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Deadspin | Late-season losing skids collide as Bulls battle Wizards  Apr 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) shoots against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images   Eastern Conference counterparts on losing streaks try to push toward the conclusion the 2025-26 regular season on a high note as the Chicago Bulls visit the Washington Wizards on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.  Chicago (29-49) hung tough with Phoenix in a Sunday matinee, but gave up a late-game run that led to a seventh consecutive loss, 120-110. Tre Jones led Chicago with 29 points and dished six assists while filling some of the playmaking void left with Josh Giddey out due to a hamstring injury.  “I’m just a firm believer in I was paid to come here to help this team win and I think every single night I can do that for my team,” a confident Jones said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.  The guard has averaged 13.7 points this season but has increased that to 17.5 points over the 18 games he has played since the beginning of March.  “He’s as competitive as anybody I’ve ever been around,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “I just really appreciate the way he tries to, in his way, keep the group competing.”  Jones has been a leader for a roster that underwent significant midseason changes by trading Nikola Vucevic, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu to playoff contenders Boston, Charlotte and Minnesota.  Chicago heads into its final four games with three on the road. The next two are both against Washington (17-61), a team floundering at the bottom of the Eastern Conference amid a six-game losing streak.  The Wizards matched the franchise’s longest losing skid of all-time at 16 games from Feb. 22 through March 22 but avoided making a dubious bit of history with their 133-110 rout of Utah on March 25.  Since then, however, it has been more struggles for Washington, which has faced roster inconsistency due to injury much of the campaign.   Just as marquee trade acquisition Trae Young began to work into the rotation March 5-16, the former Atlanta Hawks star sustained a season-ending quadriceps injury.  Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Justin Champagnie, Tre Johnson and Tristan Vukcevic also were sidelined in Washington’s 121-115 loss at Brooklyn on Sunday.  Wizards rookies Will Riley and Julian Reese have been bright spots during Washington’s injury-riddled struggles, with Riley scoring 30 points in Sunday’s loss.  It was Riley’s second consecutive game reaching the 30-point mark after he delivered a 31-point, five-steal effort on Saturday vs. the Miami Heat.  “He’s really done this for a while now,” Washington coach Brian Keefe said of the Illinois product. “You see his confidence growing, his skill set, his ability to make tough shots and get to the free-throw line.”  Riley’s scoring average is up to 10.2 points per game, and he has attempted 26 foul shots over the last five games while making 22 of them.  Reese finished Sunday’s contest with 17 points and 16 rebounds for his third double-double in the last four games. Reese is averaging 10.8 points and 11.3 rebounds in his nine appearances (seven starts) with the Wizards.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Lateseason #losing #skids #collide #Bulls #battle #Wizards

Deadspin | Late-season losing skids collide as Bulls battle Wizards
Deadspin | Late-season losing skids collide as Bulls battle Wizards  Apr 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) shoots against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images   Eastern Conference counterparts on losing streaks try to push toward the conclusion the 2025-26 regular season on a high note as the Chicago Bulls visit the Washington Wizards on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.  Chicago (29-49) hung tough with Phoenix in a Sunday matinee, but gave up a late-game run that led to a seventh consecutive loss, 120-110. Tre Jones led Chicago with 29 points and dished six assists while filling some of the playmaking void left with Josh Giddey out due to a hamstring injury.  “I’m just a firm believer in I was paid to come here to help this team win and I think every single night I can do that for my team,” a confident Jones said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.  The guard has averaged 13.7 points this season but has increased that to 17.5 points over the 18 games he has played since the beginning of March.  “He’s as competitive as anybody I’ve ever been around,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “I just really appreciate the way he tries to, in his way, keep the group competing.”  Jones has been a leader for a roster that underwent significant midseason changes by trading Nikola Vucevic, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu to playoff contenders Boston, Charlotte and Minnesota.  Chicago heads into its final four games with three on the road. The next two are both against Washington (17-61), a team floundering at the bottom of the Eastern Conference amid a six-game losing streak.  The Wizards matched the franchise’s longest losing skid of all-time at 16 games from Feb. 22 through March 22 but avoided making a dubious bit of history with their 133-110 rout of Utah on March 25.  Since then, however, it has been more struggles for Washington, which has faced roster inconsistency due to injury much of the campaign.   Just as marquee trade acquisition Trae Young began to work into the rotation March 5-16, the former Atlanta Hawks star sustained a season-ending quadriceps injury.  Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Justin Champagnie, Tre Johnson and Tristan Vukcevic also were sidelined in Washington’s 121-115 loss at Brooklyn on Sunday.  Wizards rookies Will Riley and Julian Reese have been bright spots during Washington’s injury-riddled struggles, with Riley scoring 30 points in Sunday’s loss.  It was Riley’s second consecutive game reaching the 30-point mark after he delivered a 31-point, five-steal effort on Saturday vs. the Miami Heat.  “He’s really done this for a while now,” Washington coach Brian Keefe said of the Illinois product. “You see his confidence growing, his skill set, his ability to make tough shots and get to the free-throw line.”  Riley’s scoring average is up to 10.2 points per game, and he has attempted 26 foul shots over the last five games while making 22 of them.  Reese finished Sunday’s contest with 17 points and 16 rebounds for his third double-double in the last four games. Reese is averaging 10.8 points and 11.3 rebounds in his nine appearances (seven starts) with the Wizards.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Lateseason #losing #skids #collide #Bulls #battle #WizardsApr 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) shoots against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Eastern Conference counterparts on losing streaks try to push toward the conclusion the 2025-26 regular season on a high note as the Chicago Bulls visit the Washington Wizards on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Chicago (29-49) hung tough with Phoenix in a Sunday matinee, but gave up a late-game run that led to a seventh consecutive loss, 120-110. Tre Jones led Chicago with 29 points and dished six assists while filling some of the playmaking void left with Josh Giddey out due to a hamstring injury.

“I’m just a firm believer in I was paid to come here to help this team win and I think every single night I can do that for my team,” a confident Jones said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The guard has averaged 13.7 points this season but has increased that to 17.5 points over the 18 games he has played since the beginning of March.

“He’s as competitive as anybody I’ve ever been around,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “I just really appreciate the way he tries to, in his way, keep the group competing.”

Jones has been a leader for a roster that underwent significant midseason changes by trading Nikola Vucevic, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu to playoff contenders Boston, Charlotte and Minnesota.

Chicago heads into its final four games with three on the road. The next two are both against Washington (17-61), a team floundering at the bottom of the Eastern Conference amid a six-game losing streak.

The Wizards matched the franchise’s longest losing skid of all-time at 16 games from Feb. 22 through March 22 but avoided making a dubious bit of history with their 133-110 rout of Utah on March 25.


Since then, however, it has been more struggles for Washington, which has faced roster inconsistency due to injury much of the campaign.

Just as marquee trade acquisition Trae Young began to work into the rotation March 5-16, the former Atlanta Hawks star sustained a season-ending quadriceps injury.

Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Justin Champagnie, Tre Johnson and Tristan Vukcevic also were sidelined in Washington’s 121-115 loss at Brooklyn on Sunday.

Wizards rookies Will Riley and Julian Reese have been bright spots during Washington’s injury-riddled struggles, with Riley scoring 30 points in Sunday’s loss.

It was Riley’s second consecutive game reaching the 30-point mark after he delivered a 31-point, five-steal effort on Saturday vs. the Miami Heat.

“He’s really done this for a while now,” Washington coach Brian Keefe said of the Illinois product. “You see his confidence growing, his skill set, his ability to make tough shots and get to the free-throw line.”

Riley’s scoring average is up to 10.2 points per game, and he has attempted 26 foul shots over the last five games while making 22 of them.

Reese finished Sunday’s contest with 17 points and 16 rebounds for his third double-double in the last four games. Reese is averaging 10.8 points and 11.3 rebounds in his nine appearances (seven starts) with the Wizards.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Lateseason #losing #skids #collide #Bulls #battle #Wizards

Apr 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) shoots against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Eastern Conference counterparts on losing streaks try to push toward the conclusion the 2025-26 regular season on a high note as the Chicago Bulls visit the Washington Wizards on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Chicago (29-49) hung tough with Phoenix in a Sunday matinee, but gave up a late-game run that led to a seventh consecutive loss, 120-110. Tre Jones led Chicago with 29 points and dished six assists while filling some of the playmaking void left with Josh Giddey out due to a hamstring injury.

“I’m just a firm believer in I was paid to come here to help this team win and I think every single night I can do that for my team,” a confident Jones said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

The guard has averaged 13.7 points this season but has increased that to 17.5 points over the 18 games he has played since the beginning of March.

“He’s as competitive as anybody I’ve ever been around,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “I just really appreciate the way he tries to, in his way, keep the group competing.”

Jones has been a leader for a roster that underwent significant midseason changes by trading Nikola Vucevic, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu to playoff contenders Boston, Charlotte and Minnesota.

Chicago heads into its final four games with three on the road. The next two are both against Washington (17-61), a team floundering at the bottom of the Eastern Conference amid a six-game losing streak.

The Wizards matched the franchise’s longest losing skid of all-time at 16 games from Feb. 22 through March 22 but avoided making a dubious bit of history with their 133-110 rout of Utah on March 25.

Since then, however, it has been more struggles for Washington, which has faced roster inconsistency due to injury much of the campaign.

Just as marquee trade acquisition Trae Young began to work into the rotation March 5-16, the former Atlanta Hawks star sustained a season-ending quadriceps injury.

Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Justin Champagnie, Tre Johnson and Tristan Vukcevic also were sidelined in Washington’s 121-115 loss at Brooklyn on Sunday.

Wizards rookies Will Riley and Julian Reese have been bright spots during Washington’s injury-riddled struggles, with Riley scoring 30 points in Sunday’s loss.

It was Riley’s second consecutive game reaching the 30-point mark after he delivered a 31-point, five-steal effort on Saturday vs. the Miami Heat.

“He’s really done this for a while now,” Washington coach Brian Keefe said of the Illinois product. “You see his confidence growing, his skill set, his ability to make tough shots and get to the free-throw line.”

Riley’s scoring average is up to 10.2 points per game, and he has attempted 26 foul shots over the last five games while making 22 of them.

Reese finished Sunday’s contest with 17 points and 16 rebounds for his third double-double in the last four games. Reese is averaging 10.8 points and 11.3 rebounds in his nine appearances (seven starts) with the Wizards.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Lateseason #losing #skids #collide #Bulls #battle #Wizards

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UNC basketball makes unexpected splash by hiring former Nuggets coach  <figure> <img alt="" data-caption="OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - May 22: Michael Malone speaks before the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on May 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images" data-portal-copyright="NBAE via Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2216993451.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 22: Michael Malone speaks before the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on May 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-text-align-none">Even with the long list of possible names rumored for the vacant UNC men’s basketball job, the program still managed to make a hire nobody expected. <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/2041212222462910658">It is now being reported that Mike Malone, former coach of the Denver Nuggets, will become the 20th coach in the history of the program</a>, succeeding Hubert Davis, who was fired by the Tar Heels during the NCAA tournament after their upset loss to VCU.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">Malone’s key tie to UNC is through his daughter, who is a volleyball player in Chapel Hill, making this a reunion of sorts. However, the hiring has much more to do with adding some gravitas to a men’s basketball program that was limping along under Davis in both recruiting and performance, with UNC boosters and insiders growing increasingly frustrated with the program falling further and further behind Duke.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">This move gives the Tar Heels some serious chops at head coach. Malone was unfairly fired by the Sacramento Kings to start his NBA tenure, before the Denver Nuggets saw potential in him as a tactician and team builder. Aided in large part by the emergence of Nikola Jokic, Malone helped lead the Nuggets to an NBA Championship in 2022-23. </p> <p class="has-text-align-none">The all-time winningest coach in Nuggets history, Malone was fired by the team in April of 2025 along with GM Calvin Booth, under the belief from ownership that a new coach and front office could lead to more playoff success than the feuding Booth and Malone.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">A truly fascinating hire, Malone hasn’t had experience coaching college basketball since 2001 as an assistant for Manhattan. The bulk of his time has been spent in the NBA, which will lead to some fascinating recruiting challenges for the Tar Heels moving forward. Tactically and organizationally, this feels like a home run hire in a cycle where many top coaches committed to staying with their programs, even while the pitfall of Malone not having college experience is clear.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none">This is a new era for Tar Heel basketball, and it’s going to be fascinating to see it unfold.</p> <p class="has-text-align-none"></p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> #UNC #basketball #unexpected #splash #hiring #Nuggets #coach

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Aave V3 Avoided Unrecovered Bad Debt From 2023 to 2025: Study

KL Rahul’s scintillating unbeaten 152 against Punjab Kings in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season has once again brought to the fore the paradox posed by the 34-year-old in 20-over cricket.

Often criticised for his slow strike, Rahul has also shown glimpses of his aggressive avatar with knocks such as the 67-ball 152 on Saturday, which is the highest individual score by an Indian in the league’s history.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Rahul possesses the skills to excel in the shortest format at any position, provided he doesn’t put too much of a premium on his wicket.

“KL Rahul has the ability to make an impact at any position. And I believe that if he thinks too much, the opening position is slightly risky because then he starts thinking that in these 20 overs, I’m a crucial player in the side,” Manrekar said on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.

“And that’s when he has those 20 balls, you know, (slow) start. And that’s a dangerous one. I’m saying that today, and come the playoffs, if he does that and gets out in trying to accelerate, that’s a lot of damage done.

“Down the order, he doesn’t have to think. He just has to go and start hammering, as he does for India in 50-over cricket. So, I like him down the order, at the top of the order, provided he doesn’t think that his wicket matters.”

After batting in the middle order for the bulk of the last season for Delhi Capitals, Rahul has played as an opener in all games this year. Though he started this season with scores of 0 and 1, he bounced back with two fifties before smashing a scorching hundred.

Manjrekar believes Rahul has also been at the receiving end of some role-clarity confusion at Delhi Capitals.

“… With KL Rahul, there’s been some sort of role-clarity confusion for him as well. So, he originally was at number four for DC. Now he’s opening,” Manjrekar said, while acknowledging that DC’s lower-order firepower has allowed Rahul to play with more freedom.

Though Rahul has struck at an impressive 187.89 this season, Manjrekar highlighted the batter’s slow starts.

“So, he plays these kinds of innings, but the very next innings could be 20 of 20 balls. Starts off very slow for some reason… Even when he got a 90 recently, his first 20 balls, he got 20, 25 runs. The problem with that approach is that when you decide to change gears, OK, you’ve got 24 off, say, 21 balls or 32 of 24 balls. OK, now the time has come for me to accelerate. You’re taking a risk always. And if you get out at that time, trying to take a risk, and that has happened a lot with KL Rahul, more when he was batting for Punjab Kings. Then you’ve done your team harm because you can’t recover 20 balls or 30 balls; 30 balls is 25 per cent of the entire innings. And if you’ve gone at a strike rate of 110, you’re done, you’re finished. You won’t get as many runs on the board. So, that’s a very dangerous ploy.”

The likes of Rahul have often been termed ‘anchors’, a role that Manjrekar believes has no place in modern-day T20 cricket.

“I believe, in T20 cricket, no batter has the right to anchor the innings. When you have eight pure batters of a certain quality and just 20 overs, you just don’t have the right, especially when you’re batting first. You see a lot of teams get 190, 200 and lose games because there’s been somebody at the top who’s got 20 of 20 balls and went on to maybe accelerate later. But those 20, if they were 35, 40, you’ve got those 10, 15 extra runs. And with the impact sub, even more reason for nobody to start off getting 20 or 20, unless it is chasing 140, 150.”

Drawing a parallel between Rahul and Virat Kohli, Manjrekar said the latter had evolved his game and had started scoring more briskly by shunning the idea that he was indispensable to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lineup.

“Someone like KL Rahul and Virat Kohli’s style is similar in the way they sort of master and structure their innings. And I’ll say this, very methodical. And Kohli often talks about how he calculates when to attack, when to take that single… It’s only that he’s decided that he’s going to bat quicker. And why was it decided? Because you could see the pressure building and people talking about him batting a little too slow. This 150 strike rate was 125, 133 four years back.

“And it was only because Virat Kohli would hit a boundary and then pick up a one or two, because he wanted to extend his innings and play longer, because he felt that he had to be the man batting most of the innings and didn’t quite trust the batters down the order. RCB changed when Virat Kohli at the top started batting a little quicker and didn’t make himself sort of almost indispensable. And that’s when the others also blossomed under him.”

Published on Apr 27, 2026

#Sanjay #Manjrekar #Rahul #bat #position #providedhe #doesnt #wicket #matters">Sanjay Manjrekar: KL Rahul can bat at any position, provided he doesn’t think his wicket matters   KL Rahul’s scintillating unbeaten 152 against Punjab Kings in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season has once again brought to the fore the paradox posed by the 34-year-old in 20-over cricket.Often criticised for his slow strike, Rahul has also shown glimpses of his aggressive avatar with knocks such as the 67-ball 152 on Saturday, which is the highest individual score by an Indian in the league’s history.Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Rahul possesses the skills to excel in the shortest format at any position, provided he doesn’t put too much of a premium on his wicket.“KL Rahul has the ability to make an impact at any position. And I believe that if he thinks too much, the opening position is slightly risky because then he starts thinking that in these 20 overs, I’m a crucial player in the side,” Manrekar said on        Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.“And that’s when he has those 20 balls, you know, (slow) start. And that’s a dangerous one. I’m saying that today, and come the playoffs, if he does that and gets out in trying to accelerate, that’s a lot of damage done.“Down the order, he doesn’t have to think. He just has to go and start hammering, as he does for India in 50-over cricket. So, I like him down the order, at the top of the order, provided he doesn’t think that his wicket matters.”After batting in the middle order for the bulk of the last season for Delhi Capitals, Rahul has played as an opener in all games this year. Though he started this season with scores of 0 and 1, he bounced back with two fifties before smashing a scorching hundred.Manjrekar believes Rahul has also been at the receiving end of some role-clarity confusion at Delhi Capitals.“… With KL Rahul, there’s been some sort of role-clarity confusion for him as well. So, he originally was at number four for DC. Now he’s opening,” Manjrekar said, while acknowledging that DC’s lower-order firepower has allowed Rahul to play with more freedom.Though Rahul has struck at an impressive 187.89 this season, Manjrekar highlighted the batter’s slow starts.“So, he plays these kinds of innings, but the very next innings could be 20 of 20 balls. Starts off very slow for some reason… Even when he got a 90 recently, his first 20 balls, he got 20, 25 runs. The problem with that approach is that when you decide to change gears, OK, you’ve got 24 off, say, 21 balls or 32 of 24 balls. OK, now the time has come for me to accelerate. You’re taking a risk always. And if you get out at that time, trying to take a risk, and that has happened a lot with KL Rahul, more when he was batting for Punjab Kings. Then you’ve done your team harm because you can’t recover 20 balls or 30 balls; 30 balls is 25 per cent of the entire innings. And if you’ve gone at a strike rate of 110, you’re done, you’re finished. You won’t get as many runs on the board. So, that’s a very dangerous ploy.”The likes of Rahul have often been termed ‘anchors’, a role that Manjrekar believes has no place in modern-day T20 cricket.“I believe, in T20 cricket, no batter has the right to anchor the innings. When you have eight pure batters of a certain quality and just 20 overs, you just don’t have the right, especially when you’re batting first. You see a lot of teams get 190, 200 and lose games because there’s been somebody at the top who’s got 20 of 20 balls and went on to maybe accelerate later. But those 20, if they were 35, 40, you’ve got those 10, 15 extra runs. And with the impact sub, even more reason for nobody to start off getting 20 or 20, unless it is chasing 140, 150.”Drawing a parallel between Rahul and Virat Kohli, Manjrekar said the latter had evolved his game and had started scoring more briskly by shunning the idea that he was indispensable to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lineup.“Someone like KL Rahul and Virat Kohli’s style is similar in the way they sort of master and structure their innings. And I’ll say this, very methodical. And Kohli often talks about how he calculates when to attack, when to take that single… It’s only that he’s decided that he’s going to bat quicker. And why was it decided? Because you could see the pressure building and people talking about him batting a little too slow. This 150 strike rate was 125, 133 four years back.“And it was only because Virat Kohli would hit a boundary and then pick up a one or two, because he wanted to extend his innings and play longer, because he felt that he had to be the man batting most of the innings and didn’t quite trust the batters down the order. RCB changed when Virat Kohli at the top started batting a little quicker and didn’t make himself sort of almost indispensable. And that’s when the others also blossomed under him.”Published on Apr 27, 2026  #Sanjay #Manjrekar #Rahul #bat #position #providedhe #doesnt #wicket #matters

I’ve seen the future of the NBA. It’s part Caitlin Clark, part Waymo and, of course, a heaping helping of IT.

There have been 30 NBA playoff games to date. And there have been – according to no better source than players on the losing team – 30 poorly officiated boat races.

Coincidence? Hardly.

For years, perimeter play in the NBA postseason has resembled that of the NFL, complete with the chucking, hand-fighting and illegal picking.

If you’re wondering why Stephen Curry shoots more 30-footers now than ever before, it’s because apparently bear-hugging is legal inside 25 feet. So what’s a little guy to do?

Clark has received this kind of hands-on treatment since Day 1 of her miserable WNBA life. She’s bumped endlessly attempting to dribble around screens and held constantly while simply trying to use picks to free herself without the ball.

To its credit, the WNBA has created (they don’t call it this, but let’s be honest) the “Clark Compromise” this season. If you watched the preseason games over the weekend, you undoubtedly heard the broadcasters complaining about it.

I applaud Cathy Engelbert, and that’s hard to do. The league has instructed its refs to clean up the perimeter mess – from the clutching and bumping of defenders preventing offensive players from legally utilizing screens, to the hip-checking and general bullying screen-setters routinely employ on undersized defenders.

The constant whistles made Saturday’s games hard to watch, as the broadcasters noted. But that’s missing the point.

The goal is to use otherwise meaningless exhibitions to make the fast-approaching regular-season openers more enjoyable to watch. You know, by actually calling fouls now so that players are hard-taught to play by the book by the time the finicky viewers start tuning in.

Imagine that, NBA.

The premier men’s league has half-heartedly attempted to take this type of approach in the past couple of seasons, and clearly it’s not working. Ask Curry. Ask Devin Booker. Ask anybody trying to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden or Jaylen Brown.

Let ‘em play has become the unofficial motto of the NBA postseason. And what has it given us?

In general: Less entertainment, poorer shooting opportunities, frustration, more extra-curriculars among players and an inordinate number of key injuries.

Specifically: There have been 30 playoff games so far. In those games, three of the 60 teams have been held under 90 points. That’s 5%. In the regular season, it was 1.7%.

Same with scores under 100. There have been 16 of them so far in the postseason (26.7%). In the regular season: 10.6%.

Sunday was the worst: More teams failed to reach triple figures than did. Number of watchable games: Zero.

That’s letting ‘em play. But play exactly what, I’m not sure.

In fact, with all the fouling that’s going uncalled, they’re not playing at all. They’re moshing.

It’s time to get with the times and take corrective steps. My solution is extreme – gee, imagine that – but when you’ve got people switching off a Thunder-Suns playoff game to watch Day 3 of the NFL draft, you’ve got problems.

The NBA needs to take a Waymo approach. You know, an implanted chip that tells the brain: All contact is bad. Avoid at all costs.

No, I’m not suggesting tattooing a sensor into every player’s forehead. Rather, a simple memory scan of each player’s arms – the major culprits in most of these so-called victimless crimes – so that when someone’s shoulder or elbow or forearm or hand simply touches an opponent, the referee gets buzzed and the actionless action is stopped.

Why? Because touching an opponent should be illegal. Think baseball. Not football.

As Waymo has taught us: All contact is bad.

And if cars can learn it, why can’t humans?

Then it’s IT’s turn.

Within one second, IT has the ability to study every available angle of a “collision” and make the determination: Which player caused this to happen?

Was it Brown pushing off Paul George in order to create space to get off a clean shot? Or was it George sticking a forearm into Brown’s back, stalling his initial move toward the hoop?

In today’s game, it doesn’t matter. More possessions than not resemble DK Metcalf and Carlton Davis wrestling inside the 5-yard, anything-goes NFL passing zone.

Only the NBA has no such thing.

Really. One second. That’s all it would take IT to point its virtual punitive finger.

And then guess what? Brown wouldn’t do it again. Or Harden. Or SGA.

That’s how you clean up and speed up the NBA game. Or at least start to do so.

Imagine an NBA rule in which you’re not allowed to touch your opponent. Yes, it’s hard to envision. But think about it for a minute.

Fifty years ago, when Lester Hayes was literally using stickum to latch onto wide receivers, who would have thought a hands-off rule would revolutionize football?

And that was back when the only IT was Isiah Thomas.

The NBA had hand-checking back then. Remember that thrill-killer?

That was banished and the game became great. But the problem has resurfaced, more so in the postseason than in the regular year, when it was a lesser issue because star players weren’t complaining. They were resting.

It’s time to get with the times, Commissioner Silver. Take the leap.

Thank you Caitlin Clark for saving the NBA.

#Technology #Fix #NBA #Officiating #Bold #Solution #Playoff #Issues #Deadspin.com">Can Technology Fix NBA Officiating? A Bold Solution to Playoff Issues | Deadspin.com   I’ve seen the future of the NBA. It’s part Caitlin Clark, part Waymo and, of course, a heaping helping of IT.There have been 30 NBA playoff games to date. And there have been – according to no better source than players on the losing team – 30 poorly officiated boat races.Coincidence? Hardly.For years, perimeter play in the NBA postseason has resembled that of the NFL, complete with the chucking, hand-fighting and illegal picking.If you’re wondering why Stephen Curry shoots more 30-footers now than ever before, it’s because apparently bear-hugging is legal inside 25 feet. So what’s a little guy to do?Clark has received this kind of hands-on treatment since Day 1 of her miserable WNBA life. She’s bumped endlessly attempting to dribble around screens and held constantly while simply trying to use picks to free herself without the ball.To its credit, the WNBA has created (they don’t call it this, but let’s be honest) the “Clark Compromise” this season. If you watched the preseason games over the weekend, you undoubtedly heard the broadcasters complaining about it.I applaud Cathy Engelbert, and that’s hard to do. The league has instructed its refs to clean up the perimeter mess – from the clutching and bumping of defenders preventing offensive players from legally utilizing screens, to the hip-checking and general bullying screen-setters routinely employ on undersized defenders.The constant whistles made Saturday’s games hard to watch, as the broadcasters noted. But that’s missing the point.The goal is to use otherwise meaningless exhibitions to make the fast-approaching regular-season openers more enjoyable to watch. You know, by actually calling fouls now so that players are hard-taught to play by the book by the time the finicky viewers start tuning in.Imagine that, NBA.The premier men’s league has half-heartedly attempted to take this type of approach in the past couple of seasons, and clearly it’s not working. Ask Curry. Ask Devin Booker. Ask anybody trying to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden or Jaylen Brown.Let ‘em play has become the unofficial motto of the NBA postseason. And what has it given us?In general: Less entertainment, poorer shooting opportunities, frustration, more extra-curriculars among players and an inordinate number of key injuries.Specifically: There have been 30 playoff games so far. In those games, three of the 60 teams have been held under 90 points. That’s 5%. In the regular season, it was 1.7%.Same with scores under 100. There have been 16 of them so far in the postseason (26.7%). In the regular season: 10.6%.Sunday was the worst: More teams failed to reach triple figures than did. Number of watchable games: Zero.That’s letting ‘em play. But play exactly what, I’m not sure.In fact, with all the fouling that’s going uncalled, they’re not playing at all. They’re moshing.It’s time to get with the times and take corrective steps. My solution is extreme – gee, imagine that – but when you’ve got people switching off a Thunder-Suns playoff game to watch Day 3 of the NFL draft, you’ve got problems.The NBA needs to take a Waymo approach. You know, an implanted chip that tells the brain: All contact is bad. Avoid at all costs.No, I’m not suggesting tattooing a sensor into every player’s forehead. Rather, a simple memory scan of each player’s arms – the major culprits in most of these so-called victimless crimes – so that when someone’s shoulder or elbow or forearm or hand simply touches an opponent, the referee gets buzzed and the actionless action is stopped.Why? Because touching an opponent should be illegal. Think baseball. Not football.As Waymo has taught us: All contact is bad.And if cars can learn it, why can’t humans?Then it’s IT’s turn.Within one second, IT has the ability to study every available angle of a “collision” and make the determination: Which player caused this to happen?Was it Brown pushing off Paul George in order to create space to get off a clean shot? Or was it George sticking a forearm into Brown’s back, stalling his initial move toward the hoop?In today’s game, it doesn’t matter. More possessions than not resemble DK Metcalf and Carlton Davis wrestling inside the 5-yard, anything-goes NFL passing zone.Only the NBA has no such thing.Really. One second. That’s all it would take IT to point its virtual punitive finger.And then guess what? Brown wouldn’t do it again. Or Harden. Or SGA.That’s how you clean up and speed up the NBA game. Or at least start to do so.Imagine an NBA rule in which you’re not allowed to touch your opponent. Yes, it’s hard to envision. But think about it for a minute.Fifty years ago, when Lester Hayes was literally using stickum to latch onto wide receivers, who would have thought a hands-off rule would revolutionize football?And that was back when the only IT was Isiah Thomas.The NBA had hand-checking back then. Remember that thrill-killer?That was banished and the game became great. But the problem has resurfaced, more so in the postseason than in the regular year, when it was a lesser issue because star players weren’t complaining. They were resting.It’s time to get with the times, Commissioner Silver. Take the leap.Thank you Caitlin Clark for saving the NBA.   #Technology #Fix #NBA #Officiating #Bold #Solution #Playoff #Issues #Deadspin.com

her miserable WNBA life. She’s bumped endlessly attempting to dribble around screens and held constantly while simply trying to use picks to free herself without the ball.

To its credit, the WNBA has created (they don’t call it this, but let’s be honest) the “Clark Compromise” this season. If you watched the preseason games over the weekend, you undoubtedly heard the broadcasters complaining about it.

I applaud Cathy Engelbert, and that’s hard to do. The league has instructed its refs to clean up the perimeter mess – from the clutching and bumping of defenders preventing offensive players from legally utilizing screens, to the hip-checking and general bullying screen-setters routinely employ on undersized defenders.

The constant whistles made Saturday’s games hard to watch, as the broadcasters noted. But that’s missing the point.

The goal is to use otherwise meaningless exhibitions to make the fast-approaching regular-season openers more enjoyable to watch. You know, by actually calling fouls now so that players are hard-taught to play by the book by the time the finicky viewers start tuning in.

Imagine that, NBA.

The premier men’s league has half-heartedly attempted to take this type of approach in the past couple of seasons, and clearly it’s not working. Ask Curry. Ask Devin Booker. Ask anybody trying to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden or Jaylen Brown.

Let ‘em play has become the unofficial motto of the NBA postseason. And what has it given us?

In general: Less entertainment, poorer shooting opportunities, frustration, more extra-curriculars among players and an inordinate number of key injuries.

Specifically: There have been 30 playoff games so far. In those games, three of the 60 teams have been held under 90 points. That’s 5%. In the regular season, it was 1.7%.

Same with scores under 100. There have been 16 of them so far in the postseason (26.7%). In the regular season: 10.6%.

Sunday was the worst: More teams failed to reach triple figures than did. Number of watchable games: Zero.

That’s letting ‘em play. But play exactly what, I’m not sure.

In fact, with all the fouling that’s going uncalled, they’re not playing at all. They’re moshing.

It’s time to get with the times and take corrective steps. My solution is extreme – gee, imagine that – but when you’ve got people switching off a Thunder-Suns playoff game to watch Day 3 of the NFL draft, you’ve got problems.

The NBA needs to take a Waymo approach. You know, an implanted chip that tells the brain: All contact is bad. Avoid at all costs.

No, I’m not suggesting tattooing a sensor into every player’s forehead. Rather, a simple memory scan of each player’s arms – the major culprits in most of these so-called victimless crimes – so that when someone’s shoulder or elbow or forearm or hand simply touches an opponent, the referee gets buzzed and the actionless action is stopped.

Why? Because touching an opponent should be illegal. Think baseball. Not football.

As Waymo has taught us: All contact is bad.

And if cars can learn it, why can’t humans?

Then it’s IT’s turn.

Within one second, IT has the ability to study every available angle of a “collision” and make the determination: Which player caused this to happen?

Was it Brown pushing off Paul George in order to create space to get off a clean shot? Or was it George sticking a forearm into Brown’s back, stalling his initial move toward the hoop?

In today’s game, it doesn’t matter. More possessions than not resemble DK Metcalf and Carlton Davis wrestling inside the 5-yard, anything-goes NFL passing zone.

Only the NBA has no such thing.

Really. One second. That’s all it would take IT to point its virtual punitive finger.

And then guess what? Brown wouldn’t do it again. Or Harden. Or SGA.

That’s how you clean up and speed up the NBA game. Or at least start to do so.

Imagine an NBA rule in which you’re not allowed to touch your opponent. Yes, it’s hard to envision. But think about it for a minute.

Fifty years ago, when Lester Hayes was literally using stickum to latch onto wide receivers, who would have thought a hands-off rule would revolutionize football?

And that was back when the only IT was Isiah Thomas.

The NBA had hand-checking back then. Remember that thrill-killer?

That was banished and the game became great. But the problem has resurfaced, more so in the postseason than in the regular year, when it was a lesser issue because star players weren’t complaining. They were resting.

It’s time to get with the times, Commissioner Silver. Take the leap.

Thank you Caitlin Clark for saving the NBA.

#Technology #Fix #NBA #Officiating #Bold #Solution #Playoff #Issues #Deadspin.com">Can Technology Fix NBA Officiating? A Bold Solution to Playoff Issues | Deadspin.com

I’ve seen the future of the NBA. It’s part Caitlin Clark, part Waymo and, of course, a heaping helping of IT.

There have been 30 NBA playoff games to date. And there have been – according to no better source than players on the losing team – 30 poorly officiated boat races.

Coincidence? Hardly.

For years, perimeter play in the NBA postseason has resembled that of the NFL, complete with the chucking, hand-fighting and illegal picking.

If you’re wondering why Stephen Curry shoots more 30-footers now than ever before, it’s because apparently bear-hugging is legal inside 25 feet. So what’s a little guy to do?

Clark has received this kind of hands-on treatment since Day 1 of her miserable WNBA life. She’s bumped endlessly attempting to dribble around screens and held constantly while simply trying to use picks to free herself without the ball.

To its credit, the WNBA has created (they don’t call it this, but let’s be honest) the “Clark Compromise” this season. If you watched the preseason games over the weekend, you undoubtedly heard the broadcasters complaining about it.

I applaud Cathy Engelbert, and that’s hard to do. The league has instructed its refs to clean up the perimeter mess – from the clutching and bumping of defenders preventing offensive players from legally utilizing screens, to the hip-checking and general bullying screen-setters routinely employ on undersized defenders.

The constant whistles made Saturday’s games hard to watch, as the broadcasters noted. But that’s missing the point.

The goal is to use otherwise meaningless exhibitions to make the fast-approaching regular-season openers more enjoyable to watch. You know, by actually calling fouls now so that players are hard-taught to play by the book by the time the finicky viewers start tuning in.

Imagine that, NBA.

The premier men’s league has half-heartedly attempted to take this type of approach in the past couple of seasons, and clearly it’s not working. Ask Curry. Ask Devin Booker. Ask anybody trying to guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, James Harden or Jaylen Brown.

Let ‘em play has become the unofficial motto of the NBA postseason. And what has it given us?

In general: Less entertainment, poorer shooting opportunities, frustration, more extra-curriculars among players and an inordinate number of key injuries.

Specifically: There have been 30 playoff games so far. In those games, three of the 60 teams have been held under 90 points. That’s 5%. In the regular season, it was 1.7%.

Same with scores under 100. There have been 16 of them so far in the postseason (26.7%). In the regular season: 10.6%.

Sunday was the worst: More teams failed to reach triple figures than did. Number of watchable games: Zero.

That’s letting ‘em play. But play exactly what, I’m not sure.

In fact, with all the fouling that’s going uncalled, they’re not playing at all. They’re moshing.

It’s time to get with the times and take corrective steps. My solution is extreme – gee, imagine that – but when you’ve got people switching off a Thunder-Suns playoff game to watch Day 3 of the NFL draft, you’ve got problems.

The NBA needs to take a Waymo approach. You know, an implanted chip that tells the brain: All contact is bad. Avoid at all costs.

No, I’m not suggesting tattooing a sensor into every player’s forehead. Rather, a simple memory scan of each player’s arms – the major culprits in most of these so-called victimless crimes – so that when someone’s shoulder or elbow or forearm or hand simply touches an opponent, the referee gets buzzed and the actionless action is stopped.

Why? Because touching an opponent should be illegal. Think baseball. Not football.

As Waymo has taught us: All contact is bad.

And if cars can learn it, why can’t humans?

Then it’s IT’s turn.

Within one second, IT has the ability to study every available angle of a “collision” and make the determination: Which player caused this to happen?

Was it Brown pushing off Paul George in order to create space to get off a clean shot? Or was it George sticking a forearm into Brown’s back, stalling his initial move toward the hoop?

In today’s game, it doesn’t matter. More possessions than not resemble DK Metcalf and Carlton Davis wrestling inside the 5-yard, anything-goes NFL passing zone.

Only the NBA has no such thing.

Really. One second. That’s all it would take IT to point its virtual punitive finger.

And then guess what? Brown wouldn’t do it again. Or Harden. Or SGA.

That’s how you clean up and speed up the NBA game. Or at least start to do so.

Imagine an NBA rule in which you’re not allowed to touch your opponent. Yes, it’s hard to envision. But think about it for a minute.

Fifty years ago, when Lester Hayes was literally using stickum to latch onto wide receivers, who would have thought a hands-off rule would revolutionize football?

And that was back when the only IT was Isiah Thomas.

The NBA had hand-checking back then. Remember that thrill-killer?

That was banished and the game became great. But the problem has resurfaced, more so in the postseason than in the regular year, when it was a lesser issue because star players weren’t complaining. They were resting.

It’s time to get with the times, Commissioner Silver. Take the leap.

Thank you Caitlin Clark for saving the NBA.

#Technology #Fix #NBA #Officiating #Bold #Solution #Playoff #Issues #Deadspin.com

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