So we’re now at a point in the sporting calendar where there’s a vast array of sports’ activities taking center-stage and usual the non-stop cycle of the NFL (National Football League) continues with activity. Reigning Superbowl champions have all of their ducks lined up in a row , having signed several players from their championship winning roster to new deals , with their Superbowl MVP , Tom Brady also agreeing to a new deal at an almost bargain basement price by his own standard s . Brady will head into the upcoming season seeking an unprecedented eighth Superbowl ring , having won six with the New England Patriots and his seventh with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , for the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy in their history.
Beyond what has been taking place by way of the league and the teams seeking to position themselves for the upcoming NFL Draft and salary cap issues , we have seen the retirements of Alex Smith , Philip Rivers and Drew Brees, with all three veteran quarterbacks having varying degrees of success for their respective teams . One team looking to take advantage of this all will likely be the New York Jets after their recent foray with the trading away of quarterback Sam Darnold . More likely than not the Jets will seek to draft a quarterback to replace Darnold who simply did not meet the expectations of the franchise during his stay .
Trevor Lawrence could very well be taken as the number one overall player and most certainly be among the top quarterbacks taken by the end of the first two rounds of this upcoming Draft.
Things have become testy since the All Star Game with their being a plethora of uneven results . One thing is certain no envisioned that the Los Angles Lakers would be struggling to remain among the top-five teams within the Western Conference . With LeBron James by far the best player in their lineup , it will be interesting to see how the team fares over the remainder of their schedule . Next up for this Frank Vogel coached team will be two games on the road against the Dallas Mavericks . The first of the duo of contests will take place on the 22nd April , 2021 .
The Lakers’ in division rivals the Los Angeles Clippers are vying for one to the top three seeds within the Western Conference , but it has been the resilient play of the Phoenix Suns which has been a great surprise to everyone over the past ten days. Led by Kawhi Leonard the Clippers will be in action themselves with several games of note . An upcoming contest against the Houston Rockets should tell us a great deal about this Clippers’ roster .
Can Steph Curry lead the Golden State Warriors back into postseason contention ? That’s an intriguing answer for a team without one of it’s best players in Klay Thompson. The Warriors can make into the NBA Playoffs by way of the play-in factor , a new addition to the playoffs due to a shortened regular season schedule brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic . Golden State for it’s part will be looking to play with the real consistency . In their next game the Warriors are due to meet the Denver Nuggets at home on Friday , 23rd April .
Far be it for me to suggest , but I get the feeling that while the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are seen as the teams to beat within the Eastern Conference , one team which is being overlooked just happens to be the Milwaukee Bucks , but given their recent failures in the postseason it would be easy to write them off once again . Yet for all sense and purpose the Bucks led by two time League MVP , Giannis Antetokounmpou seems to have his teammates playing the way Head Coach Mike Budenholzer has sought . This team is quite capable of overcoming the deficit within the conference and ending up as the top seed . Next up for the Bucks will be a game against the 76ers as par of their regular season series. The contest should tell us a great about the intentions of both teams and the directions they’re said to be heading .
LeBron James has been playing with the level of someone who belies his age James and the Los Angeles Lakers as the reigning NBA champions are having an extremely tough season . It seems unaccustomed for this team to be having issues within the league at present , but injuries as well as inconsistency has played it’s part in the Frank Vogel coached roster . James and the Lakers have an upcoming game against the Dallas Mavericks , having lost to Dallas previously in their most recent match-up on the 22nd April .
Time may well be running out for both the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers to really prove their credibility within the NBA and their championship aspirations. High payrolls notwithstanding it is becoming pretty clear that there’s not a great deal of real consistency needed .
Alex Rodriguez having not been able to make a successful attempt to become a MLB team owner, but the former New York Yankees’ player has joined a consortium with a view to buying the Minnesota Timberwolves , where owner , Glen Taylor is seeking to sell the franchise , but under which retains control while the new ownership group acclimatizes to their fiduciary responsibilities . Rodriguez and his partner , Marc Lore an e-Commerce executive and CEO of Walmart’s e-commerce operations, purchased the Timberwolves for a reputed $1.5 billion .
What else needs to be said about the Los Angeles Dodgers at this juncture ? This weekend there will be a full cluster of games to be played . Dave Robert’s has a team playing with a great deal of aplomb with his coaching staff being at the top of their game . Roberts will have his team ready for a fairly tough weekend schedule where they will be playing the San Diego Padres . On the mound as opposing pitchers will be Yu Darvish of the Padres against Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers .
Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels is off to another terrific season for his team . It will be interesting to see what transpires this weekend as the Dodgers face the Houston Astros .It will be Andrew Heaney facing off against Zack Greinke . .
There are several great games scheduled for both Saturday , 24th April , as well as Sunday , 25th . One of the contests for today (Saturday) pits the Boston Red Sox against the Seattle Mariners with these two AL teams seeking to position themselves within their respective divisions and league . On the mound for the Mariners will be Chris Flexen as he faces Nathan Eovaldi of the Red Sox . While the Boston Red Sox are riding high their divisional rivals the New York Yankees are struggling to to make their presence felt having posted an 8-11 record as of the 23rd April . Manager Brett Boone and his team of his priced stars will be looking to placate themselves of their inauspicious start to the season . To round out their current series the Yankees will be in action today when they face the Cleveland Indians on the road . The opposing pitchers will be Gerrit Cole of the Yankees facing off against Shane Bieber of the Indians .
Early leaders in various statistics provides us with something special to expect over this season within baseball . I would like to think that the major awards for this season will go to credible candidates .
What if anything are you hoping to bear witness to this season within the world of sports ?
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So within the NBA over the last few days we have seen the fall of the Los Angeles Lakers , Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks . These teams fell having played less than riveting basketball during the first round of this season’s NBA Playoffs . The Lakers were summarily disposed of with ease by the Phoenix Suns (4-2) . The Suns’ Head Coach Monty Willians completely out-coached Frank Vogel who made no real game time changes when needed . Phoenix now goes on to face the Denver Nuggets in the first of the two Western Conference Semi Finals taking place The other series pits the Los Angeles Clippers against the Utah Jazz .
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So in an exhilarating series which went seven games in the conference quarter-finals the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Dallas Mavericks , with Luca Doncixc doing all that he could for the Mavericks only for him to be outplayed by Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers , having a phenomenal game seven display for the Clippers .
The conference semi finals have begun in earnest with their being several intriguing match-ups with a story-line to each . The Philadelphia 76ers have their work cut out for them in their series against the Atlanta Hawks while the Brooklyn Nets will be looking to overwhelm the Milwaukee Bucks . Within the Western Conference those series will
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Baseball is beginning to heat up as the teams find their rhythm prior to the All Star Game . Today the 10th June there are several games on the schedule. The Los Angeles Dodgers will be seeking to keep apace with their divisional rivals within the NL West over the course of this weekend . The Dodgers’ schedule for the weekend will pit them in a series against the Texas Rangers in what should be a very entertaining set of games . On the mound for Friday’s contest , it will be Mike Foltynewicz of the Rangers as he faces Clayton Kershaw .
Elsewhere around the league several teams are playing some great baseball ,. Within the AL the New York Yankees will be seeking to make inroads within the AL East when they take on the Philadelphia Phillies beginning on Saturday , 12th June , 2021. On the mound for the Yankees will be James Taillon as he takes on Vince Velazquez of the Phillies
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Rob Pelinka , former sport’s agent and current general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers having seen the defending champions bowing out in the first round of this season’s NBA Playoffs , says a great deal about the limitations of this roster . Beyond LeBron James and the often injured Anthony Davis , there wasn’t a great deal to this team over the regular season much less the playoffs.
With that all too quick exit , Pelinka is seeking to restructure this current roster and look to the future . If there was one thing clear during this postseason concerning the Lakers and it was the very fact that is team is seriously lacking in offensive firepower compared to the rest of the teams in the conference as well as the NBA during this postseason . In all likelihood , Dennis Schroder is unlikely to be resigned by the franchise with his said to be seeking an $80 million , four year deal to return to the Lakers .
Undoubtedly , LeBron James is likely to have an input as to which free agents he believes that will be able to contribute to the Lakers’ roster. This much is very certain the Lakers will make changes after their abrupt fall from grace from being a championship winning team to a roster of underachievers this season
As the conference semifinals are underway there are several of the top seeded teams are now struggling against lesser opponents . The Brooklyn Nets now find themselves in a real series having been heavily favored to take care of the Milwaukee Bucks (2-2) . Game four of the series was played today with the Bucks coming away with a resounding victory . The fifth game which will prove to be pivotal will take place on the 15th June at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn , New York .
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Game four of the conference semi final series between the Philadelphia 76ers (2-2) and the Atlanta Hawks (2-2) took place tonight , with the Doc Rivers’ coached team looking to take a commanding lead 3-1 . It was not to be with the Hawks taking care with a home victory in this contest. The fifth game will prove to be pivotal with it returning to the home of the Sixers on 16th June .
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Well Major League Baseball has been in full swing with the teams now seeking to play themselves into contention before the mid-season All Star Game Break . Leading the way by way of the best record in the Majors are the Tampa Bay Rays (43-24) , as they head into a game against the Chicago White , a team which has shown it’s versatility this season .
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Kevin Durant appears to be a man on a mission , seeking to prove that he’s the best player in NBA not named LeBron James . The two players between them have won all of the major awards that the NBA has to offer a player by way of singular achievement , Yet as James’ career is about to come to it’s perceived close , Durant may well have several more years head of him . The conference semi finals have proven to be eventful, with the Brooklyn Nets proving to be too overpowering for the Milwaukee Bucks , while the Philadelphia 76ers now are having some serious problem in their series against the Atlanta Hawks , with it being tied at 2-2 (two games apiece) .
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Kevin Durant appears to be a man on a mission , seeking to prove that he’s the best player in NBA not named LeBron James . The two players between them have won all of the major awards that the NBA has to offer a player by way of singular achievement , Yet as James’ career is about to come to it’s perceived close , Durant may well have several more years head of him . The conference semi finals have proven to be eventful, with the Brooklyn Nets proving to be too overpowering for the Milwaukee Bucks , while the Philadelphia 76ers now are having some serious problem in their series against the Atlanta Hawks , with it being tied at 2-2 (two games apiece) .
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So two highly favored teams in the East fell at a hurdle they were expected to get over , The failure of the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers in their respective semi finals’ series was more than a surprise . Questions are now arising as to the future of Sixers’ point guard Ben Simmons and his future with the Sixers’ franchise with Head Coach Doc Rivers having no confidence in the player. It doesn’t well for Simmons future or the remainder of this contract.
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So Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers (0-1) feels that the and his teammates have nothing to worry about in their conference finals’ match-up against the Phoenix Suns (1-0) ? Last I looked the Suns swept their way through the playoffs barely breaking sweat against their opponents on their way to the Western Conference Finals . Game two of this best of seven game series will take place tonight with the Suns hosting the Clippers and with Head Coach Monty Williams looking for the best out of his team in this contest .
Devin Booker of the Suns will be showing the rest of the NBA why he is now among the elite players in the NBA
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Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks (1-0) has continue to prove that his play during the NBA Playoffs has been no fluke with his having derailed the ambitions of the highly touted and yet overrated Philadelphia 76ers . Having ousted the Sixers in the Eastern Conference Semi Finals . Young and the Hawks face the Milwaukee Bucks (0-1 _ in last night’s game one opener in the Eastern Conference Finals . Trae Young put on an exhilarating display in dropping forty eight points in the opener , easily the top scorer in that contest while also outshining the Bucks’ two time League MVP , Giannis Antetkokounmpo .
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If you’re a member of the coaching staff of the Los Angeles Clippers , with the team now in a 0-2 deficit to the Phoenix Suns (2-0) with the play of Devin Booker being one of the primary reasons why the Suns are half way to making their first appearance in the NBA Finals . Game three of this best of seven-game series will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles , California on Thursday evening , 24th June , 2021 .
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So the Phoenix Suns led by Devin Booker , Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayrton will be making their first NBA Finals’ appearance having ousted the Los Angeles Clippers in six games in their Western Conference Finals’ match-up . In their six games the Clippers were unable to deal with the Suns on offense or defense. Suns’ Head Coach Monty Williams , now await the winners of the Eastern Conference Finals , featuring the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks . Game six of the series between the Hawks and Bucks will take place on Saturday evening the 3rd July , 2021
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So with the MLB season getting into full swing within the respective leagues and divisions . It has to be said several players are having great seasons . There will be several games of great interest over the course of this weekend which will take in the 4th July . For the New York Mets their starting pitcher , Jacob deGrom is having another amazing season for the team as they seek to be a factor within the NL East , NL and MLB overall . deGrom’s next projected start will see him on the mound in a contest facing the Milwaukee Brewers . For the moment the Mets will get a chance to renew their long held rivalry against the New York Yankees in a series of games this weekend .
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Kris Middleton and Jrue Holiday in the absence of Giannis Antetokpunmpo have led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA Finals’ appearance in more than four decades as the team defeated the Atlanta Hawks in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals . Milwaukee will now go on to face the Phoenix Suns in this season’s NBA Finals .
Game one the 2021 NBA Finals will take place on the 6th of July with the Suns hosting the Bucks .
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Brian Snitker as the manager of the Atlanta Braves will be asked to have this team competitive for this upcoming season . Snitker has bee entrusted , with the team and with their seeking to win World Series’ title , the ball club’s first in more than two decades..
Atlanta embarked upon a weekend series against the Miami Marlins of the NL East . . On the mound for today’s contest will be Zach Thompson of the Marlins against Charlie Morton of the Braves . Meetings between .these two teams over the past six years have proven to be very entertaining
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MLB weekend schedule 2nd to 4th July ..
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Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels is having a tremendous season as both a starting pitcher and on offense for this team . With the departure of Albert Pujols , it has been left to Ohtani and Mike Trout to lead this team. Ohtani created history history as being the first player in the modern era of baseball to be named as an All Star , as a pitcher and then as a hitter . He’ll likely be named the DH for the AL Team for this season’s All Star Game which takes place this month . Shotani has proven to be effective for the Angels since making his debut for the team in 2018 . Ohtani and the Angels will be in action this week , with several games which should prove to be their advantage in remaining competitive within the AL East .
Shohei Ohtani will be on the mound when he faces Nathan Eovaldi . This game will be played at Anaheim Stadium in Los Angeles , California ,
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Game one of the NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns will take place on the 6th of July , with the Suns playing host to the Bucks ,
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Richard Sherman having released by the San Francisco 49ers is now looking to be signed during the off-season and there could be a plethora of teams looking to sign the veteran defensive player . The Forty Niners for their part will be looking to improve their roster .
While this seems to be happening Aaron Rodgers appears to be leading the Green Bay Packers around the mulberry bush and up the proverbial garden path , just because he is unhappy that the front office made use of their draft pick in taking a quarterback , Jordan Love in the 2020 NFL Draft Class , Unless I am mistaken Rodgers is using the same arrogant intent shown by his predecessor when Rogers was taken in the first round of the of the 2005 NFL Draft . His predecessor was none other than Brett Favre .
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Home court advantage seems to be in play as the Phoenix Suns got the better of the Milwaukee Bucks in game one of the NBA Finals this season . Leading the way for the Suns was Chris Paul , who was the top scorer for his team, with thirty-two points in this opening contest. Game two will take place on the 8th July , 2021 .
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Giannis Antetokoumnpou led the Milwaukee Bucks to a well deserved series’ win in defeating the Phoenix Suns in this season’s NBA Finals , with the Bucks closing out > game six to take the series 4-2 , Antetokoumnpo at the age of 27 has become the youngest player in NBA history to have won all of the league’s singular awards , Rookie of The Year , Defensive Player of the Year , League MVP and Finals’ MVP . This was an astonishing feat by the Bucks in securing their first title in more than four decades . In the coming years it will be nteresting too see t if his game has produced at the highest level Even with cap space and the fact the Bucks are in a prime position moving forward ., It will be interesting to see how many thought the Milwaukee Bucks were , ill equipped to deal with the best that the West had to offer this past season . ;’
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Team USA Basketball laid a goose egg in their Olympic Tournament opener as they lost to French team led by Evan Founier of the Orlando Magic , The Men’s National squad coached by Gregg Povich , with a roster led by NBA All Stars , Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard have under-performed , with the team having lost two of their last three games , which included their tournament opener against France . Team USA is seen as the presumptive favorites in both the Men’s and Women’s Tournament at the Olympics being held in Tokyo , Japan.
One would hazard a guess with the players’ discomfort and criticism of Popovich , one has to ask are these players simply prima-donna’s ?
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The best team in baseball right now , is not necessarily the best team based on the play over the month of July. Today, 27th July , there will be a slew of games on the schedule . The San Francisco Giants currently have the best record in baseball with a record of 62-37 as of the 27th July , with the team being in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers in all divisional and league match-up . On the mound as the opposing pitchers will be Julio Urias of the Dodgers against Logan Webb of the Giants . This should prove to be an intriguing match-up between two teams with postseason ambitions .
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Brian Snitker and the entire Atlanta Braves’ organization are to be congratulated. The franchise celebrated a first , the ball club’s first World Series in over twenty six years. Snitker if nothing else should be deserving of the NL Manager of the Year for what he hand the coaching staff have been able to achieve in the past six years .
The Braves were able to achieve this success with a payroll , which is among the least competitive in baseball.
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