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Good morning to everyone, but especially to…
THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
In game 1, the Lakers proved they had a championship-caliber second star Anthony Davis predominant. In Game 2, the Warriors also proved they can pull it off without a monster night from their biggest star.
Of Stephen Curry usually delegated to a role of distributor, Clay Thompson broke out before 30 points while Golden State tied the series at 1-1 with a 127-100 thump from Los Angeles.
- Thompson went 8-11 on 3-pointers, his sixth career playoff game with at least eight threes. No one else has more than four.
- The warriors made a franchise playoff record with 21 threes on 42 attempts.
- Curry had 20 points just 12 shots and added 12 assists, his most in a playoff game since 2014.
- Draymond green had a near triple-double — 11 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists — and was essential to limiting Davis’s impact on both sideswrites our Colin Ward-Henninger.
- Of Kevin Looney sick, Yes Mychal green started and scored 15 points (including three 3-pointers) in just 13 minutes.
For the Lakers, Davis continued his Jekyll-and-Hyde playoff run with just 11 points and almost as many turnovers (four) as shots made (five). LeBron James bounced back with 23 points on 10-18 shooting, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
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The Lakers will never be able to keep up with the Warriors from outside the arc, so they have to make up the difference elsewhere. In Game 1, the Lakers defeated the Warriors 54-28 in the paint and 25-5 from the free throw line. In Game 2, the Warriors won the paint points 48-42 and tied on free throws 10-10. That kind of math just isn’t right for the Lakers as the series shifts to Los Angeles.
Honorable Mentions
And not such a good morning for…
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MIKE BUDENHOLZER
Three weeks ago, the Bucks entered the playoffs with the best record in the league. Now, after being on the wrong side of it a historic revolutionthey are not only shocking from the playoffs, but shocking without the head coach who made them champions two years ago: Milwaukee fired Mike Budenholzer on Thursday.
- In the five seasons of Budenholzer in Milwaukee, the Bucks went 271-120 in the regular season – 23 more wins than any other team – and made the playoffs every year.
- The post-season brought the highest highlights (the 2021 championship) and the lowest of lows (two earlier than expected exits as number 1 seedincluding the loss of seed No. 8 Heat this year).
- Of the four coaches who have won a title since 2019, three have been fired: Nick Nurse (2019 Birds of prey), Frank Vogel (2020 Lakers) and Budenholzer (2021 Bucks).
Yes, the Bucks collapsed in Game 5 vs. the Heat, with a 16-point lead going into the fourth quarter. Yes, Budenholzer made a shocking mistake late in that game. Yeah, Budenholzer didn’t adapt enough during the series, something Giannis Antetokounmpo openly acknowledged.
Budenholzer so what coaching by his brother who died in a car accident during the series. Budenholzer is not a perfect coach, and he didn’t have a great run. No one in Milwaukee did. But it is important to remember that he is a human being who lived through an unspeakable tragedy. I’m not saying firing him was a bad move by the Bucks, but it’s important for us as fans to put things in perspective.
This is a huge off-season for the Bucks. With a bona fide, in-his-prime superstar in Antetokounmpo (28 years old), they must figure out what to do with an aging core of Your holiday (32), Chris Middleton (31) and Brook Lopez (35). Only six players have a guaranteed contract for next year. Now they add finding a new coach to the “to-do” list (they should start here according to our Sam Quinn).
Not so honorable mentions
Preview of the Kentucky Derby with expert picks and more 🏇
SATISFACTION
Kentucky Derby weekend is here, and of the stars that will be (Hello, Patrick Mahomes) to those who don’t (Bob Baffert… again), we’ve got you covered from every angle.
SportsLine’s Gene Menez has a great primer with detailed information about each individual horse. This year’s favorite is Fortewho won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November, the Fountain of Youth Stakes in March and the Florida Derby in April.
But Gene doesn’t choose Forte. What about our other experts? Here are choices from:
Listen, I can’t tell you who’s going to win. That’s why I’ve given you expert picks above. But I can tell you one thing: There will be hats. Lots of hats. Our Isabel Gonzalez did a deep dive how hats became a fixture on Derby Day, and it is an absolute joy to read. To look at!
Addition of Hunter Dickinson raises Kansas in the latest Top 25 and 1 🏀
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Finally our top pick men’s basketball transfer portal rankings has found a new home: Former Michigan Centre Hunter Dickinson is on its way to Kansas.
- The 7’1″ Dickinson average 18.5 points on 56% shooting last season and added 9.0 rebounds per game. He was one of only six players nationwide to average at least 18 and nine.
- Adding bodies to the frontcourt was a clear need for Kansas, which relied heavily on 6’8″ Jalen Wilson (now heading to the NBA) and 6’7″ KJ Adams Jr. last season.
- Dickinson chose the Jayhawks over Kentucky, Villanova, Maryland And Georgetownamong other things.
Kansas has had a lot of great big men lately, but none with Dickinson’s offensive chops. The last Kansas player was 6’10” or taller with an average of at least 18 points Drew Gooden way back in 2001-02 — two years for Bill Himself arrived.
With the addition of Dickinson, Kansas jumped to No. 1 in Gary Parrish’s latest Top 25 and 1. Here’s the top five:
Alabama baseball coach fired over gambling scandal ⚾
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Alabama fired baseball coach Brad Bohannon on Thursday following a report of suspicious gambling activity associated with the team’s matches.
- Surveillance video pointed to a gambler at a sportsbook at the RedGreat American Ball Park communicated with Bohannon and placing bets on last Friday’s Alabama-LSU game.
- US Integrity, an independent company, recorded the suspicious activity and there were reportedly similar cases in Indiana. Several states, including Ohio and Indiana, no longer accept bets on baseball in Alabama.
- Alabama ace Luke Holman he was expected to start the game for the Crimson Tide, but suffered a back strain. Alabama turned to Hagan Bankswhich had not started for over a month. LSU won the game 8-6.
On top of this scandal, Bohannon, then assistant coach (and current interim head coach) Jason Jackson And team trainer Sean Stryker are sued by a former player for allegedly assaulting a 2019 injury.
What we’re watching this weekend 📺
Friday
🏀 Celtics at 76ers7:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Devils at Panthers8 p.m. on TNT
🏀 Nuggets at Suns10 p.m. on ESPN
Saturday
🏀 Knicks in heat3:30 p.m. on ABC
🏇 Kentucky Derby (info here)
🏒 Oilers at Golden Knights7 p.m. on TNT
⚾ Orioles at Braves7:15 p.m. on FOX
🏀 Warriors at Lakers8:30 p.m. on ABC
🥊 UFC 288 (info here)
Sunday
🏀 Celtics at 76ers3:30 p.m. on ESPN
🏒 Maple Leafs at Panthers6:30 p.m. on TBS
⚾ Dodgers at Padres7 p.m. on ESPN
🏀 Nuggets at Suns8 p.m. on TNT
🏒 Stars at Kraken9:30 p.m. on TBS