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NHL Playoffs: Second round predictions

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 03: An interior view of Ball Arena prior to Game One of the Second Round between the Colorado Avalanche and the Minnesota Wild of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 03, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The NHL couldn’t pass up a Saturday night time slot on ABC and started the Philadelphia/Carolina series before the first round ended. (Sidenote, there goes conspiracy theories about leagues tinkering in results: a Pittsburgh/Philadelphia Game 7 would have filled that spot really nicely, but alas). We went 3-1 on the East in the first round, whiffing on the Pens loss but getting the Montreal upset over Tampa right. I realized I forgot/ran out of time with the Pens’ run to write the East, would have been 3-1 in that too by missing the Ducks advancing past Edmonton but getting the rest of them.

Now it’s onto the NHL’s version of the Elite 8.

Philadelphia vs. Carolina

I don’t think anyone needed to see Game 1 to see where the wind was blowing on this matchup (pun intended), the Hurricanes have too much for the Flyers. That was on display in a 3-0 win on Saturday where the Flyers only mustered 19 shots on goal. Add in the injury to Owen Tippett and the uphill battle for the Flyers becomes all the more tougher a climb. I’m rooting for the funniest outcome where a Carolina sweep would put them into the next round before Buffalo/Montreal even play their Game 3. Thinking that happens, if not a gentleman’s sweep if the Flyers can win a home game.

Prediction: Carolina in 4

Buffalo vs. Montreal

Ahh, the Atlantic Division comes down to the Sabres and Canadiens, just as everyone suspected in the fall. Montreal is perhaps lucky to be here after playing rope-a-dope and only getting nine shots in goal in Game 7 and requiring a pair of greasy goals to dispatch Tampa. Still, they deserve credit all the same for making this far and Jakub Dobes in net is providing a huge boost to them. Buffalo is a little shakier in net, though Alex Lyon only surrendered five goals over the five games he played in and has become the man of the moment for the Sabres. The key to this series might be the power play, Buffalo advanced over Boston despite going 1-for-24 in the man advantage. That won’t cut it this time around. This series could be about coin flip odds, something about Montreal’s hot goalie and young talent is too tough to resist considering the Sabres aren’t scoring on the power play and resorting to lightning in a bottle with their goaltender situation.

Prediction: Montreal in 7

Vegas vs. Anaheim

Anaheim is perhaps the surprise team of the playoffs for the way they took care of the Oilers, weathering the best shots that Leon Draisaitl (10 points) and an injured Connor McDavid (6 points) could give. Those guys are always going to get theirs, but as usual their team’s roster weaknesses got exploited, this time by the Ducks. The Ducks’ pressure completely overwhelmed the shaky Edmonton team defense and goaltending, scoring 26 goals in the six games (4.33 average). Vegas showed some vulnerabilities against Utah (giving up 3.0 goals per game) and Carter Hart (.898 save%) hasn’t been THE guy, so much as the guy that the Golden Knights have right now. Jackson Lacombe was barely used in the Olympics and is making a star turn (nine points in six games, plus solid play defensively). Between the young talent Anaheim has, the goaltending matchup and the coaching edge of Quenneville over Tortorella to tip the scales for a slight upset (betting lines current have Anaheim +140 and Vegas at -165).

Prediction: Anaheim in 6

Colorado vs. Minnesota

The heavyweight battle! The NHL’s divisional format usually gives that one monster second round matchup where the two teams involved are very much Stanley Cup worthy, and that certainly applies in the Central Division this year. The Avalanche coasted to a pretty easy win over Los Angeles, sweeping them without even needing to come out of third gear. The Wild had a much tougher first round matchup against Dallas. It was tight (besides Game 1’s big 6-1 Minnesota win, the other five games were one-goal contests until empty netters, and featured two OT games) but the Wild came out on top in relatively convincing fashion considering the circumstances. The Avs haven’t even played since April 26th, prior to last night’s Game 1. (This is being written just as the game started, so while you’ll know the result reading it on Monday, we don’t as of now). Hopefully for hockey’s sake, it will be a long series. In the end, gotta like the star power of the Avalanche and the form they are in right now. This looks like a year where Nathan MacKinnon and company aren’t going to be denied.

Prediction: Colorado in 6

—

As of now with the way the bracket is breaking, it’s looking like the SCF could be a showdown between the top two regular season teams (Colorado and Carolina). We’re still a long way from getting there, Colorado’s path through Minnesota and Anaheim/Vegas next round is no cake walk and Carolina is known for tripping up and running out of gas in the middle rounds. Overall though, it doesn’t look like too many Cinderella teams are primed to upset the apple cart. Maybe Montreal/Buffalo or Anaheim still have something to say about that. It’s pretty rare for the top two teams to both emerge at the end of three rounds of playoff action, we’ll have to see if Round 2 has some surprising outcomes to shake up the picture.

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DitD & Open Post – 5/4/26: Front Office Changes Edition

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 21: New Jersey Devils introduce General Manager Sunny Mehta at Prudential Center on April 21, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI vis Getty Images

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

“Unfortunately for Meier, the narrative that he has underperformed donning the red and black isn’t unique to this past season. Outside of his 2022-23 production (and even then), he has long been soured on by fans, and for good reason. After all, the three-time 30-plus goal scorer has never surpassed that mark with New Jersey, nor has his production ever matched his output from his San Jose Sharks years. And yet, as perhaps the most bullish person on him of anyone I know, I would argue that as far as bounce-back candidates go, Meier should be right at the top of the list.” [Infernal Access ($)]

“Sunny Mehta wants to focus on the process. That should make New Jersey Devils fans feel optimistic about the 2026 offseason and beyond.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]

Front office changes:

Hockey Links

The Habs are on to the second round:

Prepare yourself: The second round schedule is here. [NHL.com]

Which guys look to be Conn Smythe favorites heading into the second round? [Daily Faceoff]

New front office faces in Toronto:

“Even in a league with 32 teams that range from model franchises to … um, not that, everyone is good at something. In fact, every team in the league is the very best at something. You just have to be willing to dig deep enough to find it.” [The Athletic ($)]

“Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch revealed that McDavid played through a fracture in the foot and ankle area en route to losing in six games to the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference quarterfinals. He also said forward Jason Dickinson had a similar injury.” [ESPN]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

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Why Giants are off to worst start in team history: Hopeless lineup, hellish road trip

The San Francisco Giants were aiming to try something different in hiring Tony Vitello as the first manager to transition from college baseball directly to the major leagues. Yet this was not what they had in mind.

After losing all six games on a journey to Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, the Giants have equaled their worst start in franchise history – 13-21 - at this juncture. Their first winless six-game trip since 2022 included zero home runs and three walk-off losses in sweeps by the Phillies and Rays.

And now the Giants have matched the five-week dumpster fires produced by their 1984 and 1950 brethren – the ’84 squad firing Hall of Famer Frank Robinson after a 42-64 start.

The Giants won’t do the same with Vitello, whose three-year contract guaranteeing him more than $10 million is in its infancy. Yet the grim start has certainly exposed significant flaws in roster structure – the sort of thing a managing wizard like Bruce Bochy would be challenged to solve, let alone a newbie like Vitello.

How bad has it been? Let’s explore:

Willy Adames is in the second year of the biggest free agent contract in franchise history.

Giants offense: Worst in baseball

Fewer management duos are under greater pressure than New York Mets baseball ops president David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza and indeed, a club with a $765 million left fielder and a $358 million payroll ranks last in the majors with a .630 OPS.

But for smallest bang for your buck, don’t sleep on Buster Posey.

The future Hall of Fame player and franchise legend has burned significant capital on a pair of hitters who have dragged the entire lineup down. Shortstop Willy Adames, signed to the biggest free agent contract in franchise history (seven years, $182 million) is now batting .195 with a .235 on-base percentage, the latter number particularly startling given that Adames served as the club’s leadoff batter 23 times, nearly six times more than the nearest teammate.

Adames, now in his second year in San Francisco, has slumped his way down to the six hole. The Giants haven’t yet taken such measures with slugger Rafael Devers, whom they ostensibly stole from the bumbling Red Sox 11 months ago but still are waiting for the three-time All-Star, not the bewildered first baseman, to show up.

The Giants assumed some $250 million in salary in the Devers deal, and he's scuffling along with a .214 average, two homers and a .257 OBP; both he and Adames haven’t been the same producers since leaving their hitter-friendly prior homes in Boston and Milwaukee. Sometimes that happens.

But that doesn’t excuse the failures of the rest of the roster.

San Francisco ranks last in the majors in home runs and runs scored (a paltry 3.1 per game), last in walks and 29th in OPS. The club ran out of some patience with Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey’s anemic bat (.152/.221/.190, adjusted OPS of 20) but an injury to Daniel Susac ended that time share.

Luis Arraez has not disappointed as a hits machine and has even improved his defense at second base. But Giants right fielders have hit just two home runs and their center fielders – mostly the now-injured Harrison Bader and Vitello’s former Tennessee sparkplug Drew Gilbert – have combined for a .183/.221/.287 slash.

The black holes in the lineup means the wonderfully surprising start from first baseman Casey Schmitt - .308, 13 extra-base hits, an .873 OPS – and serviceable work from Jung Hoo Lee and Matt Chapman has gone to waste.

Imagine what happens when those guys get in a slump.

The road trip from hell

It was just six games, not a three-city odyssey. Yet the psychic weight of three walk-off losses – all of them coming after the Giants blew one-run leads in the eighth or ninth innings – takes a greater, immeasurable toll.

Quasi-closer Ryan Walker blew two of the leads, almost inexplicably throwing eight straight sinkers to the Phillies’ Bryson Stott before Stott finally clocked one for a game-tying triple. And the Phillies made history, becoming the first team to sweep a doubleheader on a pair of walk-offs.

One victory was aided by third-base coach Hector Borg’s egregious non-send of Gilbert, the 10th-inning automatic runner, on a ball that leaked slowly into the outfield off Stott’s glove. In the 10-inning loss in Tampa Bay, the Giants couldn’t move the courtesy runner an inch.

The 0-6 trip was sealed when Vitello intentionally walked Rays slugger Junior Caminero to pitch to the AL’s RBI leader, and Jonathan Aranda sent them quickly to the team bus.

Tony Vitello: Trying to get comfortable

That sequence was fairly emblematic of Vitello’s tenure so far: A pick-your-poison scenario where he chose to pitch around the powerful Caminero only for the clutch Aranda to come through.

Posey didn’t exactly equip his first-year manager with a proven bullpen, but Vitello has done well to get outs from the likes of Caleb Kilian and Matt Gage, lean heavily on Keaton Winn’s nasty splitter and hope for the best from Walker, who has lost the closer’s job before.

Of course, 50-50 bullpen calls will happen with any manager. Vitello has worked to engender trust and enthusiasm from the clubhouse, yet from a distance, his presence seems proportionally diminished compared to the swaggering dude in Knoxville.

When umpires at Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field blew a call that resulted in Heliot Ramos’s 424-foot catwalk-striking shot called a flyout instead of a home run, it was Frank Anderson – Vitello’s former pitching coach at Tennessee and now the Giants’ director of pitching – who got ejected, along with Adrian Houser, who was not pitching that day.

Far be it from us to order up a shot of eyewash from a manager, but when a run-starved club that’s about to go 0-5 on a road trip sees a home run stolen from them, it should probably be the manager, not the 67-year-old director of pitching, who gets tossed.

That fire will almost certainly emerge as the season grows longer. For now, there’s not much the Giants can do to help the guy, other than promote slugger Bryce Eldridge - he and catcher/third baseman Jesus Rodriguez are on the way from Sacramento, the San Francisco Chronicle first reported - or rearrange some furniture on the coaching staff.

 The good news for the Giants? The entirety of the NL West went 6-24 this week. The bad news is they have the worst run differential in the division (minus-34), one of several vital signs that portend a grim final 128 games.

Or perhaps they’ve reached bottom now. Last week certainly looked like it.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Giants' ugly start: Hopeless lineup has San Francisco making bad history

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YouTube Gold: Three Legends

Dec. 20, 1968: Laker coach Bill Van Breda Kolf, left, applauds play against the Warriors. From left, Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Bill Hewitt, and Keith Erickson. Photo was taken during the fourth quarter with Lakers ahead by 32 points. Final score was 133-101. This photo appeared in the Dec. 22, 1969 Los Angeles Times. (Photo by Art Rogers/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

In the 1960’s, there were three great teams in the NBA: the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers, and whoever Wilt Chamberlain was playing for at the time.

The Celtics were built around Bill Russell, while the Lakers were crafted around Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.

The Lakers never won a championship during Russell’s time in Boston, and this haunted West for life. Even after establishing himself as Boston’s Red Auerbach’s equal as a GM, he could not step foot in Boston Garden. In the new Prime documentary about him, Jerry West: The Logo, West reveals that he was going to go to a game at Boston with his son, but he was physically incapable of doing it.

In the 60s, as you’ll see here, West and Baylor were a great combo, but they could not typically overcome Chamberlain’s sheer size and athleticism.

Well, no one could. Russell could manage him, but he could not control him. He took a little away here, a bit there, and his teammates were typically superior, but overcome Chamberlain?

It was not possible.

In 1968, Chamberlain requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, and ended up with Baylor, West, and the Lakers.

The Celtics were aging, and people generally thought they were ready to fall. But Russell wasn’t ready to let go, and he won his 11th and final championship.

West and the Lakers would finally win one in 1972, but Baylor would retire early in the season. Almost as soon as he did, L.A. went on an epic 33-game win streak and were basically unbeatable.

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MLB power rankings: Rampaging Cubs finally look like NL Central bullies

The National League Central has been baseball's best division, a fact that seems straight out of the upside down. The Chicago Cubs have been the division's bully, a development that seems long overdue.

The Cubs have been on an early-season rampage, winning 14 of their last 17 games, dominating their Wrigley Field stomping grounds and soaring to No. 4 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings.

At 22-12, the Cubs have the second-best record in the NL, yet they're just two games ahead of the 20-14 Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. All five Central clubs are at least three games over .500, on the strength of a combined 44-28 record in interleague play.

And the Cubs improved to 14-5 at Wrigley by sweeping a decent Arizona Diamondbacks team, capped by a wind-swept 8-4 victory in which rookie Moisés Ballesteros hit a go-ahead homer. Next up: A four-game Wrigley showdown against the Reds.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

  • Blake Snell nearing return, creating a 17-man rotation (estimated).

2. Atlanta Braves (+1)

3. New York Yankees (-1)

4. Chicago Cubs (+1)

  • Don't forget Moisés Ballesteros (six homers, .978 OPS) in the outstanding rookies conversation.

5. San Diego Padres (-1)

  • Remember how good Griffin Canning was for the Mets last year? He struck out seven in five innings of his Padres debut.

6. Tampa Bay Rays (+3)

  • On a 16-5 heater and have swept four teams, tops in the majors.

7. Cincinnati Reds (-1)

  • Got swept in Pittsburgh and it couldn't be much uglier.

8. Pittsburgh Pirates (-1)

  • Konnor Griffin's feet on the ground with .262 average, .723 OPS.

9. Detroit Tigers (-)

10. Milwaukee Brewers (+1)

  • Andrew Vaughn is back, but Jackson Chourio possibly delayed after fouling ball off foot in rehab game.

11. Cleveland Guardians (+1)

  • That's 300 steals, 291 homers for the remarkable José Ramírez.

12. Toronto Blue Jays (+4)

  • Looks like they're back-back.

13. Arizona Diamondbacks (-3)

14. Texas Rangers (+1)

  • Rookies Peyton Grey and Gavin Collyer combine for 13 ⅓ scoreless innings so far.

15. Athletics (+4)

  • They depart Yolo County atop the AL West as six-game Eastern swing looms.

16. St. Louis Cardinals (+3)

  • Jordan Walker's 10 homers nearly equal his 11 from 2024, 2025 combined.

17. Seattle Mariners (-4)

  • Cal Raleigh's side issue has him flirting with IL.

18. Miami Marlins (-4)

  • Old friend Don Mattingly takes a series off them for his Phillies.

19. Philadelphia Phillies (+3)

  • Bryson Stott had zero homers, four RBI in 22 games under Rob Tomson, and two and seven in six games with Don Mattingly.

20. Baltimore Orioles (-2)

  • Getting blasted in the Bronx likely an accurate barometer of their season.

21. Washington Nationals (+5)

  • Go figure: 12-7 on the road, 4-12 at home.

22. New York Mets (-5)

23. Kansas City Royals (+5)

  • Aimless season gains direction with sweep at Seattle.

24. Minnesota Twins (-)

  • Joe Ryan's elbow soreness hopefully not a harbinger for disaster.

25. Houston Astros (+2)

  • They climb over the desiccated Red Sox and into 13th place in the AL.

26. Chicago White Sox (+4)

  • Noah Schultz struck out eight in six innings, remains very tall.

27. Boston Red Sox (-4)

  • Ranger Suarez's right hamstring soreness the latest woe.

28. San Francisco Giants (-3)

  • Willy Adames in your garden-variety 5-for-55 hole, though he did break a 54-at-bat streak without an extra-base hit.

29. Los Angeles Angels (-8)

  • In a 2-12 freefall and have scored two or fewer runs in eight of their last 14.

30. Colorado Rockies (-1)

  • This Troy Johnston thing looking for real: .321/.385/.453 in 31 games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: Chicago Cubs rampaging into NL Central bully

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NBA playoff second-round predictions: How will each series play out?

It took three Game 7s and three series that ended in six, but the first round of the NBA playoffs have wrapped up, which means the conference semifinals are already upon us.

In the East, the No. 3 New York Knicks are taking on the No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers while the top-seeded Detroit Pistons will face the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Out West, the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder, the only team to win their first-round series in a sweep, will battle the No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers as All-Star guard Luka Dončić continues to mend from his hamstring injury. In the other series, the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs will face another squad dealing with injury issues, the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves, with Anthony Edwards dealing with his left knee bone bruise.

Here’s a look at each conference semifinal series, with a prediction for each:

Eastern Conference

No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers

This 76ers team is not only peaking at the right moment, they actually look like legitimate threats. As long as Joel Embiid is playing the way he has since returning from his appendectomy, Philadelphia will have an argument. Embiid’s size and scoring ability makes him a nightmare to defend. It also stresses Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns and demands a big series from backup center Mitchell Robinson.

For as good as Philadelphia has been, however, New York has been even better. After the Knicks went down 2-1 in the first round against the Hawks, the Knicks used Towns as the anchor of their offense. OG Anunoby had a massive series, and New York’s trio of Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges make their defense versatile and tough to crack.

The pick: Knicks in 7

No. 1 Detroit Pistons vs. No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers

Detroit, frankly, didn’t play its best series and had a few limitations exposed in its seven-game series against the Orlando Magic. For one, the Pistons struggle when their outside shots don’t drop. For another, it became clear that All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham needs more help; as the playoffs continue, he alone cannot carry Detroit. And, finally, the Pistons will need more from their other All-Star, center Jalen Duren, who struggled to impact games early in the series.

Many of the same issues above could be said about the Cavaliers, who also needed seven games to dispatch their first-round opponent, the Toronto Raptors. Cleveland struggled with turnovers for much of the series, and Donovan Mitchell had good games, but not great ones. Cleveland will need him to be stellar, especially if Mitchell is to upend the narrative that he can’t go deep in the postseason.

The pick: Pistons in 6

Western Conference

No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves

This might be the toughest series to project, simply because it’s unclear how much Anthony Edwards will be available with his left knee bone bruise. The Timberwolves did announce that Edwards was cleared for on-court basketball activities, so the news is positive on that front. If Edwards isn’t able to play, however, it will be tough sledding for Minnesota, even though its defense was exceptional against the Nuggets and even though role players like Jaden McDaniels stepped up in a big way.

Either way, this series will depend on the matchup between the two countrymen, Victor Wembanyama of the Spurs and Rudy Gobert of the Timberwolves. Gobert was superb against Denver Nuggets all-world center Nikola Jokić, and he’ll need to be even better against Wembanyama. Protecting the paint is essential, and San Antonio’s speed in the backcourt will be tough to navigate. One other element to watch here is San Antonio’s relative inexperience in the playoffs. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, have made consecutive conference finals appearances.

The pick: Timberwolves in 7

No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 4 Los Angeles Lakers

The issue for the Lakers is the ongoing absence of All-Star guard Luka Dončić. Without him, LeBron James had to take on a massive role against the Houston Rockets. And, despite his age, he delivered. The Lakers did stumble in the middle of the Houston series, so finding ways to keep James fresh will be crucial. The return of Austin Reaves was big, and Lakers role players like Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura played some of their best hoops of the year in the first round.

But, the tough part for the Lakers is that they’re running into an absolute buzzsaw in the Thunder. The only team to sweep in the first round, Oklahoma City is poised, focus and now has the understanding of what it takes to win a title. The Thunder are deep, explosive and play some of the most aggressive on-ball defense in the NBA. They’re balanced and have role players that would be stars on other teams.

The pick: Thunder in 5

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA playoffs conference semifinals predictions

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Basketball transfer portal’s early losers: Big names, big swings, bigger questions

The 2026 men's basketball transfer portal has been full of swings and misses for high-major programs.

Kentucky coach Mark Pope was seen in recent days at a Maccabi Tel Aviv game in Israel on an apparent recruiting trip. First-year LSU coach Will Wade, who has one player on his roster for next season — former Kentucky forward Mouhamed Dioubate — is also reportedly in Europe as he looks to fill out the Tigers' roster.

The Wildcats landed a pair of top-ranked lead guards in Zoom Diallo from Washington and Alex Wilkins from Furman, although questions have been raised of how the backcourt will fit together. Wilkins, a true freshman last season, averaged 17.8 points with 4.7 assists per game, but also was one of the least-efficient guards nationally, averaging 3.8 turnovers per contest. The two similar players aren't the best of shooters, either.

Who has best haul so far? College basketball transfer portal team rankings

Under-the-radar transfers: When the stars are gone, the smart portal moves matter most

Both programs are likely holding out hope for Santa Clara forward Allen Graves, the No. 3 overall player of the transfer portal this offseason, per USA TODAY Sports' rankings. The Louisiana native's older brother, Marshall Graves, played four seasons at LSU under Wade during Wade's first stint with the program.

While the teams on the list have made some intriguing moves and aren't done filling their rosters, they perhaps have more question marks than normal, given some of their positions on college basketball's totem pole.

Here's a look at the high-end programs with the worst transfer portal hauls so far:

Kentucky

Kentucky coach Mark Pope reacts against Iowa State during the second half in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Enterprise Center on March 22, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.

Kentucky lost out on the Tyran Stokes sweepstakes, which likely put a dent in its portal plans. Still, it's hard to overlook the Wildcats' apparent shortcomings as one of the most successful programs in the sport's history.

Kentucky was also unable to land BYU guard Rob Wright III, who withdrew from the portal to stay with the Cougars, and Syracuse forward Donnie Freeman, who picked St. John's.

After landing its awkward-fitting backcourt duo of Diallo and Wilkins, Kentucky and Pope also grabbed a commitment from Ousmane N'Diaye, a 22-year-old Senegalese forward that was playing in the highest tier of professional basketball in Italy. Kentucky also grabbed James Madison transfer Justin McBride, a four-time transfer who averaged 15.9 points per game last season.

Mark Pope’s bluegrass honeymoon is over: Kentucky paid for a Final Four. Not this.

Opinion: Mark Pope, stop comparing yourself to John Calipari — or wind up like Hubert Davis

Kentucky has a chance at putting its roster questions to bed, though, if it can lure Baylor transfer Tounde Yessoufou. However, the former five-star prospect is reportedly considering staying in the NBA Draft after declaring. As a true freshman, he averaged 17.8 points with 5.9 rebounds per game last season.

To make matters worse, all seven of Kentucky's transfers landed at Power Five programs, with three of them staying in the SEC. While the Wildcats grabbed some intriguing players, their roster makeup certainly has some question marks and definitely wasn't their preferred outcome.

  • Transfers in: Zoom Diallo (Washington), Alex Wilkins (Furman), Justin McBride (James Madison), Jerone Morton (Washington State).
  • Transfers out: Collin Chandler (BYU), Andrija Jelavic (Ohio State), Denzel Aberdeen (Florida), Mouhamed Dioubate (LSU), Brandon Garrison (Alabama), Jasper Johnson (Oregon), Jaland Lowe (Georgetown).
  • Returners: Malachi Moreno, Kam Williams, Trent Noah

LSU

LSU has one player on its roster as of May 3.

While it hasn't been ideal by any measure, the Tigers still have a few options: International recruiting, plucking a G Leaguer, convince the few uncommitted portal players or maybe even a late high school addition.

Former NC State guard Paul McNeil Jr., who played under Wade last season, could end up with the Tigers. So could Graves, who has connections to the program. But cutting it this close doesn't give much room for error, especially with Dioubate not being a go-to scoring option by any means.

Opinion: A scoundrel returns: Will Wade's LSU comeback makes perfect sense

Maybe LSU has an underlying plan that isn't immediately understood by the fan base. But the clock is ticking.

  • Transfers in: Mouhamed Dioubate (Kentucky)
  • Transfers out: Jalen Reece (Texas A&M), Robert Miller III, Marcus Vaughns (Arizona State), Mazi Mosley (Loyola Marymount), Mike Nwoko (Xavier), Mat Gilhool (Kansas State), Jalen Reed (Michigan), Ron Zipper, Dedan Thomas Jr. (Houston)
  • Returners: None

Kansas

Kansas' gamble on waiting out Stokes' decision worked out, as it landed the No. 1-ranked player out of high school who will instantly be the team's go-to scorer next season. The addition still wasn't enough to overcome some of the Jayhawks' offseason blunders, though.

Kansas lost a pair of high-end big men in Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller, who went to Louisville and Missouri, respectively. It replaced Bidunga with College of Charleston transfer Christian Reeves, a clear step down from USA TODAY Sports' No. 2-ranked portal player.

Kansas also grabbed Utah transfer Keanu Dawes, a solid Big 12 pickup who averaged 12.5 points with 8.8 rebounds last season, and Toledo transfer Leroy Blyden Jr., who averaged 16.4 points with four rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in 2025-26 as a true freshman in the MAC, one of the weakest non-Power Four conferences in college basketball.

The Jayhawks did, however, also sign five-star high schooler Taylen Kinney, along with three other top-150 ranked recruits. Still, they have no full-time returning starters from last season, with their top returner being Kohl Rosario, who averaged 3.4 points per game. Kansas already tried putting all its eggs in one basket last season with five-star phenom Darryn Peterson, which resulted in a second-round exit at the NCAA Tournament.

Maybe the Jayhawks will have more luck this time around?

  • Transfers in: Christian Reeves (College of Charleston), Leroy Blyden Jr. (Toledo), Keanu Dawes (Utah).
  • Transfers out: Flory Bidunga (Louisville), Bryson Tiller (Missouri), Elmarko Jackson (Georgetown), Jamari McDowell (Wake Forest), Samis Calderon (Butler), Jayden Dawson, Corbin Allen (Appalachian State).
  • Returners: Kohl Rosario, Paul Mbiya

Notre Dame

Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry speaks with Braeden Shrewsberry #11 in the second half of their game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the Players Era Championship basketball tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 25, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Micah Shrewsberry has a 41-56 record in three seasons at Notre Dame, and has yet to reach the NCAA Tournament, or any other postseason competition for that matter.

The transfer portal hasn't been kind for Shrewsberry and the Fighting Irish, as they lost their two best players in Markus Burton (Indiana) and Jalen Haralson (Tennessee). Sophomore guard Cole Certa, Notre Dame's third-leading scorer in 2025-26, left for Clemson.

It also doesn't look great that Notre Dame's only returning starter from last season is Braeden Shrewsberry, the son of its head coach.

Notre Dame added part-time starting guard Braeden Smith from Gonzaga, center Logan Duncomb from Winthrop and sharpshooting guard Ethan Roberts from Penn, although the roster's talent as of now appears to be far off last season's squad, which wasn't a good team either.

  • Transfers in: Bryce Dortch (Rutgers), Braeden Smith (Gonzaga), Devin Brown (Davidson), Logan Duncomb (Winthrop), Ethan Roberts (Penn).
  • Transfers out: Kebba Njie, Cole Certa (Clemson), Markus Burton (Indiana), Jalen Haralson (Tennessee), Ryder Frost (George Washington), Garrett Sundra (James Madison), Sir Mohammed.
  • Returners: Braeden Shrewsberry, Brady Koehler, Logan Imes

TCU

TCU won nine of its last 11 games to end the regular season before taking down Ohio State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It also gave Duke a scare in the first half before falling apart in the second half of the second round.

The Horned Frogs were set to return four starters in 2026-27, including star forward David Punch, making them one of the most experienced teams in the Big 12. However, Punch entered the portal and left for Texas, and TCU has struggled to add to its returning group.

TCU has landed a pair of transfers in West Virginia's DJ Thomas and Long Beach State's Gavin Sykes. The true freshmen were solid last season, as Thomas averaged 6.6 points per game off the bench, while Sykes was one of the best scorers in the Big West at 19.4 points per game, although he'll have to prove his ability at a much higher level in the Big 12.

TCU also lost part-time starter Liutauras Lelevicius to Clemson and rising bench contributors Kayden Edwards to Creighton, RJ Jones to Washington State and Jace Posey, turning an intriguing team for next season into one with a much lower ceiling.

  • Transfers in: DJ Thomas (West Virginia), Gavin Sykes (Long Beach State)
  • Transfers out: Malick Diallo (Loyola Chicago), David Punch (Texas), Liutauras Lelevicius (Clemson), Ashton Simmons, Kayden Edwards (Creighton), Jace Posey, RJ Jones (Washington State).
  • Returners: Xavier Edmonds, Micah Robinson, Brock Harding, Tanner Toolson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kentucky basketball, Kansas, LSU among transfer portal biggest losers

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Canadiens Steal The Series With Close 2-1 Win

For one last time these playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning locked horns on Sunday night. With the stakes as high as could be, Martin St-Louis decided to insert Noah Dobson, who hadn’t played in three weeks due to an injury, in his lineup at the expense of Arber Xhekaj. A decision that raised a few eyebrows, given how physical the series had been, but the gritty defenseman’s missed coverage in OT in Game 6 ultimately cost him his spot on the roster.

Given how Dobson’s injury was on his left hand, some worried he wouldn’t be able to shoot properly, but the two slap shots he unleashed in the first frame cast all doubts aside. Even though the game was in Florida, the Bell Centre was packed to the rafters with 21,000+ fans for a watch party. The event sold out in less than an hour on Saturday morning, with fans paying $12 for the privilege.

Canadiens Provide Noah Dobson Update Before Game 7
Canadiens vs. Lightning: It’s The Final Countdown
Former Canadiens Player Says St-Louis Was Always Going To Be A Coach

Proving Vasilevskiy Wasn’t Invincible

After blanking the Canadiens in Game 6, there was a risk that Andrei Vasilevskiy had managed to get in the Habs players’ heads, making them wonder if he had suddenly become invincible, but that worry didn’t last for too long. With under two minutes to go in the first frame, Nick Suzuki tipped a Kaiden Guhle shot, the puck then deflected on J.J. Moser, past the Lightning’s supersize goalie to give the Habs the lead.

That was the captain’s first goal of the series, and it came at even strength with the Habs’ new look first line on the ice. The lamplighter was even more important, given that the team that scores first in a Game 7 wins 75% of the time, which put the odds in the Canadiens' favor. 

The Dreaded Awful Second Period Came Back

For a good stretch of the regular season, the Canadiens struggled in the second period, and Sunday night, in the most important game of the year, that flaw came back with a bang. After Suzuki scored the first goal at 18:39 in the first, the Canadiens didn’t take another shot to end the period or in the second frame. It was the first time in their history that it happened.

Granted, the Bolts had a couple of power plays, but so did the Canadiens, and at the end of the day, if you cannot get a puck on the net, you certainly won’t get one in the net. It’s as simple as that. After 40 minutes, the score was tied 1-1 for one reason, and one reason only: Jakub Dobes, although he was getting some help from his blueline.

Perhaps the Habs were a bit frazzled by the enormity of the moment, but they were making mistakes you cannot make in that kind of setting. Juraj Slafkovsky’s no-look back passes were back, thankfully for him, he did that on the power play, and there was no harm done on the scoreboard. However, turning the puck over that way when your team is struggling to find something, anything to build on, is unacceptable. As is giving the puck back to the opponent with a soft pass when you cannot find a good option. Dobes is not Rocky Balboa; it’s rare that allowing your goalie to be peppered with shots while playing dead will lead to anything good.

St-Louis has shown a knack for speaking to his players and finding the right way to motivate them, and judging by how they bounced back in the third, he found the right words once again.

Feels A Little Like 2010

The Canadiens bounced back in the third after the coach told them they still had an opportunity, since it was still 1-1. The Habs took five shots on net and spent more time in the offensive zone, even though Tampa still had the upper hand. Dobes stood tall and stopped another eight shots to bring his total to 28 on the night. In this first round, the Czech netminder has looked like Jaroslav Halak back in 2010. Speaking to Sportsnet after the game, the young man was going through a rollercoaster of emotions and was absolutely beaming, as he should have been, he became the fifth rookie goaltender in Canadiens’ history to win a Game 7.

The netminder wasn’t the only one to pull off a performance reminiscent of 2010, however. Alex Newhook showed fantastic hand-eye coordination to bat the puck out of mid-air from behind the net; it bounced off Vasilevskiy and into the net. An unusual goal, but a game-winning goal, nonetheless. As those who watched in 2010 will remember, Mike Cammalleri had also scored an important goal by batting the puck out of mid-air. In the end, Montreal only took nine shots on the night, but two of them crossed the goal line and that's all that matters. 

History Will Be Made - Mike Cammalleri

The last part of the game was nail-biting with the Bolts attacking with an extra man, but the Canadiens managed to hang on. Ironically, at one point, what would have been an icing was stopped by Slafkovsky’s broken stick that had been left for dead in Tampa’s zone. Considering how often the Habs had their sticks fail them in the regular season, it must have felt like poetic justice for St-Louis’ men.

The win also had shades of 2021, though, with veteran Phillip Danault celebrating with a pizza and bringing Mike Matheson a slice during his post-game interview. The Habs will now fly straight to Buffalo in readiness for the start of their second-round series against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday at 7:00 PM.

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Is this the year the Yankees avoid their midsummer swoon?

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 30: Manager Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on March 30, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s a tale as old as time at this point. The Yankees, loaded with talent and with their usual championship aspirations, roar out of the gate, looking every bit the class of the American League for the first half or so of the season. Then, the midseason swoon hits, and the team plummets in the standings, regaining their footing at some point later in the summer, just in time to stabile and make the playoffs.

The story of the 2026 Yankees is following the blueprint so far. They are playing stellar baseball, and in truth look even further ahead of the rest of their AL rivals than usual at this time of year. They’re playing remarkably well, but surely some fans are still just wait for the other shoe to drop. So let’s ask the question: is this the year the Yankees avoid their midsummer malaise?

The first time it happened, the Yankees’ midseason flop could’ve been written off as a fluke. They sprinted to a stunning 61-23 record in 2022, but floundered through July and August before getting things together for a strong September that allowed them to clinch the AL East. They weren’t so fortunate in 2023, when the Yankees had a 36-25 record after their early-June series in Los Angeles, but buckled under the weight of a copious injuries, including Aaron Judge’s devastating toe injury against the Dodgers, limping to an 82-80 finish.

2024 is when the midseason swoon narrative truly took hold in the public’s imagination, the team again playing stellar early-season ball, running out to a 45-19 record before playing sub-.500 ball through most of the summer. And in 2025, things reached another peak (nadir?), when the Yankees regressed from a 42-25 start to post an 18-29 record over the next month and a half, making a number of ugly and costly mental mistakes in the process. Their swoon was so deep that a blistering 34-14 close to the year was necessary to get back into a tie atop the AL East by season’s end.

Here we are in 2026, with the Yankees at 23-11, winners of 13 of their last 15. The pattern of the last four years is strong enough that many feel another faceplant in June or July is inevitable. Yet this roster also looks strong enough to perhaps ensure that whatever slumps the team eventually runs into will not be as deep or as prolonged as in recent years. The club’s pitching has never felt this loaded, and the lineup, with Ben Rice doing his best Juan Soto impression (get better quick Ben!) is as good as ever.

Not only that, but the way the Yankees are moving this year feels different. They didn’t hand Anthony Volpe back his starting shortstop job when he did little to earn it during his minor-league rehab, they quickly demoted Luis Gil when the right-hander proved ineffective, and they promptly cut the shenanigans with Rice sitting against lefties once it became clear that Rice is one of the league’s scariest hitters. It’s the combo of this urgency and the team’s loaded roster that forces one to consider the possibility that this is finally the year the Yankees avoid a nightmarish midseason slide.

What do you think? Will the Yankees find more consistency this year, or are they doomed to repeat the mistakes of the last few years?

On the site today, Kevin will recap a busy day of American League action, while Michael will discuss the still-looming return of Anthony Volpe and how, though many fans not think it, it should give the Yankees a boost. Later, Jeremy profiles Miguel Cairo on the occasion of the former infielder’s 52nd birthday, and John explores the origin of the ‘Bronx Bombers’ nickname, while Andrés praises Will Warren’s improvement against lefties.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles

Time: 7:05 p.m. EST

Video: YES Network, MASN

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

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7 Takeaways from Cavs Game 7 win over Raptors: Jarrett Allen proves Cavaliers don’t need to be defined by previous failures

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 03: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks the ball against the Toronto Raptors during the third quarter in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 03, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

CLEVELAND — Reputations don’t change overnight, especially ones built through years of playoff failures.

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t alter how they were perceived with a gutsy 114-102 Game 7 win over the Toronto Raptors. They did, however, show that they don’t have to be defined by previous postseason letdowns.

Jarrett Allen was the exact opposite of the caricature he’s been made out to be. He was the toughest player on the court on Sunday with the way he thoroughly dominated the paint on both ends of the floor.

Defensively, Allen made it impossible for Toronto to finish inside.

He cut off both passing and driving lanes with his activity on defense, resulting in three blocks and two steals. Allen did this while grabbing 25% of missed shots himself when he was on the floor, translating to 19 rebounds.

This all added up to Cleveland having an impressive 101.4 defensive rating with him playing.

That impact carried to the other end of the floor as well.

Allen played with a forcefulness that Toronto couldn’t match. Every cut, screen, or drive to the hoop was made with an effort that we don’t always see from Allen, but when he has few can stop.

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Head coach Kenny Atkinson saw a game like this coming with the way Allen looked in pregame intros.

“He was flying around,” Atkinson said. “Normally, he’s enthusiastic, but it was like, ‘Man, what got into this guy?’ But he was ready for the moment.”

Allen’s game is momentum-based. When he starts to see a few go through, his energy and effort continue to rise. That’s what we saw, especially in the third quarter. He finished the evening with 22 points on 7-8 shooting in the restricted area with eight huge offensive rebounds.

There was a simple message still written on the Cavs’ whiteboard after Game 7: “Win the possession game again!” Underneath that was a box with +9 in it, signaling how much they won that category.

The guards did a good job of limiting turnovers, but the real difference maker was Allen’s offensive rebounding.

Allen’s lowest playoff moment came when he couldn’t keep Mitchell Robinson and the New York Knicks off the glass three years ago. That was one of the many reasons Cleveland lost that first-round series so convincingly. It’s also where Allen made the infamous reference to the lights being “brighter than expected.”

This game was the exact opposite.

Allen wasn’t the one getting pushed off his spots; he was the one moving defenders out of the way and breaking their spirit in the second half.

This one game doesn’t change who Allen is moving forward. In basketball and in life, you continually need to confront and overcome the same problems.

Allen conquering his previous challenges is emblematic of the team as a whole.

In this series, the Cavs repeatedly showed that they can meet the moment. RJ Barrett’s game-winning three in Game 6 that hung in the air for eternity before falling through might’ve broken previous versions of this team. It didn’t for this one.

Every time they had a chance to collapse after a bad break, they picked themselves back up and continued fighting. That’s something that we haven’t consistently seen before and will help them in the postseason.

“I’m proud of our group,” Max Strus said after an impressive game of his own.

“Overcoming adversity, losing, coming back from it, showing some toughness, showing some character, showing some resilience. I think it’s going to be awesome for us to go through that. Now that we’ve gone through it, we know what it takes to get over the hump. I think it’ll be better for us in the next rounds.”

That is undeniably true.

However, it’s also true that the Cavs proved their loudest critics right on multiple occasions over the last two weeks. Mental mistakes, such as struggling to get the ball over half court late in games, cost them both Game 4 and Game 6. Championship-level teams can’t afford to give away road games, especially not two in similar ways.

The Cavs are both the team that showed they don’t have to be defined by their postseason failures, and that what has led to them can pop up at any moment. The first option wasn’t there for previous groups. That, more than anything, is reason to be optimistic if you want to be.

Talent has never been the problem with the Cavs.

The pieces are in place for a deep postseason run. The issue, both individually and as a collective, lies in rising to the occasion in the biggest moments.

Allen isn’t the only one who’s earned the reputation as a playoff failure. He’s on the same team as James Harden — the modern superstar most known for falling short in the clutch — and Donovan Mitchell — someone who hasn’t gotten out of the second round in his previous eight postseason attempts. Both will have to defeat their demons if this team is going to get over the hump.

Luckily for them, Allen provided the roadmap for doing so.

“I always feel like in this league, when you get a certain label, it always sticks with you no matter what,” Allen said. “No matter how hard you try to change it, it’s always going to follow you around. I think that if I…want to change the narrative that was placed on me…that’s going to weaken my strengths going forward and always try to weigh me back.

“I’ve always been the guy that always just moves forward. Things happen in the past that go my way, that don’t go my way. It’s just part of playing basketball, being at the professional level. [All I can do is] just be my best going forward.”

If Harden, Mitchell, and the rest of the team can continue following Allen’s example and just be their best going forward, then maybe this group can accomplish something meaningful.

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NHL Playoff News: Goals and records, and the bad Isles PP

With guys like this, your power play should not suck. | NHLI via Getty Images

Feel relieved, Islanders fans: the Canadiens have eclipsed the 2015 Islanders’ dubious records by recording even fewer shots in a Game 7 than the Islanders did on that terrible night in D.C.

Of course the critical difference is that the Canadiens’ 9 shots (compared to the Islanders’ 11 on that frustrating night opposite Barry Trotz’s Caps) came in a startling 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in Florida. So the Canadiens move on to face the Sabres, completing the second-round pairings. And dipshit Nikita Kucherov, who kept trying to chirp Jakub Dubes all series, goes home with a sad.

The second round began over the weekend, however with a bit of predictability and a bit of theater.

  • On the predictability front, I looked at my friend with puzzlement when he said “Hurricanes-Flyers should be a good series.” I don’t have any notion that it will be, and Saturday did not put any doubt in my head when Carolina easily handled Philadelphia, 3-0. [NHL]
  • Meanwhile, the opening of Colorado vs. Minnesota was insane. The Avalanche jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first, only to allow Minnesota to get two goals back in just over a minute span. In the second period, the Avs extended their lead to 4-2 only to allow the Wild to come back and tie it at 4-4. That didn’t last long, however, as Colorado retook the lead on the way to a 9-6 (EN) win, with a historic number of individual goal scorers. Cale Makar played only just over a minute in the first after taking a big hit, but returned with some of that magic spray and scored two goals. [NHL]
  • The Wild have Quinn Hughes, who was big in Game 1, but they start the series without Jonas Brodin and Joel Eriksson Ek. [NHL]
  • Where do the Penguins go from here? [Sportsnet]
  • The Leafs have announced their new braintrust, with Mats Sundin as an “executive advisor” and former Coyotes GM John Chayka as the GM. [Sportsnet]
  • The Rangers fired their whole AHL coaching staff. [Post]

Islanders News

Copy/paste from 2023, 2024, 2025, and on and on but yes, it would probably be a good idea to fix the Islanders power play. [Newsday]

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Pens Points: Veterans in “wait and see” mode as off-season begins

PITTSBURGH, PA - OCTOBER 21: Evgeni Malkin #71 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins chat against the Vancouver Canucks at PPG PAINTS Arena on October 21, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Here are your Pens Points for this Monday morning…

As the Pittsburgh Penguins and their fans begin the off-season, two of the franchise’s biggest stars are in something of a “wait-and-see” mode regarding their future. Captain Sidney Crosby hasn’t decided whether he’ll continue playing beyond the 2026-27 season when his contract expires. He could sign an extension this summer, but is in no rush to decide his long-term future. [PensBurgh]

Evgeni Malkin, on the other hand, is waiting to resolve his ongoing contract saga and see whether he will be a part of the team for the 2026-27 season. If he is not a Penguin, it appears Malkin has no issue donning the colors of another team to continue his NHL career. [PensBurgh]

The Penguins are likely headed for another off-season of major roster turnover, with uncertainty at center, defense, and goaltending, despite maintaining a veteran core led by Crosby. [PensBurgh]

Connor Dewar carved out a strong role with the Penguins this season, thriving as a reliable fourth-line contributor. But with Dewar set to become an unrestricted free agent, his future in Pittsburgh remains uncertain. [Trib Live]

Forward Filip Hallander has returned to Sweden to resume off-season training after missing most of the season due to a blood clot, with plans to be reevaluated ahead of training camp. [Trib Live]

News and notes from around the NHL…

The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Mats Sundin as a senior executive adviser for hockey operations and John Chayka as general manager as part of the much-discussed front-office overhaul. [NHL]

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid played through a fracture in his foot/ankle area during the playoffs, head coach Kris Knoblauch said. [Sportsnet]

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Reflecting on a rare Celtics season where the glass is both half full and half empty

Jayson Tatum looks on during Game 7 between the Celtics and 76ers on Saturday. | NBAE via Getty Images

What are we supposed to do now?

But seriously, after watching the Celtics collapse against the 76ers and seeing their season come to a crashing halt, it feels like something is missing from spring.

We’ve all devoted countless hours to watching this team play in May and June, and knowing that the journey is completely finished as of May 2 just doesn’t feel right.

In one sense, this team ultimately underachieved and fell short of its potential. In another, if you view it through a broader lens, the Celtics also overachieved and exceeded expectations from the start.

“When you start a season, you think you’re going to be playing until June every single year,” Sam Hauser told reporters. “That’s the expectation, especially being in Boston and with the Celtics — the standard is a championship, and when you fall short of that, it’s disappointing. But there’s a lot of good that we can take from this year and a lot of things that we can build off of.”

As you wake up in a somber daze, and solemnly stare out your window, I encourage you to view this season through both a glass-half full and glass-half-empty prism. I don’t think it’s accurate to say it was a complete success, and I also don’t think it’s fair to say it was a complete failure.

In that sense, it’s a very unique season and one unlike any other I can recall. The only one that comes close is the Isaiah Thomas masterpiece in 2017, but that one felt different as the Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. This playoff run was over before it began. So, how can fans not be disappointed?

No, no, don’t get me wrong … You can absolutely be disappointed, but you should also be grateful. Back when the season began, many expected it would end somewhat like it eventually did. The Celtics would lose in the first round to a more-talented opponent and fade into the night as a middling team.

But, they didn’t do so as the 7-seed. They did so as the 2-seed, which makes it so much more difficult to digest.

Remember, they weren’t supposed to be here. In my opinion, these are the most gratifying seasons, where a team defies the odds and the whole becomes greater than the parts.

“This season, what the expectations were and how we came out and we rose to meet that level of uncertainty with this group,” Jaylen Brown told reporters. “There’s nothing more I could ask for. I had a great time with my teammates. We played hard. Feel like we left it all out there. Tonight, we came up short.”

Brown took his game to the next level this season. Derrick White was a dominant force defensively. Payton Pritchard created even more for himself and others. Hauser evolved as a driver and defender. Neemias Queta was one of the most-improved players in the NBA. Luka Garza, Baylor Scheierman, Ron Harper Jr., Hugo González and Jordan Walsh stayed ready and all made significant strides.

Oh yeah, and Jayson Tatum busted his butt and came back. He didn’t just come back. He was back. Back to his old ways, terrorizing opponents and making the game look easy. Then came another injury. Life isn’t always fair, but Tatum should be applauded for his resilience and determination. Full stop.

When you look closely at the roster, and compare it to Celtics teams of the past and other rosters around the NBA, it’s truly a remarkable feat that the Celtics secured the 2-seed. Joe Mazzulla and his staff deserve a great deal of credit for maximizing each player’s skills and pushing the right buttons throughout the regular season.

At the same time, this series exposed what is clearly a flawed roster with several holes. The Celtics need a versatile big who can defend, rebound and score at a high level. They need a wing who can give Brown and Tatum a breather and get buckets. They need a scrappy on-ball defender (it may be González, but he’s still learning) who can pester opponents and let them know he’s there.

While there are many layers to this series, when you break it down to its core, the deciding factor (besides Joel Embiid, of course) was that the Sixers felt way too comfortable in the games they won. There was no resistance. Where was Kevin Garnett, Marcus Smart or Jrue Holiday to channel that intensity the right way?

I admire the youth approach, and it’s quite amazing how much each player grew, but they need more defensive-minded veterans to complement that young talent.

Oh yeah, and there’s the 3-point shooting. I love 3-pointers more than anyone I know, so if I’m saying you’re shooting too many 3’s, you’re probably shooting too many 3’s. There’s nothing wrong with having it as your bread and butter, but you need to be able to diversify your offensive approach when the 3-ball isn’t falling.

This will be an interesting offseason, and I expect the team to look different moving forward. I don’t think this is the end of the Tatum and Brown era, but otherwise, nothing would surprise me.

As you digest this season, and analyze what went wrong with a glass-half-empty mind-set, this is your friendly reminder to also look at the glass half full. It was one hell of a ride. Be grateful it happened. For now, maybe read a book, get outside, spend time with your family.

The Celtics will be back. They’ll learn from this, and next time, they’ll be ready to shatter the glass to smithereens.

Pritchard summed it up perfectly while speaking with reporters Saturday night.

“Just because you don’t win a championship one year doesn’t mean it didn’t build for the next championship.”

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Teenage French prodigy Paul Seixas to become youngest Tour de France cyclist for 89 years

  • Home hope will be on the start line in Barcelona

  • Could be first male French winner since Hinault in 1985

The cycling prodigy Paul Seixas will make his Tour de France debut this year, raising hopes of France’s first male homegrown winner since 1985.

The 19-year-old Decathlon-CMA CGM rider has prompted intense debate in France after a dazzling start to 2026 with his team weighing the benefits of early exposure to the Tour against the risk of overburdening a rider still in his first season as a professional.

Continue reading...
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Pirates still at the bottom of hotly contested NL Central

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 03: Braxton Ashcraft (35) of the Pittsburgh Pirates walks to the dugout after being relieved in the eighth inning during an MLB game against the Cincinnati Reds on May 03, 2026 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off a series sweep of the rival Cincinnati Reds, but they still find themselves at the bottom of what’s been a tightly contested National League Central division all season long.

Despite the last place distinction that the Pirates hold, they still have a record over .500, as they are currently 19-16 on the year. The NL Central has just been stacked to start the year with every squad having a winning record in the division; this is the only division in baseball where every team has a winning record. The Pirates’ last place .543 winning percentage is greater than the division leading Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central (.514) and the Athletics in the AL West (.529).

In the division, the Pirates are playing above .500 baseball, but have been far from perfect against these clubs. They currently have a 9-7 record in the division and hold a .563 winning percentage against NL Central opponents. They have been very successful against the Reds as they won both of those series this year. They were uncharacteristically successful against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, as they won two out of the three games in that series. Their lone series against the Milwaukee Brewers was also a victory as they took two out of three games at American Family Field. The club did suffer a devastating four game sweep at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Cubs currently lead the division with a 22-12 record, which is the third best in baseball. The Reds and Cardinals both hold 20-14 records, while Milwaukee is just narrowly ahead of Pittsburgh with an 18-15 record. St. Louis has the best record against division opponents as they currently sit at 4-0 in NL Central play. The Cubs and Brewers both hold 1-2 records in the division while Cincinnati has a division worst 1-5 record against NL Central opponents.

May has only just begun, but the way the division is playing out now could very easily forecast what the race for the postseason could like at season’s end. This is the most competitive division in baseball right now as even the “worst” team in the division is playing at a high level. The Pirates have completely transformed their lineup, and yet only time will tell if they did enough to win the NL Central or earn to even earn a Wild Card berth. Pittsburgh has seen the most action from opposing NL Central teams to start the season which could benefit them down the stretch, but it’s looking like it’s going to be a tough grind for any team to gain any real separation at the top.

The Pirates will be playing out of division until the end of May. Starting on May 19 Pittsburgh will be in a three game series against St. Louis and then starting on May 25 the Pirates will host the Cubs for a four game series.