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By @TeeSkin
Feeling like we are just discovering Tyrese Haliburton.
I have a catch 22 feelings about Tyrese Haliburtons’ playoff debut series. If you pay close attention to the series or mainly his play, it’s not apparent that he is reaching his superstar potential this playoff season. Haliburton has a ton of upside, and he is getting there. Hopefully next season, if he keeps on his current trajectory, calling Haliburton a superstar will be fitting.
The Pacers struggled to put away a Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dame Dollar-less Bucks team for a game or two. If I had known Giannis wasn’t going to play, I wouldn’t have picked the Bucks in six, but who knew? Instead, I would of taken the Pacers in six or seven. The monkey wrench in the Bucks demise was that Dame also did not play in the last two games.
After game 1, with poor showing by Haliburton, I was hoping he would gets back to his in-season-tournament-superstar self, but alas he didn’t. Haliburton hit his season averages (20 ppg, 4 apg, and 11 rpg) for the most part in the series. Instead he averaged 16 ppg, 5 apg, and 9 rpg, the main stat being a lack in points per game.
Against the Knicks in the next round, I predict that it’s going to be a seven game series and the victor will be the team that has the better coaching.
Once again, the prediction comes down to a coin toss.
After a disappointing couple of games in New York, the Indiana Pacers returned home determined to turn the tide. With their backs against the wall, they knew they couldn’t afford to drop a third consecutive game. And they didn’t disappoint. The Pacers fought hard and emerged victorious in Game 3, defeating the New York Knicks with a score of 111-106.
Leading the way for the Pacers was Tyrese Haliburton, who had a breakout performance. He poured in a career-high 35 points, showcasing his scoring ability and proving to be a force to be reckoned with. Haliburton also contributed four rebounds and seven assists, demonstrating his versatility on the court. His performance was crucial in propelling the Pacers to victory.
Maybe calling Haliburton “Super Star” isn’t so far off?
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From X @Lakers post 10-11-2023 D’Angelo Russell
REPOSTED FROM INFANITYTV.COM
In the Lakers’ recent pre-season matchup against the Sacramento Kings, D’Angelo Russell showed he’s ready to make a statement as the team’s point guard. Despite the absence of key Lakers stars, Russell’s leadership and ice-cold composure led his team to a 109-101 victory.D’Angelo Russell had a standout performance, notching 21 points and dishing out eight assists. The Kings’ dynamic duo of De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis couldn’t outshine Russell’s brilliance, despite their solid contributions (Fox with 18 points and five assists, Sabonis with 10 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists).
What made Russell’s performance even more impressive was the absence of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Cam Reddish. While these Lakers stars watched from the sidelines, Russell stepped up to carry the team on his shoulders. His cool-headed demeanor and clutch play earned him praise and respect.
Lakers fans have been known for their high expectations and, at times, unforgiving criticism. Russell, in particular, has felt the heat from fans in the past. However, his exceptional performance in the pre-season is a promising sign that he’s poised for a strong comeback.
The 2022-23 season didn’t end well for Russell, as he struggled in the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets. He averaged just 6.3 points and 3.5 assists while shooting at a lowly 32.3 percent from the field and 13.3 percent from beyond the arc. It was a far cry from his usual standard of play, and he’s well aware of it.
“I’m trying to be as dangerous as I can on offense and trying not to be a liability on defense,” Russell remarked post-game, reflecting his determination to improve his game on both ends of the court.
This type of self-awareness takes you to another level #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/nJlDs7f2Rm
— CAM H (@its__CAM) October 12, 2023
X (Formally Twitter) was alive with posts praising the returning Laker star, and it was great to see:
D’Angelo Russell is out to make a statement this year. – @NowXuno
His relentless downhill attack on the paint. How many times have you said that about DLO? Didn’t just settle for 3’s & kept driving into the paint to finish. Used his body well too. – @LakersLegacyPod
D’ANGELO RUSSELL HEAT CHECK He’s got LeBron and Anthony Davis HYPED on the Lakers bench – @ClutchPoints
D’Angelo Russell – the – most – underrated – passer – in- the NBA – @BenStinar
As the Lakers gear up for the upcoming season, fans can expect a revitalized D’Angelo Russell, who seems ready to put his past struggles behind him. His pre-season performance demonstrates that he’s committed to proving his doubters wrong and becoming an essential part of the Lakers’ success. With a new season on the horizon, Lakers fans have every reason to be optimistic about what Russell can bring to the team.
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Arizona QB Noah Fifita Photo by Rebecca Sassnet – Arizona Athletics
In a Saturday night showdown for the ages, the USC Trojans narrowly escaped with a 43-41 victory over the Arizona Wildcats led by Noah Fifita on October 7th, 2023. REPOSTED FROM INFANITY TV!
October 7, 2023 – Los Angeles Coliseum
While the game had its share of controversies and heart-stopping moments, it was the electrifying performance of both Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita and USC quarterback Caleb Williams that stole the spotlight.
Fifita’s Second Career Start: A Star in the Making
Making only his second career start as the backup quarterback, Noah Fifita, showed the nation that he has what it takes to shine under the bright lights of college football. With an impressive stat line of 25 completions on 35 attempts, 303 yards, and a staggering five touchdown passes, Fifita played with poise and precision that belied his limited experience. He won Freshman of the Week honors from the Pac-12 Conference.
Fifita’s performance was nothing short of exceptional, as he led the Wildcats’ offense with a level of confidence and maturity seldom seen in a young quarterback. His ability to read defenses, make quick decisions, and deliver accurate passes under pressure left fans and analysts alike in awe. Since the game ended all Tucson can talk about is who will start as QB against Washington State this Saturday, the starter Jayden de Laura, or the back up, Noah Fifita who shined against the No. 7 and No. 9 ranked teams in the nation for the past two weeks. Head Coach Jedd Fisch has a great problem on his hands, two starting quarterbacks.
Caleb Williams, on the other hand, was doing everything he could to will his team to victory, passing for one and rushing for three touchdowns while only passing for 219 yards. One of Williams touchdowns was spectacular as he reached with his arms and body on top of an Arizona defender to score the six points. The one passing touchdown was controversial because clearly on replay you can see that the receiver did not have control of the ball. The referees did not overturn their call much to this dismay of the entire Arizona fan base, coaching staff, and yes the President and the Athletic Director of the University.
Arizona’s Resilient Defense Shines
While Fifita’s offensive fireworks grabbed headlines, the Wildcats’ defense also deserves recognition. They held USC’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Caleb Williams, in check for most of the game, allowing just 204 yards on 14 completed passes and limiting him to a single passing touchdown.
Arizona’s defensive unit showed tenacity and discipline, disrupting USC’s offensive rhythm and putting pressure on Williams throughout the game. Their ability to adapt to USC’s offensive schemes and make critical stops kept the Wildcats in contention until the final whistle. The Wildcats racked up four sacks, are the most the Trojan offense line has surrendered all season and twice the amount they have earned all season.
Controversial Calls Add Drama
The game wasn’t without its share of controversy. Two questionable calls in particular raised eyebrows and added drama to an already intense matchup. The first call, a “roughing the passer” penalty, drew ire from fans and analysts alike, as it appeared to be a routine tackle with no excessive force involved. The announcers and Steve Beuerline (a fellow Servite alumni of Noah Fifita, Jacob Manu and Tetairoa McMillan) chimed in on Twitter.
The second call, a “face mask” penalty, raised even more eyebrows. Upon closer inspection, it was evident that the alleged face mask was more of a face push, and the call left many scratching their heads. These decisions had a significant impact on the game’s momentum and led to crucial USC scoring drives.
For more on the favoritism Arizona fans felt and the other controversial calls, read my post on ZonaZealots.com.
Triple Overtime Thriller
In a game that saw momentum swing back and forth, the Trojans and Wildcats found themselves locked in an epic battle that extended into triple overtime. Both teams displayed unwavering determination and resilience, refusing to back down in the face of adversity.
Ultimately, USC emerged victorious by stopping a run, securing a narrow 43-41 win in triple overtime. While the Trojans celebrated their hard-fought victory, Arizona and their quarterback sensation, Noah Fifita, left the field with their heads held high, knowing they had pushed one of the nation’s top teams to the brink.
Noah Fifita’s Bright Future
Noah Fifita’s breakout performance against USC serves as a glimpse into a promising future for the young quarterback and the Arizona Wildcats. With his exceptional talent and composure under pressure, Fifita has undoubtedly earned the trust and admiration of fans and teammates alike.
Caleb Williams continues to show why he won and can win again the highly sought after Heisman Trophy.
As the Wildcats continue their journey through the college football season, they can take pride in the fact that they have a star in the making in Noah Fifita while also having gun slinger Jayden de Laura on the roster. While the outcome against USC may not have been in their favor, Fifita’s performance ensures that the future is undeniably bright for Arizona football.
USC advances to an impressive 6-0 despite their fan base being extremely unhappy with the way the Trojans got their sixth victory of the season.
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BPE Coach J Huff 2023 Drew League
In pro sports, championship teams usually have positive team culture and chemistry. Every sports team (just like every company) has a culture: the values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors that shape interaction among team members. A culture can be either positive or negative.A professional sports teams organizational culture starts with management and coaches setting the standard on how the teams atmosphere will be.
Empathy matters because in a team culture, players and coaches alike must support each other.
For players to trust each other on the court or field, they must feel like they’re looking out for each other and that they have each other’s back. Individual Value, Morale, Work Ethic, Productivity and Conflict Resolution, are all the significant benefits that sets the stage for positive attitudes, high expectations, and successful performances of a (WINNING CULTURE).
Watch this video with NBA Champions Steve Kerr and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors:
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Photo by Ahsante Smith
Today at the Los Angeles Drew League Summer Pro-Am, team Blacc Pearl Elite is up against the 2022 reigning champs Home Town Favorites at King Drew Magnet H.S. Tip off at 1:30pWould I consider this a rivalry? Yes!
Over the last 2 summers both teams have, in some way, been involved the outcome of each others destiny in the playoffs. In 2021, due to a loss at the end of the season by HTF, BPE was able to get the 4th seed in the playoffs and made run to the Semi Finals. Last year in 2022, BPE lost to HTF in the championship game.
Rivalry: Competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field. So #BPE vs HTF is definitely a RIVALRY!
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It was the last day ever for Pac-12 Media Days to be held at the San Francisco Pac-12 Headquarters on third street. By Shereen Rayan “I’ve had the opportunity over the past 15 months to get to know many of our men’s basketball players. I can tell you that these are talented athletes, dedicated leaders, and most importantly, incredible people,” shared Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff to start the day, “We’re so proud to have them play in the Pac-12.” Jamie Zaninovich, the Deputy Commissioner mentioned that the last season in the Pac-12 “Had a record six teams with 20 wins; that’s the sixth time in the last ten years that’s occurred.” This makes him very optimistic for coming season. Here are the other stats Zaninovich ran through: Three teams made the NCAA Tournament: A 1 seed in Arizona, UCLA a 4 seed, and USC a 7 seed One alum from every school is on an NBA roster. Last season 27 Pac-12 student athletes competing in FIBA competition, Tad Boyle, Colorado coach, won a gold medal as a coach. Three teams ranked in the AP top 25 for all 18 weeks of the regular season In January for the first time […]
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Not so many bombs dropped on Pac-12 Media Day for the Men’s Basketball this year, but there was a lot of enjoyment all around. STANFORD Coach: Jerod Haase Player: Harrison Ingram (F), Spencer Jones (F) Coach Haase says he has a young team. He has big dreams and goals. Spencer says spirits are high in the locker room, he’s happy to come back. Harrison is happy to play with Spencer again, they have great chemistry. Michael Jones, a grad transfer, has brought his experience and he knows where to be and he’s in the right spots, he brings his Tournament experience, explained Harrison. Stanford has a lot of shooters, so Harrison says he’s just looking for the players who have the best open shot. Coach Haase recruits student athletes, the students don’t claim a major until they are a junior, “I’m still a sophomore,” said Harrison, “So I don’t quite know yet. I’ve probably taken most economic classes and a few psych classes, so I’m not quite sure what I’m doing yet.” He came from a “Pretty prestigious high school for academics,” so he and his family take education seriously. Spencer is a senior, “My major is management science and […]
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Pac-12 Media Day 2022 – Women’s Basketball Highlights San Francisco, Pac-12 Studios, October 25, 2o22 By Shereen Rayan @sportscrazee Twitter @sportscrazee28 Instagram One of the most successful Pac-12 Media Day for Women’s basketball came to a conclusion at 4pm on Tuesday, it was fantastic. With game announcers and former coaches asking questions, it was just plain fun. A few bombs were dropped as well. UTAH Coach: Lynne Roberts Players: Coach talked about how angry her team was after they lost to Texas in the NCAA Tournament, she couldn’t get a reaction to her post-game speech from her players. Gianna and Kennedy feel they learned a lot from that experience, they are excited about their freshman. Coach treats every conference game as an NCAA Tournament game, she wants to get better defensively. “I’ll run with these guys anywhere,” said Coach Roberts after being asked about playing Stanford after Tara Vanderveer voted Utah to win the Pac-12. Joan Bonvicini and Cindy Brunson both agreed that Utah was a fun team to call games for, probably because the Utes average 75.9 points per game earning them the highest-scoring team in the Pac-12 (17th NCAA). Coach Roberts said it’s hard to get the […]
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Following Game 2 of the NBA Western Conference Finals, Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks find themselves in a space that is all too familiar. After blowing a big first half lead, the Mavs surrendered this one 126-117 at the hands of the Golden State Warriors. This is their second straight series that they have started off down 0-2. Dallas started the game hot out of the gates. They were knocking down shots consistently, moving the ball well in transition, and doing a good job defending the Warriors’ off-ball frenzy of an offense. Luka scored 17 first quarter points, establishing his dominance early and often. The Mavs even got out to a 23-8 lead in the first quarter. It was in the second quarter however, that Golden State started to wake up. After forcing Dallas into bad shot selections, the Warriors started attacking the glass, gaining extra offensive possessions, and knocking down their shots. It was PF Kevon Looney who gave Golden State a spark early on, snagging 12 rebounds giving the Warriors many second chance baskets and possessions. Joining in on the fun was Steph Curry who grabbed 8 boards on his own. Otto Porter Jr also recorded 7 […]
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By Fredo Cervantes It was week 18 of the 2021-2022 NFL season with the last game of the season on Sunday Night Football between one of the greatest rivalries in the NFL as the Chargers visit the Raiders in Vegas for a win or go home game. The Chargers decided to start the game with the defense on the field and receive the ball in the second half as the Raiders got a field goal in the first drive after completing a few first downs. It didn’t take long for the Chargers to go three in out, which they have the second fewest three and outs in the NFL. This is the first game thus far that the Chargers are fully healthy on the defensive side of the ball and it has not been looking good in the first quarter and that’s why they have allowed 10 early points. At one point late in the first quarter there was a wild throw and catch that ended up in Ekeler’s hands. Big momentum catch for the Chargers as they were trying to breath for a first down. Chargers TE Jared Cook made some impressive catches for first downs in […]
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By Fredo Cervantes After a long break since they battled with the Chiefs on Thursday Night Football, they now have 15 total players on the Covid-19 list including Joey Bosa, Austin Ekeler, Mike Davis and Mike Williams. The Chargers are under pressure to win with this roster in Houston with no Austin Ekeler and Mike Williams who are two of the major offensive players this year. Ekeler has been huge this year running the ball, but Justin Jackson did step up against Houston in the first half to keep them in the game. Chargers QB Justin Herbert looked like he had too much rest this week as he did say he spent Christmas watching tape by himself as his family lives in Oregon. Texans QB Davis Mills had a game for himself completed critical throws and making the right decisions on the field. It seemed like he was well prepared for this game as the Chargers looked out of sync in this game. Chargers S Derwin James was cleared to play today but Brandon Staley said he will only be used if it’s an emergency. They were down for most of the game so it felt like an […]
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By Fredo Cervantes The Chargers are coming off a big win last week in Cincinnati and now turn the page against the New York Giants. As we expected, the Raiders lost big against the Chiefs in Kansas City on Sunday afternoon. The Chiefs now have 9 wins and traveling to Los Angeles to face the Chargers on Thursday Night Football. As the Giants received the ball, they didn’t do much with it neither did the Chargers in the first drive. It took till the second drive for the Chargers to get on the board with a 1 yard run by Chargers RB Austin Ekeler for the touchdown as they took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. The Giants play slow to start the game but got on the board by scoring a nice touchdown which got them 7 points early on. Justin Herbert who is arguably the best quarterback in the league just showed the world what he is capable of doing in the league. He can throw and run the ball like any other player in the NFL. Mike Williams was activated on Saturday after he was announced as probable in this game and gave the […]
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By Fredo Cervantes This is the game of the week between the two first round picks from the 2020 NFL Draft here on week 13. As Justin Herbert took the ball first to start the game, it didn’t take long for them to get on the scoreboard which has been a problem lately for the Chargers. A big pass to Mike Williams then another great pass from Herbert to Keenan on 4th down for a touchdown. Bengals QB Joe Burrow came into the game with a good first down throw then got a big strip by the Chargers defense an early fumble in the first drive as the Chargers took over with great field position and capitalized on the turnover. On the next drive for the Bengals, Joe Burrow had a great throw to one of his receivers but was tipped and the Chargers defense grabbed it from mid air and intercepted the ball. They quickly got down field with another big throw and catch to Mike Williams as they capitalized on another turnover and another touchdown to Keenan Allen. Chargers led early in the first quarter 16-0. For some reason Chargers QB Justin Herbert is having an amazing […]
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By Fredo Cervantes It’s Sunday Night Football live from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles as the Chargers host the Pittsburgh Steelers in this prime time game which is a must win game for both teams. The Chargers entered week 11 with a 5-4 record after a bad loss to the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday here at SoFi Stadium. Over the last month, we’ve seen the AFC West go up and down especially with the Raiders after all the drama they’ve faced all year long. They lost to the Cincinnati Bengals which pushed the Raiders to 5-5 in the year. The Chiefs won against the Cowboys as they are now 7-4. During the first quarter, Chargers QB Justin Herbert was on point with his throws which allowed him to score a touchdown early in the first quarter after the Steelers got on the scoreboard with a field goal. This was a must win for the Chargers with the Raiders losing a game in the division and the Chiefs picking up a big win against the Cowboys. I truly believe that the Chargers will make the playoffs but how far can they go? Justin Herbert is the key for the […]
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MHP Riesen Ludswigburg guard Rawle Alkins is starting his international professional career with a bang! After Rawle Alkins short Covid season in Portugal playing for FC Porto: And training camp with BBL’s Giessen 46ers in Germany: Alkins started the German BBL season playing for the MHP Riesen (or Giants). Riesen beat writers have called him the X-Factor. The team as played with his name on his recent 24th birthday on October 29th, “Let the good times Rawle.” They announced his arrival in Ludwigsburg with “Pick and Rawle” and “Rawle-ng out the red carpet” and called him a “Highlight Machine.” Gotta love how imaginative they have been! Rawle has been playing some really exciting basketball complete with dunks, long passes for dunks, and he has perfected his spin move. Alkins not only shoots from three with proficiency, he drives for layups and most of the time draws the foul, has added a reverse layup to his skill set and he has a sweet floater. We are certain his coaches love it when he steals or blocks the ball, and he has been doing that more than we have seen in the past. Alkins is averaging 12.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, […]
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By Fredo Cervantes The Chargers are now 4-3 in the year which seems unusual with the excitement they’ve been riding on this year. Rookie WR Joshua Palmer caught a late touchdown with 0:40 seconds remaining in the game which cut the lead to 27-24 but it was too late for any miracle to happen. After a Bye week for the Chargers last week, they came in hungry as they scored in the first drive of the game with an extra point kick by the new Chargers K Dustin Hopkins. Patriots rookie QB Mac Jones looked good in his first drive as well. He did not look as good in his second drive late in the first quarter. He’s been good in past few weeks as they won big last Sunday against the Jets 54-13 in New England. On Justin Herbert’s third drive of the game, he connected with Keenan Allen for a touchdown after a big 75 yard run from Justin Jackson. Chargers head coach Brandon Staley made some great adjustments against Bill Belichick early on before the Patriots took control. The Chargers got the ball back with 2 minutes left but then Justin Herbert had a nightmare […]
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By Fredo Cervantes After a shootout in Inglewood last Sunday, the Chargers travel to Baltimore to face off against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens. We watched two of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the league today, which can be a potential playoff match up for both teams in the future. Justin Herbert didn’t look like himself in the first drive but it was not that bad. On the other side of the ball we had Lamar, who went on to score on his first drive which gave them the lead 7-0 late in the first. The Ravens had lots of fun running on the bad Chargers defense all game long. Lamar Jackson has looked good enough in the first half with a few good runs and throws but mainly the running game for the Ravens has been the main factor early on. Baltimore scored another running touchdown to take the lead 14-0. There was nothing the Chargers could do to stop the run. Ravens added three more points after a 52 yard field goal to make it 17-0. On the next possession for the Chargers, Herbert threw a very close pass which was intended for Cook but was intercepted. […]
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By Fredo Cervantes The LA Chargers are entering week 5 as one of the best teams in the NFL after they took down the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football and are exiting week 5 as the top team in the NFL. Cleveland came in here running the ball and destroying the Chargers rush defense as they allowed 10 points in the first half against one of the worst rush offense in the league. Watching Justin Herbert in this game reminds me of watching Clayton Kershaw when he was coming up with the Dodgers. Kershaw was drafted with not much high hopes but once he got on the field, he showed his excellence on the mound, which is the same that Justin is showing right now. Justin Herbert is in the discussion for NFL MVP as he leads his team in the hunt for the AFC West division. They beat the Chiefs and Raiders in the first few weeks, which is a big hit for the division leaders. The Browns looked good running the ball as they got away with a few passes that allowed them to stay in the game. The browns went for it on […]
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