look at new Maverick forward Zaccharie Risacher in the preseason. He was in the starting lineup for a second straight time on Sunday morning against the Rockets, and his first pass was nearly intercepted at the top of the key. Then, still two minutes into the game, he fouled Reed Shepard on a 3-point attempt along the baseline. Once again, Risacher’s first 3-point attempt barely grazed the rim a minute after that bad foul, but we were open to the possibility to the idea that he would work his way into things, as he did in the Mavs’ first preseason game on Friday, we guess.
Shepard abused Risacher in a one-on-one situation on the fast break, getting a hand on the ball and not letting go as Risacher raised up for an attempt inside. Risacher scored his first bucket of the game in close, off Caleb Martin’s offensive rebound with 5:15 left in the second to put Dallas up 43-34.
Risacher just isn’t strong going after the ball or with the basketball in his hands. Marcus Smart, who made his first start in a Rockets uniform on Sunday, blocked Risacher’s ambitious dunk attempt as the second half wound down — shouldn’t the 6’10” forward be able to get above the defense of one of the league’s elder statesmen at the guard position?
Risacher made a couple of plays early in the third, though. He got to a loose ball and started a fast break that led to a 3-ball from Irving, before dunking home a put-back on Irving’s missed baseline jumper with 8:23 left in the third. A minute later, he cashed in his first 3-pointer (on five attempts). It wasn’t all bad — Risacher made a couple of plays and hit a second 3-ball in the fourth quarter with the reserves on the court.
Cooper Flagg picked Smart’s pocket five minutes into the game, then turned the rip into a fast-break jam with 7:44 left in the first. He scored his next five points at the free-throw line, as Houston made him earn every point by sticking Smith Jr., then Eason on Flagg when Eason entered the game.
Flagg didn’t have a hot hand from the field in the first half, but he affected the game in a number of ways. He made just 1-of-6 from the field to start the game before a wayward leg kick connected with Marcus Smart south of the equator on a baseline jumper attempt with 7:17 left in the second.
Flagg didn’t have as great of a game the second time around as he did in Friday’s game. He ended the first half shooting 1-of-7 from the field with four assists and two steals. Then he created a little space for himself along the baseline less than five minutes into the third for his first 3-ball of the game to put the Mavs up 71-69.
Flagg finished with 14 points and seven assists in 25 minutes against Houston.
Electric Larryland
Sergio de Larrea entered the game for the first time with two minutes left in the first quarter. He smoked an easy layup attempt on the fast break midway through the second before canning his first 3-point attempt after a Dwight Powell offensive board a minute later to give the Mavs a 48-34 lead. To that point, de Larrea was 4-of-4 from beyond the arc for the Mavs this preseason. He finally missed a 3-point attempt late in the third, but his release is pretty, and his game looks slightly more NBA ready than I thought it would at this point.
De Larrea didn’t do quite as much in Sunday’s second game as he did in the first preseason game, but you can tell de Larrea is a player who is going to get some considerable run this season. He’ll have his moments. He drove for one last beauty of a hoop on a baseline reverse lay-in with just over 4:30 left to play, then found Seth Lundy for a 3-pointer on a pretty assist to finish the game with nine points, six boards and a pair of steals in 21 minutes (of plus-31 ball!) for the Mavs.
Christie and Gafford: effective cogs
The Mavericks have all sorts of fun new players we all want to get a look at this preseason. That’s all well and good, but let’s not forget Daniel Gafford and Max Christie. Both played really nicely for the Mavs in the second preseason game. Gafford looks like a different player to start the preseason slate than the hobbled version we saw a year ago, and Christie was solid, shooting 4-of-7 and sinking 2-of-3 of his 3-point attempts.
Players like Gafford and Christie took their some lumps a year ago as the Mavericks’ fortunes turned bleak last season. They will once again have a chance to be meaningful parts of something better moving forward this year. Christie finished the game with 14 points and four rebounds in 22 minutes, while Gafford had nine and three in 15 minutes on the floor.
Val Nichushkin(1), Kent Johnson(2), and Cole Sillinger(2) scored the goals for Columbus, and Jet Greaves stopped 22 of 26 Blues shots in a 5-3 loss to St. Louis.
The Jackets held 2-0 lead in the first period and got hammered for the rest of the game.
This loss halts a 6 game losing streak to the CBJ for the Blues.
First Period - SOG 10-4 CBJ
Both teams played a bit sloppily in the first period, with little offense to speak of. They were awarded a power play, though, at 8:44 into the period when Robert Thomas was called for hooking on Damon Severson. The power play was disjointed and netted no shots on Blues goalie Jordan Binnington.
Val Nichushkin scored his 1st goal of the season at the 16:10 mark, assisted by Erik Gudbranson and Sean Monahan. Gudbranson slung a puck off Binnington's stick that shot to the front of the crease and went in off of Nichushkin.
With 12 seconds left in the period, Kent Johnson scored his second goal of the season, with assists coming from Adam Fantilli and Zach Werenski. Johnson's goal marks his second of the season.
Second Period - SOG 12-3 Blues
The second period started with a bang when Mathieu was challenged by Ross Johnston to a fight. The pair exchanged punches, but Olivier left Johnston's head bleeding.
Damon Severson gave the Blues their first power play when he was called for interfering with Jimmy Snuggerud with 16 minutes left in the period.
The Jackets killed the penalty, but Jake Neighbours would score a few seconds later to cut the score to 2-1 for the Blue Jackets. Neighbours put his stick into the ear of Carson Soucy, but play was allowed to continue.
9:00 into the second, Jimmy Snuggerud scored to tie the game at two. At the 12:32 mark, Jimmy Snuggerud scored his second goal of the game to give the Blues a 3-2 lead.
Third Period - SOG 11-10 Blues
The third period started much better for Columbus, as they seemed to be playing like they did in the first. That being said, Cole Sillinger tried the game at 3 when he scored his 2nd goal of the season at 6:50 into the third period.
At 9:33 into the period, Jonatan Berggren scored his 1st of the season to give the Blues a 4-3 lead.
Pavel Buchnevich scored with the net empty to seal the game for the Blues.
The Jackets fall 5-3.
Final Stats
CBJ APP
Player Stats & Notes
Val Nichushkin scored his first goal of the season.
Kent Johnson scored his 2nd goal and had 3 shots.
Cole Sillinger scored his 2nd goal of the season and won 66.7% of his faceoffs.
Sean Monahan got his 1st assist.
Erik Gudbranson picked up his first assist and point of the season.
Adam Fantilli recorded an assist.
Zach Werenski tallied his 4th assist of the season, had 4 shots, and won 64.3 of his faceoffs.
Charlie Coyle got his 4th assist of the season and was a minus-2. He also won 84.6% of his faceoffs.
Carson Soucy recorded his first point as a CBJ with an assist.
Team Stats
The Jackets went 0/1 on the power play.
The Columbus PK stopped the only man advantage the Blues had.
Columbus won 57.6% of the faceoffs - 34/59
The Blue Jackets had 17 hits and 19 blocks.
Next Up For Columbus: The Blue Jackets are back home on Tuesday to take on the Florida Panthers.
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CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 10: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates after defeating the Chicago White Sox in Game Five of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, October 10, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As someone with very fond memories of the Yankees winning fierce, neck-and-neck Division Series battles with Oakland, Cleveland, and Baltimore over the years, I’ve always enjoyed a tense Game 5. One team advances to fight for the pennant while the other goes home with those hopes dashed. I don’t think many neutral observers would pick either of these teams to upset the Rays after the way they posted the American League’s best record in 2026 and then mopped the floor with the Yankees.
But look, all you have to do is get the next round, and you’ll never know what happens. Who would’ve picked the 84-win Diamondbacks to upset the defending NL champion Phillies in 2023? Or going back further to a better memory for the City of Brotherly Love, how about when the 1993 Phillies dispatched a dynastic Braves team that outlasted the Giants to win 104 games? Dare to dream. The Guardians and White Sox both dared to do so; here’s how the winner booked a date at Tropicana Field for ALCS Game 1 tomorrow night.
ALDS Game 5
Cleveland Guardians 2, Chicago White Sox 0
(CLE wins, 3-2)
Star power often wins in the playoffs, and though Cleveland isn’t exactly awash with the stars the way it was in the 1990s when the team made it to multiple Fall Classics, they relied on a couple very good ones to lead the way in the winner-take-all Game 5 against the White Sox.
With a 2-0 victory, the Guardians won their third in a row, completing just the fourth comeback in MLB history for a team in a best-of-five that lost the first two games at home. To make this Yankees-centric and more familiar, this is the kind of the comeback that the 2001 Yanks pulled off against the A’s, sparked by the “Flip Play” game. It’s since been matched by the 2012 Giants, the 2015 Blue Jays, and now the 2026 Guardians. It’s also the first 0-2 comeback of any kind in a DS since the 2017 Yanks did it to Cleveland. (Shout-out Greg Bird, Masahiro Tanaka, and Didi Gregorius.)
The two stars who took center stage for the Guardians were José Ramírez and Gavin Williams. Whenever Ramírez ends his career, he’ll go down as one of the greatest players to ever wear a Cleveland uniform. October has sometimes been a struggle for him though, and he’s the last remaining player from their team that lost to the Cubs in a Game 7 heartbreaker in the 2016 Fall Classic. He hasn’t been back to the Greatest Stage since then, but he helped punch Cleveland’s ticket to give them a shot this year by going 5-for-12 across the three ALDS wins with two homers and seven RBI.
One of those dingers came yesterday off an otherwise-solid Sean Burke, and who could blame Burke for giving up a gopher ball on a pitch this low?
Ramírez has a good shot at a plaque in Cooperstown one day and this is one of those “tip your cap” moments. Not many players can physically do that. This has actually been a tougher year for him, as he had a broken bone in his hand that forced him to miss time and ultimately ended up with a sub-100 OPS+ for the first time since 2015. If it ends in Cleveland somehow breaking its championship drought though, the man won’t care a lick about his regular season.
Maybe it’s overstating a bit to call Williams a star, but the 26-year-old is a dangerous up-and-coming ace for Cleveland, leading the AL with 248 strikeouts despite not making the All-Star team. The Guardians wasted his 11-K start in Game 1, but he came out of the bullpen to help nail down Game 4 when closer Cade Smith wobbled late. Under 48 hours later, Williams started the game he forced and seemed unperturbed by those 18 pitches in relief. He did one better than his playoff opener, fanning a dirty dozen White Sox in 5.2 shutout innings, allowing only a single to Kyle Teel.
Williams’ primary drawback is that he doesn’t go deep into games, which hurt him in Game 1. Erik Sabrowski let him down then, but he made up for it last night by relieving Williams and fanning Munetaka Murakami with the bases loaded to escape a sixth-inning jam. The 2-0 lead remained intact.
The Pale Hose never came so close to scoring again. Tristan Peters never moved after a one-out single in the seventh, as Hunter Gaddis struck out both Chase Meidroth and Colson Montgomery as the potential tying runs. Sam Antonacci singled off Gaddis with one down in the eighth, so Cleveland skipper Stephen Vogt called on Smith for a five-out save, his third appearance in four days. Despite pitching every game in this series, he was up to the task. He struck out Kyle Teel and got Miguel Vargas to foul out to end the frame, and then struck out the side in the ninth to slam the door on the Sox, who set a postseason record with 21 team strikeouts in a nine-inning game. Woof.
The White Sox deserve a ton of credit for overachieving so much in 2026 after three consecutive 100-loss seasons. No one thought they’d make the playoffs, let alone come a win shy of the ALCS. Few predicted even a .500 finish! It will hurt knowing that they had three games to close out Cleveland and instead squandered the series, but this team honestly looked about as gassed possible. Can the Guardians actually threaten the Rays? I will at least hope they put up a better fight than they did in 2024 against the Yankees.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 10: The Cleveland Guardians celebrate on the field after defeating the Chicago White Sox in game five of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 10, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Meet the Mets
Danny Abriano asked whether the Mets should bring back Ronny Mauricio in 2027.
Mets prospect Peyton Prescott has something to prove in the Arizona Fall League this season.
Around the National League East
Despite making virtually all their players available for a potential Tarik Skubal trade, the Braves were unwilling to part with pitcher Didier Fuentes in any negotiations this past trade deadline.
Heading into the offseason, there are some questions about the Phillies’ outfield that could be completely reshaped in the coming months.
Jessica Camerato listed five questions the Nationals have to answer looking ahead to the offseason.
Around Major League Baseball
In completely unsurprising news, the Brewers officially named Jacob Misiorowski their starter for the first game of the NLCS against the Dodgers.
Zach Sweet listed four factors that will decide the winner of this year’s NLCS.
The pitching matchup of Tarik Skubal and Jacob Misiorowski is nearly unprecedented and a must-see battle in the making.
Gavin Williams tied Cleveland’s postseason single-game strikeout record in last night’s win against the White Sox, logging 12 strikeouts and flirting with a no-hitter.
The Guardians overcame the odds and beat the White Sox in last night’s decisive Game 5, punching their ticket to face the Rays in the ALCS.
This Date in Mets History
In 1969, the Mets played the first World Series game in the franchise’s history—and lost.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 10: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 10, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Two preseason games. Two totally different lineups and rotations. Two wins. There’s a lot to like about how this Boston Celtics team has approached its preseason preparations and the tweaks we’ve seen.
Getting one over the Philadelphia 76ers, short-handed or not, is always welcome, too.
The Winning Formula
This time last year, we heard a lot of scuttlebutt about playing at a higher pace. However, once the season got underway, that scuttlebutt quickly dissipated and was replaced by the league’s slowest, most methodical offense. Half-court possessions featured entry actions followed by isolation or matchup hunting.
Don’t get me wrong, it was effective. The Celtics overcame all expectations to finish the regular season as the second seed.
This summer, we’ve heard very little regarding the pace of play. Yet, on Saturday, we saw the Celtics take control of the tempo and push the rock at will. From rapid decision-making to running the floor in transition, Joe Mazzulla’s team looked to beat the Sixers both up the floor and when they were in rotation.
The result was 35 assists on 50 made shots. The shots were high quality and came from multiple areas of the floor. Most importantly, though, it helped get multiple guys in rhythm, and from there, the Celtics never looked back. Playing fast created a free-flowing offense that supported Boston’s perimeter-based game, with 45.8% from deep.
According to CourtSketch, only seven of Jayson Tatum’s 23 points came unassisted. Eight of Payton Pritchard’s 25 were registered without a defender attached. In fact, only Paul George (10) and Derrick White (11) were in double digits in unassisted points that night.
As a result, the Celtics were finding ways to make their passes count. Their decision to swing the rock not only created defensive rotations and quality scoring opportunities, but also led to points being put on the board with rabid efficiency. Tatum (11), Pritchard (20), and Baylor Scheierman (20) all had double-digit numbers in the ‘points created off assists’ category.
There’s another upside to the ball swinging around on offense, too—everyone becomes more locked in and active on defense. Scheierman finished the night with six defensive stops, more than any other Celtic. George had five, and Hugo Gonzalez had three.
Earlier this summer, Brad Stevens spoke about the Celtics’ tendency to stagnate on offense at times.
“One of the things that I’ve always thought is to be a great offense,” Stevens said during an interview with NBC Sports Boston. “You have to be able to score in isolation against certain matchups, you have to be able to score in pick-and-roll, and you have to be able to score off movement. I think at times in the past, in the biggest moments, we’ve had a tendency to be stagnant. I think this group can be more versatile in those ways.”
Based on what we’ve seen over the last two games, stagnation should be a much smaller concern. Sure, there will be times Boston reverts to bad habits, especially early in the season. Yet if what we saw against the Sixers is any indication of what’s to come, isolation-heavy ‘your turn, my turn’ basketball could be a thing of the past.
A Look At The Playbook
When you’re playing a free-flowing, high-paced game, the need to flow into half-court sets is reduced. Still, it’s always worthwhile to run some set actions before the season starts, mainly to see what works, what wrinkles you can add, and when to change the game plan.
One play that I enjoyed came late in the third quarter.
This action is out of Boston’s ‘screen the screener’ series and has the option to flow into a ‘gator action’ to attack the rim.
Let’s break it down.
The play starts with Paul George setting a rip screen (back screen) on the left side of the court. That screen creates a switch for Payton Pritchard, giving him a potential advantage off the bounce. After George’s screen, he gets a screen from Neemias Queta, allowing him to flare to the top of the perimeter. With so much attention on the shooting talent around the horn, Queta has been able to roll into the paint without being tagged or met by a low man.
As Queta rolls, George swings the pass to Tatum — it’s here where a ‘gator action’ could have been implemented had Tatum hit Neemy on the roll — instead, Tatum (who was feeling it from deep) lets off a catch-and-shoot three that ultimately hits the back iron.
Ok, so the play didn’t result in a bucket. Still, the process was solid. There were multiple options out of the ‘screen the screener’ entry, and plenty of ways the Celtics could adapt this play throughout the season.
Give me more of these actions, please!
Wax On, Wax Off
When Mr. Miyagi taught Daniel LaRusso how to block punches, he did so in a way that taught him to deflect his opponent’s strikes. It’s better to redirect a blow rather than to cover up and absorb the impact. Furthermore, deflecting a strike leaves an opening to launch a counterattack.
Basketball is no different. Sometimes, it’s better to deflect than to allow a dribble-drive entry or a bullet pass to find a cutter.
Against the Sixers, the Celtics had some incredibly active hands. On top of their 16 steals throughout the game, they also dominated in mucking things up in the passing lanes, registering a total of 22 deflections.
We often look at steals as a barometer of defensive activity and peskiness. However, deflections are also a key indicator of that. In fact, in some ways, they’re just as important. If you’re consistently poking balls loose, making passes hard to complete, or forcing recoveries on drives, the opposing team struggles to find its rhythm, gets flustered, and sometimes starts to force the issue.
Not only did the Celtics generate easy buckets via pilfers, but they also created a tough environment for the Sixers to succeed. Part of having a younger rotation, awash with size, length, and athleticism off the bench, is sustaining a higher tempo, and if this is what Boston’s defense looks like this season, good luck finding any consistent rhythm throughout the night.
Paul George Looks Like A Good Fit
Saturday was the first time we saw George take to the court in a Celtics jersey. We all have our thoughts on how he wound up in Boston, and whether that deal was smart business by Stevens. Yet, what we can’t deny is that he played well, showed his versatility on both sides of the ball, and appears to be a solid fit into Mazzulla’s system and as a secondary star next to Jayson Tatum.
Most importantly, though, Tatum appears pleased to be sharing the floor with George.
“It was great,” Tatum told the media after the game. “You know, we’ve been teammates for a few months now. It was like my first time sharing the floor with him and being on the same team. Somebody that I’ve obviously admired for a very very long time, when I was in high school and college and competing against him, and now to be on the same team and just see some of the special things that he brings to a team, you know, looking forward.”
Tatum and George will undoubtedly build chemistry as the season goes on. They’ll learn each other’s spots and how to cover each other’s weaknesses while accentuating their strengths. The fact that things looked as good as they did, albeit against a weakened opponent, should be highly encouraging with the new season just nine days away.
Like Mazzulla said recently, it’s easy for everyone to get along during training camp and preseason, as the roster hasn’t been tasked with navigating a period of adversity. So, we’ll see how things look once the games start coming thick and fast. For now, though, the Tatum and George pairing is something I’m cautiously optimistic about heading into the season.
Talking Of Tatum…
How great was it to see him dominating?
Tatum was borderline unstoppable at times. He looked like the All-NBA superstar we had become accustomed to before his injury. Again, this was only one game. A preseason game nonetheless. Yet, if he’s moving that well, processing the game at that speed, and shooting with such confidence, you can’t help but be excited for what’s to come, right?
“I mean, tonight it was just — I thought he had a good carryover from what we’re asking to do on both ends of the court,” Mazzulla said after the game. “His defensive activity was good. I thought offensively he had great flow. The ball found him, but he was able to create opportunities for himself and his teammates, and so I thought the carryover from what our expectation is for him on both sides of the ball is one step of doing it there and continuing to get better and better from it. But I thought his cardio looked good, decision-making looked good, and his activity was good.”
There were times when Tatum’s presence alone caused Philly’s defense to panic. Take this ‘ghost screen’ action as an example.
Tatum initiated a ‘ghost screen’ as the Sixers looked to contain Derrick White. Most teams that switch actions on the pick-and-roll have a trigger of when contact is created, the switch occurs. Ghost screens are effective because that contact is never created, and thus, the on-ball defenders have to communicate better. As you can see in the clip above, that communication appears to have been delayed, as both White and Tatum’s defender stick on White, allowing Tatum to catch the ball while being wide open in the slot.
Philly’s defense then scrambles to take the shot away from Tatum, with Jordan Walsh’s defender sprinting up from the corner, and one of White’s defenders scrambling over. Rather than forcing the issue, Tatum waits for the two defenders to commit before hitting Walsh, who is wide open in the corner.
Literally one fake screen, and the Sixers found themselves scrambling.
Another aspect of Tatum’s game that should elevate the team is how he likes to reward his bigs in the pick-and-roll.
Neemy, Mitchell Robinson, and Luka Garza are all going to eat off Tatum assists this season. Be it a pocket pass like in the clip above, or Tatum putting the rock into the vertical spacing corridor, allowing for lob finishes as the roll man gets downhill.
Tatum brings a level of unpredictability as a pick-and-roll creator, secondary or primary facilitator, and off-ball threat via movement and scoring gravity.
If this is how good he looks ahead of the season, imagine what he’ll be doing after the All-Star break, when he traditionally takes things to another level.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to playing the Sixers, I don’t care if it’s a preseason game or Game 7 of the NBA Finals—they’re all must-wins. The Celtics took care of business on Saturday, and they did so in a way that left us all excited for the season to come.
After the summer we’ve all had following this team, a win like this was a welcome palate cleanser. Now, bring on the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, October. 14!
