Posts

Posted on

Who's acing the NHL season so far? Grades for all 32 teams

A shortened training camp had an impact early in the season with some high-scoring games and inconsistent play.

But now that the 2026-27 NHL season has hit Nov. 1, it's time to hand out team grades, as a few stories have dominated the early part of the season.

First are prominent trade requests. Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck was traded to New Jersey Devils on Oct. 23 after sitting out the early part of the season. Detroit Red Wings star Dylan Larkin, who had been playing through his trade request, announced on Oct. 29 that he wouldn't suit for the team again.

But it isn't just U.S. Olympians who are trying to force their teams' hands. Russian Nikita Kucherov, the reigning MVP, told the Tampa Bay Lightninghe won't re-sign and wants to be traded. LIke Larkin, he has a 10-team trade list, but his is unknown.

The other trend is struggling goalies. Kevin Lankinen (.812), Jordan Binnington (.846), Dustin Wolf (.847), Jakub Dobes (.853), Brandon Bussi (.865), Andrei Vasilevkiy (.877), Darcy Kuemper (.878) and Sergei Bobrovsky (.885) are among goalies with substandard save percentages.

Here are early grades for all 32 NHL teams:

NHL team grades through October

Anaheim Ducks grade – C-

The Ducks have been defensively leaky, allowing four or more goals eight times and 13 goals over their last two losses.

Boston Bruins grade – B+

The Bruins were staring at a three-game losing streak before Morgan Geekie helped them rally to beat the Blackhawks on Oct. 31. That win kept them atop the Atlantic Division despite only two goals from Geekie, who totaled 72 the past two seasons.

Buffalo Sabres grade – B

Tage Thompson has willed the Sabres to a three-game winning streak with five goals and three assists.

Calgary Flames grade – D

Goalie Devin Cooley has outplayed Dustin Wolf and has had great interviews. But Wolf is back in net after Cooley was hurt during a collision in the crease.

Carolina Hurricanes grade – A

The defending champions are getting balanced scoring, and goalie Pyotr Kochetkov is 9-0 while Brandon Bussi is off to a slow start.

Chicago Blackhawks grade – D-

They're heading toward another lottery pick. Connor Bedard and defenseman Bowen Byram have played only one game together because of injuries.

Colorado Avalanche grade – B

Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are dominating as usual. Add Artturi Lehkonen (12 goals) to that list.

Columbus Blue Jackets grade – C-

The Blue Jackets have been wildly inconsistent. Newcomer Matthew Knies has only one point in his last nine games after getting four points in his first two.

Dallas Stars grade – A-

The Stars have the league's best penalty kill at 93.6 percent. They have allowed only three goals while a man down and have scored a short-handed goal.

Detroit Red Wings grade – D+

The Red Wings get a poor grade over the Dylan Larkin trade request saga and Simon Edvinsson contract dispute. But the players bump that up by putting aside the distractions with a decent start.

Edmonton Oilers grade – A-

Connor McDavid has 37 points in a season-opening 14-game point streak and coach Mike Babcock has straightened out the defensive play after some early wild games. He benched defenseman Jake Walman.

Florida Panthers grade – B+

Brady Tkachuk's surge alongside brother Matthew has drawn the attention, but Seth Jones is on fire with 18 points. That was helped the Panthers survive injuries to Aleksander Barkov, Brad Marchand and Jacob Markstrom.

Los Angeles Kings grade – C-

The Kings were the last team to pick up its first win. A 1-4 record at home and a league-worst penalty kill have hurt them.

Minnesota Wild grade – A-

The Wild are on top of the Central Divison as Kirill Kaprizov leads the league with 14 goals. Quinn Hughes is dominating, too, as everyone parses words to determine whether and when he'll sign a contract extension.

Montreal Canadiens grade – B+

The Canadiens have won five in a row without injured captain Nick Suzuki, and goalie Jacob Fowler is generating Calder Trophy buzz. They've been mentioned in Larkin and Kucherov rumors, though they're not on Larkin's trade list.

Nashville Predators grade – C

Could coach Andrew Brunette be on the hot seat after a middling start? "I think we've had this conversation the last three years," he told The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. "I understand what the game is and where the game's at. I'm just focused on being the best coach I can every day."

New Jersey Devils grade – A

Goaltending was considered an issue heading into the season. No longer after their blockbuster trade for Connor Hellebuyck. Throw in scoring up and down the deeper forward group and the Devils seem likely to return to the playoffs after missing last season.

New York Islanders grade – B-

Rookie of the year defenseman Matthew Schaefer is off to another strong season. They're still waiting for injured Mathew Barzal to make his season debut.

New York Rangers grade – B-

Igor Shesterkin's season-ending injury disrupted a solid start and the Rangers are still trying to figure out a good fit for offseason acquisition Pavel Dorofeyev.

Ottawa Senators grade – B

No Brady Tkachuk. No problem. Tim Stutzle's strong start has helped drive the Senators into third place in the Atlantic.

Philadelphia Flyers grade – D

The Flyers' playoff hopes took a massive hit with an 0-6-3 start. A bright spot has been Matvei Michkov, who ended the month with seven goals in his last seven games.

Pittsburgh Penguins grade – C

Sidney Crosby is below his usual point-per-game pace, but he had his best game on Oct. 31. He set an NHL record for most career assists with one franchise (1,113), passing Ray Bourque. He also tied Marcel Dionne (1,771) for sixth in all-time points.

St. Louis Blues grade – B

Goalie Jordan Binnington has a 4.11 goals-against average in the final year of his contract. Joel Hofer has received 10 of the 14 starts and sports a 2.42 GAA.

San Jose Sharks grade – C

GM Mike Grier beefed up the defense but it has still been a problem this season. They've allowed 31 shots per game, second worst in the league.

Seattle Kraken grade – B

The Kraken came up short in recent bids for Artemi Panarin and Jason Robertson. They've been boosted internally by second-year forward Berkly Catton, whose 11 points are six shy of his rookie total.

Tampa Bay Lightning grade – A-

Nikita Kucherov is playing through his trade request and had three assists in his first game after it become public. GM Julien BriseBois says he won't trade Kucherov.

Toronto Maple Leafs grade – B

The Maple Leafs took a while to gel after all of their offseason moves. One of their newcomers, goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, remains off to a slow start.

More: Lightning teammates address Nikita Kucherov trade request: 'Tough day'

Utah Mammoth grade – A-

The Mammoth are second in the Central Division, boosted by the league-best power play (34 percent). Defenseman Mikhail Sergachev is on pace for a career best with 16 points in 14 games.

Vancouver Canucks grade – D

The Canucks are getting scoring, led by rejuvenated forward Elias Pettersson, but they have allowed a league-worst 4.5 goals per game.

Vegas Golden Knights grade – B

The Golden Knights mixed up their top power play unit, giving rookie Trevor Connelly a shot there and bumping Ivan Barbashev to the second unit.

Washington Capitals grade – A-

Hot starts by Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou show the Capitals are in good shape for the post-Alex Ovechkin era. It's also helping them now with Ovechkin off to a slow start.

Winnipeg Jets grade – C-

The Hellebuyck-less Jets were surviving early, but an injury to Josh Morrissey proved costly. They ended the month on a 1-7-2 slide.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who's acing the NHL season so far? Grades for all 32 teams

Posted on

Nets vs. Pacers preview: Brooklyn searches for answers after 0-5 start

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - OCTOBER 28: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – OCTOBER 28: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on October 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Oof.

The Brooklyn Nets opened NBA Cup play with a Friday night matchup against the Detroit Pistons. Brooklyn got off to a great start and looked like they were going to give last year’s top seed in the Eastern Conference a good fight. Unfortunately for the home fans, they watched the Nets suffer another blowout. Brooklyn let things slip in the middle of the game and lost 110-94.

They’re now sitting at 0-5 to begin the season — one of two remaining winless teams (Kings).

The opponent tonight projects to be a contender for the NBA Championship. That is, if everyone is healthy. The Indiana Pacers are hoping to get back to the NBA Finals after missing out last season. It’s early, but the road back to the postseason has been a rocky one. They were on the road Friday night against the new look Miami Heat and lost 144-125.

Game Info and Broadcast Details

  • Matchup: Brooklyn Nets (0-5) vs. Indiana Pacers (2-4)
  • Time: 5 PM EST (4 PM CST)
  • Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana)
  • TV/Streaming: YES Network, WFAN Radio, DAZN

Nets-Pacers Injury Report: Who’s Out?

Brooklyn Nets
  • OUT – Egor Demin (right bone bruise)
  • OUT – Mikel Brown Jr (back injury management)
  • OUT – Joshua Jefferson (G League assignment)
  • OUT – Ben Saraf (G League assignment)
  • OUT – Tyler Bilodeau (G League tw0-way)
  • OUT – Grant Nelson (G League two-way)
Indiana Pacers
  • OUT – Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring strain)
  • OUT – Ben Sheppard (left meniscus surgery)
  • OUT – Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain)
  • OUT – Johnny Furphy (right ACL surgery)
  • OUT – T.J. McConnell (right hamstring strain)
  • Probable – Aaron Nesmith (left hamstring strain)
  • Questionable – Obi Toppin (low back soreness)

The Game

Indiana won the first meeting 136-109 on October 25.

This is the first leg of a back-to-back for the Nets. They return to the city for a matchup against the New York Knicks on Monday night at the Garden.

The Nets are off to their worst possible start, and Friday’s loss to Detroit didn’t do much to inspire confidence. People can accept losing, but they can’t accept poor effort. Brooklyn’s latest defeat left plenty of questions about the team’s effort and execution. This year was supposed to be different for the Nets, but it looks all too familiar.

Nolan Traore will get all the minutes he can handle tonight. With Demin and Brown Jr out, it’s on him to man the point. That’s a lot on his shoulders. He’ll need to dictate the offense and generate downhill pressure. If he does get to the rim, the Nets need him to turn those opportunities into points.

In October, the Nets were dead last in the NBA in field goal percentage inside the restricted area at 55.2 percent. That’s a troubling number against a Pacers team that has allowed opponents to shoot just 60.2 percent inside the restricted area, the third-best mark in the league. The home team need something to break their way, and if they want to finally break into the win column, it’ll take a total team effort.

Maybe the new month is what the doctor ordered?

Andrew Nembhard is probably never going to make an All-Star Game, but he’s someone I’d love to have on my side. He’s someone you can trust to make something happen with the game on the line. He’s also become more efficient while taking on a bigger offensive role.

Brooklyn will have its hands full with the speedy guard, who’s averaging 17.6 points and eight assists per game.

Player to Watch: Pascal Siakam

Siakam has been one of the better forwards in the NBA in the 2020s. He’s done well in his various roles and can scale his scoring up when the moment calls for it. He’s been turning the ball over at a career-high clip to start the year, but that is something to monitor as Indiana navigates the early part of its schedule. Without Haliburton, the four-time All-Star will have to up his game and take on more of the scoring load to offset the absence of their franchise player.

Brooklyn also needs more from Julius Randle. He discussed the process on offense after Friday’s game, and he shared some interesting insights about what the Nets need to improve:

Brooklyn has to find their purpose, and fast. If the team can’t play with more pace and with more success at the rim, a long season is guaranteed to get even longer.

From the Vault

Ones in the air for Sir Patrick Stewart

And with WWE hosting two shows at Barclays Center tomorrow night, let’s take a look back at one of the greatest matches of all time

More reading: Circle City Spin, Fieldhouse Files, Sports Illustrated, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Nets Insider, SNY, Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, Steve’s Newsletter

Posted on

Guardians News: None

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 19: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians looks on during Game Six of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, October 19, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Hey, there isn’t really any baseball news going on right now but Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz start their trial tomorrow, so that’s fun.

Make sure to check out Matt Seese’s article and Jakhob Clady’s article and Jake Brahney’s article from yesterday..

Posted on

What we learned from the Spurs’ win over the Timberwolves

SAN ANTONIO, TX -OCTOBER 31: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs blocks shot from Jonathan Kuminga #24 of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half at Frost Bank Center on October 31: 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 terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Antonio Spurs still have lessons to be learned.

Last season, the Spurs made it pretty far on talent. They would make silly mistakes after silly mistakes and still recover thanks to one of the most talented young rosters in the NBA. After a crushing NBA Finals loss, a lot of fans expected the team to grow up a bit. To learn the lessons that come with such a defeat. Six games into the 2026-27 NBA season, that doesn’t appear to be the case.

The Spurs looked almost identical to last year’s team in a 121-111 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Halloween night. There were stretches of brilliance when the team guarded like their lives depended on it, moved the ball on a string, and got to the cup with ease. Then there were times when the offense went completely cold, reliant on isolation ball, and the defense allowed second-chance points and easy transition looks. But ultimately, the Spurs had enough talent to take down a Minnesota team that was missing two key players in Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert.

It took an MVP performance to get the win. Victor Wembanyama took over the game, crushing his fellow countryman, Joan Beringer, with 43 points and 6 blocks. When San Antonio was in a slog, Wembanyama would pull them out with a well-timed dunk or a block that led to a transition runout. Those are the types of games you’re looking for from the face of the franchise and potentially the best player in the league.

As they say, a win is a win. But likely, Mitch Johnson and the rest of the Spurs’ coaching staff will identify plenty of areas where the team can clean up their game, just as they could last season.

Takeaways:

  • Was there some sort of Halloween slime, or perhaps LaMelo Ball’s spit, on the basketball on Saturday? Both teams combined for 29 turnovers, with the ball generally bouncing all over the place. Both teams were trying to play with such a chaotic pace in both transition and half-court offense that it led to a lot of mistakes, or the ball slipping off players’ hands and bodies.
  • We at Pounding the Rock are formally accepting De’Aaron Fox apology slips. We will forward them to Mr. Fox at our earliest convenience. The veteran point guard has been nothing short of the Spurs’ second-best player to begin the season. He had 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in the win, and was a team-high +23. Whatever he did in the offseason worked, because he looks completely rejuvenated. His jump shot is falling, particularly in the mid-range, which is opening up a lot of offense for the Spurs.
  • San Antonio has figured out how to constantly get the ball to Wembanyama on lobs. Those short pick-and-rolls near the sideline make it hard for opposing bigs to drop back and protect the rim, as it gives the Spurs’ guards good angles at the rim. That forced Beringer to switch often on Saturday night, making it easy for Wembanyama to finish lobs over smaller defenders. It’s one of the best new wrinkles to San Antonio’s playbook, and they spammed it often against Minnesota.
  • Luke Kornet has gotten a lot of grief for his play this season, and a lot of it has been deserved. He should get some praise when he has a solid game, too. Kornet grabbed 8 rebounds, 4 of them offensive, including a big put-back slam in the first half. His defensive positioning was largely good, and he didn’t kill San Antonio when he was in the game. That is about all you can ask from a backup center in this league.
  • Julian Champagnie remains red hot from three-point range to start the season. He shot 3-of-7 from deep on his way to 12 points against the Wolves and is now shooting 47.6% from three to start the season. It’s about time that Champagnie gets the recognition for what he is: one of the best shooters in the NBA.

Posted on

Sunday morning Rangers things

Kelly Martin (right) of Fort Worth, Texas talks to her husband Steve Martin before Game 4 of the World Series at Rangers Ballpark on Sunday, October 31, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. It took Kelly Martin 9 hours to make the costume of a World Series ticket the day before. (Photo By Lea Suzuki/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Good morning, folks…

MLB.com takes a look at the top 30 names to watch in free agency this offseason.

There’s also the top seven storylines to watch as the offseason kicks off.

Righthanded pitcher Kaima Taira will be posted by the Seibu Lions, the team has announced.

Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz go to trial on Monday on charges they were rigging pitches that people they were in cahoots with bet on.

I want to be in cahoots with someone.

Davis Laurila has his Sunday Notes column up at Fangraphs.

Posted on

Tyler Kolek's strong start gives the Knicks a tough rotation decision when Jose Alvarado returns

All good streaks are supposed to come to an end. In Friday's 98-93 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Knicks guard Tyler Kolek's stretch of perfection ended.

In the game's early stages, he turned the ball over for the first time this season. Kolek coughed up the rock one more time, finishing with four assists and two points in 13 minutes.

It was a departure from Kolek's first three appearances this season, in which he recorded 21 assists and zero turnovers over 44 minutes.

The reserve is playing some of his best basketball right now, steadying the offense when Knicks star Jalen Brunson rests.

Kolek is taking advantage of an opportunity given to him because of an ankle injury to guard Jose Alvarado.

Kolek entered this season on the outside of New York's regular rotation. But his play has been impressive and could make Knicks coach Mike Brown think twice about taking him out of the rotation when Alvarado returns.

In Kolek's 57 minutes this season, the Knicks are assisting on 76.5 percent of their baskets, according to NBA Stats, a team high and one that would rank first in the entire league. The club's assist rate drops to 66.3 percent in the minutes he sits.

Kolek's careful playmaking comes at a time when the Knicks are in need of good decision making.

As of Saturday night, New York ranked 15th in turnovers per 100 possessions.

Over the past few years, the Knicks have regularly been one of the better teams at taking care of the ball, ranking 11th in the category last season.

The turnover problems have been a factor in New York’s slow offensive start and 2-4 record through the first six games.

Kolek has created scoring opportunities for his teammates with ease. Many of Kolek's minutes have been shared with starters Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby.

Towns is averaging 5.81 more points per 100 possessions when he shares the floor with Kolek, according to PBP Stats.

Anunoby's scoring increases by 9.85 points per 100 possessions in the same scenarios.

Since being drafted in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, Kolek's role has been inconsistent with New York.

Last season, due to a Miles McBride injury, Kolek emerged around the NBA Cup and played a significant role in the Knicks' Cup championship win.

He saw regular rotation minutes until the middle of January.

The Knicks acquired Alvarado in a trade deadline deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, pushing Kolek further down the depth chart.

Crowded backcourt

Though it is unclear when Alvarado will return from his injury, he will be back eventually. It creates a competition at the backup point guard slot.

With Brunson averaging 35 minutes a night through the last four seasons, there's very limited space to find time for both guards.

Add in a small-ish backcourt contributors like McBride, Landry Shamet and Jordan Clarkson, and it seems like a crowded backcourt.

Kolek and Alvarado are very different players. Kolek is a floor general with crafty passes and creative finishes around the basket to make up for his lack of athleticism. Alvarado is more of a defensive playmaker, creating havoc with steals.

Despite his diminutive stature, Alvarado can situationally guard players larger than him. Both players are inconsistent as three-point shooters but have proven to be capable enough to garner some respect from defenses.

It's a good problem to have. The Knicks have relied on the bench to step up in key situations. Last year's run to the championship saw several reserves have individual moments in specific games or series.

Brown said in training camp that outside of the starting five, players would be fighting for minutes. Kolek and Alvarado will see some time on the floor this season. Who plays the best will likely earn more time.

Posted on

Liverpool 0-1 Arsenal: Premier League – as it happened

Kai Havertz’s goal was enough to give Arsenal their first win at Anfield since September 2012 and take them three points clear at the top of the table

So where is the game? Liverpool will look to get men around the ball when Arsenal have it, opening the pitch for switches should they win possession. And when they don’t, they’ll run like mad to recover it, stretching play and passing forwards, facilitating that by conserving energy every now and again when Nyoni slows the game down.

In particular, I expect they’ll ask Bradley Barcola to target the space left when Riccardo Calafiori goes off on adventures, with Alexander Isak pulling away for cut-backs and shooting quickly with little backlift, while Florian Wirtz looks to slip passes in behind – if he can work quickly enough in the maelstrom of the match.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Winners & Sinners: Week 2

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 26: Tyler Herro #11 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball against Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers in the third quarter at Fiserv Forum on October 26, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome to Winners & Sinners, where we reflect on the week that was for the Milwaukee Bucks. Week 2 saw the Bucks go 1-2, with the team getting its first win of the season by defeating the arch-rival Indiana Pacers, before being forced into concussion protocols by the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers. But who’s deserving of the hardware?

MVB

Tyler Herro collects his first MVB of the week on the back of efficient shooting in two out of three games and a best-on-court performance against the Pacers: 23 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. The shooting was expected, the poise has stood out, and, more importantly, he was Milwaukee’s best when they were at their best, leading the team to its only win of the season thus far.

Defensive Belt

Defending Champion: Kyle Kuzma.

The Contenders: N/A.

The Decision: Outside of the win against the Pacers, the Bucks haven’t exactly stopped anyone this week. Myles Turner had some moments in that game, then got mauled by Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley against the Cavaliers, who combined for 52 points on 23/32 shooting (72%) in just 48 minutes. Consider the belt vacated until someone shows enough to earn it.

The People’s Champ

retired janitor’s wisdom is always appreciated, but this comment—in a quality back-and-forth with naveed2000s—is too good to overlook:

Please do go deeper into the early-second-round versus late-first-round draft returns, rj! In the meantime, who’s up for marshmallows?

Run That Back

This one was simple, or so I thought. Kasparas Jakučionis gets the ball off the swing from Kel’el Ware and thinks like any good point guard does: Return the favour. First, he jabs sideline; buys some space and forces the switch. Then he curls middle, casts the line: one dribble, two dribbles—just enough line to hook Larry Nance, reel him closer. A third follows, a beat to let the water settle. Then it comes, the left-handed spear between rocks. Right to the chest. And before you know it, the catch is in the net.

Then, in the week’s waning moments, Brayden Burries does this:

Gravity-defying stuff—and enough vertical to lift our collective spirits!

Sinner(s)

Myles Turner: You hate to kick a bloke when he’s down, but Myles Turner has just not been good enough. Not close to it. He was better to start this week against the Pacers, but that game actually proves the point. Turner has been so bad for the Bucks that a six-point, nine-rebound, four-assist, four-block performance, which also came with 29% shooting, three turnovers, and some “efforts” that would lead to a benching for Kel’el Ware, was lauded as a standout night. Following that, he put up just four points and two rebounds against the Rockets before being abused by Allen, Mobley, and whoever else cared to venture into the Bucks’ defensive paint against the Cavaliers.

Second Quarters: Against the Pacers, the Bucks hit just 8/24 shots in the second quarter as a two-point quarter-time lead became an 11-point halftime deficit. Against the Rockets, the Bucks hit just 6/24 shots in the second quarter as they let a two-point quarter-time deficit explode to 22 by halftime. Against the Cavaliers, the Bucks hit just 7/28 shots as they let a one-point quarter-time lead transform into a 26-point deficit. This. Is. Not. Going. To. Get. The. Job. Done.

For more on the Bucks second-quarter woes, check out their shot charts, courtesy of NBA.com:

If… Then…

If Nate Ament has already overtaken Ousmane Dieng in the forward rotation, then the 2026 trade-deadline darling has some serious work to do. Dieng’s offseason deal—three years, $17.5m—seemed surprisingly good for the Bucks, but maybe they knew his play down the stretch was more mirage than oasis.

That’s all for Week 2. Share your winners and sinners in the comments!

Posted on

Braves Minor League Recap: Isaiah Drake Stands Out

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 24: Isaiah Drake #4 of the Glendale Desert Dogs bats during the game between the Scorpions and the Desert Dogs at Camelback Ranch on Saturday, October 24, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Steve Chadwick/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

Saturday was a memorable Halloween for one Atlanta Braves prospect, as Isaiah Drake had a monster game at the plate. In addition to hitting his first AFL home run, Drake went a perfect three for three and drew a walk as he continues to have a good week. Drake was one of five Braves prospects to contribute to Glendales 9-8 victory.

Glendale Desert Dogs 9, Peoria Javelinas 8

  • Tate Southisene, DH: 1-4, BB, 2 R, .851 OPS
  • Owen Carey, RF: 0-4, .853 OPS
  • Isaiah Drake, LF: 3-3, HR, BB, R, 2 RBI, .815 OPS
  • Tyler LaPorte, RP: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1.13 ERA
  • Logan Samuels, RP: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 2.70 ERA

Box Score

Statcast

Isaiah Drake reached base in all four of his plate appearances, collecting three hits including his first Arizona Fall League home run, and a walk as he batted in two runs. Drake’s home run went 403 feet with a 102.4 MPH exit velocity.

Tate Southisene came to the plate five times as the DH, and his results were also strong. Southisene was credited as going one for four with a walk and scored twice, but he had three of his four at bats result in exit velocities of 93+ MPH along with one soft ground out.

Owen Carey got the start in right field and was hitless in four at bats, with just one of his at bats producing an exit velocity above 90 MPH.

Tyler LaPorte and Logan Samuels also appeared in the game. LaPorte went an inning and two thirds of scoreless ball, allowing no base runners and striking out one. Samuels pitched an inning, allowing a hit and recording one strikeout as he picked up the win for the second time in AFL play.

Posted on

2027 South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 100: Jarold Rosado

MADISON, AL - APRIL 15: Jarold Rosado #25 of the Birmingham Barons pitches during the game between the Birmingham Barons and the Rocket City Trash Pandas at Toyota Field on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 in Madison, Alabama.
Jarold Rosado’s second run at mastering Double-A ended the same as his first, with a demotion back to High-A. | (Photo by Emma Bair/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

Welcome to another year of our prospect profiles!

We have been publishing a Top 100 for EIGHT years now, and you may ask yourself: Why 100? Seems excessive.

Sure, it is. Only a portion of the players we’ve profiled over the years have made it to The Show, much less made a major impact there. But a much bigger number have seen Triple-A, the doorstep of the majors. And still more have contributed at Double-A. And given that we’ve seen the White Sox promote players directly from Double-A, once a player makes it to the high minors with the Barons, they are a player to watch, and 100 profiles starts to look more like a minimum than a luxury.

This is another way South Side Sox tries to provide you the most comprehensive reports on the White Sox minor league system. And if these turn about to be some of the only shine a player ever gets as a professional, so be it. It’s well deserved.

The White Sox currently roster (per each team’s web roster, not always accurate to be sure!) 25 players in Triple-A, 28 in Double-A, 39 in High-A, 32 in Low-A, 44 in the ACL and 33 in the DSL, for a total of 201 — including all 20 signed draft picks and UDFAs from this past summer. That means we are diving pretty deep into half of the White Sox system.

Our Top 100 will time itself to wrap up just as the White Sox report to Camelback Ranch in February, so feel free to take the full ride through the White Sox system with us!

Jarold Rosado
Right-Handed Relief Pitcher
6´4´´
215 pounds
Age: 24
2025 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking45
2026 South Side Sox Top Prospect Ranking80
2026 High Level Birmingham (AA)
Age relative to high level -1.4 years
SSS rank among all right-handed relievers in the system 19
Overall 2026 stats (High-A/AA) 4-4 ⚾️ 39 games (6 finishes) ⚾️ 43 1⁄3 IP ⚾️ 6.85 ERA ⚾️ 1.962 WHIP ⚾️ 48 K ⚾️ 36 BB ⚾️ -0.4 WAR

Jarold Rosado was acquired by the White Sox in July 2024 as the return from Kansas City for shortstop Paul DeJong. After signing with the Royals in February 2020 and pitching in the DSL in 2021, Rosado missed the entire 2022 season due to injury. Upon his return in 2023, the righty really struggled, walking 23 batters in 26 innings and pitching to a 10.38 ERA (5.73 FIP).

However, things really clicked for Rosado in 2024. Before the trade, Rosado was with Low-A Columbia, where he pitched to a 1.85 ERA (2.53 FIP) with four saves. He struck out 45 in 39 innings while dropping his walk rate from 16.7% in 2023 to 7.2% in 2024.

This night-and-day difference piqued the interest of the Sox, looking for lottery tickets. After he was acquired, Rosado was assigned to High-A Winston-Salem, picking up where he left off through the first half of the season; he even increased his strikeout rate to 35.4% with the promotion.

Rosado finished his 2024 season as a whole with a 2.11 ERA (2.51 FIP) with 68 K and 15 BB over 55 1⁄3 innings, and he was looking like an absolute steal.

The White Sox used Rosado’s success in High-A at a young age as an excuse to be aggressive with his assignment out of camp in 2025, promoting him to Double-A Birmingham. That turned out to be a promotion too far, as the righty was walloped over 14 games (a 6.61 ERA and 1.898 WHIP, with more walks than Ks) and demoted back to the Dash in July.

Rosado recovered back in Winston-Salem (2.25 ERA and a weak but reasonable K/BB) but then spit the bit to finish his season, with 13 BBs to seven Ks in the Arizona Fall League.

The righthander basically followed his 2025 footprints in 2026, starting in Birmingham and getting mauled (8.49 ERA, 2.229 WHIP, failing to either miss bats or hit the plate), then being demoted back to High-A in August to finish out the season. Rosado’s consolation prize with the Dash was another strong finish to the season, this time including a contribution of a scoreless inning in postseason opener of Winston-Salem’s title run. In fact, over 8 ⅓ innings including the postseason, Rosado didn’t allow a run and gave up just two hits and seven walks against 11 Ks.

While his 2024 dominance is getting more distance in the rear-view mirror, Rosado was still even (fractionally) young for High-A, much less Double-A. His persistent control issues are a grave concern, however, and he has now hit a high-minors “ceiling” in two straight seasons.

There’s a slight chance that rather than just dumping Rosado in Double-A to begin 2027, they work a little psychology and give him some runway in April at High-A, then move him up. But there’s no doubt that the righty will be getting his third and likely final shot to master Double-A this coming summer.


Full 2027 South Side Sox Top 100 White Sox ProspectsStorystream

Posted on

Brewers keep World Series celebration going with 'SNL' appearance

The victory celebration for the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers lasted yet another day as the Commissioner's Trophy made its way onto the stage at NBC's "Saturday Night Live."

Still basking in their five-game victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on the field and their raucous parade on Friday, Oct. 30, through the streets of Milwaukee, Brewers manager Pat Murphy, along with second baseman Brice Turang and designated hitter Christian Yelich, made a cameo appearance with "Weekend Update" host Colin Jost and Bobby Moynihan's "drunk uncle" character.

"Hey, we have something in common, Drunk Uncle," Turang told Mounihan. "We've also been drinking since Wednesday."

Get Milwaukee Brewers championship book and gear!

Murphy chimed in, "I'm the manager. And that's kinda like being the drunk uncle of the team."

As the segment closed, Moynihan, who spent nine seasons on SNL from 2009 to 2017, made a passing reference to Yelich somewhat resembling another former SNL cast member, Pete Davidson. Which ... OK, perhaps.

The Brewers set a franchise record with 103 wins during the regular season, then went 11-2 during the playoffs to secure the first World Series title in franchise history.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brewers keep World Series celebration going with 'SNL' appearance

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

Posted on

Final Five: Breaking down the clutch minutes of the Mavericks’ 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 30: Daniel Gafford #21 and Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks celebrates during the game against the Houston Rockets during the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup on October 30, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Dallas Mavericks (4-2) picked up a huge 116-111 win over the Houston Rockets (5-1) on Friday night in their first NBA Cup game of the season. The road to victory was paved with a slew of clutch plays, with Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving and Daniel Gafford leading the way when it mattered most. The NBA defines the “clutch” as the final five minutes of a game when the score is within five or fewer points. Here we break down that exact scenario from the huge win Friday.

4:21: Tie score, 96-96

The Mavericks entered the clutch with a three-point lead. They forced two stops around a Rockets’ offensive rebound but could not convert on the other end. Again they forced a stop, but yielded another offensive rebound to the Rockets, setting up Fred Van Vleet for a game tying three-point shot.

3:28: Mavs up four, 100-96

Flagg began asserting his clutch-time dominance with an immediate answer to Van Vleet’s three-pointer. At the 4:07 mark, Flagg hit a floater for his 25th point of the night. After a stop and a rebound, Flagg was at it again with a finger roll that was counted as a score after being goaltended.

2:26 Tie score, 100-100

Zaccharie Risacher committed a shooting foul on the following possessing, giving Kevin Durant a chance to drain two free throws. After an Irving missed three-pointer, Van Vleet connected on a bucket to once again tie the score.

1:40 Mavs up 105-100

With the score tied, it was Irving’s turn to respond. Off a Flagg assist, Irving broke the 30-point threshold with a nice 16-foot shot to put the Mavericks up by two points. Caleb Martin committed a shooting foul on Durant, but the 82.7% free throw shooter missed both attempts. Then it was Flagg’s turn to join Irving as a 30-point scorer as he hit a floater, was fouled and connected on the free throw to extend the lead to five points.

1:18 Mavs up five, 107-102

Durant hit a shot to quiet the excitement for a moment, but Irving was not deterred. Dribbling up the court, Irving surprising launched a three-point attempt only seven seconds later. The shot was errant, setting up Gafford for an offensive rebound and put-back. Above the rim, his mini hook shot was on a downward trajectory as soon as it left his hand, warranting a goal tending call on Clint Capela to sustain the five-point lead.

1:00 Mavs up two, 107-105

The next sequence of events may find you shining up your tinfoil hat. On a Rockets’ inbounds pass, Durant cut to the rim, then thrust himself backwards onto Caleb Martin who grabbed a handful of Durant’s jersey. The play was reviewed by officials to determine if it was an away-from-the-play foul (a foul committed on court prior to the ball being inbounded, which gives the offended team a free throw and the ball). Replay seemed to clearly show the contact was initiated and followed-through on by Durant, with Martin grabbing him to brace his fall after absorbing contact, but somehow this was not a factor in the review. Instead, Durant hit the free throw and then immediately connected on a jump shot after the inbound. This turn of events could have been foreboding; just a season ago it may have been. The Mavericks were flying high with a five-point lead, but a questionable call made it a one-possession game in a matter of seconds.

0:24 Mavs up four, 109-105

Following the strange away-from-the-ball foul, things got more tenuous. P.J. Washington got sped up, prompting him to pass the ball toward Irving at half court. The pass was off the mark and Amen Thompson collected in stride heading for what would have been a game-tying layup. Irving stepped in for a charge! What again seemed an obvious call, especially due to Thompson’s unquestionable arm extension push-off, was challenged by the Rockets who had nothing to lose in doing so. Improbably, the charge was overturned on the basis Irving did not have legal guarding position prior to Thompson’s slightly lowered shoulder and arm extension. If karma is your thing, the Mavs were beneficiaries of a “ball don’t lie” moment, as Thompson missed both free throws he received by way of the overturned charge. Flagg had enough at this point, extending the game to a two-possession affair with a slick turnaround jumper for a four-point lead.

0:11 Mavs up three, 111-108

Following Flagg’s heroics, the Mavs were a stop away from all but ending the game, but Jabari Smith nailed a three from the top of the arc to bring the Rockets within one point. With an obvious free throw shooting contest ready to ensue, the Mavericks got the ball to Gafford who was fouled by Durant for a trip to the foul line. Surely, the Mavs did not want to put Gafford in this position, but the Rockets’ on-ball defense after the Mavs inbounded left them no choice. Gafford was unfazed. He calmly stroked both free throws to give Dallas a three-point lead.

0:06 Mavs up three, 113-110

We learned that Dusty May is inclined to foul the opponent when the Mavs are up by three points with mere second remaining, rather than give the opposition a chance to attempt a three-point shot for the tie. Flagg fouled Durant who hit both free throws to cut the Mavericks’ lead to one point. The Rockets had to return the favor, fouling Irving on the other end. Irving hit both of his free throws to maintain the three-point advantage after the exchange.

0:04 Mavs up three, 114-111

With the three-point advantage, Dallas once again fouled to prevent a Rockets’ three-point attempt. This time, Thompson split his pair, hitting the first and intentionally missing the second. Thompson got the rebound off his own miss, but it was because he entered the lane well before the ball hit the rim, resulting in a lane violation and turnover. On the next possession, the Mavs got a measure of away-from-the-ball revenge. Marcus Smart mauled Flagg before the ball was inbounded, giving Flagg the chance to increase the lead to three points, which he calmly did by hitting his free throw.

0:00 Mavs win 116-111

Irving was fouled once again, giving him a trip to the line. The veteran leader put the game out of reach and ended the free throw shooting train by once again hitting both of his attempts to extend the lead to five, leaving the Rockets with no further options. As he iced the game, Irving was serenaded with chants of “MVP” from the home crowd.

In the clutch, Flagg scored 10 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting and 2-of-2 from the line. Irving had six points despite missing two three-point attempts. He hit one shot from inside the arc and drained all four of his free throws. This was a dynamic performance by the pair, showing just how poised beyond his years Flagg is and how important Irving is to the success of the team. Flagg was perfect, answering the bell every time with big plays. Irving, while slightly less than perfect, had it where it counted. Giving himself up for what likely should have been a charge and hitting free throws that effectively ended the game demonstrated how lethal the duo can be. Not to be forgotten, Gafford got in on the fun with an offensive rebound off one of Irving’s missed three-pointers and a putback for two points. He then hit two free throws that were absolutely critical in the win.

I invite you to follow me @_80MPH on X, and check back often at Mavs Moneyball for all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks.

Posted on

Arizona Fall League —Week 4

The fourth week of the Arizona Fall League resulted in the Peoria Javelinas winning four out of their five games and taking over first place in the league. The games on Friday were rained out in Arizona and not rescheduled. 

The Javelinas sit with a 13-8 record overall and are a half game ahead of the Surprise Saguaros. The offense has racked up a +41 run differential so far.

The Padres playing for the Javelinas:

Alex McCoy 

The 6-6 outfielder leads the league with five home runs and has 16 RBI in 14 games. His batting line is .275/.377/.647  and gives him a 1.024 OPS. His power has never been a question, while his ability to make good contact has been the reason he has not moved up the prospect ranks. His power ranks out as a 70, but his hit tool sits at 30 (Fangraphs).

In 57 plate appearances with the Javelinas, McCoy has 20 strikeouts. He carried a 26.2% K rate for the 2026 season between Single-A Fort Wayne and Double-A San Antonio.

After having missed much of the 2025 season with injury, it isn’t surprising McCoy is getting extra work in the AFL but improving his contact ability while decreasing his swing and miss could significantly elevate him as a prospect.

Justin DeCriscio

The 23-year-old infielder has played all over the dirt with the Javelinas as a Padres prospect. A talented shortstop, DeCriscio is being groomed as a utility player with good defense, especially on the left side. 

The season began for DeCriscio with Lake Elsinore and he was promoted to Fort Wayne and then San Antonio as the season progressed.

Drafted in the 10th round of the 2025 draft, he played in 13 games for Lake Elsinore before the end of the season. 

Starting with 28 games at Low-A in 2026, DeCriscio then played 73 games for Fort Wayne and finished the season with 20 games in Double-A.

Over the three levels, he totaled a .270/.358/.425 line, with 29 doubles, two triples, three home runs and finished with 59 RBI. 

Ty Harvey

The catcher suffered multiple injuries in the 2026 season and missed significant time. At 20, Harvey should benefit from development in the AFL. When not catching, Harvey also serves as a DH. The Padres’ No. 4 prospect, Harvey should develop more power but has lacked extra-base hits with the Javelinas. He has two doubles and eight RBI in 10 games with a .229 average and a .622 OPS. 

The Padres pitchers on the Javelinas:

RHP Kannon Kemp 

 The 22-year-old has started five games with a 6.23 ERA for Peoria. In 13 innings, he has eight walks and 14 strikeouts. He also missed time during the season and needed some makeup development work. He is the Padres No. 13 prospect.

RHP Winyer Chourio

Chourio, 22, has started four games for the Javelinas with a 3.86 ERA in 11.2 innings with nine walks and nine strikeouts. Chourio struggled with command at times during the regular season but had 122 strikeouts in 92.2 innings pitched. The Padres No. 15 prospect had a tick up on his velocity over this past season and is Rule 5 eligible after the 2027 season.

LHP Igor Gil

Gil, 25, finished the regular season with San Antonio but was limited to 52 innings over two levels due to injury. He has made six appearances for Peoria and 6.1 innings pitched. He has a 5.68 ERA with eight walks and eight strikeouts. 

RHP Jordan Valenzuela

Valenzuela, 21, pitched in 35 games during the regular season with a 4.63 ERA.  He totaled 44 walks and 70 strikeouts in 46.2 innings. With the Javelinas, Valenzuela has appeared in five games and 4.1 innings but things have not gone well. He has a 14.54 ERA with five walks and three strikeouts so far.

RHP Francis Peña

Peña, 25, had a disastrous 2025 season after excelling in 2024. In a bounce-back year, Peña is trying to re-establish himself as a dominant reliever in the Padres system. He finished the regular season with a 3.05 ERA in 59 innings with 36 walks and 71 strikeouts.

For Peoria, he has pitched in seven games and 8.1 innings with a 0.00 ERA. He has a save in one game and has eight strikeouts with two walks for his appearances. 

Peña features an upper-90s fastball with a plus cutter and should be added to the major league roster if he can maintain good control.

Padres News:

  • Pitcher Garrett Hawkins did not pitch in the big leagues for the Padres in 2026 but he still received a grade from Lincoln Zdunich of Gaslamp Ball because he is a part of the 40-man roster.

Baseball News:

Posted on

Australia’s bizarre selection choices backfired – predictably – in South Africa. It’s time for a reality check

The team’s management needs to offer decisions that make sense, rather than spurious justifications for ones that don’t

No homecoming for the Australian Test team will ever be as hostile as the aftermath of the sandpaper debacle in 2018, but the team making the equivalent trip from South Africa in 2026 will still find that some knives are out. Having led 1-0 after Durban, reversing a trend of poor starts, the side managed to surrender the series across the next two contests, bowled out for 99 in Gqeberha and 111 in Cape Town. As Charlton Heston may have observed: you maniacs, you blew it up.

Pat Cummins as captain strives for equanimity, fond of saying that good performances don’t make his team great and bad ones don’t make them terrible. He concluded his post-match interview in Cape Town by saying that he was “overall relatively happy with how we’re going”. Perhaps, having twice had a team 4 for 40, then gone on to lose both matches by a mile, he should be willing to signal more concern. This team has long had batting problems and made decisions that entrenched them, while a habit of playing down evident concerns has become entrenched across its leadership, from Cummins to coach Andrew McDonald to selection chair George Bailey.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Hawks swept aside in loss to Pelicans

The Atlanta Hawks were unable to follow their impressive victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers, falling to a one-sided defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night at Smoothie King Center; 121-99. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 14 points as seven Hawks scored in double-digits but could not crack 100 points for the first time this season. For the Pelicans, Saddiq Bey scored 25 points while Jeremiah Fears added 20 points.

The Hawks were dealt a bonus (on paper, at least) as Dejounte Murray and Jordan Poole were ruled out prior to the game, while the Hawks were riding high after a narrow victory against the Cavaliers. Naturally, the Pelicans ran out to a double-digit lead and then threatened to run away the latter stages of the first quarter to extend their lead to 15 points by the end of the opening frame.

From there, the Hawks would never get the lead below 10 points, while the Pelicans lead stretched as high as 19 points in the second quarter, 20 points in the third quarter, and a game-high 28 points in the fourth quarter. That’s it, that is essentially this game in passing. The Hawks never made a run to get this game into single digits, never cracked the code offensively, and no Hawk scored more than 15 points as they shot 38.5% from the field as a team.

To put a finer lens on this game, the first quarter was definitive not just for the Pelicans to create their separation, but the themes that would carry on for the entire game. The Pelicans played with physicality last night, displacing the Hawks often, led initially by Zion Williamson (guarded by Dyson Daniels to begin this game before Lu Dort took this assignment) and then Bey, who was able to carve space for himself and hit his runners inside. This physical edge carried the Pelicans, who shot 7-of-17 from three, and had no need to rely on the three when they excelled as they did inside the paint:

The Pelicans scored 66 points in the paint, and the Hawks were unable to slow the Pelicans down inside the arc as the game continued.

The Hawks shot 2-of-11 from three in the first quarter, and this lack of shooting touch would stay with the Hawks for the remainder of the game, shooting 8-of-46 from three for 17%. The Hawks got some good looks from three but failed to convert with consistency.

A couple of examples, as Onyeka Okongwu misses an above the break three, a shot that is more than in Okongwu’s wheelhouse:

View Link

The Hawks move the ball around the perimeter and Nickeil Alexander-Walker misses the three-pointer:

View Link

Alexander-Walker in particular struggled, shooting 3-of-12 from the field and 0-of-7 from three.

The Hawks also settled at times in above the break threes, such as this shot from Jalen Johnson, settling for the three on Williamson:

View Link

The Pelicans didn’t make life easy for Johnson, and threw bodies when he got the ball on the block, such as this possession where three Pelicans are in place to converge on Johnson, whose pass is intercepted for a turnover:

View Link

Again, the Pelicans show Johnson an extra body on the block, but this time the pass out is successful, and Okongwu is able to score at the rim:

View Link

Johnson was able to get down the lane and finish at the rim a couple of times but was unable to make a big impact scoring, finishing with 13 points. This is possibly more disappointing in context as the Pelicans committed 23 turnovers on the game, with Johnson scoring just two points off of those turnovers — an area of the game Johnson can have a commanding presence.

While the Hawks scored 32 points off of those New Orleans turnovers, the Hawks committed 19 turnovers leading to 34 Pelicans points. To credit New Orleans, their hands were active all game long and they did really well to disrupt drives and send bodies in the right directions to come up with steals:

View Link
View Link

The Pelicans were just better in almost every way last night: they found a successful avenue inside the paint and kept going to it, they were active defensively, they were moving the ball and making the extra pass, they shot efficiently from the field on the 15 fewer shots they attempted than the Hawks, they attempted 35 free throws (making 28), four Pelicans outscored the highest scoring Hawk (McCollum), and despite committing more turnovers than Atlanta, New Orleans scored more points off of turnovers. They were just the significantly sharper team last night and the winning margin was most definitely a fair reflection of how the two sides respectively played.

Postgame, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder acknowledged the Hawks did not execute to begin the game, citing Atlanta turnovers which made life difficult defensively and communication issues which led to breakdowns.

“We haven’t started the game well from an execution standpoint,” said Snyder postgame. “I think we’re putting ourselves in tough positions offensively, and tonight that resulted in turnovers which were really tough to defend against. I thought we picked it up on the defensive end and were able to generate some things, but I think our collective focus on the ball changing sides of the floor, making better decisions offensively, and then defensively our communication when we were coming back, we had some breakdowns that I think we can clean up if we’re more connected and talk.”

In addition to getting hammered, the Hawks were dealt injury blows to Jock Landale (who played one minute before being ruled out with a left hip injury) and Jalen Johnson (left ankle) which impacted the rotation. Snyder’s focus was less so on who was on the floor and how the Hawks were connecting on it.

“Hopefully both those guys are going to be okay and not be out for too long, we’ll know more about that tomorrow and beyond,” said Snyder of Landale and Johnson. “No matter who’s on the floor, us being more connected as a group, that’s been something we’ve talked about as a strength. Tonight, it was not only not a strength, it was something that we didn’t do well. Again, this team, as I’ve said, I think we want to be the best version of ourselves. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes games like this for you to really focus on the things you need to do to be successful.”

In Landale’s place, Asa Newell finally got to see some rotation minutes. Newell’s stint in the first half was a disaster; his first three shots were bricks, and that’s not an exaggeration — they were bad misses. The second half stint was considerably better, and Newell finished with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 1-of-6 from three in 18 minutes. Depending on Landale’s injury and if he’s to miss time, Newell seems set to see some more minutes coming up, important minutes to try break into the rotation.

All in all, a poor game all around not just from a team perspective but from a player perspective too. You won’t win many NBA games shooting 8-of-46 from three while also committing 19 turnovers.

“I’d like to get in the gym and practice, our schedule hasn’t really allowed for that,” said Snyder postgame. “But we’ve got to just keep working. The good thing about the NBA is you get a chance to play again pretty quickly, so we’ve got a good night for the end of the day.”

The Hawks (3-4) are back in action on Monday night as their three-game road trip continues in Indiana (2-4).

Until next time!