Deadspin | Kings hope physical play will help solve Avs in Game 2 Apr 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) fight during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Kings believe they have a plan heading into Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night in Denver. After averaging 20.1 hits during the regular season, the Kings delivered 49 during the 2-1 loss to Colorado in Game 1 on Sunday afternoon. Los Angeles coach D.J. Smith believes they can turn it up a notch, however. “We’ve got to be more physical,” Smith said. “We’ve got to hit the D more, and I expect that in the next game.” The Kings played their type of game in the first matchup on Sunday, holding the high-scoring Avalanche without a goal through the first half of the game and pulling within one with 2:22 remaining. Still, they couldn’t get a second puck past Scott Wedgewood. “That’s the kind of game you can expect playing the Kings,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “It’s a tight-checking team. What’d they play, 50-something one-goal games and low-scoring games? I’m comfortable with that. I think our team’s comfortable with that.” Colorado is comfortable with Wedgewood guarding the net as well. He led the NHL in save percentage (.921) during the regular season and has limited the opposition to one goal or fewer in his past five starts. “I thought he was fantastic,” Bednar said. “Did everything he needed to do. Obviously, bigger stakes, more emotion, but played the exact same way that he’s been playing for us all year.” The Kings missed two opportunities to score into a wide-open net during the game, crucial wasted chances against a team that led the NHL with 3.63 goals per game during the regular season. “I don’t think we can outscore them,” Los Angeles defenseman Mikey Anderson said. “We’re comfortable in the low-scoring games, so we’ve got to try and keep it tight, try and give them the least amount as possible.” Colorado got its first goal on Sunday from the top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas, but its second goal came from the fourth line of Logan O’Connor, Joel Kiviranta and Jack Drury. O’Connor did not have a goal in 13 regular-season games, but he could sense his line was gaining chemistry heading into the playoffs. “For us, our game translates well to the playoffs,” O’Connor said. “It’s a lot of simplicity and muck it up and just wear teams down.” The Kings scored their lone goal while on the power play and with their goalie pulled to create a two-man advantage. They’ll need to be even sharper on the power play come Tuesday. Surprisingly, the Avalanche had just the 27th-best power play during the regular season, one spot better than the Kings. “Whether it’s special teams or whatever, we’ve just got to bear down a little bit more on our chances,” Smith said. “I think we can get more pucks to the net and, again, I think we’ve just got to be a little meaner offensively.” Anderson realizes the difference between a win and a loss could come down to a friendly bounce or two. “They found a way to capitalize,” Anderson said of Colorado in Game 1. “So, we’ll watch it and figure out if we can change a few things and try to get better going into Game 2.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Kings #hope #physical #play #solve #Avs #Game

Deadspin | Kings hope physical play will help solve Avs in Game 2
Apr 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) fight during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Kings believe they have a plan heading into Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night in Denver.

After averaging 20.1 hits during the regular season, the Kings delivered 49 during the 2-1 loss to Colorado in Game 1 on Sunday afternoon.

Los Angeles coach D.J. Smith believes they can turn it up a notch, however.

“We’ve got to be more physical,” Smith said. “We’ve got to hit the D more, and I expect that in the next game.”

The Kings played their type of game in the first matchup on Sunday, holding the high-scoring Avalanche without a goal through the first half of the game and pulling within one with 2:22 remaining. Still, they couldn’t get a second puck past Scott Wedgewood.

“That’s the kind of game you can expect playing the Kings,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “It’s a tight-checking team. What’d they play, 50-something one-goal games and low-scoring games? I’m comfortable with that. I think our team’s comfortable with that.”

Colorado is comfortable with Wedgewood guarding the net as well.

He led the NHL in save percentage (.921) during the regular season and has limited the opposition to one goal or fewer in his past five starts.

“I thought he was fantastic,” Bednar said. “Did everything he needed to do. Obviously, bigger stakes, more emotion, but played the exact same way that he’s been playing for us all year.”

The Kings missed two opportunities to score into a wide-open net during the game, crucial wasted chances against a team that led the NHL with 3.63 goals per game during the regular season.

“I don’t think we can outscore them,” Los Angeles defenseman Mikey Anderson said. “We’re comfortable in the low-scoring games, so we’ve got to try and keep it tight, try and give them the least amount as possible.”

Colorado got its first goal on Sunday from the top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas, but its second goal came from the fourth line of Logan O’Connor, Joel Kiviranta and Jack Drury.

O’Connor did not have a goal in 13 regular-season games, but he could sense his line was gaining chemistry heading into the playoffs.

“For us, our game translates well to the playoffs,” O’Connor said. “It’s a lot of simplicity and muck it up and just wear teams down.”

The Kings scored their lone goal while on the power play and with their goalie pulled to create a two-man advantage. They’ll need to be even sharper on the power play come Tuesday.

Surprisingly, the Avalanche had just the 27th-best power play during the regular season, one spot better than the Kings.

“Whether it’s special teams or whatever, we’ve just got to bear down a little bit more on our chances,” Smith said. “I think we can get more pucks to the net and, again, I think we’ve just got to be a little meaner offensively.”

Anderson realizes the difference between a win and a loss could come down to a friendly bounce or two.

“They found a way to capitalize,” Anderson said of Colorado in Game 1. “So, we’ll watch it and figure out if we can change a few things and try to get better going into Game 2.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Kings #hope #physical #play #solve #Avs #Game

Sports news April 21, 2026

Apr 19, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Adrian Kempe (9) and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) fight during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Kings believe they have a plan heading into Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night in Denver.

After averaging 20.1 hits during the regular season, the Kings delivered 49 during the 2-1 loss to Colorado in Game 1 on Sunday afternoon.

Los Angeles coach D.J. Smith believes they can turn it up a notch, however.

“We’ve got to be more physical,” Smith said. “We’ve got to hit the D more, and I expect that in the next game.”

The Kings played their type of game in the first matchup on Sunday, holding the high-scoring Avalanche without a goal through the first half of the game and pulling within one with 2:22 remaining. Still, they couldn’t get a second puck past Scott Wedgewood.

“That’s the kind of game you can expect playing the Kings,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “It’s a tight-checking team. What’d they play, 50-something one-goal games and low-scoring games? I’m comfortable with that. I think our team’s comfortable with that.”

Colorado is comfortable with Wedgewood guarding the net as well.

He led the NHL in save percentage (.921) during the regular season and has limited the opposition to one goal or fewer in his past five starts.

“I thought he was fantastic,” Bednar said. “Did everything he needed to do. Obviously, bigger stakes, more emotion, but played the exact same way that he’s been playing for us all year.”

The Kings missed two opportunities to score into a wide-open net during the game, crucial wasted chances against a team that led the NHL with 3.63 goals per game during the regular season.

“I don’t think we can outscore them,” Los Angeles defenseman Mikey Anderson said. “We’re comfortable in the low-scoring games, so we’ve got to try and keep it tight, try and give them the least amount as possible.”

Colorado got its first goal on Sunday from the top line of Nathan MacKinnon, Artturi Lehkonen and Martin Necas, but its second goal came from the fourth line of Logan O’Connor, Joel Kiviranta and Jack Drury.

O’Connor did not have a goal in 13 regular-season games, but he could sense his line was gaining chemistry heading into the playoffs.

“For us, our game translates well to the playoffs,” O’Connor said. “It’s a lot of simplicity and muck it up and just wear teams down.”

The Kings scored their lone goal while on the power play and with their goalie pulled to create a two-man advantage. They’ll need to be even sharper on the power play come Tuesday.

Surprisingly, the Avalanche had just the 27th-best power play during the regular season, one spot better than the Kings.

“Whether it’s special teams or whatever, we’ve just got to bear down a little bit more on our chances,” Smith said. “I think we can get more pucks to the net and, again, I think we’ve just got to be a little meaner offensively.”

Anderson realizes the difference between a win and a loss could come down to a friendly bounce or two.

“They found a way to capitalize,” Anderson said of Colorado in Game 1. “So, we’ll watch it and figure out if we can change a few things and try to get better going into Game 2.”

–Field Level Media

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Aston Villa to upgrade stadium next season ahead of Euro 2028 hosting <div id="content-body-70888702" itemprop="articleBody">Champions League-bound Aston Villa will close one end of its stadium next season for construction to raise capacity above 50,000 before hosting European Championship games in 2028.The club in Birmingham announced a faster timetable Tuesday to long-planned renovations for the North Stand that will cut stadium capacity to about 37,000 throughout next season.Villa is well set in fourth place in the Premier League with five rounds left to qualify for the next Champions League, guaranteeing four home games in the main phase.At Euro 2028 co-hosted across Britain and Ireland, Villa Park will stage four games including one in the round of 16. It hosted a quarterfinals game among four at the 1996 edition in England.“By completing the works within a single season, the club will limit disruption to one campaign rather than extending it across two seasons,” Aston Villa said in a statement.Villa Park has had crowds of 43,000 in the Premier League this season and 41,662 last week when coach Unai Emery’s team eliminated Bologna in the Europa League quarterfinal.Published on Apr 21, 2026</div> #Aston #Villa #upgrade #stadium #season #ahead #Euro #hosting

IPL 2026 — Spencer Johnson joins CSK squad ahead of MI clash <div id="content-body-70888923" itemprop="articleBody">Spencer Johnson, the Australian left-arm pacer who had been signed as Nathan Ellis’ replacement ahead of the season, joined Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Mumbai on Tuesday ahead of its marquee clash against Mumbai Indians.Johnson may be drafted into the XI for the injured Khaleel Ahmed for Thursday night’s clash.CSK has had an underwhelming start to its season with just two wins from its opening six games. Injuries have further weighed down its hopes of fighting back.In its previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Ayush Mhatre suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out of the remaining tourament.The five-time champion is already without talisman M.S. Dhoni, who had been ruled out for two weeks even before the side’s first game. However, the 43-year-old is yet to feature in the tournament despite being a regular presence at the team’s practice sessions.Published on Apr 21, 2026</div> #IPL #Spencer #Johnson #joins #CSK #squad #ahead #clash

#Deadspin #Anthony #Richardson #trade #situation #reflects #Colts #uncertainty">

Deadspin | Anthony Richardson trade situation reflects Colts’ QB uncertainty Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) watches the action on the field from the sideline Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Quarterback Anthony Richardson has made it clear that he wants a trade from the Indianapolis Colts. Whether or not (and when) that happens remains to be seen. “We’ve had some calls, but nothing’s come to fruition at this time,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said Monday. “So at this point he’s still an Indianapolis Colt.” Ballard also said Richardson is “still recovering a little bit” from a freak eye injury that ended his 2025 season. Ballard added that Richardson has been cleared for football activity. Richardson expressed his desire to be traded after the Colts retained Daniel Jones, but Ballard is not planning to give away the player drafted fourth overall in 2023. The Colts are taking into consideration that while Jones is on schedule to return from a season-ending Achilles injury, nothing is guaranteed and the team might be smart to hang onto Richardson if no attractive trade alternative emerges prior to training camp this summer. Both quarterbacks have had issues staying on the field. And the Colts are not exactly overflowing with experience at the signal-caller position. Richardson has started a mere 15 games during the three seasons of his career, a time period plagued by injuries and inconsistency. He did not play last season at all. Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick in 2025, started just one game last season, and that was only after the Colts were eliminated from playoff contention. That leaves the Colts with a lack of clarity at quarterback: One is recovering from a significant injury, one wants a trade out, and a third will be looking for offseason reps to become a suitable backup while the GM works out a deal. Or not. -Field Level Media #Deadspin #Anthony #Richardson #trade #situation #reflects #Colts #uncertainty

mwasimuddin125 0

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) watches the action on the field from the sideline Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson has made it clear that he wants a trade from the Indianapolis Colts.

Whether or not (and when) that happens remains to be seen.

“We’ve had some calls, but nothing’s come to fruition at this time,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said Monday. “So at this point he’s still an Indianapolis Colt.”

Ballard also said Richardson is “still recovering a little bit” from a freak eye injury that ended his 2025 season. Ballard added that Richardson has been cleared for football activity.

Richardson expressed his desire to be traded after the Colts retained Daniel Jones, but Ballard is not planning to give away the player drafted fourth overall in 2023.

The Colts are taking into consideration that while Jones is on schedule to return from a season-ending Achilles injury, nothing is guaranteed and the team might be smart to hang onto Richardson if no attractive trade alternative emerges prior to training camp this summer. Both quarterbacks have had issues staying on the field.

And the Colts are not exactly overflowing with experience at the signal-caller position. Richardson has started a mere 15 games during the three seasons of his career, a time period plagued by injuries and inconsistency. He did not play last season at all.

Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick in 2025, started just one game last season, and that was only after the Colts were eliminated from playoff contention.

That leaves the Colts with a lack of clarity at quarterback: One is recovering from a significant injury, one wants a trade out, and a third will be looking for offseason reps to become a suitable backup while the GM works out a deal. Or not.

-Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Anthony #Richardson #trade #situation #reflects #Colts #uncertainty">Deadspin | Anthony Richardson trade situation reflects Colts’ QB uncertainty

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) watches the action on the field from the sideline Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson has made it clear that he wants a trade from the Indianapolis Colts.

Whether or not (and when) that happens remains to be seen.

“We’ve had some calls, but nothing’s come to fruition at this time,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said Monday. “So at this point he’s still an Indianapolis Colt.”

Ballard also said Richardson is “still recovering a little bit” from a freak eye injury that ended his 2025 season. Ballard added that Richardson has been cleared for football activity.

Richardson expressed his desire to be traded after the Colts retained Daniel Jones, but Ballard is not planning to give away the player drafted fourth overall in 2023.

The Colts are taking into consideration that while Jones is on schedule to return from a season-ending Achilles injury, nothing is guaranteed and the team might be smart to hang onto Richardson if no attractive trade alternative emerges prior to training camp this summer. Both quarterbacks have had issues staying on the field.

And the Colts are not exactly overflowing with experience at the signal-caller position. Richardson has started a mere 15 games during the three seasons of his career, a time period plagued by injuries and inconsistency. He did not play last season at all.

Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick in 2025, started just one game last season, and that was only after the Colts were eliminated from playoff contention.

That leaves the Colts with a lack of clarity at quarterback: One is recovering from a significant injury, one wants a trade out, and a third will be looking for offseason reps to become a suitable backup while the GM works out a deal. Or not.

-Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Anthony #Richardson #trade #situation #reflects #Colts #uncertainty

The 2026 NBA Playoffs promised a wide open championship race for a league that has seen seven unique champions over the last seven seasons. The playoffs are already delivering in the first-round, and they’re only going to get better as the march towards the NBA Finals continues.

The start of the first round has already positioned three series as all-out battles with the road team stealing a game. The Atlanta Hawks evened things up against the New York Knicks in Game 2 with an incredible fourth quarter rally led by C.J. McCollum. The Minnesota Timberwolves tied the series vs. the Denver Nuggets in what’s shaping up to be the most physical clash of the first round. The No. 8 seed Orlando Magic knocked off the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in Game 1 to immediately raise the stakes in the East. The Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers series is shaping up to be competitive too despite major injuries on both sides.

With the first round in full swing, here’s one overreaction from every series so far. Check out our full rankings for every team in the NBA Playoffs, and a list of the top-50 players in the postseason, for more coverage.

The Magic really have a chance to upset the Pistons

Yes, the Magic were my preseason NBA Finals pick, and yes, I was deeply ashamed of it all year. Orlando failed to meet expectations for a variety of reasons this season, but the big ones were: a) injuries, b) poor coaching, and c) a failure to maximize the fit between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. It looked like the Magic wouldn’t even make the playoffs after they got drilled by the Philadelphia 76ers in their play-in opener, but they put up their best performance of the season in the next play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets to earn the No. 8 seed, then topped it with an excellent Game 1 to knock off the heavily favored Pistons.

I really liked the way the matchups work out for the Magic in this series now that they’re finally healthy. The Pistons are known for their physicality, but they can’t bully Orlando. It was nice to see Banchero and Wagner get their high-low game going. Wagner looked deadly on drives to the rim, and Banchero was doing a good job of not settling for jumpers, where his touch is poor. Jalen Suggs is really one of the most impactful role players in the league, and he looked great in disrupting the Pistons’ perimeter offense. Wendell Carter Jr. had a masterful game switching defensively to deny Detroit’s drives while also spacing the floor on offense.

Detroit should roar back to form in Game 2. The Pistons can make some adjustments to force Banchero into his worst habits, and find more ways to free up Duren offensively. I’ve always been a little skeptical of JB Bickerstaff in the playoffs, though, and the talent gap doesn’t feel like a typical No. 1 vs. No. 8 series here. Questions about Detroit’s halfcourt offense persisted all season, and they should be louder than ever right now. I doubt Game 1 will be Orlando’s only victory in this series. The Pistons will answer, but the Magic really have a chance to advance.

The Celtics are going to roll over the Sixers

Boston showed why they’re suddenly the favorites to reach the NBA Finals out of the East. The Celtics rocked the 76ers from the opening quarter in Game 1 in a display that showed their full might. Jayson Tatum looked fantastic in the first quarter, Jaylen Brown took over in the third, and the defense, three-point shooting, and rebounding were all humming at elite levels. Tatum’s comeback from a torn Achilles suffered 11 months ago has been so impressive, and somehow it feels like the Celtics are deeper than ever even after losing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason. This organization is the gold standard in the game, from the front office to the coaching to the players. The Celtics look scary right now.

The James Harden trade looks genius for the Cavs

The idea of trading for James Harden to bolster a playoff run is objectively kind of hilarious on its face, but it sure feels like it’s working out well for the Cavs. Darius Garland was always going to get picked on in the playoffs for his diminutive frame, and it just didn’t feel like Cleveland could trust him to stay healthy through the entire postseason. Swapping out Garland for James Harden was a fascinating move that shortened the Cavs’ timeline but also gave them the best possible chance to win right now. Yes, Harden has an epic list of playoff failures in his career, but he’s still damn good at age-36, and his arrival has freed up Donovan Mitchell’s workload while maximizing Jarrett Allen’s offensive ceiling in the pick-and-roll. With rumors swirling that Mitchell could be on the trade block if he turns down an offseason extension, the Cavs had to go all-out to try to make the NBA Finals this season, and the Harden trade really did seem to improve their odds. I see this team winning more than one playoff series this year, and this opener against the Raptors shouldn’t be too suspenseful.

Karl-Anthony Towns should be enough for Knicks to advance

This playoff run feels destined to become a referendum on every key piece for the Knicks, maybe no one more so than Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT badly needs a signature playoff run both for New York’s conference championship chances and his own reputation, and the Hawks’ matchup felt like it should be a favorable start for him. Game 1 showed just how much bigger, stronger, and more skilled Towns is than the Atlanta front court. In Game 2, Atlanta completely took Towns out of the game in the fourth quarter, limiting him to zero points and only two shot attempts. Towns needs to avoid falling into his usual traps — stupid fouls, bad defense, inexplicable moments where he trips for no reason — which is easier said than done. It does feel like his chemistry with Jalen Brunson hit another level late in the season, and he should be able to annihilate Atlanta if both are locked in. It’s time for KAT to remind everyone that he’s one of the best bigs in the league and a former No. 1 overall draft pick. Atlanta can’t stop him, and he has no excuses the rest of this series.

The Thunder will not be challenged by the Suns

I really respect the Suns’ success because I thought they would be terrible and trapped in eternal hell with all their draft picks out the door and the ghost Bradley Beal as an anchor on the cap sheet. Phoenix is a fun, gritty team with an excellent first-year head coach in Jordan Ott. There are levels to this, though, and the Thunder are multiple standard deviations better than the Suns. OKC was the big winner of the final seeding, because they get to watch the Nuggets and Spurs duke it out on the other side of the bracket. I don’t expect the Thunder to be tested until the West Finals.

Playoff Wemby is a legend in the making

Victor Wembanyama’s playoff debut was spectacular, scoring 21 points in the first half to kickstart a rout of the Trail Blazers. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the third best player in NBA history for my money — a year before he entered the NBA Draft, and I still don’t’ regret it. He’s already in the conversation for the best player in the world at age-22. If he stays healthy, it will feel like an upset he’s not a top-10 player of all-time when it’s all said and done. Wembanyama’s ascent cannot be stopped, and the Spurs have put a good enough team around him to make anything possible this year. Portland will be the first team to feel something many Western Conference adversaries will experience over the decade: Wembanyama is simply a problem without a solution, and your team has no chance if he’s on the other side.

Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the Nuggets

Rudy Gobert has to be the most maligned great player of his generation. There are a thousand podcast clips over the years of former players disrespecting his game. Meanwhile, all Gobert does is continue to lockdown the paint defensively all by himself, and he proved it again in Game 2 against the Nuggets. Gobert only scored two points, but his impact was was so much greater when it came to limiting the Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray two-man game. Gobert can bother Jokic’s 1-on-1 scoring, and he can hedge or switch out on Murray when he needs to. He also keeps himself in great shape to continue fighting deep into games. I expect the Nuggets to still win this series even after giving up a home game in Game 2, but it won’t be easy with an all-time great defensive center making life miserable for an elite offense.

Ime Udoka will be on the hot seat if the Rockets lose to the Lakers

Ime Udoka inherited a 22-win team when he was hired as head coach of the Rockets, and immediately led them to 41 wins in his first season and then 52 wins in back-to-back seasons after that. Udoka is an excellent defensive coach, and he’s working at a disadvantage right now without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams plus an unexpected injury to Kevin Durant in Game 1. The Rockets’ biggest problems are more personnel related than coaching, but Udoka could still face some heat if Houston actually gets eliminated to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. It’s hard to believe the Rockets had a top-10 offense this season after watching their pathetic display — a 106.5 offensive rating — in Game 1. Durant’s absence obviously contributed a lot to that, but it just feels like nothing comes easy for this team. I think firing Udoka would be a mistake even if Houston loses, but I would bet we get some hot seat rumors this summer as Houston ponders how to take the next step.

#NBA #Playoffs #overreactions #start #firstround #series">

NBA Playoffs overreactions for start of every 2026 first-round series The 2026 NBA Playoffs promised a wide open championship race for a league that has seen seven unique champions over the last seven seasons. The playoffs are already delivering in the first-round, and they’re only going to get better as the march towards the NBA Finals continues.The start of the first round has already positioned three series as all-out battles with the road team stealing a game. The Atlanta Hawks evened things up against the New York Knicks in Game 2 with an incredible fourth quarter rally led by C.J. McCollum. The Minnesota Timberwolves tied the series vs. the Denver Nuggets in what’s shaping up to be the most physical clash of the first round. The No. 8 seed Orlando Magic knocked off the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in Game 1 to immediately raise the stakes in the East. The Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers series is shaping up to be competitive too despite major injuries on both sides.With the first round in full swing, here’s one overreaction from every series so far. Check out our full rankings for every team in the NBA Playoffs, and a list of the top-50 players in the postseason, for more coverage.The Magic really have a chance to upset the PistonsYes, the Magic were my preseason NBA Finals pick, and yes, I was deeply ashamed of it all year. Orlando failed to meet expectations for a variety of reasons this season, but the big ones were: a) injuries, b) poor coaching, and c) a failure to maximize the fit between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. It looked like the Magic wouldn’t even make the playoffs after they got drilled by the Philadelphia 76ers in their play-in opener, but they put up their best performance of the season in the next play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets to earn the No. 8 seed, then topped it with an excellent Game 1 to knock off the heavily favored Pistons.I really liked the way the matchups work out for the Magic in this series now that they’re finally healthy. The Pistons are known for their physicality, but they can’t bully Orlando. It was nice to see Banchero and Wagner get their high-low game going. Wagner looked deadly on drives to the rim, and Banchero was doing a good job of not settling for jumpers, where his touch is poor. Jalen Suggs is really one of the most impactful role players in the league, and he looked great in disrupting the Pistons’ perimeter offense. Wendell Carter Jr. had a masterful game switching defensively to deny Detroit’s drives while also spacing the floor on offense.Detroit should roar back to form in Game 2. The Pistons can make some adjustments to force Banchero into his worst habits, and find more ways to free up Duren offensively. I’ve always been a little skeptical of JB Bickerstaff in the playoffs, though, and the talent gap doesn’t feel like a typical No. 1 vs. No. 8 series here. Questions about Detroit’s halfcourt offense persisted all season, and they should be louder than ever right now. I doubt Game 1 will be Orlando’s only victory in this series. The Pistons will answer, but the Magic really have a chance to advance.The Celtics are going to roll over the SixersBoston showed why they’re suddenly the favorites to reach the NBA Finals out of the East. The Celtics rocked the 76ers from the opening quarter in Game 1 in a display that showed their full might. Jayson Tatum looked fantastic in the first quarter, Jaylen Brown took over in the third, and the defense, three-point shooting, and rebounding were all humming at elite levels. Tatum’s comeback from a torn Achilles suffered 11 months ago has been so impressive, and somehow it feels like the Celtics are deeper than ever even after losing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason. This organization is the gold standard in the game, from the front office to the coaching to the players. The Celtics look scary right now.The James Harden trade looks genius for the CavsThe idea of trading for James Harden to bolster a playoff run is objectively kind of hilarious on its face, but it sure feels like it’s working out well for the Cavs. Darius Garland was always going to get picked on in the playoffs for his diminutive frame, and it just didn’t feel like Cleveland could trust him to stay healthy through the entire postseason. Swapping out Garland for James Harden was a fascinating move that shortened the Cavs’ timeline but also gave them the best possible chance to win right now. Yes, Harden has an epic list of playoff failures in his career, but he’s still damn good at age-36, and his arrival has freed up Donovan Mitchell’s workload while maximizing Jarrett Allen’s offensive ceiling in the pick-and-roll. With rumors swirling that Mitchell could be on the trade block if he turns down an offseason extension, the Cavs had to go all-out to try to make the NBA Finals this season, and the Harden trade really did seem to improve their odds. I see this team winning more than one playoff series this year, and this opener against the Raptors shouldn’t be too suspenseful.Karl-Anthony Towns should be enough for Knicks to advanceThis playoff run feels destined to become a referendum on every key piece for the Knicks, maybe no one more so than Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT badly needs a signature playoff run both for New York’s conference championship chances and his own reputation, and the Hawks’ matchup felt like it should be a favorable start for him. Game 1 showed just how much bigger, stronger, and more skilled Towns is than the Atlanta front court. In Game 2, Atlanta completely took Towns out of the game in the fourth quarter, limiting him to zero points and only two shot attempts. Towns needs to avoid falling into his usual traps — stupid fouls, bad defense, inexplicable moments where he trips for no reason — which is easier said than done. It does feel like his chemistry with Jalen Brunson hit another level late in the season, and he should be able to annihilate Atlanta if both are locked in. It’s time for KAT to remind everyone that he’s one of the best bigs in the league and a former No. 1 overall draft pick. Atlanta can’t stop him, and he has no excuses the rest of this series.The Thunder will not be challenged by the SunsI really respect the Suns’ success because I thought they would be terrible and trapped in eternal hell with all their draft picks out the door and the ghost Bradley Beal as an anchor on the cap sheet. Phoenix is a fun, gritty team with an excellent first-year head coach in Jordan Ott. There are levels to this, though, and the Thunder are multiple standard deviations better than the Suns. OKC was the big winner of the final seeding, because they get to watch the Nuggets and Spurs duke it out on the other side of the bracket. I don’t expect the Thunder to be tested until the West Finals.Playoff Wemby is a legend in the makingVictor Wembanyama’s playoff debut was spectacular, scoring 21 points in the first half to kickstart a rout of the Trail Blazers. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the third best player in NBA history for my money — a year before he entered the NBA Draft, and I still don’t’ regret it. He’s already in the conversation for the best player in the world at age-22. If he stays healthy, it will feel like an upset he’s not a top-10 player of all-time when it’s all said and done. Wembanyama’s ascent cannot be stopped, and the Spurs have put a good enough team around him to make anything possible this year. Portland will be the first team to feel something many Western Conference adversaries will experience over the decade: Wembanyama is simply a problem without a solution, and your team has no chance if he’s on the other side.Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the NuggetsRudy Gobert has to be the most maligned great player of his generation. There are a thousand podcast clips over the years of former players disrespecting his game. Meanwhile, all Gobert does is continue to lockdown the paint defensively all by himself, and he proved it again in Game 2 against the Nuggets. Gobert only scored two points, but his impact was was so much greater when it came to limiting the Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray two-man game. Gobert can bother Jokic’s 1-on-1 scoring, and he can hedge or switch out on Murray when he needs to. He also keeps himself in great shape to continue fighting deep into games. I expect the Nuggets to still win this series even after giving up a home game in Game 2, but it won’t be easy with an all-time great defensive center making life miserable for an elite offense.Ime Udoka will be on the hot seat if the Rockets lose to the LakersIme Udoka inherited a 22-win team when he was hired as head coach of the Rockets, and immediately led them to 41 wins in his first season and then 52 wins in back-to-back seasons after that. Udoka is an excellent defensive coach, and he’s working at a disadvantage right now without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams plus an unexpected injury to Kevin Durant in Game 1. The Rockets’ biggest problems are more personnel related than coaching, but Udoka could still face some heat if Houston actually gets eliminated to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. It’s hard to believe the Rockets had a top-10 offense this season after watching their pathetic display — a 106.5 offensive rating — in Game 1. Durant’s absence obviously contributed a lot to that, but it just feels like nothing comes easy for this team. I think firing Udoka would be a mistake even if Houston loses, but I would bet we get some hot seat rumors this summer as Houston ponders how to take the next step. #NBA #Playoffs #overreactions #start #firstround #series

mwasimuddin125 0

The 2026 NBA Playoffs promised a wide open championship race for a league that has seen seven unique champions over the last seven seasons. The playoffs are already delivering in the first-round, and they’re only going to get better as the march towards the NBA Finals continues.
The start of the first round has already positioned three series as all-out battles with the road team stealing a game. The Atlanta Hawks evened things up against the New York Knicks in Game 2 with an incredible fourth quarter rally led by C.J. McCollum. The Minnesota Timberwolves tied the series vs. the Denver Nuggets in what’s shaping up to be the most physical clash of the first round. The No. 8 seed Orlando Magic knocked off the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in Game 1 to immediately raise the stakes in the East. The Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers series is shaping up to be competitive too despite major injuries on both sides.
With the first round in full swing, here’s one overreaction from every series so far. Check out our full rankings for every team in the NBA Playoffs, and a list of the top-50 players in the postseason, for more coverage.
The Magic really have a chance to upset the Pistons
Yes, the Magic were my preseason NBA Finals pick, and yes, I was deeply ashamed of it all year. Orlando failed to meet expectations for a variety of reasons this season, but the big ones were: a) injuries, b) poor coaching, and c) a failure to maximize the fit between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. It looked like the Magic wouldn’t even make the playoffs after they got drilled by the Philadelphia 76ers in their play-in opener, but they put up their best performance of the season in the next play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets to earn the No. 8 seed, then topped it with an excellent Game 1 to knock off the heavily favored Pistons.
I really liked the way the matchups work out for the Magic in this series now that they’re finally healthy. The Pistons are known for their physicality, but they can’t bully Orlando. It was nice to see Banchero and Wagner get their high-low game going. Wagner looked deadly on drives to the rim, and Banchero was doing a good job of not settling for jumpers, where his touch is poor. Jalen Suggs is really one of the most impactful role players in the league, and he looked great in disrupting the Pistons’ perimeter offense. Wendell Carter Jr. had a masterful game switching defensively to deny Detroit’s drives while also spacing the floor on offense.
Detroit should roar back to form in Game 2. The Pistons can make some adjustments to force Banchero into his worst habits, and find more ways to free up Duren offensively. I’ve always been a little skeptical of JB Bickerstaff in the playoffs, though, and the talent gap doesn’t feel like a typical No. 1 vs. No. 8 series here. Questions about Detroit’s halfcourt offense persisted all season, and they should be louder than ever right now. I doubt Game 1 will be Orlando’s only victory in this series. The Pistons will answer, but the Magic really have a chance to advance.
The Celtics are going to roll over the Sixers
Boston showed why they’re suddenly the favorites to reach the NBA Finals out of the East. The Celtics rocked the 76ers from the opening quarter in Game 1 in a display that showed their full might. Jayson Tatum looked fantastic in the first quarter, Jaylen Brown took over in the third, and the defense, three-point shooting, and rebounding were all humming at elite levels. Tatum’s comeback from a torn Achilles suffered 11 months ago has been so impressive, and somehow it feels like the Celtics are deeper than ever even after losing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason. This organization is the gold standard in the game, from the front office to the coaching to the players. The Celtics look scary right now.
The James Harden trade looks genius for the Cavs
The idea of trading for James Harden to bolster a playoff run is objectively kind of hilarious on its face, but it sure feels like it’s working out well for the Cavs. Darius Garland was always going to get picked on in the playoffs for his diminutive frame, and it just didn’t feel like Cleveland could trust him to stay healthy through the entire postseason. Swapping out Garland for James Harden was a fascinating move that shortened the Cavs’ timeline but also gave them the best possible chance to win right now. Yes, Harden has an epic list of playoff failures in his career, but he’s still damn good at age-36, and his arrival has freed up Donovan Mitchell’s workload while maximizing Jarrett Allen’s offensive ceiling in the pick-and-roll. With rumors swirling that Mitchell could be on the trade block if he turns down an offseason extension, the Cavs had to go all-out to try to make the NBA Finals this season, and the Harden trade really did seem to improve their odds. I see this team winning more than one playoff series this year, and this opener against the Raptors shouldn’t be too suspenseful.
Karl-Anthony Towns should be enough for Knicks to advance
This playoff run feels destined to become a referendum on every key piece for the Knicks, maybe no one more so than Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT badly needs a signature playoff run both for New York’s conference championship chances and his own reputation, and the Hawks’ matchup felt like it should be a favorable start for him. Game 1 showed just how much bigger, stronger, and more skilled Towns is than the Atlanta front court. In Game 2, Atlanta completely took Towns out of the game in the fourth quarter, limiting him to zero points and only two shot attempts. Towns needs to avoid falling into his usual traps — stupid fouls, bad defense, inexplicable moments where he trips for no reason — which is easier said than done. It does feel like his chemistry with Jalen Brunson hit another level late in the season, and he should be able to annihilate Atlanta if both are locked in. It’s time for KAT to remind everyone that he’s one of the best bigs in the league and a former No. 1 overall draft pick. Atlanta can’t stop him, and he has no excuses the rest of this series.
The Thunder will not be challenged by the Suns
I really respect the Suns’ success because I thought they would be terrible and trapped in eternal hell with all their draft picks out the door and the ghost Bradley Beal as an anchor on the cap sheet. Phoenix is a fun, gritty team with an excellent first-year head coach in Jordan Ott. There are levels to this, though, and the Thunder are multiple standard deviations better than the Suns. OKC was the big winner of the final seeding, because they get to watch the Nuggets and Spurs duke it out on the other side of the bracket. I don’t expect the Thunder to be tested until the West Finals.
Playoff Wemby is a legend in the making
Victor Wembanyama’s playoff debut was spectacular, scoring 21 points in the first half to kickstart a rout of the Trail Blazers. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the third best player in NBA history for my money — a year before he entered the NBA Draft, and I still don’t’ regret it. He’s already in the conversation for the best player in the world at age-22. If he stays healthy, it will feel like an upset he’s not a top-10 player of all-time when it’s all said and done. Wembanyama’s ascent cannot be stopped, and the Spurs have put a good enough team around him to make anything possible this year. Portland will be the first team to feel something many Western Conference adversaries will experience over the decade: Wembanyama is simply a problem without a solution, and your team has no chance if he’s on the other side.
Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the Nuggets
Rudy Gobert has to be the most maligned great player of his generation. There are a thousand podcast clips over the years of former players disrespecting his game. Meanwhile, all Gobert does is continue to lockdown the paint defensively all by himself, and he proved it again in Game 2 against the Nuggets. Gobert only scored two points, but his impact was was so much greater when it came to limiting the Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray two-man game. Gobert can bother Jokic’s 1-on-1 scoring, and he can hedge or switch out on Murray when he needs to. He also keeps himself in great shape to continue fighting deep into games. I expect the Nuggets to still win this series even after giving up a home game in Game 2, but it won’t be easy with an all-time great defensive center making life miserable for an elite offense.
Ime Udoka will be on the hot seat if the Rockets lose to the Lakers
Ime Udoka inherited a 22-win team when he was hired as head coach of the Rockets, and immediately led them to 41 wins in his first season and then 52 wins in back-to-back seasons after that. Udoka is an excellent defensive coach, and he’s working at a disadvantage right now without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams plus an unexpected injury to Kevin Durant in Game 1. The Rockets’ biggest problems are more personnel related than coaching, but Udoka could still face some heat if Houston actually gets eliminated to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. It’s hard to believe the Rockets had a top-10 offense this season after watching their pathetic display — a 106.5 offensive rating — in Game 1. Durant’s absence obviously contributed a lot to that, but it just feels like nothing comes easy for this team. I think firing Udoka would be a mistake even if Houston loses, but I would bet we get some hot seat rumors this summer as Houston ponders how to take the next step.

#NBA #Playoffs #overreactions #start #firstround #series">NBA Playoffs overreactions for start of every 2026 first-round series

The Magic really have a chance to upset the Pistons

The Celtics are going to roll over the Sixers

The James Harden trade looks genius for the Cavs

Karl-Anthony Towns should be enough for Knicks to advance

The Thunder will not be challenged by the Suns

Playoff Wemby is a legend in the making

Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the Nuggets

Ime Udoka will be on the hot seat if the Rockets lose to the Lakers

#NBA #Playoffs #overreactions #start #firstround #series

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma would like to bring out their ‘A’ games as the Indian women’s team tries to pull all its stops to get back to winning ways against South Africa in the third T20 International on Wednesday.

The Proteas women lead the five-match series 2-0 and would like to complete the series win in the third match at the Bull Ring.

Mandhana, easily team’s most impactful batter, scored 13 and 12 in the first two games. India put up an underwhelming show with totals of 157 and 147 which the home team surpassed without breaking much sweat.

As far as Deepti is concerned, her form has been more worrisome. She was demoted to No. 9 in the first game where she remained not out on one run and was dismissed for identical score in the second game where she was sent up the order at No. 6. In both games, she went wicketless.

The Indian batting is very much dependent on Mandhana’s free-flowing starts and the stylish southpaw would like to make amends for the poor returns in the first two games. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues did get some runs in the first match but came a cropper in the second outing.

With T20 World Cup in England only a couple of months away, Harmanpreet & Co. would like to get its mojo back and notch up a few victories which is essential to boost the morale of the team.

What has hurt India more is the fact that there has been no power-hitting at the back-end of the innings leading to below-par totals in both games.

“If you see both the games in 12 overs or so, we were at 100 and then after that we couldn’t finish the way we wanted them to but that always happens in cricket,” bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi said at the pre-match press conference.

On Deepti’s form, Salvi defended the veteran all-rounder, who was a star performer during India’s ODI World Cup triumph.

“One or two games or three games doesn’t justify the kind of talent she (Deepti) is, the kind of performances she has put in over the years. She is not at her best as of now but she has gone back to the drawing board, discussing all her game plans, what she wants to use during the games.

“It’s only a matter of a few instances where probably she just strikes and she comes back shining,” Salvi backed her with all intent.

For the Proteas, skipper Laura Wolvaardt has once again proved to be a thorn in the flesh for India with back-to-back half-centuries (51 and 54).

The Indian attack has also looked rudderless during PowerPlay and Salvi admitted that they are currently carrying out a trial and error as to which bowlers would work during the global event.

“We are actually giving opportunities to all the bowlers to operate into that segment so that we don’t rely only on a few bowlers coming into the main event (T20 World Cup).

“But obviously, yes, we would like to pick wickets, we would like to strike early, we would like to use the power play from the bowling point of view so that we create that impact initially into the game,” Salvi added.

Published on Apr 21, 2026

#INDW #3rd #T20I #Focus #Mandhana #Deepti #India #stay #afloat">

IND-W vs SA-W, 3rd T20I: Focus on Mandhana, Deepti as India tries to stay afloat Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma would like to bring out their ‘A’ games as the Indian women’s team tries to pull all its stops to get back to winning ways against South Africa in the third T20 International on Wednesday.The Proteas women lead the five-match series 2-0 and would like to complete the series win in the third match at the Bull Ring.Mandhana, easily team’s most impactful batter, scored 13 and 12 in the first two games. India put up an underwhelming show with totals of 157 and 147 which the home team surpassed without breaking much sweat.As far as Deepti is concerned, her form has been more worrisome. She was demoted to No. 9 in the first game where she remained not out on one run and was dismissed for identical score in the second game where she was sent up the order at No. 6. In both games, she went wicketless.The Indian batting is very much dependent on Mandhana’s free-flowing starts and the stylish southpaw would like to make amends for the poor returns in the first two games. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues did get some runs in the first match but came a cropper in the second outing.With T20 World Cup in England only a couple of months away, Harmanpreet & Co. would like to get its mojo back and notch up a few victories which is essential to boost the morale of the team.What has hurt India more is the fact that there has been no power-hitting at the back-end of the innings leading to below-par totals in both games.“If you see both the games in 12 overs or so, we were at 100 and then after that we couldn’t finish the way we wanted them to but that always happens in cricket,” bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi said at the pre-match press conference.On Deepti’s form, Salvi defended the veteran all-rounder, who was a star performer during India’s ODI World Cup triumph.“One or two games or three games doesn’t justify the kind of talent she (Deepti) is, the kind of performances she has put in over the years. She is not at her best as of now but she has gone back to the drawing board, discussing all her game plans, what she wants to use during the games.“It’s only a matter of a few instances where probably she just strikes and she comes back shining,” Salvi backed her with all intent.For the Proteas, skipper Laura Wolvaardt has once again proved to be a thorn in the flesh for India with back-to-back half-centuries (51 and 54).The Indian attack has also looked rudderless during PowerPlay and Salvi admitted that they are currently carrying out a trial and error as to which bowlers would work during the global event.“We are actually giving opportunities to all the bowlers to operate into that segment so that we don’t rely only on a few bowlers coming into the main event (T20 World Cup).“But obviously, yes, we would like to pick wickets, we would like to strike early, we would like to use the power play from the bowling point of view so that we create that impact initially into the game,” Salvi added.Published on Apr 21, 2026 #INDW #3rd #T20I #Focus #Mandhana #Deepti #India #stay #afloat

mwasimuddin125 0

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma would like to bring out their ‘A’ games as the Indian women’s team tries to pull all its stops to get back to winning ways against South Africa in the third T20 International on Wednesday.
The Proteas women lead the five-match series 2-0 and would like to complete the series win in the third match at the Bull Ring.
Mandhana, easily team’s most impactful batter, scored 13 and 12 in the first two games. India put up an underwhelming show with totals of 157 and 147 which the home team surpassed without breaking much sweat.
As far as Deepti is concerned, her form has been more worrisome. She was demoted to No. 9 in the first game where she remained not out on one run and was dismissed for identical score in the second game where she was sent up the order at No. 6. In both games, she went wicketless.
The Indian batting is very much dependent on Mandhana’s free-flowing starts and the stylish southpaw would like to make amends for the poor returns in the first two games. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues did get some runs in the first match but came a cropper in the second outing.
With T20 World Cup in England only a couple of months away, Harmanpreet & Co. would like to get its mojo back and notch up a few victories which is essential to boost the morale of the team.
What has hurt India more is the fact that there has been no power-hitting at the back-end of the innings leading to below-par totals in both games.
“If you see both the games in 12 overs or so, we were at 100 and then after that we couldn’t finish the way we wanted them to but that always happens in cricket,” bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi said at the pre-match press conference.
On Deepti’s form, Salvi defended the veteran all-rounder, who was a star performer during India’s ODI World Cup triumph.
“One or two games or three games doesn’t justify the kind of talent she (Deepti) is, the kind of performances she has put in over the years. She is not at her best as of now but she has gone back to the drawing board, discussing all her game plans, what she wants to use during the games.
“It’s only a matter of a few instances where probably she just strikes and she comes back shining,” Salvi backed her with all intent.
For the Proteas, skipper Laura Wolvaardt has once again proved to be a thorn in the flesh for India with back-to-back half-centuries (51 and 54).
The Indian attack has also looked rudderless during PowerPlay and Salvi admitted that they are currently carrying out a trial and error as to which bowlers would work during the global event.
“We are actually giving opportunities to all the bowlers to operate into that segment so that we don’t rely only on a few bowlers coming into the main event (T20 World Cup).
“But obviously, yes, we would like to pick wickets, we would like to strike early, we would like to use the power play from the bowling point of view so that we create that impact initially into the game,” Salvi added.
Published on Apr 21, 2026

#INDW #3rd #T20I #Focus #Mandhana #Deepti #India #stay #afloat">IND-W vs SA-W, 3rd T20I: Focus on Mandhana, Deepti as India tries to stay afloat