Month: September 2020

LeBron James tweets about Chris Paul: ‘Put some respect on his name’

After Chris Paul led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a Game 6 win, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James tweeted appreciation toward him.

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Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Chris Paul helped stave off the Houston Rockets in Game 6 with eight points in the final 3:35 of the game, two of which were free throws to take the lead, and played defense that helped force turnovers in the fourth quarter.

His performance in the 104-100 win caught the attention of many. Some people on Twitter recalled just how much the Rockets gave up to trade Paul for Russell Westbrook.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who is a friend of Paul’s, may have had the same thought cross his mind.

He tweeted “Put some respect on his name and more!” after the Thunder forced Game 7.

Paul scored 15 points in the fourth quarter alone, adding another page to the 15th chapter of his NBA career. This season for Paul can be best summarized by his clutch performances.

During the regular season, he scored the most points in crunch time, defined as the final five minutes of a game that has a score within five points.

In the playoffs he has continued to be a fiend in late-game situations, and has played a key role in all three Oklahoma City wins.

In Game 6, he made a pair of late-3s including a crossover step-back over Robert Covington. Paul gave him a little tap after the shot went through, and Covington likely won’t forget James’ message either if he sees it.

Paul got fouled driving to the rim with 13 seconds left and sank both free throws to put the Thunder up by two, a lead Houston would not come back from.

“He made some incredible plays to kind of carry our team,” head coach Billy Donovan said. “He’s got unbelievable basketball IQ, incredibly smart, he’s a great competition, he’s got an incredible will to win.”

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Who will carry ‘legend’ status one day, and who are the best to never wear UFC gold | Spinning Back

In this week’s edition host Simon Head, ‘Gorgeous’ George, Goze and Farah Hannoun take a look back at the action in UFC on ESPN+ 33 and more.

In this week’s edition host Simon Head, ‘Gorgeous’ George, Goze and Farah Hannoun take a look back at the action in UFC on ESPN+ 33 and more.

Washington WR Terry McLaurin predicted to have over 900 yards, 8 touchdowns in 2020

McLaurin was a major player in fantasy football last season, and he’s expected to have just as much of an impact going forward.

After a stellar rookie season where he put up over 900 yards and seven touchdowns, expectations for Terry McLaurin’s sophomore year in the NFL are definitely high.

Coming into the 2020 season as one of the best receivers in his draft class, McLaurin now has the goal of becoming one of the best receivers in all of the NFL. So what are realistic expectations for the former Ohio State star? At The Huddle, they are projecting Jacobs to total 980 yards and eight touchdowns on 68 receptions, making him the 23rd ranked WR. Take a look at their thoughts on McLaurin this season:

Despite poor quarterback play, McLaurin delivered a strong rookie campaign and became the No. 1 option in the Washington passing attack. If Dwayne Haskins can make strides in his second year under center, 1,000 yards and WR2 production could both be on tap for McLaurin in 2020.

Unfortunately for McLaurin, he plays at a position where his own talent level is not the only factor in his production. One of the most impressive things about his stand-out rookie campaign was the fact that he was able to put up such impressive numbers with a major lack of consistency at the quarterback position. Coming into this season, expectations for Dwayne Haskins are higher as well, and there is a hope that the two can further their connection, one that has been in the works since their time together at Ohio State in college.

At the moment, McLaurin has an average draft position (ADP) of 58, according to ESPN, which means he’s being taken somewhere around the fifth round for most leagues. While reports from Washington’s training camp have been that the offense is looking solid, public perception of the unit is still low, so don’t be surprised if you are able to grab Terry when your time comes around.

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Can you roster QB Dwayne Haskins on your fantasy football team in 2020?

Haskins was not relevant for fantasy football in 2019, but his outlook going forward may cause you to look at picking him up.

There are now less than two weeks until the 2020 NFL season kicks off, so if you have been putting your fantasy football homework off due to the uncertainty brought forth by the coronavirus, it’s time to dust off those rankings.

It might be yet another tough season to find fantasy production from your favorite players in Washington, but there are a few guys who you might consider drafting and plugging into your starting spot. While WR Terry McLaurin is the obvious choice, another player to consider is QB Dwayne Haskins.

You may have just asked yourself, ‘Can I really play Dwayne Haskins as my starting quarterback?’

You’re not alone, and it’s a fair question to ask. After his tumultuous rookie season, expectations are a bit higher for the second-year player, though he isn’t likely to blow the roof off of the stadium just yet. Our friends over at The Huddle have predicted that Haskins will finish the 2020 season with 3,100 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Here is what they have to say about him:

Haskins started to show signs of life at the end of last season, but it was a lackluster rookie campaign overall. It is encouraging to hear that he has been dedicated this offseason, but he is still no more than a low-end QB2 heading into 2020.

At the moment, Haskins’ average draft position (ADP) is 286th, according to ESPN, meaning he is going undrafted in your typical league. That can be taken both ways, seeing as if you want him on your team, there’s hardly a chance that anyone else will beat you to the punch. However, it also shows how low the collective confidence in him is to perform.

What it all comes down to, obviously, is how comfortable he feels running the offense this year. Near the end of 2019, we saw Haskins go on a stretch of a few games where he started to put some things together and look like a capable passer. Of course, he is also working under yet another new coaching staff and offensive coordinator this season, which can’t help the learning process. So far in training camp, he looks much-improved over the rookie version of himself, but coach Ron Rivera admitted that there is still some growing to do.

It’s unlikely that you’ll start Haskins on your fantasy team early on in the season, but if you are a Washington fan who wishes to take him as a late-round flier and stash him on your bench to see what he does? Nobody can blame you for that.

Dominate your fantasy football league with TheHuddle.com. Custom rankings! Sleepers! New customers, take 20% this year’s subscription. Order now!

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Thunder, Twitter reacts to Lu Dort’s big 3-pointers in Game 6 win

After Lu Dort hit big 3-pointers to help the Oklahoma City beat the Houston Rockets, the Thunder expressed confidence in him.

After going 0-for-9 from 3 in Game 5 of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets series, it looked like guard Lu Dort’s offense may have turned into something that was more costly for the Thunder than his defense was helpful.

In the second half of the 104-100 Game 6 Thunder win, Dort showed that was not the case.

Dort went on an 8-0 run by himself, six of the points coming off back-to-back 3-pointers, to give Oklahoma City a 77-75 lead with a minute to go in the third quarter.

“The two 3s that he made late, I give him a lot of credit as a young player to go 0-for-9 last game and people saying that you shouldn’t be shooting” head coach Billy Donovan said.

“The belief the team has inside of him and him taking the good shots — I think that he needs to stop hesitating and then trying to shooting. He’s gotta shoot it. It was good to see those two shots go in.”

“If they back off of you, you shoot it,” Chris Paul said he told Dort.

“I said it game after game: I’m gonna ride with Lu Dort ’til the wheels fall off.”

Some on social media thought the rookie needed to stop shooting.

Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins tweeted that Dort shut him up.

Some other prominent reporters and Twitter personalities simply made jokes in appreciation of him.

The Thunder forced a Game 7 with the help of Dort, who had 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting, and Chris Paul and Danilo Gallinari, who combined for 53 points and closed it out at the free throw line.

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Cornerback Tre Brown “Looks Completely Different” From Last Year

Oklahoma’s cornerbacks coach Roy Manning had high praise for senior cornerback Tre Brown during his zoom press conference on Wednesday.

Oklahoma’s cornerbacks coach Roy Manning had high praise for senior cornerback Tre Brown during his zoom press conference on Wednesday.

“I’m really excited about he steps he’s taken from January until now,” Manning said.

Brown racked up 32 tackles, 11 deflections and one interception last season. But for Manning, there’s reason to expect a completely different player in 2020.

“To his credit, he looks completely different than a year ago,” Manning said. “As committed right now as I’ve seen since I’ve been here to his technique, and it’s allowing him to make plays and make plays consistently. He is playing at a really high level right now.

Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch agrees, listing Brown as a player that has stepped up significantly this year.

“A year ago, he wasn’t a leader by example,” Grinch said. “He had his good days, but then he was too willing to just have a bad day. And I think Tre would tell you the same thing. And I’m not just talking about the season. I’m talking about in fall camp and those things.”

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Rockets blow another late lead with turnovers as Thunder force Game 7

The Rockets had 22 turnovers, and they were outscored by a 12-2 margin over the final four minutes as OKC forced a Game 7 on Wednesday..

Going into Game 6, Houston head coach Mike D’Antoni had stressed the importance of turnovers as a key indicator for his Rockets. In their three wins of the first-round series versus Oklahoma City, the Rockets averaged 8.3 turnovers; in two prior losses, that total ballooned to 14.5.

In Monday’s Game 6, that turnover figure exploded to a playoff-high 22, leading to a 104-100 Thunder victory (box score). A decisive, winner-take-all Game 7 is set for Wednesday night.

“We’re gonna respond,” D’Antoni said postgame. “We’ll clean up some things. We can’t play much worse. We’ll play better.”

Houston led by six with under four minutes remaining in regulation, but the Thunder closed the game on a 12-2 run. Eight of those points came by former Rocket Chris Paul, who scored a team-high 28 points — including a pair of free throws to break the tie with 13.1 seconds left.

With Houston trailing by two, Russell Westbrook then threw the ball out of bounds for his team-high seventh turnover of the game. Earlier in the final minute, Westbrook airballed a mid-range shot that would have given the Rockets the lead.

James Harden led Houston in the loss with 32 points (50% shooting) and seven assists. But excluding a heave at the buzzer — when the Rockets trailed by four and the game was already over — the MVP finalist only shot once over the final four minutes, when the game was decided.

It’s the latest in a troubling trend for the Rockets, whose three wins have come by an average of more than 20 points per game. In the three games (Game 3, Game 4, and Game 6) that have been there for the taking in the closing minutes, Houston has lost all of them.

“When it comes down to the last five minutes, they’re the best team in the league at it,” D’Antoni said of the Thunder.

“CP [Paul] does not miss foul shots, and he hits big shots,” he added. “We’ve got to do a better job before we get in the last five minutes. … Even with that, we still had our chances. We didn’t finish it off.”

Houston’s All-Star backcourt of Westbrook and Harden combined for 12 of the 22 turnovers, with “The Beard” registering the other five.

With their season officially on the line, the Rockets will play a do-or-die Game 7 on Wednesday night at the NBA “bubble.” Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m. Central, with a national TV broadcast on ABC.

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After 1 point Game 5, Gallinari scores 26 in Game 6 Thunder win over Rockets

After scoring one point in Game 5, Danilo Gallinari was instrumental in the Oklahoma City Thunder Game 6 win over the Houston Rockets.

In Game 5, Danilo Gallinari could not find openings. He could not get the ball. He only attempted five shots and finished with one point, which came on a technical free throw.

That could not happen in Game 6, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Billy Donovan said.

“Today was trying to get Gallo a little bit more involved,” Donovan said. “Putting Gallo in some high-screening action, knowing that they were going to switch and then trying to get the floor spaced with Gallo in the high slot.”

They did that. Gallinari was able to find space on catch-and-shoots and created shots for himself, pacing the Thunder with 25 points in the 104-100 win over the Houston Rockets to force a Game 7.

Gallinari scored 11 points in the first half and then 12 points in the third quarter alone.

He only had two in the fourth, but those two points were free throws with four seconds left that iced the game.

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“We were able to kind of get the floor organized … It’s hard for any really, really great offensive player to operate effectively without really, really good spacing,” Donovan said.

“And I thought our guys, once we got into initial actions, and we got what we wanted, we got the floor spaced correctly, and we kind of knew where maybe help was going to come from.”

That spacing helped, as Gallinari knocked down some catch-and-shoot 3s.

But Gallinari also created shots for himself using his height advantage over the Rockets.

This shot isn’t quite a Dirk Nowitzki fadeaway, but with such a high release that towered over his defender’s head, the 6-foot-10 Gallinari had all the room he needed with a slight lean back.

He also used some strength to get to his mark on the court and then create room.

Gallinari was instrumental in the Thunder win. After starting slow, he made eight Oklahoma City points in a row during a stretch in the first quarter.

His 12 points in the third quarter was more than 40% of Oklahoma City’s total points in that frame.

Gallinari’s consistency has become relied upon for this Thunder team. As they force a Game 7, his stretch-big skill needs to be a difference-maker in a win-or-go home game.

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Bill Bedenbaugh Pleased with Offensive Line Depth in 2020

Oklahoma’s offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh raved about his unit’s depth this season during a zoom press conference on Wednesday.

Oklahoma’s offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh raved about his unit’s depth this season during a zoom press conference on Wednesday.

Part of the reason: the complicated process known as college football in 2020.

“In the situation we’re in right now, with guys being in and out for whatever reason it is, we have had very few guys play the exact same position from day one,” Bedenbaugh said.

For a good example, look no further than true freshman Andrew Raym, a former four-star prospect and one of the most anticipated newcomers this season.

“If you go back to spring, Andrew Raym has played center, he’s played left guard, he’s played right guard, and he’s played right tackle,” Bedenbaugh said. “We still may move a few guys around here and there, but I do think it’s going to help us down the line. It’s a weird year; you never know what’s going to happen.”

The unintended result: the offensive line depth this season might look better than ever before.

“We have a lot of depth,” Bedenbaugh said. “There are some really good players that are going to have to be on our scout teams. Guys know that the person behind them is pushing them. It’s a fortunate thing for me that guys have to compete every day. I really feel good about our depth inside, as good as I’ve felt since I’ve been here.”

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Former Warrior Andre Iguodala logs 19 minutes in Heat’s Game 1 win vs. Bucks

In the opening game of the Heat’s round two playoff series against the Bucks, former Warrior Andre Iguodala scored two points in 19 minutes.

Over the past five years, the second round of the NBA Playoffs has brought on a new matchup for the Golden State Warriors. However, 2020 paints a different story.

With the league’s worst record in the association, the Warriors were left outside the Orlando Bubble before the playoffs began. As postseason action continues at Disney World, Warriors Wire is checking in with former Dubs in the 2020 playoff picture.

Following the first round, former Warriors Alec Burks, Glenn Robinson III and Justin Holiday were eliminated. With the second round underway, a handful of ex-Warriors are still on the court.

On Monday, Golden State’s 2015 Finals Most Valuable Player laced up for the Miami Heat against the Milwaukee Bucks. In 19 minutes off the bench, Andre Iguodala tallied two points on 1-of-4 shooting from the field. The veteran forward added four rebounds, a steal and a block. Iguodala missed all three of his attempts from beyond the arc.

Via @MiamiHEAT on Twitter:

For the first time in Miami’s 2020 playoff run, Iguodala did not play the entire fourth quarter. In the final period against Milwaukee, he logged only four minutes for Erik Spoelstra.

With a playoff career-high of 40 points, Jimmy Butler led the Heat past Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks to a game one victory, 115-104. Butler tacked on four rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.

In Milwaukee’s loss, the reigning NBA MVP registered 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field with 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Watch highlights from Miami’s game one win via YouTube:

Iguodala and the Heat will be back on the court in Disney World against Antetokounmpo on Wednesday at 3:30 P.M. P.T.

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