I’m good. Trying to focus on the game. It’s not easy, with many things happening around it. Not just me, Bernardo and John and some people from the staff. But yeah, try to enjoy, with my family, and an amount of people that I love.
There’s a football game, and we don’t want to make a bad last game. I’d have loved to have the chance today to play against Arsenal, but there are a lot of things around.
Now is the time, I’m pretty sure. Once we announced I thought, maybe I was wrong. The past has been really good with us, but the future will be better without me. You have to have a special energy..
Roberto De Zerbi has been out on the pitch waving his arms about in an extremely exuberant style, exhorting the fans to make the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a cauldron in terms of atmosphere as well as temperature. It’s 30 degrees out there, with little or no wind. UV level high. Seek shade, wear sunscreen. And stay hydrated!
… and at the risk of turning this MBM into some sort of retro-relegation compendium, here’s Gary Naylor. “I was there in 1994,” he writes of Everton’s 1994 scrape with ignominy, requiring to beat Wimbledon on the last day only to go two down after ten minutes. “It was, and is, my favourite game. You’ve got to embrace it. There’ll be Tottenham or West Ham fans feeling the same come 6pm.”
Two former members of the Vancouver Canucks have taken big steps in their respective post-NHL careers, both of which centre around industries in the arts sector.
Aaron Volpatti, who spent nearly three years with the Canucks from the 2010–11 season to 2012–13, released his first country music song on Friday. Titled “A Beer A Day,” the song features sharp strums of a guitar and the occasional rattle of a tambourine.
Music isn’t the only field Volpatti has explored since retiring from the NHL due to injury after stints with the Canucks and the Washington Capitals. The forward released his bookFighter: Defying the NHL Odds back in 2022, detailing his journey to the NHL after sustaining fatal burns in a tragic incident.
Volpatti wasn’t the only Canuck to have revealed a neat detail about their post-NHL career this weekend, however. In an article by Kevin Forsyth ofPenticton Western News, former Canucks goaltender Richard Brodeur revealed that he will be taking the next step in his painting career by opening an art gallery.
Dec 7, 2019; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks alumni Darcy Rota and Richard Brodeur, and Stan Smyl, and Harold Snepts, and Thomas Gradin are honored before the start of the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Brodeur’s painting journey has been fairly well-documented in previous years, with the former goaltender visiting various towns and cities around BC to showcase his art. Now, Brodeur’s art will have a permanent home at Gallery 35, located in Parksville on Vancouver Island. The gallery is set to open later next week, on May 30.
On the ice, Brodeur spent eight seasons with the Canucks, including taking part in Vancouver’s first-ever Stanley Cup Final appearance in 1982. He finished his time with the Canucks with an overall record of 126–173–62, including a career-best 21 wins in 1982–83.
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The Montreal Canadiens managed to force overtime against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night despite the home team dominating the game. Martin St-Louis’ men were just one goal away from taking a 2-0 lead back home to Montreal, but in the end, it wasn’t to be. If the coach didn’t go all out for the win with his forward selection early in extra time, he did have standout defenseman Lane Hutson out early, and the choice might have backfired.
As Hutson was retrieving a puck by the boards deep in the zone, Hurricanes forward Taylor Hall came in for a hit, but his knee caught Hutson’s knee before the defenseman fell to the ice. The look on the blueliner’s face as he got up and went back to the bench was quite telling; he didn’t like the hit, and he was visibly in some discomfort, slamming the door of the bench shut.
Losing Hutson’s mobility and offensive instinct would be disastrous for the Canadiens. The defenseman is second on the team in points (and 10th overall in the league) with 14 in 16 games, and while he hasn’t been on the scoreboard in the first two games against Carolina, he’s still been a force for the Habs.
While the blueliner is quite shifty on the ice and often manages to elude hits, he took the full force of the Hall hit, and the point of contact is a worry. On top of being a minute muncher, he quarterbacks the Canadiens' first power-play units and is called upon on the penalty kill. The Michigan native is a jack of all trades for the Habs, and his loss could equate to that of Cale Makar for the Colorado Avalanche.
The Canadiens will not be practicing today, but there will be a media availability at the team’s hotel at 10:00 AM. Hopefully, we will get some information on Hutson’s status then.
Edit: St-Louis confirms Hutson is fine.
Lane Hutson wasn’t happy after Taylor Hall stuck out his knee on a hit along the boards during OT pic.twitter.com/43zFbRFbP2
NEW YORK - JUNE 25: Allan Houston #20 of the New York Knicks makes a move against Sean Elliot #32 of the San Antonio Spurs in Game Five of the 1999 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 25, 1999 in New York, New York. The Spurs won 78-77. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1999 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s been 27 years since the New York Knicks were in the NBA Finals, so we thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane to look at what life was like since the franchise was last on basketball’s greatest stage.
The number one song on the charts was “If You Had My Love” by Jennifer Lopez.
The number one movie in the box office was Star Wars: Episode I, The Phantom Menace.
The number one TV show was “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” hosted by New York’s own Regis Philbin.
The reigning Super Bowl MVP was Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, who retired following Super Bowl XXXIII.
The New York Yankees were fresh off their 24th World Series title and were on their way to winning number 25 in 1999. They have since won two more in 2000 and 2009.
The Dallas Stars won their first and only Stanley Cup after beating the Buffalo Sabres in six games.
Latrell Sprewell was the Knicks’ leading scorer during their playoff run, while Jalen Brunson’s dad, Rick, was a point guard for the team as well.
Trey Jemison, Deuce McBride, Kevin McCullar Jr., Tyler Kolek, Dillon Jones, Ariel Hukporti, Jeremy Sochan, Mohamed Diawara and Pacome Dadiet were not born yet.
Bill Clinton was the President of the United States. Since then, we have had five different administrations in the Oval Office.
Posting & Toasting community, what were you doing back in 1999 when the Knicks last made it to the NBA Finals? Spark the conversation in the comments below.
Columbus Clippers Travis Bazzana (12) throws the ball to first base during home opener at Huntington Park on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio. | Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Columbus Clippers split their doubleheader with Louisville on Saturday. In game one, Ralphy Velaquez put on a show, going 2-for-4 with a double as he is settling in nicely at Triple-A and showing no signs of slowing down, just missing his first Triple-A home run by about a foot.
George Valera went 1-for-2 with two walks while Dom Nunez went 1-for-1 with a double and two walks and both Milan Tolentino and Kahlil Watson homered, with Tolentino’s being a grand slam.
Starting pitcher Ryan Webb had a strong showing, allowing two runs on five hits in 5.2 innings. He danced around five walks and had two strikeouts. Franco Aleman pitched a perfect seventh inning with two strikeouts.
In game two, no one reached base safely more than once, with Stuart Fairchild having the lone extra base hit — a double.
Starting pitcher Pedro Avila was tagged for four runs on five hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Andrew Walters struggled in relief, allowing one run on three hits in just 0.1 innings. Jack Leftwich pitched 2.2 scoreless frames out of the bullpen.
Jaison Chourio had the lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a walk. Alex Mooney tripled and Juan Benjamin, Nick Mitchell and Jake Fox all walked twice.
Starting pitcher Josh Hartle had his best performance of the season, allowing one run on three hits with eight strikeouts and a walk in 5.1 innings.
Jack Carey allowed one run despite not allowing a hit in 2.1 innings due to four walks. Reid Johnson earned the save by pitching the final 1.1 innings of the game.
Tommy Hawke had his best game of the season, going 2-for-2 with a triple, two walks and two stolen bases, setting the table perfectly for his teammates from the leadoff position as he scored three runs as well.
Jace LaViolette was one of the beneficiaries, blasting a three-run home run, his seventh of the season and he absolutely destroyed it.
Esteban Gonzalez also homered and Logun Clark walked twice, was hit by a pitch and scored three runs.
Starting pitcher Melkis Hernandez allowed three runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks in just 3.0 innings.
Jogly Garcia was solid in the piggyback role, tossing 3.2 scoreless frames with four strikeouts and two walks and the bullpen closed out the game with 2.1 more scoreless innings to preserve the victory.
Luis De La Cruz led the way on offense, going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a stolen base. Johan Rodriguez also was rock solid, going 2-for-3 with two doubles and a walk while Cannon Peebles went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base.
Starting pitcher Jacob Zibin had the best game of his young, delayed career, throwing 5.0 scoreless one-hit innings with eight strikeouts and two walks.
Outfield prospect Steven Cruz had a perfect day at the plate, going 1-for-1 with three walks and two stolen bases.
Starting pitcher Erigaldi Perez allowed five runs on seven hits in 4.0 innings with five strikeouts and a walk. A rehabbing Matt Jachec pitched a scoreless inning with a strikeout.
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 16: Alec Burleson #41 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates during a game against the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium on May 16, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Joe Puetz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals have passed every test thrown their way so far and are in the midst of another as they take on the NL Central in all but one series over the next two-plus weeks. How the rest of May ends up could tell us whether our expectations have shifted for what was supposed to be a rebuild year as the Cardinals could realistically be in first or last in the division by the first weekend of June. By that time, we will be more than 1/3 of the way through the season and I believe we can officially shift away from the overused small sample size arguments, if you have not already.
As we gain clarity on our true expectations for this season, I do not believe we are yet in the middle of the next great Cardinals team, although there are likely pieces here that will be involved with that next iteration of greatness. While we can figure JJ Wetherholt, Jordan Walker, and possibly Ivan Herrera and Masyn Winn will be key cogs for that era, Alec Burleson may just miss the cut simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Despite being one of the most consistent and dependable hitters on the roster, Burly’s age and position could have him out of St. Louis before he is able to see the fruits of his labor ripen up.
I originally had this article asking if Burleson is still underrated, but decided to make the change to under appreciated because of the things he does that the rest of the league may not understand by simply reading the stats. Burleson was a second round pick in the 2020 draft (a draft that only the Cardinals can be proud of), and made his major league debut just two years later. That is already impressive for a guy that maxed out as the Cardinals’ 10th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline, but even more so is the fact that he has not played a game in the minors since his first promotion.
Each year, he has taken his offense to the next level, going from a .691 OPS in his first full big league season in 2023 to now sitting at an .827 OPS before the Reds series after coming off a utility Silver Slugger award last year. His numbers improve every year, raising his OPS+, walk rate, and production stats on a per rate basis since he did miss time last year with injury. What has surprisingly gone in the wrong direction, however, is his value as a defender. Since breaking into the league, the lefty slugger has spent time in left field, right field, and first base, with more time at the cold corner last season than his previous three seasons combined. With Paul Goldschmidt and Willson Contreras manning first base during Burly’s tenure, there simply were not enough innings to go around to Burleson until this year.
Alec Burleson’s underrated defense is tanking his overall value in an unfair way
After the still heartbreaking (to me) trade of Contreras, Burly has unofficially retired his outfield glove for the big pancake glove at first and, to the eye test, has been a solid contributor with the leather. When the eye test meets analytical measures, however, Burleson has technically been one of the worst defenders at first in all of baseball. Over the past two seasons, Burleson has spent 89 games at first base and according to FanGraphs, that minimal time there has totaled a -7 defensive value. This year, among the 19 first basemen who have taken at least 150 plate appearances while playing the position, Burleson is ranked 16th in defense, checking in with a -4 defensive value, as well as a -1 Outs Above Average and 1 Defensive Run Saved. Having watched the vast majority of the Cardinals’ 49 games this year, I came to the conclusion that there is simply no advanced metric that can fully grasp defensive value at first base.
Alec Burleson measuring as a below-average first baseman just tells me we don't have a good way to measure first baseman defense yet#STLCards
When taking in Burleson’s offense and defense, FanGraphs pegged the slugger as a 1.2 fWAR player which ranks him as 9th-best in the league among primary first baseman. Looking further, though, Burly ranks 25th by measure of defensive value, falling below 30-grade fielder Munetaka Murakami, utility man Spencer Steer, and the rumbling Jake Burger. The other outlets are also down on Burleson’s glove with Baseball Savant giving him a 0 in Fielding Run Value (44th percentile) and -1 Outs Above Average (27th percentile), which again tells me that my eyes are either really messed up or the more likely fact that first base defense is tough to value.
Taking the metrics out of it, Burly has been asked to be the consistent piece of a Cardinals organization that has been going through a rollercoaster stretch for the entirety of his big league career. To his credit, he has taken every challenge in stride and challenging himself to become a more complete baseball player. On a team without any veteran leadership, Burleson has been a voice and example for the youngsters, while also being a solid foundation for Marmol to rally his team around. The issue, though, is that as the only veteran (until Nootbaar comes back), Burleson might miss the timeline for the Cardinals return to relevance if this year goes south.
Because of his early rise to the major leagues, Burleson will approach four years of service time and will be arbitration eligible for this offseason. This will put him as a free agent following the 2028 campaign, putting him firmly in the conversation of extension or trade piece in the next couple of years. Currently, the first base depth is thin behind Burleson, but that is typically a position that can be acquired relatively easily through trade or with cash. If Bloom feels that Burly will still be hitting at his current level or better in his age-30 and later seasons, an extension should be on the table despite his struggles against lefties. With Burly continuing to show his ability to adapt and improve, putting a ceiling on his potential might be premature.
Behind Burleson is Blaze Jordan, who I personally love as a prospect but wonder what the Cardinals feel about his future. Jordan has also played more third base this year so most of the first base starts have gone to 30-year-old Bligh Madris. Among prospects, Leonardo Bernal has played first this year while splitting time behind the plate with Jimmy Crooks and that could be a way to get the switch-hitter promoted quicker as the catching situation continues to be cloudy. Outside of those options, Ivan Herrera has been a common talking point from fans who say he should just simply move to first base, a position he has spent a grand total of eight games while playing in the Caribbean Series winter league in 2023 and I would rather not have a player learn a new position during the season.
Alec Burleson is an established major league hitter who continues to get better every season. He is still just 27-years-old but has been around the big leagues so long that it feels like he is even older. That could also just be because of the beard. Because of the extremely young team surrounding him and an unclear timeline in the organization’s expected return to relevance, Burly could find himself in an awkward in-between phase like teammate Lars Nootbaar may be in when he returns from the injured list in the next couple of weeks.
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 07: Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Jorge Soler (12) is held back by Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (9), Los Angeles Angels pitching coach Mike Maddux and Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss after he charged the mound during the MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Angels on April 7, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Do you know the last game when the Atlanta Braves weren’t in first place by the end of the day? Do you know when Walt Weiss tackled Jorge Soler? If you know one then you know the other. Let’s go back to April 7th.
I don’t know that it saved the season. But for the first twelve games, the Braves were 7-5 and underperforming their xwOBA by .005. Since that point, they’re 29-12 and outrunning their xwOBA by .007. That works out to a wRC+ advantage of 9 before and after. They’re definitely managing to keep the HR/FB monster in its cage. They’re doing a tremendous job getting a song out of Martin Perez, Grant Holmes, and even Chadwick Tromp. But this dustup didn’t do Reynaldo Lopez any favors. He would blow up two weeks later in Washington, and hasn’t approached his 2024 form this season.
So did the Walt Weiss tackle save the season? I mean, no, but one thing that Walt Weiss has been doing is pursuing wins. He chases those down in the same manner that he chased down Jorge Soler in Anaheim. The Braves are up by 9.5 games in the NL East Division. Let’s hope that they run away from everyone.
Khachanov has reached the last eight of this competition twice – Wimbledon likewise – and the last four of the other two slams. That tells us he’s got an all-court game, with the eye-test advising that he lacks the power-augmenting finesse go further. He does, though, have Gea’s number … so of course, as I type, the young Frenchman flat-bats an incredible pass cross-court to save set point. For all the difference it makes, Khachanov closing out from there to lead 6-3.
It looks a lovely day in Paris, by the way – which isn’t always the case. It’s going to be seriously hard work for those involved in tight matches, given clay-court rallies and soaring tempteratures.
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MAY 22: Jared McCain #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks to shoot the ball against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the third quarter in Game Three of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 22, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. 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 Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Oklahoma City guard Jared McCain had a great game against San Antonio Friday night, finishing with 24 points and 4 rebounds (he has always been an underrated rebounder).
He also had a big individual moment, taking the ball in on 7-4 Victor Wembanyama, then muscling through him to score an unlikely layup.
It’s gone viral since, of course, and has caused a lot of chuckles.
Spurs great Tim Duncan comes into the locker room and confronts Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama (check out Castle’s sweatshirt. It’s the details that count).
After Duncan berates Castle, he turns on Wemby and screams at him for letting McCain hit that layup, and for not getting more rebounds than the former Duke star, despite being 13 inches taller.
After that, McCain enters the locker room, gets put in his place by Duncan, then launches into one of his Tik Tok dance routines, smiling all the while.
It’s a short, well-conceived bit of AI fun, and it kind of captures something about McCain’s tough-minded resilience, as well as the spot the Spurs are in.
TORONTO, CANADA - MAY 23: Jesús Sánchez #12 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts as a bucket of sports drink is dumped on him during a postgame interview after a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Rogers Centre on May 23, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tara Walton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees were inactive on Saturday, not because the schedule had them sitting on the couch but because the weather didn’t feel like complying. With the Rays also washed out alongside them, the top of the AL East was inactive for the field to play catch up to.
Toronto Blue Jays (25-27) 5, Pittsburgh Pirates (26-26) 2
Paul Skenes versus Patrick Corbin should’ve been a matchup nightmare for Toronto, but it went the opposite way. Three pitches into his outing, Skenes got taken deep by George Springer to lead off, giving the Jays the lead right away. That score held up until the sixth inning though, when the Pirates briefly bailed out their ace with Bryan Reynolds hitting a two-out single followed by Marcell Ozuna doubling him home.
However, the Jays rallied right back to get Corbin back in line to pick up the win. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Yohendrick Piñango both singled to put runners on for Jesús Sánchez, who doubled to bring in one of them before Ernie Clement singled another one in. That chased Skenes from the game, but another run would go against him as Andrés Giménez grounded into a double play that allowed Sánchez to score. In a hurry it was 4-1, and then Tyler Heineman led off the seventh with a blast to push the lead to 5-1.
The Pirates managed to manufacture a run back in the eighth via walks and a grounder with an error mixed in, but they went down in order in the ninth to hand Toronto the win and bring them just two games under .500.
Other Games
Minnesota Twins (25-27) 4, Boston Red Sox (22-29) 2: The Sox ran Jovani Morán out as an opener, but found themselves in a 2-0 hole after the first three batters collected hits with an Austin Martin double the big blow of the frame. A Ceddanne Rafaela RBI double in the fourth cut the deficit in half, but the Twins’ offense reignited against bulk pitcher Brayan Bello in the fifth with back-to-back singles and an error loading the bases. A sac fly and single brought home two, giving Minnesota all the runs they’d need as Boston could only get a run across in the ninth on a bases-loaded walk, Jarren Duran striking out to end it.
Philadelphia Phillies (26-26) 3, Cleveland Guardians (31-23) 0: The Guardians gave the Cavaliers an homage by going down 0-3 in this game, but a fourth run wasn’t necessary for the Phillies to close out a shutout. Bryson Stott singled home two in the fourth and Adolis García walked with the bases loaded in the sixth to round out Philadelphia’s scoring, supporting Zack Wheeler as he pitched his second-straight scoreless outing tossing six innings with six strikeouts and just two hits allowed.
Kansas City Royals (21-31) 5, Seattle Mariners (25-28) 0: The Royals jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one thanks to a flurry of contact, two hits and an error getting one across before some groundouts pushed in another run and Jac Caglianone finished off the frame with an RBI single. That would be all that Stephen Kolek would need, as the 29-year-old pitched a complete game shutout and generated tons of weak contact, getting just two strikeouts in the entire outing.
Los Angeles Angels (19-34) 5, Texas Rangers (24-27) 2: Mike Trout lifted his 13th home run of the year in the first to spot the Angels a 2-0 lead, and that expanded in the fifth when Nolan Schanuel doubled in another run. Kyle Higashioka cut into that lead with a solo shot, but Oswald Peraza put it on ice in the eighth with the bases loaded, smacking a grounder through the hole in the left side to score two more.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MAY 22: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after being hit by a pitch during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on May 22, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images
During Friday’s loss against the Milwaukee Brewers, Max Muncy was plunked in the right wrist on an inside pitch from Aaron Ashby and was forced to leave the game. Although X-rays came back negative, he was out of the lineup on Saturday as Santiago Espinal got the start at third base.
Muncy will once again be out of the lineup for Sunday’s series finale in Milwaukee, and he will undergo an MRI on Monday once the team is back in Los Angeles, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. Both Muncy and Dave Roberts are optimistic about his wrist, as his wrist guard caught some of the brunt from Ashby’s pitch.
“For me, I think we skipped the worst, because I’ve been hit in that spot before, and I’ve broken that spot before,” Muncy said after the game. “The biggest thing I always took with me from that was just the nauseous feeling that you get, and I didn’t quite have that tonight. So that’s why I’m feeling pretty optimistic about it.”
“I think we’re good right now,” Roberts said. “But once we get to Monday, get back home, I think we’ll see where we’re at to see if we need to get a CT scan on it.”
After allowing three runs in the first inning, Roki Sasaki completed four scoreless innings and earned the win on Saturday against the Brewers, his second winning decision in as many starts. Sasaki now has a sub-5.00 ERA for the first time since his early April, and Dave Roberts is seeing his gradual progression truly blossom, per Jackson Stone of MLB.com.
“It’s a sign of a young player really starting to grow up and understand his responsibility to the team,” Roberts said. “You need to take down innings and outs as a starting pitcher, and it’s not always going to be easy. That’s a learning moment that he could have folded, and last year it might have been tougher for him to get through that first inning, but he got through [it] and went four more scoreless.
“I’m really impressed because it seems like every outing he’s learning and getting better as a Major League pitcher.”
Teoscar Hernández has been hitting in the bottom third of the lineup routinely, but he’s been one of the Dodgers’ best hitters on this road trip, posting a .345 batting average with three home runs and 13 RBI. He was instrumental in Saturday’s 11-3 win over Milwaukee by going 3-4 with a home run and six RBI.
Dave Roberts has seen a great awareness of the zone from Hernández, as he has been more competitive in the box on the road trip, leading to drastically better results at the plate, notes Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times.
“For me personally, early on, I think that there was a couple of at-bats per night that he was just giving away. And now the last eight days, something like that, I don’t see him giving away any at-bats. And the production has reflected that.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 23: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers high fives Dennis Schroder #8 against the New York Knicks during the third quarter in Game Three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 23, 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
The Cleveland Cavaliers are down in the hole, facing elimination after dropping Game 3 to the New York Knicks.
All grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
The Cavs need more from Mitchell. It’s felt that way for most of the postseason. But as the Cavs have gone further, we keep waiting for him to elevate and meet the moment. Aside from the first three quarters of Game 1, it just hasn’t happened.
An inefficient scoring night that isn’t being bolstered by quality decision-making or defensive prowess is hard to justify. Mitchell finished with 5 runovers and just 4 assists, ending the game as a team-worst minus-22.
Harden was keeping the Cavs in the fight throughout the first half with his isolation scoring. That’s also been a trend this postseason. He’s had moments where his scoring was enough to raise Cleveland’s floor. But no one else has come to save the day, and the wear and tear of playing every other day for a month is making it impossible for this to be sustainable.
Harden’s impact dwindled in the second half as the Cavs struggled to get stops, and he no longer had enough energy to keep the offense alive. He shot 1-7 from downtown and turned it over five times.
Mobley’s three-point shot abandoned him (1-6 from downtown), and he had an uncharacteristically bad game taking care of the ball (6 turnovers). Those two aspects make it hard to grade Mobley much higher.
Still, Mobley’s defense isn’t an issue, and he’s been dominant in the paint. We’ve seen limitations, like his inability to post up or create offense for himself, but it’s hard to blame him too much for what’s happened in this series so far.
Grade: B-
Jarrett Allen
17 points, 7 rebounds
Unlike 2023, the bigs are not the problem here.
Allen had a strong 17 points and 7 rebounds, four of which were offensive. He’s won the physical battle and taken care of the opportunities given to him. If the Cavs were converting outside shots and allowing him to operate with more space inside, he’d be even more effective. But there aren’t many more ways for Allen to impact the game than what he’s already doing.
Grade: B–
Dean Wade
0 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
Wade played 16 minutes, took one shot (missed it), and apparently grabbed 2 rebounds. I don’t remember any of it. This was the definition of a Cardio Dean game, and it’s not going to cut it if he’s going to remain in the starting lineup.
Grade: F
Max Strus
13 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal
Strus left it all out there tonight. He certainly didn’t have it falling from downtown, only finishing 4-11 from deep after hitting a pair of triples in garbage time. But he was hustling harder than anyone, playing this game with the urgency that it commanded. He added 7 rebounds and 6 assists, serving as one of the only Cavaliers who tried to impact the game in other ways outside of their role.
Grade: B
Dennis Schroder
3 points, 2 assists
Schroder only played 9 minutes tonight. I’m not sure if this matchup has much for him. They shouldn’t need his ball-handling in this series in the way they did against the Pistons or Raptors, but they’ve continued to roll with him even in small-ball lineups that have been crushed.
Grade: D
Sam Merrill
6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Merrill continues to shoot below what you’d expect from him. He’s had some great looks in the last two games and just can’t find his groove. He shot 2-4, which is obviously good, but he’s missed some of the most open opportunities he’s had all year. This could have easily been a 4-4 type of night from Sam, and that would have helped quite a bit.
Grade: C–
Jaylon Tyson
3 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist
Tyson received one stint in the first half and looked like he was ready to deliver. His and-one finish drew one of the loudest cheers of the night, and he was staying in his role defensively. I’m not sure why he didn’t get any more minutes the rest of the way.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 27: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder come together after the Thunder victory in Game Four of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 27, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Lack of draft picks, limited cap space issues, and not enough top-end talent are a few of the main issues preventing the Phoenix Suns from building a roster that can hoist the franchise’s first-ever Larry O’Brien trophy…but those are things that, for the most part, the team can control, and they positioned themselves to be in. What they can’t control is what is budding in the Western Conference: a true rivalry.
As the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs continue to battle in the Western Conference Finals, every Victor Wembanyama block, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander mid-range, and Dylan Harper assist is a reminder to the rest of the conference of how difficult it is going to be to compete with both teams. With both squads having top-end talent, youth, and a litany of assets, both teams have quickly asserted themselves as the best in the West, with the Thunder already winning the Finals last year.
Unless Khaman Maluach becomes Joel Embiid or the Suns find the next Nikola Jokić during a Taco Bell commercial in the second round, Phoenix is staring at not being a challenger to win the conference for the foreseeable future.
While the Dallas Mavericks have Cooper Flagg, the Utah Jazz have a top-two pick, and teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Houston Rockets either already have top-end talent or the ability to add some if they haven’t already, the Suns roster outside of Devin Booker looks to be more limited in the future, and that’s not even accounting for the fact that Booker has been an All-NBA player just once in the past four seasons. Many teams are much better suited to capitalize if the Thunder or Spurs have major injuries or a down season.
Apr 7, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4), forward Dillon Brooks (3) and guard Devin Booker (1) against the Houston Rockets at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Perhaps if the Suns were in the Eastern Conference, or at least in a conference that didn’t employ five of the last six NBA MVPs, their long-term outlook would be different. Yes, both the East’s finalists, the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks have a litany of All-Stars, including Jalen Brunson, Donavan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns and Evan Mobley, both rosters are older than the Thunder and Spurs’ are and most importantly, don’t employ players who have averaged 30 points per game or more in the past four years or a player that is so dominant, his nickname is “The Alien.”
No matter what era, whether there are eight or 30 teams in the league, winning requires teams to be well-rounded and to have an array of top-end talent. In this era of the Western Conference, where some of the youngest teams are already the best and are becoming the most experienced, the Phoenix Suns need to look themselves in the mirror and know that for them to be true contenders, something miraculous needs to happen to them.
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 26: A detail shot of baseballs in a batting practice bucket prior to the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Monday, May 26, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Tides spent most of this game behind, but scored two runs in the ninth to take a one-run lead. But the Shrimp tied the game in the bottom half to send it to extras, then scored five runs in the 10th to walk it off.
Cameron Weston started the game and left after three innings with two runs allowed. He gave up three hits and three walks. Enoli Paredes allowed the game-tying run in the ninth, and Andrew Magno took the loss in the 10th. He allowed the Manfred Man to score first, then gave up a walk-off grand slam.
José Barrero was in the middle of the offense tonight, with two doubles. He scored the Tides’ first run in the eighth inning on an error, then knocked in the next two. Jud Fabian singled in the final run. It was a two-hit game for Fabian as well as Johnathan Rodríguez. Heston Kjerstad singled in four ABs.
The Baysox offense managed just four hits in this game. In fact, they had one fewer hit than they did errors. Aron Estrada was responsible for half the hits, two singles. Frederick Bencosme doubled and stole a base. Griff O’Ferrall also had one single to go with three strikeouts.
Starting pitcher Sebastian Gongora somehow allowed just one unearned run despite giving up nine hits and a walk in five innings. After a 1-2-3 first inning, Gongora allowed multiple baserunners in each of the next four innings, but didn’t allow a run until the fifth. He benefitted from two double plays.
Relief pitcher Cohen Achen allowed the other three Patriots runs in one inning pitched. Ben Vespi had a nice outing. He had two hitless innings with no walks and three strikeouts.
