DENVER, CO - MAY 03: Spencer Strider #99 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Sunday, May 3, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Ray Bahner/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Braves face the Los Angeles Deathstars in game 2 of their weekend 3-game series and this is the game with the biggest name value in the pitching matchup, as Spencer Strider faces off with Blake Snell.
Strider’s first outing of the season last week went pretty poorly in Colorado, but it was also in Colorado, a notoriously abnormal environment unfriendly to pitching. That said, his control was clearly not there, which isn’t something you would expect to be altitude-driven. The promising part of his outing was the 6 strikeouts and 14 whiffs he got through 3.1 innings and 87 pitches. Let’s hope that Spencer can pitch much longer into the game today, as his abbreviated last start somewhat wrecked the pitching staff for a few days. He’ll also need to find much better command against this terrifying Dodgers lineup.
The Dodgers will have their own star pitcher returning from injury, as Blake Snell will make his season debut for them. He replaced another star pitcher for LA, Tyler Glasnow, who hits the IL. Snell is a former Cy Young winner, but it’s never a certainty how a pitcher will fair in their return from an injury, particularly after missing a normal Spring Training. Snell is a tough lefty, which is not a great matchup for an Atlanta lineup, which has three star-level lefty bats, is missing Ronald Acuna, and has a struggling Austin Riley, though righty-Ozzie is always a plus. Snell’s curveball and changeup are nasty, though his fastball is more variable. He is also notoriously “effectively wild”, so the Braves can and should take some walks against him, which also contributes to his relatively short outings for a starter of his quality.
I’d give this matchup a solid advantage to LA on paper, given the platoon splits and how long it’s been since we saw a dominant Spencer Strider at the major league level, but with fairly large error bars, since both pitchers are just getting back from injury.
Game Info
Game Time: Saturday, May 9th, 9:10 pm EDT
Location: UNIGLO Field at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA.
And while many interpreted Green’s remarks as a dig at Barkley’s final years in the NBA, the Golden State forward is claiming he didn’t mean it that way.
“The reason that I would even say that is what Chuck makes fun about in his career is actually the last two years in Houston,” Green said on his podcast.
“Everybody tried to make it like this whole ‘Ahh man Draymond think he better than Chuck.’ I found that interesting because what it shows is how bad y’all want me to do bad.”
Draymond Green said he did not intend to disrespect Charles Barkley. The Draymond Green Show
Draymond provides clarity Charles Barkley interaction
“The reason that I would even say that is what Chuck makes fun about in his career is actually the last 2 years in Houston… everybody tried to make it like this whole 'Ahh man Draymond think he better than Chuck'… the… pic.twitter.com/lXrTY7Umk9
— The Draymond Green Show (@DraymondShow) May 9, 2026
After Barkley said on ESPN that “sports are for young people” and “it’s over for the Warriors,” Green, 36, fired back at the Hall of Famer.
“I think the goal is just to not look like you in the Houston Rockets uniform,” he said.
While co-analyst Kenny Smith asked Green to clarify his comments while on the air, Green said on his eponymous show that the former guard actually told him in a subsequent phone call that his comment was “hilarious” and that he didn’t hear it correctly live.
“The disrespect ain’t the intent, so if that’s the way it’s viewed as public disrespect, I can gladly [publicly] apologize, disrespect wasn’t my intent,” Green added.
Barkley thinks Paul George may deserve a pass. NBAE via Getty Images
Aside from the fact that this is awful, awkward television, it’s also just ahistorical.
In his 4 years in Houston, Chuck averaged 16-12-4, including averaging 18 & 12 during a run to the Western Conference Finals.
German champions recover from PSG loss with 1-0 win
England captain misses first Bundesliga spot-kick in 25
Harry Kane missed a penalty as Bayern Munich failed to hit top form but the Bundesliga champions still edged struggling Wolfsburg 1-0 to bounce back after their midweek Champions League semi-final exit to Paris Saint-Germain.
Bayern, who won with a Michael Olise goal, had suffered a 6-5 aggregate loss to PSG after their 1-1 draw in Munich on Wednesday, narrowly missing out on what would have been their first Champions League final in six years. The frustration was evident at the start as the Bavarian side, with six changes in the lineup, lacked their usual attacking spark despite having Kane, the top scorer, in the starting XI.
When Austin Reaves played poorly in Game 1 of the Lakers’ second-round playoff series against the Thunder, he fell under crushing pressure.
Despite playing All-Star-caliber basketball for much of the season, new narratives were churning out of journalists’ pens and pundits’ mouths threatening to redefine him.
He can’t meet the moment. He falls apart during the playoffs. He doesn’t deserve a maximum contract extension.
The Lakers’ Austin Reaves rebounded from a dismal shooting performance with a game-high 31 points in Game 2 against the Thunder. NBAE via Getty Images
The playoffs are powerful. Being a Laker makes the spotlight even more intense. Playing alongside LeBron James? Well, that just brings everything to a feverish pitch.
Reaves’ eight-point performance in Game 1 on 3-for-16 shooting, 0-for-5 from deep, hung over his head like a dark cloud.
All eyes were on him heading into Game 2.
Many players spiral under those circumstances. They get into their own heads. Basketball might appear to be a physical game, but it’s a mental challenge more than anything, especially for shooters.
So, how did Reaves respond?
All eyes were on him heading into Game 2. Getty Images
With the type of “delusional confidence” he has talked about having all season. Against the league’s top defense, he had a playoff career-high 31 points on 10-for-16 shooting, 3-for-6 from beyond the arc in the Lakers’ 125-107 loss.
He drove past Cason Wallace’s swarming hands and quick-moving feet, which have thrown his game off so many times this season. He fearlessly entered Chet Holmgren’s and Isaiah Hartenstein’s turf, dancing around the 7-footers’ menacing arm spans.
Reaves responded with the type of performance that instantly quiets the noise.
Said James: “Austin being Austin.”
Added Lakers coach JJ Redick: “Just he played a solid game.”
No one around Reaves was surprised.
Reaves is used to shattering ceilings. He went undrafted in 2021. The Lakers signed him to a two-way contract.
Now?
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
He’s eligible to sign a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar contract extension with the Lakers after he’s expected to turn down his player option for next season and become a free agent.
He became the Lakers’ second offensive option this season behind Luka Doncic, hopscotching in the pecking order over James, who’s arguably the greatest player of all time. He averaged a career-high 23.3 points on 49% shooting from the field and 36% from the 3-point line.
Reaves averaged a career-high 23.3 points per game during the regular season for the Lakers. Getty Images
Reaves is the type of player coaches and players love to have on their team.
He’s confident. He’s likable. He always gives 100%.
While the basketball world was questioning whether Reaves was going to step up in Game 2, those closest to him were unfazed.
James jumped to his defense.
“He was out a month,” James said, pointing to the fact that Game 1 was just Reaves’ third game backfrom a strained oblique that he suffered April 2. “We know he’s going to make shots and make plays.”
Reaves is the type of player coaches and players love to have on their team. NBAE via Getty Images
As for Redick, he called Reaves “his own worst critic,” adding that he was virtually impenetrable to outsiders’ criticism.
“He’s one of the least sort-of chronically online NBA players there is,” Redick said.
So, Reaves did what all great shooters do.
He showed up to Game 2 with unyielding belief. He had a short memory. He was completely in the moment instead of dogged by the past.
Reaves led all scorers. He helped the Lakers stay neck-and-neck with the Thunder for 3 ½ quarters before they lost and fell behind 2-0 in the series. He silenced all of the negativity that was bubbling up around him, ready to spill over.
After the game, he was asked how he did it.
How did he refind his rhythm? How did he reset? Did he obsessively study film?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 08: Assistant coach Steve Hetzel of the Brooklyn Nets looks on against the Milwaukee Bucks during the game at Barclays Center on December 08, 2024 in New York City. 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 Steven Ryan/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s been quite the Spring for Brooklyn Nets assistant coach Steve Hetzel. In early April, Fred Katz and Eric Nehm of The Athletic mentioned him in a story meant to highlight the top candidates to be first-time NBA head coaches this offseason. Earlier this week, Sam Amick, also of The Athletic, reported that Hetzel is a finalist for the lead job with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Now, there’s another team after him, perhaps with a stronger lure. In his latest Substack release [subscription required], Jake Fischer linked Hetzel to the Portland Trail Blazer’s head coaching gig. As a bonus, beloved former Net Jared Dudley seems to be in the running as well.
“League sources say Hetzel (as well as Denver assistant Jared Dudley) is expected to draw interest from Portland if he does not get the New Orleans job,” Fischer wrote. “Hetzel spent three seasons with the Blazers before joining the Nets. And two of those seasons overlapped with Damian Lillard, who is very much poised to return to a prominent role with the organization. Sources say Lillard has indeed lobbed in some suggestions for the coaching search.”
As Fischer mentioned, the Blazers were Hetzel’s last stop before he linked up with Jordi Fernández here in Brooklyn. Most expect Portland to soon move on from Tiago Splitter, even after a season where he proved to be a spare key that fit the lock perfectly in Rip City. Splitter, who also spent four years on the Brooklyn bench, led the Blazers to a surprise playoff berth a few weeks ago, putting up a 42-40 record in the ever-competitive West.
Even if you disregard the promotional factor, it’d be hard to fault Hetzel for taking Portland job. They seem to be a few steps ahead the Nets in terms of competing after their successful startup season. Damian Lillard also waits in the wings.
It’s finally here, the big day. The NBA Lottery takes place Sunday. Is it the biggest day for the Nets franchise history since the move to Brooklyn? Hardly. That would be “Clean Sweep” back in June 2019 when the Nets signed Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan. (Less said about what happened next the better.)
That said, it is huge, for all the obvious reasons plus some less obvious that we’ll learn about in the days and weeks ahead. Maybe years! In the meantime, here’s a preview.
The Basics
The NBA Draft Lottery takes place in Chicago in separate rooms at the McCormick Place convention center
ESPN coverage of the NBA Lottery will begin at 3;00 p.m. ET. The actual drawing takes place in secure room where reps of the 14 lottery teams gather. Also present, 16 media reps, none of whom cover the Nets as their primary beat.
Vince Carter, Hall of Famer who played four years with the New Jersey Nets, will be on the dias along with the reps of the other Lottery teams. He will be the only member of the Hall on the dias and only one of two former players, the other being John Wall who will represent the Wizards.
Joe Tsai will be stationed in the room where it happens: the secure Draft Room where the ping pong balls are drawn from the hopper and order established. He will be the only owner – aka Governor — in the Draft Room
Mr. Whammy, aka Bruce Reznick, will also attend as a guest of Tsai.
The Draft Order
Fourteen teams qualified for the Lottery. In order of their final regular season records:
Washington Wizards
Indiana Pacers
Brooklyn Nets
Utah Jazz
Sacramento Kings
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans Pelicans
Dallas Mavericks
Chicago Bulls
Milwaukee Bucks
Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Clippers
Miami Heat
Charlotte Hornets
Of the fourteen teams, two will have to give up their picks due to previous trades: the Pelicans traded their first rounder to the Hawks last year in return for Derek Queen. The Clippers traded their first to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the Paul George trade in 2019. Actually, it’s a LOT more complicated than that as Brian Windhorst told Ryen Russillo. (Both reporters will be in the Draft Room.)
Teams’ second round picks are not dependent on the Lottery. The Nets currently have the 33rd (their own) and 43rd (acquired from the Suns as part of a trade for the Nets 2025 second rounder last year.)
Draft Odds
The Nets, along with the Wizards and Pacers, have a 14.0% chance at the overall No. 1; a 13.4% chance at the overall No. 2; a 12.7% chance at the overall No. 3 and a 12.0% chance at the overall No. 4, for a total of 52.1% at a top four pick. Brooklyn also has a 14.8% chance at No. 5, a 26.0% chance at No. 6 and 7.0% at No. 7.
The Nets have never won the Lottery while in Brooklyn. In 2000, with 4.4% odds at the No. 1, they got the overall No. 1 and chose Kenyon Martin. Brian Lewis wrote about that Draft earlier in the week. Here is their overall record which is mixed…
Nets will be lottery bound for 20th time in franchise history .
Here are the prior 19 years of lottery results. (Didn't retain all those picks)
The Nets have been in the top 3 nine times and landed the top pick three times before.
Over the past 15 NBA Drafts, the Nets have had a single lottery pick, No. 8 last year which they used on Egor Demin. Prior to that, their most recent pick was the No. 3 pick in the 2010 when they took Derrick Favors who they traded four months into the season as part of the Deron Williams trade.
Literally, the room where it happens. The group of 14 team reps along with representatives of the league and 16 media witnesses will join the accounting firm Ernst & Young who runs the lottery. All will be told to remove any communications devices prior to entering the room. The room is sealed. Here’s how the NBA describes what happens next:
The drawing uses 14 ping-pong balls, numbered 1 through 14. There are 1,001 possible combinations when four balls are drawn out of 14, without regard to their order of selection. Before the lottery, 1,000 of those 1,001 combinations will be assigned to the 14 participating lottery teams.
For the drawing, all 14 balls are placed in the lottery machine. They are mixed for 20 seconds, and then the first ball is drawn. The remaining balls are mixed in the lottery machine for another 10 seconds, and then the second ball is drawn. There is another 10-second mix, and then the third ball is drawn. There is a final 10-second mix, and then the fourth ball is drawn. The team that has been assigned the combination of the four balls drawn from the machine will receive the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The ping-pong balls are then placed back in the machine and the same process is repeated for the second through fourth picks. If the same team comes up more than once (or if the one unassigned combination is drawn), then the result is discarded and another four-ball combination is drawn.
The 20-second and 10-second intervals at which the balls are mixed in the machine are monitored by a timekeeper who faces away from the machine and signals to the machine operator that the applicable period of time has elapsed.
Envelopes will then be prepared with the logos of each team and dispatched by Ernst & Young to the studio and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum. The Draft Room will remain sealed until Tatum completes reading the final draft order. So, Joe Tsai will be the first team official to know the Nets fate but will not be able to tell anyone outside the room till after Tatum announces the draft order.
The Big Reveal
Tatum will open the envelopes in reverse order (i.e., the 14th pick first and the first pick last). No one on stage will know the order. If ESPN and the NBA follow recent history. Tatum will open the envelopes for the 14th through the 5th picks first. If the order of picks does not match the reverse order of lottery teams, in other words if the 10th team is missing from the order of picks, that means said team has moved up to the top four. ESPN will take note. It could happen more than once.
Should the Nets wind up with the 5th, 6th or 7th pick, call it a day at that moment. The Lottery will be over for he Nets and their fans. If not, they will have to deal with the (dreaded) commercial break before the top four are announced. Finally, after picks No. 4 and No. 3, the most dramatic moment arrives, the announcement of top two picks. As Tatum opens the envelope containing the logo for the team that won the No. 2 pick, the No. 1 pick will also be revealed by process of elimination.
Post-Game
ESPN will interview reps of the winning team. They will also talk to prospects. In the past, stationary live cameras have been set up in the offices of all the lottery teams to record the staff reaction.
Don’t be surprised to hear from Brian Windhorst who was among the 16 media reps in the Draft Room about how things went down and Shams Charania about ramifications, including possible trades.
UPDATE: The game has been postponed and will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on July 17.
This may be stating the obvious, but weather will be a factor in this game, folks. (It’s sunny here in Seattle!) The Sox and Rays will either play through some serious bouts of rain this afternoon and into the evening, or deal with a postponement.
Plan seems to be to start #Rays–#RedSox game on time at 4:10 and play as long as they can before the heavy rain starts, currently expected around 6 – but subject to change pic.twitter.com/sj8MDGhLhM
Red Sox grounds crew and both clubs are preparing for today’s game to start at 4:10 ET, despite lingering rain all evening. Will keep you updated if that changes. There’s a call with MLB officials now regarding the weather.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 28: Aaron Civale #45 of the Athletics pitches in the top of the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Sutter Health Park on April 28, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Close one yesterday. Time to make it two in a row, right?
The series continues this afternoon with right-hander Aaron Civale on the mound for the good guys. He’s been a revelation of a pickup for the club so far and is on a roll so far for his new team. Let’s jope he can keep that up!
Today’s lineup will be seeing Baltimore’s staff leader Shane Baz. A big offseason acquisition for the Orioles this offseason, Baz has been a slight disappointment as he brings a 4.99 ERA into tonight’s contest. Hopefully the A’s can take advantage of a pitcher with killer stuff but is going through a rough patch right now.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 26: Ketel Marte #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks looks on from the on-deck circle during a 2026 Mexico City Series game between the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu on Sunday, April 26, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
There’s no arguing that the Diamondbacks offense has taken a step back this season. Last year, they ranked sixth overall in runs per game at 4.88. This season, after last night’s extra-innings loss, they are below league average (4.38 vs. 4.47). And if you break it down further, to the individual level, perhaps the biggest concern is with Ketel Marte. The All-Star and Silver Slugger winner last year, was on the bench yesterday, but has seen his performance at the plate crater, going from an OPS+ of 145 to just 70. I’ve already seen comments wishing the team had traded Marte this winter. But how much of this concern is justified.
Certainly, looking at the basic numbers, Marte is having a very poor season: by purely offensive WAR, he is actually slightly below replacement level, at -0.1 oWAR. He is batting just .209, with an OPS of .614. His K-rate is a career high 19.5%, while his walk rate has dropped to 6.7%, Ketel’s lowest since the pandemic-shortened season in 2020. However, it is true to say that the significance is magnified because it being the start of the season. Here are two streaks from Marte’s career, both covering a period of 35 games. Streak A: .207/.265/.386, 5 HR, 10 BB, 35 SO Streak B: .209/.262/.353, 5 HR, 10 BB, 29 SO
Streak B is, obviously enough, his current one. But Streak A comes from 2024 – when he was also an All-Star, won the Silver Slugger and came third in MVP balloting. The difference? Streak A didn’t come at the start of the season. When the slump started on April 21, Marte was batting .344 with .985. That provided a cushion: even at the end of the streak on June 1, his season OPS was still .781. Also, while both streaks had the same number of hits (29), Ketel somehow managed to have a 21-game hitting streak during the slump, and was only hitless in nine of the 35 games. This year, the ohfers have been considerably more common: 15 of 35 games.
What’s also significant is the underlying numbers suggest Ketel has been unlucky. It is generally accepted that the majority of what hitters can control is to make hard contact. Wee Willie Keeler’s maxim of “Hit ’em where they ain’t,” might sound nice. But when you’re facing a procession of hurlers with 98 mph fastballs, you will have very little control over where the pitch goes. Some balls will be hit at fielders, other will not. Over the course of a season, these should even out, and a player’s BABIP – batting average on balls in play, excluding home-runs, strikeouts and walks – tends to be relatively consistent.
We see this with Marte. From 2023-25, his BABIP was in the .290-.300 range: that’s right around MLB average of .295. But this season, it has cratered to .229. That’s ranked 164th of the 179 qualified batters this year. Now there are reasons why BABIP can drop for a batter. If his batting profile changes from line-drives to fly-balls, BABIP will drop, because fly-balls are much less likely to become hits. So let’s split up what has happened to Marte’s balls in play, into ground balls, fly balls and line drives. Below is what has happened to the pitches in each category, both last year and this:
The split hasn’t changed dramatically from last year, at least not away from line drives. In 2025, it was GB 41%; FB 37%; LD 22%. In 2026, it is GB 49%; FB 25%; LD: 25%. He is hitting a lot more ground balls rather than fly balls. But that should actually mean an increase in batting average, because ground balls are more likely to become hits than fly balls. Across all baseball last year, GB had a BABIP of .245; FB were at .091; and LD at .616. That’s why line drives are so key. But Marte’s GB and LD both have a below-average BABIP. If we give him an average BABIP in each category, we’re talking 9-10 extra hits. That’d get his average up to .277, and I am not writing this article.
If we look at the Statcast data for last year and this we see something similar. There’s not a lot which would explain the decline in batting average. Here are the charts for Marte in 2025 and 2026.
There’s still an awful lot of red (= good) on Marte’s chart. His average exit velocity is actually up on last year, and the expected batting average is higher too. Bat speed is basically unchanged too. One thing I do note is the sharp increase in chase percentage, the percent of pitches outside of the zone at which a hitter swings. Last year, Ketel was considerably better than average in this category, but he is now in the bottom twenty percent for the metric. This does fit with the eye test, where we have all seen Marte, quite possibly, trying to slug his way out of the current situation. I’m sure Torey Lovullo has had the conversation. Whether Marte listens is another matter.
Because this apparent struggle with pitch recognition is actually a team-wide issue. For the Diamondbacks have the second-worst chase percentage (or, as Fangraphs calls it, O-Swing%) in the majors. When you’re fighting with the Rockies for #1, it’s rarely a good thing… Conversely, Arizona are 28th for percentage of the time they swing at pitches in the zone. While the latter hasn’t actually changed on last year, they were 14th in O-Swing% in 2025. It’s an issue, which I’d hope hitting coach Joe Mather is working diligently to address. Because right now, it appear the D-backs hitters appear to have take the name of their ballpark as an instruction…
[All blame credit to shoewizard for that last sentence!]
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 13: Charlie Barnes #58 of the Chicago Cubs throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 13, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Cubs 13-7. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers claimed pitcher Charlie Barnes off waivers from the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, adding to their potential starting pitcher depth.
Barnes pitched once for the Cubs this season, allowing four runs (three earned) in three innings of bulk relief on April 13. Most of the left-hander’s work this season has been at Triple-A Iowa, where he had a 3.04 ERA in seven games, including four starts, with 27 strikeouts and 12 walks in 26 2/3 innings.
The 30-year-old pitcher pitched in the majors in 2021 with the Minnesota Twins before heading to Korea to pitch four seasons for the Lotte Giants in the KBO. He put up a combined 3.58 ERA in 94 starts overseas, with 516 strikeouts and 166 walks in 553 innings. Barnes signed a minor league contract with Chicago in January.
Barnes entered the season with 37 days of major league service time, and is using his second option year, along with 2021. He was optioned twice by Chicago after opening day, and was in the minors when he was designated for assignment on Wednesday by the Cubs.
Though the Dodgers don’t expect Tyler Glasnow to miss much time on the injured list with back spasms, their depth is a bit tested after Blake Snell returns on Saturday. They have no other healthy starting pitchers on the 40-man roster other than Jake Eder, who was used solely in short relief during his three-week stint in the majors. Eder is starting on Saturday for Triple-A Oklahoma City after getting optioned on Wednesday, so presumably he’ll build back up.
To make room for Barnes on the 40-man roster, Tommy Edman was moved to the 60-day injured list. That means the earliest Edman could return is May 21, but he won’t be ready by then anyway. He’s behind fellow 60-day IL-er Kiké Hernández, who has already started his rehab assignment in Triple-A. Edman went through workouts at Dodger Stadium on Friday but has had a slow recovery from right ankle surgery in November.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 18: Donovan Mitchell #45 head coach Kenny Atkinson and James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talk during the second quarter of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena on April 18, 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 — Cleveland Cavaliers’ head coach Kenny Atkinson used his media availability before Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers last year to complain about how officiating changes drastically from the regular season to the playoffs.
“I know there’s this rhetoric going around the league about, you know, ‘Oh man, that’s playoff basketball.’ To me, that’s not playoff basketball,” Atkinson said last year when asked about two plays that kept Evan Mobley and then Cavs’ forward De’Andre Hunter from playing Game 2.
The Cavs are in a similar spot a year later. They lost two close games at the start of their second-round series, this time against the Detroit Pistons. Their opponent was physically stronger in both games and wore the Cavs down.
Instead of using it as an excuse and pleading for the league to change how these games are called, Atkinson is instead challenging his players to adjust.
“It’s on us to adapt to how the game is being called,” Atkinson said on Saturday afternoon. “That’s a big part of this… It’s on us. This isn’t on the referees. This is on us to adapt and understand how the game is being called.”
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Let ‘Em Know shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
Few teams take advantage of the extra leeway more than the Pistons. They’re one of the most physically imposing teams in the league, and that’s by design.
“We just wear on you,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said before Game 3. “We legally hit you, we legally bump you. We’re legally handsy, and we just make it difficult.”
The Cavs’ three best players, Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Evan Mobley, have struggled with this at times. Mitchell has seen his free-throw rate cut in half from the regular season. Harden has had a difficult time valuing possessions. And Mobley hasn’t been able to get to his spots in the first two games of the series.
This has also affected the Cavs’ three-point shooting. Cleveland had their third-worst shooting game of the season (21.9%), which included going 0-11 in the fourth quarter. Many of those looks were wide open.
According to Atkinson, there’s a correlation between Detroit’s physicality and his team missing threes. He made an analogy to NBA 2K, saying that his team’s stamina meter was drained too low by the end of the game. “Every time you get hit or you run a sprint, your [stamina] level goes down. … I think there’s something to that fatigue effect on shooting and that’s why they try to wear teams down.”
Atkinson is right on all of this. At the same time, I’m not sure how you get your team more prepared for physicality at this point in the season. This isn’t a playing style this team has thrived in since their inception.
We’ll see if the Cavs have a response in Game 3.
“We get this one, and it’s on,” Atkinson said. “We were there. I don’t think we played great. Let’s play great. Let’s get this one.”
After falling short in Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs, Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves will look to tie up the series at the Target Center tonight.
SGP leg #1: Anthony Edwards Over 31.5 points + rebounds
Anthony Edwards has logged 30+ minutes in just three playoff games this postseason, but he’s delivered 32+ points + rebounds in two of them and finished with exactly 31 in the other.
The Minnesota Timberwolves superstar has started four games against the San Antonio Spurs this season, hitting the Over on this combo line three times while averaging 41.3 points + rebounds.
SGP leg #1: Timberwolves +4.5
The Timberwolves have covered the spread in four of their last five games at home, and the team nearly covered the 5.5-point spread despite awful shooting performances from Julius Randle and Jaden McDaniels.
With Edwards off his minutes restriction, I expect him to do everything he can to will his team to victory with the necessary support from his teammates.
SGP leg #1: Over 217
Improved shooting from Randle and McDaniels means more scoring for Minnesota, and the total is set far too low for Game 4.
These teams have hit the game total Over in two straight and four of six head-to-head matchups this season.
Get Zak Hanshew's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Spurs vs Timberwolves predictions for Game 4.
More Covers NBA Playoff content
NBA Championship odds
Stay up-to-date with the latest NBA Championship odds for each remaining team, as well as NBA title splits, betting trends, and the previous list of teams that have won the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
NBA Finals MVP odds
See what the current line movement and updates are in the NBA Finals MVP odds race, along with Finals MVP betting trends, favorite analysis, and recent superstars to receive this award.
Live NBA Playoff bracket
Never lose track of where each series sits with our live NBA Playoff bracket, as well as the updated prices for each team to win their respective series — round by round.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
May 7, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles defended by Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) in the second half during game two of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Basketball is a funny thing. Or maybe it’s a byproduct of being a fan. Here we sit on the eve of Game 3 in the best-of-seven series between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers. Detroit is up 2-0, protecting its homecourt advantage. It feels like if the Pistons win this game, this series is over. If Cleveland wins this thing, it feels like the series could stretch to seven games. Just one game, could be decided by just a point, but the effect of the outcome seems seismic. In reality, the Pistons played two solid games at home, but also let the Cavs back into both contests before pulling away late. The scores were closer than the games felt, as it seemed Detroit really had an answer for anything Cleveland was doing and was also moving the ball on offense with a confidence and a freedom that belied a blowout. Neither game was a blowout, however, and now Detroit finds itself in unfriendly territory. Does that mean the team struggles to build a big lead for the third game in a row? Does it mean any Cleveland comeback would actually be successful? Or have we seen two good Detroit team games but relatively mediocre Cade Cunningham games, and Cade puts it all together tonight and puts the series away? What does Donovan Mitchell have to say about all that? We will find out!
"We are overcome with emotion on the passing of Bobby Cox, our treasured skipper. Bobby was the best manager to ever wear a Braves uniform. He led our team to 14 straight division titles, five National League pennants, and the unforgettable World Series title in 1995. His Braves managerial legacy will never be matched," the Braves said in a statement.
"Bobby was a favorite among all in the baseball community, especially those who played for him. His wealth of knowledge on player development and the intricacies of managing the game were rewarded with the sport's ultimate prize in 2014 - enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame."
While he is best known for managing the Braves, Cox also managed the Toronto Blue Jays and was the first base coach when the New York Yankees won the World Series
Bobby Cox record and accomplishments
Baseball Hall of Famer: Inducted in 2014
World Series champion: 1995 with Atlanta Braves
2,504 career victories, 4th all-time
4-time Manager of the Year (1985, with Blue Jays, 1991, 2004, 2005 with Atlanta Braves).
Led the Braves to 14 straight division championships (1991–2005, 1994 was a strike season)
ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 08: Former manager of the Atlanta Braves, Bobby Cox, throws out the ceremonial first pitch to start Game Four of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on October 8, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
Getty Images
ATLANTA (AP) — Bobby Cox, the folksy manager of the Atlanta Braves whose teams ruled the National League during the 1990s and gave the city its first major title as well as World Series trips that fell short, has died. He was 84.
The Atlanta Braves announced Cox’s death Saturday; details weren’t immediately available. Cox had a stroke in 2019.
“Bobby was the best manager to ever wear a Braves uniform. He led our team to 14 straight division titles, five National League pennants, and the unforgettable World Series title in 1995. His Braves managerial legacy will never be matched,” the Braves said in a statement.
Cox took over a last-place team in June 1990 and led the Braves to a worst-to-first finish in 1991, losing the World Series to the Minnesota Twins in seven games. That was the start of what was to be a record 14 consecutive division titles, a feat no professional team in any sport had accomplished.
He managed the Braves for 25 years and led Atlanta to its only World Series title in 1995, retired after the 2010 season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.
“Bobby was a favorite among all in the baseball community, especially those who played for him. His wealth of knowledge on player development and the intricacies of managing the game were rewarded with the sport’s ultimate prize in 2014 — enshrinement into the Baseball Hall of Fame,” the Braves said.
As of Saturday, Cox ranks fourth all-time with 2,504 wins, fifth with 4,508 games, first with 15 division titles including a record 14 in a row, first with 16 playoff appearances and fourth with 67 playoff victories.
Only Connie Mack, John McGraw and Tony La Russa had more regular-season wins than Cox. His 158 regular-season ejections also was the most among managers.
“He is the Atlanta Braves,” catcher Brian McCann said in 2019. “He’s the best.”
McCann described Cox as an “icon” and “one of the best human beings any of us have ever met.”
The Braves retired Cox’s No. 6 jersey in 2011, when he joined the team’s Hall of Fame.
Cox spent 29 seasons as a major league manager, including four with Toronto. He managed 16 postseason teams. He brought an old-school approach to the dugout. He always wore spikes and stirrups, and his fatherly demeanor inspired loyalty from his players.
