Connect with us

Sports

Why would any NBA team want Nets Kyrie Irving?

Published

on

Kyrie Irving
Image: Getty Images

Eventually, some time way down the road, after amassing hundreds of millions of dollars, Kyrie Irving is going to get his. By that point though, it’ll be way too late in life to teach him that he’s ever done anything wrong. When the news broke that Irving demanded a trade from the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, the question that followed “Can you fucking believe this guy?” was “Where is he going to end up?”

There are two answers. The first is the Los Angeles Lakers. There’s one player in the history of the league that’s been able to corral Irving into seasons of productive basketball, and that’s LeBron James.

The second is the Shanghai Sharks because even though not all guards can give you 27 with the flair and ball handling of Kyrie, there are plenty of guys who can score 25 a night without the daily mind games (migraines?).

Does a Kyrie-LeBron sequel = Kevin Durant-Russell Westbrook Part 2?

Sorry, that subhead is completely troll-some, and I assume Durant would rather retire than play with Westbrook again. That said, there’s too much irony in the Lakers-Nets trade scenario to ignore it.

Durant always chirps about how he just wants to hoop and ignore the chatter. Irving has never been about that despite his claims to the contrary. Yet Westbrook will give you every ounce of effort that he has even if the energy is ultimately misplaced, and will tell the media to go fuck themselves, too.

What I’m wondering is how Los Angeles and Brooklyn get a deal done without shipping Brodie cross country. And if that happens, which would have to happen in the next week, where does that leave Durant?

When you whittle down the trade partners, only a few teams make sense (Dallas), or even have the cajones (Clippers and Lakers), to think they can get two to three months of drama-free basketball out of Irving, and never underestimate the Lakers ability to throw all sense of responsibility into the Pacific when backed into a corner.

The Nets should call Irving’s bluff, which will end his career

I highly doubt Irving gets moved because he executed this demand about as poorly as humanly possible. The Nets are 31-20 and currently occupy the fourth seed in the East. There’s no reason for them to make a trade other than the fact that they’re negotiating with someone who’s willing to destroy everything for ideals that no one, not even himself, can define.

Let’s be real, at this point we’re all counting down the days until Irving goes full Stephon Marbury and is forced to finish his career in China. He should be there already. Go play in the Big 3, or revive the And 1 Mixtape Tour. Kyrie is seriously a sideshow at this stage of his career, and this is as much performance art as that time Shai LeBeouf strolled the red carpet with a bag on his head.

If you clicked on this wondering if your team is going to land Irving, god help you. Every organization in the NBA, including Brooklyn, would be better off rattling a wasps nest than letting Irving within 300 feet of the team facility.

Even if I’m wrong, and Irving goes to the Lakers and wins another title, I’ll never admit it. And in some fucked up way, I think that’s what Kyrie would prefer. 

Source link

Sports

England captain Marlie Packer promises to continue Sarah Hunter’s Red Roses legacy | Rugby Union News

Published

on

England host Italy at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton on Sunday April 2 in Round 2 of the Women’s Six Nations; Scotland are in action next Saturday for the second round of the championship, hosting Wales at the Dam Health Stadium in Edinburgh

Last Updated: 27/03/23 11:10am

Marlie Packer insists she will continue the legacy set out by her long-time England team-mate Sarah Hunter

Marlie Packer insists she will continue the legacy set out by her long-time England team-mate Sarah Hunter

Marlie Packer has promised to continue Sarah Hunter’s England legacy following her retirement.

Hunter played the final match of her career on Saturday in England’s dominant 58-7 win over Scotland in the Women’s Six Nations and departed the pitch after 58 minutes to a great ovation from her team-mates, coaches and family in the stands.

She retires with 141 caps to her name, having made her Six Nations debut back in 2007, and leaves the sport at the age of 37 after a highly-decorated, 16-year career.

After Hunter left the field, Packer took over the role of sole captaincy, scoring a hat-trick of tries from England’s famous rolling maul in a player-of-the-match performance, and, following the game, she insisted her focus is now on continuing the legacy set out by her now former team-mate.

“It’s a whole new group of girls in this squad, we came together three weeks ago, and we took things back to basics,” Packer said.

“And what we talked about in these three weeks, we put that performance in on the pitch.

“Massive shout out to Sarah Hunter, 141 caps, she came out and put in a hell of a performance.

“But for me, I’m super proud of what they’ve achieved. We have a day off on Monday and then we’ll build again, we’ll come back into camp and we go again.

Hunter was held aloft by her team-mates following her final emotional game Hunter was held aloft by her team-mates following her final emotional game

Hunter was held aloft by her team-mates following her final emotional game

“It’s a really exciting time, it’s an exciting time for women’s sport, but for women’s rugby especially.

“I’m really privileged and proud to be a part of it and the legacy that Sarah Hunter has left behind, all of us want to keep going with what she’s done.”

Not only did Packer have praise for the impact Hunter has had on the sport of rugby union as a whole, but also on her own international career, which she has been a part of throughout.

Packer scored a quickfire hat-trick of tries against Scotland from England's rolling maul Packer scored a quickfire hat-trick of tries against Scotland from England's rolling maul

Packer scored a quickfire hat-trick of tries against Scotland from England’s rolling maul

“I’m going to miss her massively,” she added.

“She’s been in my whole rugby journey with England and she’s not just an amazing rugby player, but an amazing human.

“She put everyone else first before herself. This rose that she wears, credit to her, she puts that first all the time.”

England’s tournament continues as they host Italy at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton on Sunday April 2 (3pm kick-off), in Round 2 of the Women’s Six Nations.

require.config({“shim”:{“facebook-sdk”:{“exports”:”FB”}},”baseUrl”:”

require([‘skysports_digrev’, ‘sdc-site-pub-sub’], function (appController, pubsub) {
window.sdc = window.sdc || {};
pubsub.init(window.sdc);

appController.init();
});

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

LeBron James returns for season-ending push with Los Angeles Lakers after liaising with unnamed foot specialist | NBA News

Published

on

LeBron James returned from a foot tendon injury to help the Los Angeles Lakers make a final push for the play-ins.

Although one doctor suggested “season-ending surgery”, the 38-year-old decided to finish the season on the court after getting a a third opinion from an unnamed foot specialist.

James returned to the Lakers on Sunday after a month-long absence with what he revealed was a significant tendon injury.

He wasn’t in the starting line-up for only the second time in his 20-year NBA career, but he still led the Lakers with 19 points in their 118-108 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of the Chicago Bulls against the Los Angeles Lakers in Week 23 of the NBA season

James also said his doctors told him that he was “healing faster than anybody they’ve seen before with the injury”.

One more factor contributed to his decision: James got a third opinion from an unnamed foot specialist.

“I went to the LeBron James of feet, and he told me I should [delay possible surgery],” James said, declining to name the doctor.

The NBA’s leading scorer hadn’t played since February 26, when he complained of right foot soreness after a win at Dallas.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player


James was seen to clearly say he heard something pop when he injured his ankle in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks. He did however continue on with the game shortly after

James considered surgery after getting the sobering diagnosis, but his team-mates’ outstanding play down the stretch and his own inner determination contributed to his decision to keep playing.

“They go 8-5 and obviously had a chance to – the hell with the play-in, we actually can be a top-eight seed,” James said. “It definitely changed my mindset on me coming back and trying to be a part of this”.

“Well, I don’t even want to say [it] changed my mindset. It just enhanced what I was trying to do as far as my workouts, as far as my treatment and everything”.

“They played such great basketball. I was just ecstatic, from me being in a boot to me getting out of the boot, you guys saw me on the sideline, just so happy about what the guys are doing.”

James returns with eight games left in the Lakers’ regular season as they attempt to avoid missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year and the third time in James’ five seasons in Los Angeles.

The Lakers provided few updates on James’ condition during his absence, and James kept the details of his recovery firmly under wraps on social media.

The 38-year-old said he doesn’t know whether he’ll need surgery after the season, but he expects to have an MRI exam after he’s done playing for the summer. He said he would be at full strength for training camp in the fall even if he has the surgery.

He’s now looking healthy at a key point for the Lakers, who could finally have their full roster available for the final games of the stretch run.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Jenson Button finishes in top 20 on NASCAR debut despite heat exhaustion

Published

on

Jenson Button was making his NASCAR debut at the Circuit of Americas in Texas and said he was afraid he would faint during the race as he suffered from heat exhaustion; former F1 world champion finished in 18th place

Last Updated: 27/03/23 10:40am

Jenson Button made his NASCAR debut on Sunday

Jenson Button made his NASCAR debut on Sunday

Jenson Button suffered from heat exhaustion and nearly retired on his NASCAR debut, before finishing 18th.

The former F1 world champion, 43, said he feared fainting while driving his Ford Mustang during the 68-lap race at the Circuit of Americas in Texas on Sunday.

“Finished 18th after almost stopping because I had heat exhaustion. It was so hot. I don’t have a fan in my seat, which really didn’t help me too much,” Button said.

The former F1 driver finished in 18th place in Texas The former F1 driver finished in 18th place in Texas

The former F1 driver finished in 18th place in Texas

“I stopped twice for a minute. They put ice on me, gave me loads of water, and I went back out.

“I was so close to getting out of the car because I thought I was going to faint. I must have drank eight (or) nine bottles of water during the race.

“The team kept me calm, and it’s the reason why we got a good result in the end. So, I was happy.”

Button will next compete in the inaugural Chicago Street Race on July 2 before racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on August 13.

require.config({“shim”:{“facebook-sdk”:{“exports”:”FB”}},”baseUrl”:”

require([‘skysports_digrev’, ‘sdc-site-pub-sub’], function (appController, pubsub) {
window.sdc = window.sdc || {};
pubsub.init(window.sdc);

appController.init();
});

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

%d bloggers like this: