Month: August 2023

Where Bleacher Report ranks Rockets players in 2023-24 season

Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr., and Alperen Sengun are among the #Rockets represented in Bleacher Report’s 2023-24 NBA player rankings.

The 2023-24 NBA regular season (schedule) starts slightly later than usual; the Houston Rockets opener is Wednesday, Oct. 25 in Orlando. One reason for the delay is likely the ongoing FIBA Basketball World Cup, in which newly signed forward Dillon Brooks is playing a key role for Canada.

The late start means a longer-than-usual slow period in the NBA calendar: 2023-24 training camps don’t open until early October. As a result, many players and coaches around the league are on vacation as they soak up their last moments of free time for months.

Many remain diligent with offseason training regimens, as well.

With that in mind, it’s a good time to take inventory on where things stand heading into a new season. Bleacher Report recently ranked its top 30 guards, wings and bigs entering 2023-24, along with a look at its top 100 overall players. Here’s where Houston players ended up.

LeBron James’ top 10 games of the 2022-23 season: No. 1

A look at LeBron James’ best performance of the 2022-23 season for the Lakers.

In late December, the Los Angeles Lakers were in quite a bit of trouble.

After starting the season 2-10, they had gone on a spurt from mid-November to early December, only to lose superstar big man Anthony Davis to injury shortly. They had lost four of their last five games heading into a Dec. 30 contest at the Atlanta Hawks, and they badly needed to string wins.

Dec. 30 happened to be LeBron James’ 38th birthday, but he managed to step into the Wayback Machine and deliver a performance that made it seem as if he had just turned 28 years of age.

He punished a mediocre Hawks squad by going into volcano mode and posting 47 points on 18-of-27 shooting. Forty-five of those points came after the first quarter, as he helped his team rally from a 15-point deficit to take control.

James added 10 rebounds and nine assists as L.A. earned a 130-121 victory to stop its bleeding.

The victory was the first of five in a row for the Lakers. That streak went a long way in helping them tread water until they performed CPR on themselves with two midseason trades that turned everything around.

UNC basketball recruit climbs updated ESPN rankings

UNC basketball five-star commit Drake Powell moved up in the ESPN class of 2024 rankings.

Hubert Davis and the North Carolina Tar Heels have the top 2024 recruiting class as it stands right now. With three commitments, the Tar Heels have a solid foundation and still have room to add more to the class over the next year.

The class is headlined by Ian Jackson and Drake Powell, both five-star recruits who have really elevated their game since committing. While Jackson has been a consensus Top 10 recruit on recruiting sites, it’s been Powell’s ascension that has really helped this class get better.

And Powell continues to make moves in the rankings.

In the latest ESPN rankings for the 2024 cycle, Powell climbed into the top 15 for the first time as he was ranked No. 12 overall. Powell is the highest-ranked recruit for North Carolina, beating out Jackson who fell to No. 18 in the rankings.

Fellow 2024 recruit, James Brown, checked in at No. 68 as a four-star prospect.  To see the full rankings, please click here.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Bengals surprise at position of strength in new mock draft

A surprise route for the Bengals in a new mock draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals regular season begins in Cleveland on Sunday, September 10, so there’s a lot of time and football between now and draft season, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early for mock drafts.

In a recent mock draft done by Nick Baumgardner and Diante Lee of The Athletic, the Bengals took Keon Coleman, a wide receiver from Florida State with their first-round pick.

Here’s what they said about that choice:

A lot of elite college football players claim they could’ve made a career as a Division I basketball player. We actually have proof with Coleman, who got into six games as a freshman for Tom Izzo at Michigan State. The most athletically gifted X receiver in the class, Coleman, who transferred to Florida State this offseason, could be a lot of fun paired up with Joe Burrow.

Coleman certainly is a gifted athlete and showed flashes of that with Michigan State last season when he brought in 58 receptions for 798 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Bengals are currently set at the wide receiver position, but both Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are in a contract year so it’s possible Coleman would address a positional need if they don’t start spending money on extensions for their offense.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Ronald Acuña Jr. incredibly made MLB history with grand slam on same day as his wedding

Ronald Acuña Jr. had the best possible Thursday.

Atlanta Braves superstar outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. set the record straight on Thursday night as to who is really the National League MVP this season.

In a big rivalry game between the Braves and red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers with NL playoff ramifications, Acuña hammered a beautiful home run into the Dodgers stands with the bases loaded to give the Braves a 5-1 lead in the top of the second inning.

The homer helped Acuña make history as he became the first-ever MLB player to hit 30 home runs and steal 60 bases in a single season.

It also happened in Los Angeles, where fellow superstar Mookie Betts had been getting NL MVP consideration for his stellar 2023 season.

While Betts is a phenomenal player, Acuña’s historic 2023 season should probably tilt a very close NL MVP race in his favor when it’s all said and done.

What makes this historic night even more incredible is that Acuña literally got married earlier in the day to his longtime girlfriend Maria Laborde.

How often do you achieve so much in your life in one single day?

All we know is that we’ll take a National League Championship with the Braves and Dodgers duking it out for the third time in four years yesterday.

Also, plenty of congrats to Acuña on what’s surely one of the happiest days of his life.

Fantasy football: Where to draft Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin

Analyzing Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin’s 2023 fantasy football ADP and where to target him in fantasy drafts.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin seems like he has been around forever, but remember, he is still just 27 years old. He also has reached the 1,000-yard mark in each of his last 2 seasons, and 3 of the previous 4.

Of course, Godwin also stepped up his game dramatically following the arrival of future Hall of Fame QB Tom Brady, now retired, averaging 101 receptions across the last 2 NFL campaigns.

It remains to be seen if Godwin will have anywhere near that kind of success and rapport with QB Baker Mayfield. While the “Bake Show” has a Heisman Trophy, something TB12 never attained, that’s about where the accolades and comparisons stop. Brady is much more accomplished, and Mayfield has become more of a journeyman in recent seasons. This could be the QB’s last chance.

As far as Godwin is concerned, he’ll be working with a new offensive coordinator in Dave Canales, and the plan is to use Godwin in multiple ways, from downfield threat to use out of the slot. Godwin’s targets should be plentiful, and his production will be great, too, as long as Mayfield can get him the ball.

WIN YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE!
The Huddle has been turning players like you into winners for over 25 years. This season, it’s your turn. Custom fantasy football rankings, sleepers and tools are just a click away. Save 25% off the Internet’s best-kept secret. Subscribe now!

Chris Godwin’s ADP: 56.99

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)

Godwin is a very safe fantasy play. You know what you’re going to get, as he is a regular 1,000-yard contributor, he can score plenty, and he is consistent. In addition, Godwin has been fairly durable over his career, too, averaging 14.5 games played per season in his 6 NFL campaigns.

Among wide receivers, Godwin’s ADP in redraft leagues is 23rd, just behind the Tennessee Titans’ DeAndre Hopkins (48.82), Green Bay Packers’ Christian Watson (48.62) and Chicago Bears’ DJ Moore (53.05).

Godwin’s ADP puts him just ahead of a bunched up group which includes Jacksonville Jaguars’ Christian Kirk (64.63), Atlanta Falcons’ Drake London (60.63), teammate Mike Evans (60.93), San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk (65.53), Seattle Seahawks’ Tyler Lockett (64.25) and the Los Angeles Chargers’  Mike Williams (65.21).

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3012″ ]

Chris Godwin’s 2022 stats

Games: 15

Receptions | targets: 104 | 142

Receiving yards: 1,023

Receiving touchdowns: 3

FOOTBALL NEVER STOPS
Live games, analysis and more 7 days a week: Get ESPN+

Where should you draft Godwin?

The good news for Godwin is that he set career bests in receptions and targets last season. The bad news is that he averaged only 9.8 yards per reception, a career low, and his 3 TD  grabs were his lowest since finding the end zone just once during his rookie campaign of 2017.

While that sounds like a lot of concern, and Godwin will also be working with Mayfield and not Brady, there is still plenty to love about the veteran pass catcher.

Again, Godwin is durable, dependable and he’ll see a high volume of targets and catches again in 2023. The new OC loves Godwin’s versatility, and we should see him line up in a number of different places, as the Bucs try to get him the ball.

While Godwin still has to contend with Evans for targets, he’ll remain a solid WR2 in all fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams. If you grab Godwin as early as the end of Round 5, no one can fault you for that. In PPR leagues, he will go off the board slightly higher, perhaps as early as the middle of Round 5.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

[gambcom-standard rankid=”5″ ]

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

Access more NFL coverage:

SportsbookWire.com | BetFTW | TheHuddle Fantasy Football | BearsWire | BengalsWire | BillsWire | BroncosWire | BrownsWire | BucsWire | CardsWire | ChargersWire | ChiefsWire | ColtsWire | CommandersWire | CowboysWire | DolphinsWire | EaglesWire | FalconsWire | GiantsWire | JaguarsWire | JetsWire | LionsWire | NinersWire | PackersWire | PanthersWire | PatriotsWire | RaidersWire | RamsWire | RavensWire | SaintsWire | SeahawksWire | SteelersWire | TexansWire | TitansWire | VikingsWire | DraftWire | TouchdownWire | ListWire

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=3472]

WATCH: Florida finds the end zone for first time in 2023

It took Florida most of the game to find the end zone against Utah, but Caleb Douglas made a nice grab for Graham Mertz’s first Gator score.

It took until the fourth quarter of Thursday’s season opener for Florida to finally find the end zone against the Utah Utes. Graham Mertz went to Caleb Douglas from 19 yards out, and the sophomore receiver went over the top of cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn for a highlight reel score.

The score was Mertz’s first passing touchdown as a Gator and was quickly followed up with a successful two-point conversion pass to Eugene “Tre” Wilson, cutting Utah’s then 21-point lead down to just 13.

For Douglas, it was his second catch of the season after hauling a four-yard pass to kick off the season.

Florida’s rushing game all but disappeared in this game, but it’s still surprising that the first touchdown of the year didn’t come on the ground for the Gators. Mertz had been passing the ball well all night, throwing just one interception thanks to a miscue between him and Ricky Pearsall.

Hopefully, Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr. get going in Week 2.

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Wisconsin announces a new portion of their NIL collective

Wisconsin announces a new portion of their NIL collective

Wisconsin football continues to expand their NIL efforts, with the latest being announced today by the Badgers. Wisconsin is starting the “Camp Randall Club,” and Badger fans can become a part of it through different levels of memberships.

Taking a page out of the recruiting playbook, fans can join the club at different levels of giving all the way from one star to five star.

There are a number of different perks that go along with the levels, including VIP tailgate passes, discounts on merchandise, and much more. Check out more on how to become a member of The Camp Randall Club here:

Bengals rookie WR Andrei Iosivas happy with his preseason performance

Yoshi is on the rise for the Bengals.

The Cincinnati Bengals preseason is officially over, and the newly drafted rookies were able to get some good work in against other NFL teams in game.

Bengals sixth-round draft pick, wide receiver Andrei Iosivas, has been grabbing the attention of people after playing well in the time he saw on the field.

Iosivas left the preseason with 12 catches for 129 yards and caught a touchdown, after which he hit the griddy since he said Ja’Marr Chase told him he needed to if he scored.

He thought the preseason went well for him and he was able to make an impression on the Bengals early on.

“I took every rep here very seriously and I thought you know I showed out and made some plays and also learned a lot from the bad ones.” Iosivas said.

While the Bengals don’t have any issues at the wide receiver position right now, it has to be nice to know they might have found some good depth at the position on day three of the draft in Iosivas.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]

Scott Fitterer: NFC South is ‘within reach’ for the Panthers

Panthers GM Scott Fitterer believes an NFC South crown is within reach in 2023.

Despite a particularly tumultuous season, the Carolina Panthers finished just one game short of an improbable NFC South crown in 2022. But now, that crown seems a lot more probable here in 2023.

General manager Scott Fitterer spoke with reporters on Thursday. And in his first question-and-answer session since assembling a 53-man roster, he seemed to be pretty confident about the work he’s done since last season.

“We had mostly positive, a couple equals; there was one negative,” Fitterer said of the team’s upgrades, per Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. “But overall, I just thought like, ‘You know what? We’re making progress.’ It’s where we want to be. Every year, I say our goal is to win the NFC South. And I think, even with all the new faces, the new staff, and all the changes that are taking place, that’s our goal. And I think if we play (to) our ability, that’s definitely within reach.”

That goal was within reach back in January, when Carolina went into Raymond James Stadium with a chance to move atop the division in Week 17. But after coughing up an 11-point lead with 14 minutes left in their crucial matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they lost the game and their chance at the playoffs.

A few months later, it’s those new faces Fitterer referred to that may get the franchise over the hump. Between head coach Frank Reich and rookie quarterback Bryce Young, who have both invigorated the organization with some hope, the Panthers could be angling for their first division title since 2015.

[lawrence-related id=680150,680147,680124]