Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Team USA were dangerously close to a shock defeat by South Sudan in an pre-Olympics exhibition game, but this time there was a much different tone to their competitive contest in Paris on Wednesday clinching a quarter-final berth after a 103-86 victory over spirited underdogs with plenty of hidden gems. Continue reading “Olympics: Adebayo awesome as USA adjust, ease past South Sudan in rematch”
The future is promised to no-one, but both Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards and Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton are tipped for longevity at the international level as the only USA players from last summer’s World Cup squad called up to feature in Olympic play later this month as part of a stacked club under Steve Kerr. Naturally, this serves as more invaluable experience.
Continue reading “Olympics: Edwards-Haliburton duo rightly take pride, leading way for USAB in future”
Bradley Beal is having to exercise patience, easier said than done. Phoenix made a big offseason splash to acquire the three-time All-Star guard, who has only managed to suit up for three games with his new ball club this season and will be unavailable a little while longer as he recovers from a lower back strain – just one of the physical issues that he’s been dealing with since training camp. Continue reading “Bradley Beal injury update: Suns guard sidelined until December with back strain”
Deandre Ayton has been a predictable scapegoat for the Suns’ shortcomings as they trail Denver 3-2 in their Western Conference semis matchup before Game 6 tips off tonight. Having played through a rib injury Wednesday sidelining him from contention for their first elimination game now, what happens next? Continue reading “Deandre Ayton played through Game 5 pain, but now Suns must look within”
Russell Westbrook masked a rough 3-of-19 shooting night with an expert defensive display throughout, culminating in a clutch block-and-deflection to thwart Devin Booker down the stretch as the Los Angeles Clippers earned a frantic Game 1 victory away against Phoenix overnight. Kawhi Leonard led all players with 38 points, including 13 in the fourth – they needed every basket. Continue reading “Clippers 115-110 Suns: Westbrook’s clutch defence proves key as LA snatch Game 1”
February 9 is now in the rearview mirror, with All-Star weekend almost upon us. After the Kyrie Irving move to Dallas opened up a series of trades – both small and significant – I take a look at them in this piece, assessing where that leaves some ball clubs as well as specific players who’ll find themselves in differing situations over the coming months – like the pair above in Brooklyn. Continue reading “NBA trade deadline day – a week on: A look at moves, winners and losers plus new season projections”
Overnight, news emerged that the Dallas Mavericks agreed a trade package to acquire wantaway star guard Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets, a few days after his trade request. Given their lofty ambitions to build a true championship contender around franchise cornerstone Luka Doncic, the effort is commendable but will this move age well in the long run? Continue reading “Worth the gamble? Dallas Mavericks’ trade for unsettled Irving raises big questions for both”
Kyrie Irving recorded a 15-point fourth quarter, as the surging Brooklyn Nets produced a big defensive second-half to snatch a gritty away win over an Atlanta side without star guard Trae Young. However, they had a heart-in-mouth moment at the buzzer after his backcourt partner Dejounte Murray’s contested three attempt could’ve sealed an impressive comeback win. Continue reading “Nets 108-107 Hawks: Irving’s big fourth quarter sees Brooklyn snatch win, now on 10-game win streak”
Luka Doncic produced a 41-point triple-double and only got stronger after a few sequences didn’t go his way in the final minutes of the fourth quarter – turning creator with successive behind-the-back assists for Tim Hardaway Jr and Maxi Kleber as the Dallas Mavericks raced away in overtime, leaving the Brooklyn Nets with a 1-4 record to start the regular season. Continue reading “Mavericks 129-125 Nets: Doncic again decisive, as Dallas slice through Brooklyn in overtime”
If you’ve seen this Q&A style before, you know the drill. If not, where have you been? With a new NBA season already kicking off Tuesday night, I spoke to LA Clippers fan and NBA expert Jack Brown about many topics including: 2022-23 award predictions, more compelling offseason storylines, the newly-formed duos and why he fancies the bullish New Orleans Pelicans – armed with a motivated, injury-free Zion Williamson – as a serious dark horse out West this year. Continue reading “NBA Q&A: New storylines, burning questions and bold predictions made as 22-23 season tips off”
Knives were out rather quickly as Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics fell in a winnable six-game series against the Golden State Warriors in last season’s NBA Finals. After the star forward revealed to B/R at the weekend he quietly played through a non-displaced left wrist fracture for three months, will that change the criticism or narrative weighted on his shoulders?
Continue reading “Jayson Tatum wrist injury: Does Celtics star’s recent admission change the criticism on him?”
With season six of his NBA career two months away, Bam Adebayo – who recorded a new career-high in points (19.1) last term – wants to emulate Udonis Haslem by remaining with the Miami Heat for the rest of his playing days. While his name has risen in trade speculation this offseason, related to Kevin Durant’s desire to depart Brooklyn, the 25-year-old knows he can’t dwell on things out of his control, but reaffirmed his desire to stay in south Florida long-term. Continue reading “Amid trade rumours, Miami’s Adebayo reaffirms desire to remain with Heat for his entire career”
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