Lake Show Returns –
The Los Angeles Lakers are No. 2 in the NBA and No. 1 in the West Conference. They secured their playoff spot and had a big weekend. LeBron James and squad beat the top team in the NBA, the Milwaukee Bucks, 113 – 103. The Eastern Conference Bucks have the reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Lakers followed that up by knocking out their arena roommate, the Los Angeles Clippers, 112 – 103. The Clippers, led by the reigning Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, are No. 4 in the NBA and No. 2 in the West.
Pretty big deal for the Lakers since they haven’t been able to beat two of the top four teams in the NBA in consecutive games since February 2009, when they took down the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Elias Sports Bureau research.
The last time the Lakers played in the playoffs was in the 2012 -2013 season. Ironically, it was Dwight Howard’s first stint in purple and gold. The center returned to the Lakers last summer.
Swiffer Please –
NFL quarterback Tom Brady is a free agent and the pro football world has been in a frenzy wondering where he will play next season. The 6-time Super Bowl Champion has played his entire career with the New England Patriots. That’s 20 seasons, more than any other quarterback with one team.
Brady called on his former Offensive Coordinator, Charlie Weis, to clean up all the rumors and speculation about who he will play for in the 2020 Season. Here is the message the 3-time NFL Most Valuable Player had Weis deliver to “clean it up.”:
“Nobody knows anything. So anyone who is telling you they know, they don’t know.”
Kyrie Strikes Again? –
The Brooklyn Nets fired head coach Kenny Atkinson. Seems quite bizarre for a coach who was leading the team back to the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Word around the NBA streets is that point guard Kyrie Irving was at the center of it because he would prefer to work with his coach from his days with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tyronn Lue.
The 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year has a reputation for starting drama. “They” said he forced a trade from the Cavs to the Boston Celtics, was a cancer in Boston and now caused the Nets and Atkinson to part ways.
With another superstar, Kevin Durant on the roster, the Nets will probably have a lot of coaches attracted to take over the team. Wonder if what “they” say about Irving could deter interest. If only those locker room walls could talk.
Clock’s Ticking –
NFL players have until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Thursday to submit electronic ballots on the proposed collective bargaining agreement (CBA). In the 10-year deal, players would get more money during the life of the agreement with their revenue percentage going from 47% to 48.5%. Retirees would also receive $300 million in benefits. A longer season with an additional regular season game and two more playoff games is in the agreement.
Several of the league’s top players have already publicly expressed their opposition to the CBA. NFL owners have been vocal about their intent to only work with a 17-game regular season. They voted last month to accept the terms of the new CBA. Rumors are out that the owners actually want the agreement to fail, so that they can negotiate an 18-game season.
Players rejecting the CBA could mean a lockout is coming after this season. During the negotiations for the current CBA, the sides could not agree and the owners imposed a work stoppage prohibiting the players from team facilities. It lasted from March 12, 2011, to July 25, 2011.
The current CBA expires next March at the end of the 2020 NFL season.
Game on,
Shavannia
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