Fat Joe takes shot at Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving for picking Nets over Knicks

Add Fat Joe to the list of people who wish Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant signed with the New York Knicks instead of the Brooklyn Nets.

With each passing day, it seems more and more people are making it a point to share their opinion on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s decision to sign with the Brooklyn Nets instead of the New York Knicks.

At first, everyone wanted to criticize the Knicks for the way things played out. Once they were introduced on Nets Media Day before the start of training camp, Durant and Irving made sure to point out their decision was based on the culture Kenny Atkinson and Sean Marks have developed in Brooklyn.

Apparently, there are still people who aren’t satisfied with Irving and Durant’s explanations.

On Tuesday, Kevin Garnett expressed why the two should’ve played for the Knicks.

While promoting his latest album with Sports Illustrated, New York native and longtime rapper Fat Joe criticized Irving and Durant:

You gotta understand, a lotta players — and I’ll call ’em out: Kyrie [and] Durant. They ain’t want that New York Knick pressure. They didn’t want that media attention. They didn’t want Sports Illustrated being right in the backyard. They didn’t want that, so they said, ‘All right, we want New York, but let’s do the lesser of the drama. Let’s go to Brooklyn.’

When asked a follow-up to confirm he was taking a shot at the Nets’ superstars, Fat Joe didn’t back down:

It definitely was and those are my good friends. They didn’t wanna be on the Knicks and be on the back of the Daily News, on the back of the Post. They didn’t want that smoke. They didn’t want it. I’m telling they ain’t want it. They ain’t wanna come to the Garden and now you gotta answer for things.

Durant caught wind of the video on Twitter. He didn’t seem bothered by the comments in the slightest bit.

PFF suggests surprise O-line replacement for Bills in latest mock

Pro Football Focus’ latest 2020 NFL mock draft has the Buffalo Bills selecting offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz from Wisconsin. 

Pro Football Focus‘ latest 2020 NFL mock draft has the Buffalo Bills selecting offensive lineman Tyler Biadasz from Wisconsin.

Prior to this season, the Bills revamped their offensive line and one of the surprise players having a solid 2019 campaign for the Bills is left guard Quinton Spain.

So how do those two players connect? PFF predicts the Bills could use their first-round pick in the upcoming draft to replace Spain.

Here’s how PFF explains the pick:

26. BUFFALO BILLS – C TYLER BIADASZ, WISCONSIN
The highest-graded center in college football, Biadasz has the size to play any interior position. Quinton Spain has been a godsend at left guard but is only on a one-year deal and the Bills can’t afford to let their line backslide in 2020.

The Bills could certainly use a draft pick to replace Spain, but two other options will also be on the table early for Buffalo: receiver and pass rusher. Spain is only on a one-year deal, but it could be imperative they bring him back. Offensive lines build cohesion over time and this Bills unit could be even better next season.

Another reason for keeping Spain could be Dion Dawkins. As a rookie, Dawkins thrived next to Richie Incognito, then took a step back. Re-signing Spain could be an investment in keeping the entire left side of the Bills’ offensive line playing well via a Dawkins-Spain duo.

Plus, Spain is only 28 so a long-term deal with him shouldn’t be off the table. His “Mr. Undrafted” mentality as an NFL player suits the Bills’ “culture” perfectly.

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Nuggets send Bol Bol back to the Windy City Bulls of the G League

Bol is averaging 11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game with the Bulls while he is shooting 54.1% from the field.

The Denver Nuggets have assigned two-way rookie center Bol Bol to the Windy City Bulls of the G League, the team announced on Wednesday afternoon.

The 7-foot-2 center previously played four games with the Bulls prior to re-joining the Nuggets on Nov 24. The organization likely wanted to evaluate Bol after his stint in the G League to see how his body reacted to his first meaningful minutes on the court since undergoing foot surgery in January.

He did not play with the Nuggets after re-joining the team.

Bol is averaging 11.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game with the Bulls while he is shooting 54.1% from the field. He recorded his best game on Nov. 20 after tallying 16 points and 11 rebounds against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Now, it appears as though Bol is gearing up for another stint with the Bulls.

Bol has shown no signs of any lingering issues with his foot and likely cleared all medical tests by the Nuggets after being assigned to the Bulls on Wednesday. He is reportedly on a 20-minute restriction per game as the Nuggets will be cautious with his recovery.

The Bulls play next on Thursday against the Agua Caliente Clippers.

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Al Horford has been big part of Furkan Korkmaz’s emergence for Sixers

Philadelphia 76ers guard Furkan Korkmaz credits Al Horford for his emergence in 2019-20.

The Philadelphia 76ers brought in Al Horford to help the team chase a championship on the court. However, he has also been a big key in helping the younger players as well. After Matisse Thybulle praised Horford for his leadership on Tuesday at practice, another young Sixer had praise for him on Wednesday at practice.

Furkan Korkmaz, who has emerged as a key player for the Sixers, had some high praise for the veteran leader on the team.

“With Al, he has a lot of experience,” said Korkmaz. “Every time he plays the game, he’s like so relaxed, he doesn’t rush. He knows what I can do, that’s why he has different feelings in the game. He can read his teammates well, that’s why we have such a great relationship. It’s hard to get that feeling with the big guys sometimes because they’re on a different pace, but with Joel(Embiid) and Al, we have good chemistry.”

Korkmaz is averaging 9.1 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 36.2% from deep while starting eight of the 20 games so far this season. With Josh Richardson currently ailing and due to a variety of other reasons why other starters are out, coach Brett Brown continues to turn to him. His improved play has a lot do with Horford pulling him aside and helping him learn new things.

“After a possession, we’re normally talking to each other,” said Korkmaz. “He’s trying to explain to me what I can do better or what I did good so next possession if I see him, I ask him ‘Hey, what should I do? What am I supposed to do?’ We communicate really well.”

With Richardson already ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Washington Wizards, it can be assumed that Korkmaz will start again in his place. That offers another chance for the third-year player to learn and grow as a player. [lawrence-related id=20584,20576,20559]

Tiger Woods shoots up-and-down even 72 Wednesday at Hero World Challenge

Tiger Woods caught fire early on the back nine before falling off late in the opening round of the Hero World Challenge.

Tiger Woods’ return to the golf course following his record-tying 82nd PGA Tour victory in October didn’t quite go as planned early on Wednesday in the opening round of the Hero World Challenge.

Battling high winds and struggling to get any approach shots close despite having success off the tee with his driver, Woods made the turn at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas at 2 over, near the back of the pack among the 18-man field.

Then, early on the back nine, he caught fire.

Woods made par on the 10th hole, then shot up the leaderboard on Nos. 11-15, making birdie on three of the four holes, culminating with a chip-in eagle.

Woods finished his last three holes par-bogey-double bogey to walk off the course with a disappointing even par 72. After the first round, Woods sits six shots back of leaders Gary Woodland and Patrick Reed.

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