Following 335 NBA games, Nik Stauskas moved to EuroLeague and KIROLBET Baskonia last summer. He admittedly did not know what to expect, but a few months in his European career has spotted significant differences between the way of play in the Old Continent and the NBA. “The games here are very competitive” he said talking to gathered journalists ahead of the EuroLeague Regular Season Round 8 home match versus Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv, “I feel the defense here is a lot better.”
Tania Ganguli: Monty Williams said the …
Chris Mannix: Nets and Barclays Center …
Chris Mannix: Nets and Barclays Center have parted ways with David Levy, per team.
Chris Mannix: The Nets statement on …
Who were some of your heroes when you …
Who were some of your heroes when you were growing up in Japan? Rui Hachimura: I’d say Ichiro [Suzuki] was my hero because I played baseball before I played basketball. I played for six years, and Ichiro is obviously the guy in Japan at that time. And I still like him because he’s not only a great baseball player, but a great guy, a great person.
What position did you play in baseball? …
What position did you play in baseball? Rui Hachimura: I did a lot, but I was mostly a pitcher and a catcher. I was a good hitter, too. Who is a player you dream of dunking on in the NBA? Rui Hachimura: Oh, I don’t know. [Laughs.] Maybe LeBron [James]?
Report: Chinese backlash costing Rockets over $7 million this season
The Chinese backlash to Daryl Morey’s tweet could reportedly cost the Rockets $20 million, once terminated multiyear deals are calculated.
The Chinese backlash to the now infamous Hong Kong tweet by Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey could cost the franchise nearly $20 million once terminated multiyear deals are calculated, according to a story published Tuesday by ESPN‘s Kevin Arnovitz.
The ongoing controversy could also have ramifications for owner Tilman Fertitta and superstar guard James Harden, if no resolution is reached between the NBA and its Chinese partners. Arnovitz writes:
No team has felt the brunt of the fallout more than the Rockets. League sources say the franchise has lost more than $7 million in revenue this season from cancelled Chinese sponsorship agreements and nearly $20 million overall when terminated multiyear deals are calculated.
Previous Rockets owner Leslie Alexander was able to parlay the Rockets’ presence in China into numerous investment opportunities, from wine distribution to the Chinese auto aftermarket. The friction between the NBA and China could temper any ambitions his successor, Tilman Fertitta, has to expand his portfolio into China after paying $2.2 billion for the team in 2017. For their superstar James Harden, the losses could be considerable if no resolution is reached. A source says Harden’s endorsement agreement with Shanghai’s SPD Bank Credit Card is imperiled.
One month later, the NBA is still making sense of how a tweet exploded into an international incident. A few peeks behind the scenes of a conflict that has receded from public view, but lingers.https://t.co/paXTk2o658
— Kevin Arnovitz (@kevinarnovitz) November 12, 2019
The financial amount of Harden’s endorsement pact with SPD Bank Credit Card was not reported in the story.
Two days after Morey’s original post, Harden attempted to mend fences with an apology to Chinese fans for the team’s involvement in the controversy. Harden typically travels to China at least once per NBA offseason for endorsement purposes and to promote his brand.
The overall terms are roughly in line with an October report from the Houston Chronicle‘s Jonathan Feigen, who said the fallout from Morey’s tweet in support of the Hong Kong protest movement could cost the Rockets between $10 million and $25 million. It remains to be seen if any of those relationships can ultimately be repaired.
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Bucs jump four spots in latest USA TODAY NFL Power Rankings
After a big win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers climbed up the ladder in the latest NFL Power Rankings.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrated their first win since Week 4 Sunday when they took down the Arizona Cardinals, 30-27, at home.
It was the Bucs’ first true home game since Week 3, and the big win also helped stopped the team’s four-game losing streak.
A win was just what this team needed, too, with a rematch against the New Orleans Saints looming. The Saints beat the Buccaneers back in Week 5, which started them on their losing streak. The Bucs would love nothing more than to add to the Saints’ misery after New Orleans was stunned at home last Sunday by the 1-7 Atlanta Falcons.
Tampa Bay is not only riding the momentum this week heading into their big divisional showdown Sunday, but they’re also climbing up the ladder in the latest USA TODAY NFL Power Rankings, making the jump from 26 to 22 this week.
Here’s a little nugget of information added about wide receiver Breshad Perriman:
“Fair or not, NFL’s Next Gen Stats can be really unkind. Bucs’ Breshad Perriman currently has league’s worst catch percentage (32.1%).”
The Bucs will take on the Saints and Drew Brees without cornerback Vernon Hargreaves, who was cut by the team earlier today just days after being benched against the Cardinals for lack of hustle.
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NFL Power Rankings Week 11: Lions drop to bottom third of the NFL
The Lions (3-5-1) continue to fall in NFL Power Rankings, the loss of quarterback Matthew Stafford surely impacted their status in Week 11.
The Lions (3-5-1) continue to fall in NFL Power Rankings and the loss of quarterback Matthew Stafford surely impacted their status in Week 11 more than the loss to the Bears did.
Let’s take a look at where the Lions stand in the national eye.
USA Today: 27 (Previous: 18)
“Is Kenny Golladay most dangerous deep threat we don’t discuss? Back to those Next Gen Stats, no player averages more targeted air yards than his 16.5.” — Nate Davis
Touchdown Wire: 23 (Previous: 20)
“It’s going to be easy to blame Matthew Stafford’s back injury for Detroit’s 20-13 loss to the Bears, as Stafford had to sit while backup Jeff Driskel took the field. But Driskel wasn’t horrible; he completed 27 passes in 46 attempts for 269 yards, with one touchdown and one interception against one of the NFL’s most formidable defenses. When assigning blame for this loss, and for the collapse that has seen the Lions lose five of their past six games, one must look squarely at a defense that allowed four touchdowns to Oakland rookies in Week 9 and followed that up by making things all too easy for Mitchell Trubisky on his three touchdown passes. This looked like one of the NFL’s better pass defenses at times early in the season, but that narrative has completely fallen apart. Per Pro Football Focus, Detroit’s secondary has allowed 15 touchdowns to just three interceptions this season. No team is going to win that way consistently, no matter who their quarterback is.” — Doug Farrar
NFL: 24 (Previous: 19)
“Here’s a hot take: The Lions really need Matthew Stafford. The quarterback, whose iron-man starting streak ended on Sunday due to a back injury, was sorely missed in a loss to the Bears that put Detroit’s playoff hopes on life support. Jeff Driskel stepped in for Stafford and had a few moments — his best being a pretty, 47-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Golladay that gave the Lions a spark in the fourth quarter — but this simply isn’t a balanced enough team to survive the absence of its best player. The typically overmatched Lions defense started off well, holding the Bears to just 20 yards on four fruitless drives to start the game. But Mitch Trubisky threw touchdown passes in the next three Bears possessions, putting Detroit in a 20-6 hole that was simply too deep with Stafford on the sideline. Now we wait to see how long the quarterback has to stay there.” — Dan Hanzus
ESPN: 21 (Previous: 18)
“Most important game left: Sunday vs. Cowboys. It’s cliché to say the next game is the most important because it’s the next one, but based on what’s happening with the Lions, it really is. Detroit has lost five of six games. Its defense doesn’t appear to be improving, and its offense might or might not have Matthew Stafford. The Lions get the Cowboys at home, and if they can’t beat Dallas, their season will be all but over considering the state of the NFC and that of the NFC North.” — Michael Rothstein
CBS Sports: 23 (Previous 20)
“If Matt Stafford is out for a while they are done. They are probably done anyway.” — Pete Prisco
Sports Illustrated: 24 (Previous: 16)
“Matthew Stafford has been this team’s most important player since Megatron pulled the plug, and predictably the Lions couldn’t squeeze enough out of Jeff Driskel to take advantage of two late fourth quarter drives. Detroit has underdelivered on the early season promise they flashed in those tight losses to the Chiefs and Packers.” — MMQB staff
Sporting News: 22 (Previous: 18)
“The Lions did their best to hang with the Bears, with Jeff Driskel doing his best Matthew Stafford impression at times. But the injury-related uncertainty of their usually durable leader during his best NFL season has to be a big emotional blow.” — Vinnie Iyer
3 years ago, Conor McGregor reached the pinnacle. Can he rise from the depths?
Conor McGregor reflects on the anniversary of his most iconic moment, but can he return to glory?
Three years ago today, [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] became the first fighter in UFC history to capture two belts simultaneously, but he hasn’t won a fight since.
On Nov. 12, 2016, then-featherweight champion McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) defeated then-lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez via second-round TKO in a flawless performance at UFC 205. McGregor then went on to box undefeated Floyd Mayweather in August 2017, putting on a valiant effort in a 10th-round TKO loss. McGregor reportedly made over $100 million and was later stripped of his 155-pound title because of inactivity.
In October 2018, McGregor returned to action after almost two years away from the octagon and took on undefeated lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. McGregor was submitted in the fourth round, and since then has been involved in an array of legal issues.
Many questioned McGregor’s motivation after making so much money, as his issues outside the octagon began to pile up. From smashing a fan’s phone to sucker-punching a man in a pub to being the subject of two sexual assault investigations in the last year, McGregor has found himself battling many legal issues. But it appears he has diverted his attention back to fighting.
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He recently announced a Jan. 18 return, with all signs pointing to Donald Cerrone, but can McGregor climb back to the dominant and focused force he once was? He took to Instagram to reflect on his special night three years ago at Madison Square Garden, an iconic moment in his career.
3 years ago today I became a multiple time, multiple-weight World champion at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
What a moment in my life.
To capture the double once. Wow!
To do it twice.
Lord have mercy 🙏
I often look at this second picture and imagine how trippy that view must be for my father. Looking up at his son after doing exactly shot for shot what I told him I would do.
I even done it no hands the second time.
I will credit hard work for this moment but it’s not just that.
Hard work alone is not enough.
We can all work hard for a minute. It’s the consistency to do it over and over and over again that will lead you to these iconic moments.
Year after year of focused work!
I worked hard my last two fights. No doubt. But without consistency, I fell short.
All amazing and valuable lessons going forward on this journey that is Martial Life!
Onwards we go…
Happy Tuesday everyone.
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.
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