Tag: for the win

Podcast: USA TODAY’s Bryan Kalbrosky on Rockets, NBA Draft chatter

Bryan Kalbrosky, national NBA staff writer with USA TODAY’s For The Win, shares his insight and perspective on Houston’s 2024 draft plans.

Bryan Kalbrosky, national NBA staff writer at USA TODAY’s For The Win, shares the latest intel and scouting analysis related to the Rockets and their No. 3 overall draft pick in the 2024 draft. His latest mock draft projects Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard to Houston.

Hosted by Rockets podcasters Ben DuBose and Paulo Alves, discussion topics include a wave of recent rumors linking Sheppard to Houston. Other subjects include alternative options such as Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Alex Sarr, trade scenarios, and more.

The show also features perspective on Houston’s improved placement in the Western Conference, and why the Rockets were justified in giving a contract extension to general manager Rafael Stone.

Thursday’s interview, which is sponsored by Clutch City Lager of Karbach Brewing, can be listened to below in its entirety. Each episode is also made available via flagship radio station SportsTalk 790 and all major podcast distributors under “The Lager Line.”

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Former Gator Colin Castleton standing out during NBA Summer League

For The Win’s NBA staff writer Bryan Kalbrosky recently took a look at the top five players in this year’s summer league action.

Former Florida basketball standout Colin Castleton did not hear his name called during the draft back on June 22 but was still able to sign on with the Los Angeles Lakers on an undrafted free agent contract. It appears that the Lakers’ gamble on the ex-Gator was a good one, as the center has performed well during the NBA Summer League schedule.

For The Win’s NBA staff writer Bryan Kalbrosky recently took a look at the top five players in this year’s summer league action, which includes the UF alumnus. The big man has put up numbers similar to what he recorded during college, which bodes well for his future in the league.

After signing a two-way deal with the Lakers, undrafted free agent big man Colin Castleton looked outstanding during summer league.

He averaged 20.6 points, 13.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.7 blocks per 40 minutes for Los Angeles. He was 8 of 11 (72.7%) as the roll man during ball screens, per Synergy, and 6 of 8 (75.0%) when cutting to the basket.

His blend of rim protection and offensive playmaking is hard to find.

Castleton is one of just three high-major players on record since 2008 to reach challenging thresholds for assist rate (15.0 percent) and block rate (9.0 percent) in the same season, via Bart Torvik.

He is also one of just three Division I men’s college basketball players on record with at least collegiate 140 assists, 140 blocks and fewer than 200 fouls.

He recorded at least six assists in more than half of his games during summer league for the Lakers.

19.8 percent of his passes led directly to a shot from a teammate at Florida last season. That ranked top-15 among all notable undrafted free agents who played in NBA 2K24 Summer League, per Stats Perform.

Castleton also set 0.13 dribble handoffs per touch last season, also via Stats Perform, which ranked top-15 among notable UDFA as well. These actions give him tremendous value as a connective piece for Los Angeles.

Castleton is just about 6-foot-11-inches in socks and his wingspan is nearly 7-foot-4-inches.

According to Stadium Speak, his closest physical comparisons include Chris Bosh and Mike Muscala.

He could potentially crack the rotation in the frontcourt for the Lakers if they become depleted by any unexpected injuries or if they do not make any more transactions to replenish their frontcourt depth.

The NBA Summer League continues on Monday night as the Houston Rockets take on the Dallas Mavericks at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the final game of the season, starting at 9 p.m. EDT.

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FTW’s 2024 NBA mock draft: OKC Thunder adds Cody Williams, others

In @ForTheWin ‘s 2024 NBA mock draft, the Thunder added three players in the first round.

The 2023 NBA draft is over and the Oklahoma City Thunder came away with two rookies: Cason Wallace at No. 10 and Keyontae Johnson at No. 50.

Overall, it was a relatively quiet night for the Thunder. That is likely to change next year; OKC could own as many as four first-round picks:

  • Thunder first-round pick
  • LA Clippers first-round pick
  • Top-four protected Houston Rockets first-round pick
  • Top-10 protected Utah Jazz first-round pick

In For The Win’s 2024 mock draft, the Thunder had three first-round selections: their pick, the Rockets’ pick and the Clippers’ pick. Let’s look at who FTW’s Bryan Kalbrosky has the Thunder adding with their three selections. All ages listed are how old they’ll be when the 2024 draft is held:

Deonte Banks continues to be popular for the Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings are an incredibly popular landing spot for Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks.

The Minnesota Vikings continue to have a need at cornerback, but do they need to take one in round one? The cornerback class is really deep and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah likes to maximize the market. That could mean waiting on the position.

For The Win’s Christian D’Andrea disagrees by sending Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks to the Vikings at 23rd overall.

Signing Byron Murphy was a great buy-low(ish) move for a team pressed hard against the salary cap. Adding Banks would add another high-upside option to a needy secondary. The Vikings ranked 26th in pass defense DVOA, ranked 21st in passer rating allowed and just lost their best corner, Patrick Peterson, to leave in free agency.

Banks can be a plug-and-play starter with the potential to be so much more. He was one of the combine’s fastest participants and at 6-feet is big enough to hold his own in jump ball situations downfield. He also allowed just 4.3 yards per target in coverage last season at Maryland, punishing quarterbacks who turned his way and proving he can be a top option against WR1s.

It’s no secret that the Vikings need help in the secondary and Banks would provide that in droves. His performance against Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. is what sold me on him and as he continues to trust himself, he will only get better.

Vikings take combine standout in surprising mock draft

With the Minnesota Vikings working on reshaping their roster, taking a rising edge rusher is an interesting choice

The Minnesota Vikings are far from done reshaping their roster this offseason and mock drafts are continuing to send them cornerbacks. The latest from Christian D’Andrea of For The Win has the Vikings going in a unique direction with Northwestern DE Adetomiwa Adebawore.

OK, the Vikings’ trade back backfired and some of the cornerback prospects who would have been extremely helpful are now off the board. Nevertheless!

Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter were a fearsome pass rushing combination in 2022, but both are aging veterans and Hunter (along with DJ Wonnum) will be a free agent next spring. Adebawore would infuse the Vikings’ edge rush with young blood as a 282-pound powerhouse capable of running a sub-4.5 second 40.

That’s a big deal for a prospect who, on paper, looked too small to play on the line and too slow to handle linebacker duties. The Vikings would be taking a risk here, but they’d pick up a player whose profile suggests positional versatility — someone who could add bulk and fill in up front while Smith and Hunter thrive or man the edge in a rotational role before taking over in 2024. With a new era seemingly on the horizon in Minnesota — this is Kirk Cousins’ final year under contract — there’s some logic to taking an uber-athletic defender and giving him time to figure things out.

Adebawore had an incredible combine with a 4.49-second 40-yard dash and tested out of his mind at 282 lbs. It might be a little rich and a surprising selection for a Vikings team that is desperate at cornerback and wide receiver, but Adebawore is a damn good player.

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What are the NFL pass interference rules in 2023?

It’s not complicated!

You’re here because someone in Super Bowl 57 just committed an egregious pass interference penalty, as dictated by the officials. Or you’re here because the officials missed what was clearly a pass interference penalty, and everyone on social media and in your living room is arguing about what the rule actually means.

It’s the Super Bowl; would you have it any other way?

The pass interference answer applies to both offensive players and defenders, and is rather simple (if not always in application).

According to the NFL 2022 rulebook: “It is pass interference by either team when any act by a player more than one yard beyond the line of scrimmage significantly hinders an eligible player’s opportunity to catch the ball.”

So what are those acts that can “significantly hinder” a catch attempt? Here we go:

Acts that are pass interference include, but are not limited to:

  1. Contact by a player who is not playing the ball that restricts the opponent’s opportunity to make the catch;
  2. Playing through the back of an opponent in an attempt to make a play on the ball;
  3. Grabbing an opponent’s arm(s) in such a manner that restricts his opportunity to catch a pass;
  4. Extending an arm across the body of an opponent, thus restricting his ability to catch a pass, and regardless of whether the player committing such act is playing the ball;
  5. Cutting off the path of an opponent by making contact with him, without playing the ball;
  6. Hooking an opponent in an attempt to get to the ball in such a manner that it causes the opponent’s body to turn prior to the ball arriving; or
  7. Initiating contact with an opponent by shoving or pushing off, thus creating separation.

There you have it!

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Super Bowl 2023 announcers: Who’s calling the game for FOX?

Greg Olsen and Kevin Burkhardt will announce their first Super Bowl.

Super Bowl 57 between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will take place at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX. 

After being broadcast on NBC last year and CBS the year prior, the game has rotated back to FOX, where Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen will announce their first Super Bowl together. The tandem of Burkhardt and Olsen will be the network’s first time since 2002 (Super Bowl XXXVI) without Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, who left FOX after last season to join ESPN.

Erin Andrews will make her fourth Super Bowl appearance as a sideline reporter while Tom Rinaldi makes his debut.

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Who is performing at the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show?

Rihanna is performing at halftime of this year’s Super Bowl.

Nine-time Grammy Award winner Rihanna is set to bless the 2023 Super Bowl halftime show for the first time in her illustrious music career.

Months back, the wildly successful American pop singer/songwriter Taylor Swift was rumored to be this upcoming Super Bowl’s halftime performer. But Rihanna, who’d previously shot down the opportunity to perform during halftime of 2019’s Super Bowl (LIII), let the world know last September via Instagram that she’d be taking center stage at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Rihanna’s performance will follow the 2022 Super Bowl’s star-studded halftime show that featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and Anderson .Paak.

What time does the Super Bowl 2023 start?

Here’s when you can watch the Big Game.

With all of the festivities happening, it’s understandably hard to keep track of when exactly Super Bowl 57 between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will kick off. If you don’t want to watch the pregame festivities or can’t tune in until the first kick, we get it: you just want to jump into all of the action right away.

Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered!

The actual game will kick off on Sunday, February 12, at 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

That means if you’re in other time zones, you should prepare accordingly for the matchup to begin earlier in your respective day.

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WNBA: The 4 best remaining free agents, including Tina Charles

A list of the four best WNBA players still on the market.

W fans, are your heads still spinning from all that’s already gone down in free agency over the past week?

From Candace Parker and Alysha Clark joining the defending champion Las Vegas Aces to Breanna Stewart and Allie Quigley heading to the Big Apple to accompany Sabrina Ionescu on the Liberty, it feels like there’s some huge, league-altering move every other day.

And while it may appear the free agency period has given us all we can handle, quietly, there are still several impactful players left on the market — some restricted and some unrestricted. 

As we wind down the first week of the free agency period and rosters begin to take shape, we take a look at the four best remaining players who are without a team.